More Talk About Rain

I know this will shock you... but it is actually not raining today. Which is great, but it's going to rain tomorrow and we've had so much rain lately that there's still standing water in my yard. I am sure you're sick of hearing about M's soccer but the last rescheduled game is supposed to be tomorrow. My big fear is that they will try to force it and we'll all stand around in the rain tomorrow. This poor season. It feels like it's gone on forever, but really it started March 26 with our first practice and it will officially end tomorrow on June 1st. Hard to believe there have been only 3 games in that time!

Also... the gnats and mosquitos are out of control with the wet. It's rough. M loves being outside. Loves it. And she lasted 5 minutes today.

BUT the positive thing is that today is the school's field day so at least that didn't get rained out.

Anyway, in an update that is not about rain.

I had my last hoorah with the three musketeers on Tuesdays until next school year. They spent about 30 minutes skipping and running around the living room to a song they sang at school. I am going to toot my horn here since I figured out what song it was by three four-year-olds mumbling half correct lyrics. 

It's this song by the way in case you were super curious. 

Alright, hopefully, I can come back and write here about things that are not in fact about rain. 

Seems possible. Though, say a prayer for the farmers. There's a lot of talk around here that it is better to leave the fields unplanted and take insurance money this year. It's just too wet to plant. This is bad for the farmers, the land and the price of pretty much everything. 

Okay, happy weekend friends. And our last school year weekend! 

Birthday Fun: Nailed It!

Yesterday was C's 7th birthday! We celebrated in the perfect low-key but wonderful way. We hung up his birthday sign so he would see it when he came down.

He got to open one present in the morning and he zeroed in on the present he really wanted. The perpetual motion penguins. They go up the escalator and down the slide and repeat. He is very happy.

He picked Nailed It! as his party theme. Have you seen that show on Netflix? Well, we set it all up and then had the two teams play to make Walrus donuts. (From Nailed It! Holiday. Because of course.)

Two excited kids who were bursting to start! 

And here's the two teams hard at work!

They Nailed It! And this was seriously so much fun! We pre-colored buttercream and fondant for the group and left them a counter full of things to choose from. Not quite the Nailed It pantry but more than sufficient. We also gave them doughnuts and doughnut holes so no frying required. 

C picked Red Robin and a Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie for his "cake". And he got to open the rest of his presents and had such a good day! 

He's seven. He's happy. We have to find places to put away all his new stuff! We had a wonderful day but most especially, he did. 

Happy Birthday Goose

Oh my sweet boy,

I cannot even stand it that you are SEVEN. But here we are on another one of your days. (It's going to rain naturally.)

This past year has not been without its challenges. I don't think either of us was prepared for Kindergarten to throw us quite the way it went down but, we are getting close to the end now and we've got a solid plan for first grade. I just know you're going to thrive and bloom into even more of the C that I know when you're at school.

You haven't stopped your love of reading or writing and you still want to be an author. We go through so much paper but it's okay because your creativity is unmatched and we recycle. You still love Mo Willems, and you're reading chapter books like nobody's business. Your reading scores are through the roof and I am so proud of you for that. I never want you to worry about testing of course, but it doesn't hurt that you're so good at it.

Still again, your love for Arctic creatures has not ceased. I love it. You are so passionate about walruses and penguins and you care so so much. And we are going to go to visit Pakak soon! This past year, however, you've discovered and delighted in LEGO and army guys. It's fun to see your imagination thrive! You also have taken to recreating theatre shows, building theaters out of Magna-tiles and using whichever characters you think best. When we take you to shows you have such a serious face, it's so hard to tell if you're enjoying it. I love your little poker face of happiness since you always do end up loving the show. You just take it all in. It's the best. You are also convinced there are dinosaur bones in our backyard and this one I hope stops soon because holes in the backyard aren't my favorite.

This year of six was a big one with medical stuff. Six was a year full of specialists with positive results. You got glasses! You lost five teeth this year and kept the tooth fairy busy! Seven is going to come in with a bang and then... I think it's going to calm down a bit.

I am in such awe of your faith. You have such a sweet spirit and you just get it. This doesn't mean you're always wonderful at Mass but for the most part, you do a great job. Your propensity for memorization has come in handy with prayers and things. I don't know many kids who know that "the D.U.E. chapter" as you refer to it, is one with rules. I also don't know a lot of kids who delight in saying a decade of the rosary.

Goose, you are my very favorite boy in the whole world. I am so glad you're mine. I love you entirely. Happy birthday!! Seven is going to be awesome, I just know it.

Love,
Mom

Friday Excitement!

Hello!

Way back when our school had an auction. Each teacher donates an item or experience. It could be a day at the teacher's desk or a special reading chair. Some teachers took the winning student and a friend to a movie. Or second graders could go bowling with their teacher and friends. There's gym teacher, librarian and principal for a day. Lots of fun!

Well, my mom bought M's teacher's "Movie Party." This morning M and her two buddies got to go to school on a non-school day.

During the party, they, of course, watched a movie. (Winnie the Pooh!) And had popcorn and donut holes. They also got to play in the housekeeping area which is their very favorite area. I am sure it was fun for them to be all alone in the classroom. 

The kids got to decorate cookies to bring home. They also painted personalized picture frames! And had another teacher take a picture of all of them together and print them off for each frame. 

And when we came to pick the kids up, each kid got a big bag full of goodies. And when I say big, I mean it! Look at all these goodies!

Each kid got a reusable shopping bag with pineapples full with: 

• A water bottle
• A large drawing pad
• A coloring book
• A sticker activity book
• 2 story books
• Markers
• Crayons
• Skittles
• Bubbles 

They had so much fun!! And not to be left out of fun is this guy! 

Who has his birthday treats in that big bag to share with his class today. It's a busy birthday weekend. Wishing you a safe weekend however you're spending it!

Jumble of Thoughts on Tuesday

Hello Tuesday! Let me be the 900th person to tell you that we just finished Dead to Me last night.

It was dark and funny as heck. If you've heard nothing about it, let me go ahead and tell you there's an awful lot of swearing so this is not for kids. But we loved it.

Basically, Jen (Christina Applegate) is grieving her husband who was killed in a hit-and-run accident. She meets Judy (Linda Cardellini) at a grief group and they become friends. If I tell you anything more I fear I will spoil it. But just when you think you know what's going on BAM another twist.

We stayed up way too late because we couldn't not watch! It's been a long time since we've seen a show we've enjoyed this much.

In other (not shocking because seriously) news, it's raining again. I have to make the decision about soccer practice tonight so I guess we will see. It's supposed to be hot again tomorrow and then rainy the rest of the week. So much water.

Look at this creepy "ghost" that I found in my living room. My kids have been so cute together lately. We are just so excited for summer break! Inching our way there. It's so close but still so far yet.

Life is just going on as normal here but that's okay. Normal is awesome!

When Portillo's Comes To Town

Our LONG awaited Portillo's is finally opening! Well, actually in a few weeks. But still, I am excited. I got us tickets for the soft opening test run day and our tickets were for TODAY!

I picked drive-through tickets because we'd have M with us but honestly, that was such a good idea since parking was kind of a nightmare.

I clearly have gotten out of the "take a picture of everything habit" and got no pictures of us during the actual time on the Portillo's property. Ah well. They had drive through helpers who scanned our tickets and then gave us menus.

I had some momentary disappointment that Italian Beef was not a choice today but since it's before it opened for real and it was FREE I moved on quickly. Husband picked a Hot Dog and Onion Rings. I got a Cheeseburger and Fries. We could have gotten pop too but we both just got waters since we are fancy. 

Here are two of my favorite people with their lunch:

Oh Portillo's we are so happy you chose our town to open up a new location! YUM! What a great way to make a Monday not feel like a Monday!

Friday!

Oh man, I am excited that it is Friday! Yesterday I went to C's classroom and talked about writing. It was pretty cool. Yesterday was the first day it got into the 80s in 2019 so they were little sweat balls all rolling around on the carpet.

Obviously, the high temperatures rustled up a pretty good thunderstorm last night. It was glorious. I love a good rain storm. Also obviously, this has canceled soccer for tomorrow already because of field conditions. Poor girl. She will be disappointed. I'm not going to tell her just yet.

Wednesday was the most perfect day ever though. Mid-70s. The kids came home and immediately went back outside.

We played bubbles for like an hour. Then after dinner, we went back out all four of us and played bubbles for another half hour. 

What a wonderful world that gives us sunshine and perfect days. I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

What's Up Wednesday

Hello!

We are keeping busy with lots of fun things. Like cupcakes from friends.

This kid got to pick out his birthday book from the library. There is a little card inside celebrating him and he is the first to check it out. 

Then later he kept the tooth fairy busy by losing one of his front teeth! I will spare you all the picture and video of just how wiggly it really was. I was really hoping he would get it out before dinner or sleeping because I was certain he would swallow it. 

Picnic playdates with friends are keeping my girl busy. Today we took it easy and just stayed home besides school Mass. She needed a calm day. Don't we all sometimes? 

I am thrilled it's in the 70s today. Thrilled. Happy Wednesday! 

Muffins With Mom

Today C's class hosted Muffins With Mom! We got an invitation:

Today I came to school and waited for a minute in the hallway looking at the nice artwork.

Then we got to go in and sit with our kindergartener and look at the muffin they made us!

After we prayed a decade of the rosary as a class, we got to read through the I Love Mom books they made for us as gifts. Here are some lovely highlights.

He's not wrong. I do love a good Bobbie! 

Shell noodles are a household comfort food staple over here. And as it happens, Husband and M do not appreciate them on the same level as C and I. So this is spot on as well. 

I do like to write reviews. (Well, let's be honest, sometimes it feels more like work than other times but that's okay.) 

I am so glad I got to go spend some time with my C today. The perfect kickoff to Mother's Day Weekend! 

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Not Much To Tell

Hello! I wish my nearly week-long absence was because of something super interesting but no. Just life. Last Saturday, it was a beautiful sunny day but soccer was canceled because the fields were basically a swamp.

We took a family trip to Freddy's. We've never been there before. But it's basically if Steak n Shake and Culvers had a baby. It was okay. That giant sundae there was a mini! (I was shocked. It was like twice the size we normally get the kids.) 

But they liked it. Also on Saturday, I was reviewing a show that was family friendly so the whole crew came with me. After that, we went to Mass because Sunday was First Communion and we figured we'd give the families space to celebrate! 

But that meant Sunday was a nice lazy day of nothing. Which was really wonderful! Then the rest of this week has been pretty life as normal. The school year is winding down. We are starting to finalize summer plans. Swimming lessons and some day camps are booked. VBS planning is underway. 

Weatherwise it's still very rainy and cool. The high is only 55 today. But... I don't think that it's supposed to rain today which is encouraging. The river is receding which is definitely good news. Hopefully, we will be able to have a soccer game this weekend. We did wind up having practiced in the sprinkling rain Tuesday evening. And only 6 kids showed up, but that's okay. 

And now it's already Thursday. Seems crazy how fast this week has sped by!

So Much Excitement!

It is actually sunny today! And it's not supposed to rain again until Sunday! The Mississippi crested at the highest it has ever been so 2019 has been breaking records right and left. Snow, cold, water. Yay.

Anyway, a while back C wrote a letter to Pakak the walrus. And I wrote an accompanying letter to Erika, Pakak's head trainer. And included some pictures of C through the years to demonstrate his true love for Pakak and walruses.

Because, if you've been here for any length of time, walruses are a big deal at our house!

Yesterday, we got some very special mail because Pakak and Erika wrote back! And my guy's day was made. These are screenshots I took from the video of him opening and reading the letter. The joy of getting the mail long before he is home from school is I was bursting with excitement and prepared to capture his reaction.

I pre-opened the envelope before handing it to him since sometimes he rips the envelope to shreds. They included a special picture of Erika and Pakak holding a sign for C. And I was a fan. So was he.

I mean, it's likely that Pakak doesn't get a whole lot of fan mail, but still. It was exceptionally cool that they took the time to take a picture and write him back.

Most walrus calves are born in May, so that's when the zoo celebrates the birthday of the walruses.  (since they are rescues with no known actual birthdays) Wednesday was the day for them! So here is my guy's favorite guy with his birthday ice and fish cake.

Pakak and C are both turning 7 this May. Isn't that amazing?

Okay well, I hope your weekend brings you as much joy as a kid who got a letter from his favorite walrus.

Flood

So... I don't know how newsworthy it is nationwide but we are definitely flooded.

These are from Tuesday when the HESCO barriers failed. But it just keeps raining. That is the bridge Husband would normally take to work but you almost can't get off of it because there's so much water. It's restricted to one lane each way right now. In theory, the river crested yesterday but there's still rain coming. 

When it really gets down to it, this is a fairly small chunk of our city but it's still pretty crazy. There's just so much water. Our yard has standing water in it because there's just so much rain.