Off the Radar

So I have been bad about blogging as of late...for those that check here on a regular basis...sorry.  I just haven't made the time to sit and write much lately.  Nothing bad going on, but keeping busy with other things and just lost track of my blog for a bit.
I cleaned out a lot of toys and items to put into another consignment sale...cleaned, organized, labeled and took to the sale...we brought it all over last night and then went out to dinner on the way home. It was farther away than I would have normally gone for a consignment sale, but we made an event out of it, so it was fun.  The kids were so good about "donating" items to sell and very helpful when we were placing them on the sales floor.  I wasn't expecting that.  It was nice to clean out some things that we didn't use anymore, but admittidly some were hard to let go of...mostly little toys and puzzles that were Zachary's and then Erin's.  It simply signifies that they are big kids now, not babies and the baby toys aren't needed.  I packed up many toys and held back tears...I know it was the right thing to get rid of them, but it is also so hard too...I hate that.
The kids spent most of the day with their dad riding bikes and at a park.  I am glad they had a fun time while I was busy...Brandon had been gone Friday night and Saturday and will be gone a lot the next week...so it was good for them to have some alone time with just him.  I have been feeling the need to do some spring cleaning and tackling little projects here and there in the house.  It feels good to get some things done and cleaned out, but what a process.  Once I start one project, my mind fast forwards to the 7 other things I need to and should be doing...amazing what just doesn't get cleaning or attended to in normal weekly living.
Another week is starting and I am having a rough time realizing it is the end of March..how fast has this year flown by?  I don't want summer to get here...I love summer normally, but not this time...I will then have a a 7 and 4 year old...so depressing to me right now...
I am off to get ready to take Erin to gymnastics...I will post some photos later...

11 Years...

Here are some photos from our family anniversary dinner last night...it was a lot of fun to take the kids out to fancy place...they loved being at the Towers of America in downtown San Antonio...it has a view of the whole city and sits high in the air...rotates slowly while you sit and eat.  Each child had their first shirley temple and loved them.  It was a great night!

Canyon Lake

Here are a few quick photos from my camera that I took at Canyon Lake...we have a few more on the other camera too...will upload those later...

They were ready for smores when we got there...silly kids!

 View from our cabin (they are actually called shelters...they are very tiny!!)

 Example of how tiny with Zach on the porch...fine for camping and for the price though.

 Inside to the left...double bed...tiny fridge sink and micro in back...it had heat and air thankfully....it got into the low 40s that night...

 Otherside was bunk beds....bathroom with shower and toilet behind door...

 Looking super cute...

 On the pier fishing...

 Being Brave and checking out the worm....

We will for sure go back, it was a lot of fun for the kids...weather was colder than forecasted and therefor what I had packed....also both kids have bad coughs and snotty noses, so we chose to stay for a short time and head back...being sick isn't fun on a trip. :)

Milestone...

For anyone that knows our story and situation you know that a lot of big things to us, are little to many others.  Milestones in our house are different, especially in reference to Zachary.  I have no idea when or how he learned to read, I simply know that by the time he was 4, he was reading and telling time (not on a digital clock).  He has no problem grasping academic stuff, it is a lot of the other parts of life that have been a struggle...making friends, fine motor skills, language, understanding simple concepts (like giving people personal space)...and one big one.  Toys.  Since he was little he has never really played with toys. Not in the traditional way that you and I probably did as kids or even as I watch Erin.  She plays with her dolls, the train set, blocks, you name it.  Alone, with me, she plays.  Zach...not so much.
When he was little I was in denial I am sure...I would continue to buy toy after toy, convinced that it was the toy, not him that was the problem.  It never changed. As he got bigger he grew to love books, the computer, workbooks, the Wii, DS...you get the picture.  Toys, not on the list.  We bought, they sat.
So tonight I was done...making my usual sweep of rooms to clear out things...I had just discovered that while the consignment sale I used in the fall was cancelled for the spring sale, there is another one on the other side of town next month...YEAH!  The pile in the garage is huge and I am ready to purge.  I didn't want to do the consignment store bc they take so much...the sale, you price it yourself. Anyhow, I digress...I explained that some of his Imaginex toys would be in the sale pile since he never plays with them.  This after hours of whining and going on about how bored he is (he is grounded from all things electronic after an awful two weeks of behavior at school).  So, i told him, if you want toys, you have to play with them...I took out some Lego sets we have had for years and started to add them to the pile and stopped...he showed interest...I asked if wanted to sit and try to build something...4.5 hours later this is him....

I am tickled pink..I can't tell you how much this trills me...fills my heart with such happiness.  He is taking his time and working so hard to follow the directions...using his fine motor skills (skills that are a challenge for him)...he is so proud of his work and what he has done...I am too...Most of all to see him engaged in something that is not a computer for his long is beyond a thrill...Milestone day for us.  Sometimes the garbage bags have to come out for us to move on and that is okay. We have had a rough few weeks, so today is huge...
So for some, watching their kids spend 4.5 hours on the floor building Lego's might seem like nothing to most, but here, this was a monumental day for us and I can't wait to see what this new love brings...

Photos...

I just wanted to share some photos of the kids over the past few days...nothing super exciting.  We have been just doing our usual daily life around here...The kids are both off of school all next week for spring break and we are heading to Cayon Lake for 2 days to camp...should be fun!  Otherwise we are sticking close to home and will enjoy some down time...cleaning, organzing and projects are on my list for sure. I am enjoying the Y a lot and thrilled to be able to go with some great girlfriends...it is always fun to suffer with friends!! I have never been one to enjoy the gym, so this has been huge for me to find something I like.  I have gone to several classes and found some that I enjoy more than others.  I am in a lot of discomfort today from my body pump class on Friday...but I am going back tomorrow for more torture. :)
Here are some smiling faces...I will post camping ones for sure when we get back.

Sister Sally...

Enjoy this funny video of Sally this AM.  Any time I get out my tennis shoes and baseball cap, she knows. She starts running around in circles and howling...it is hilarious and super cute too.  Hard to believe on days like today, she is 10 1/2.  We love our dog!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9bsynOjDAU

Reading!!

Zach had a wonderful treat this week..he was invited by Erin's teacher to read to her class.  I picked up Zach from his school at his lunch time and brought him to Erin's school. He got to enjoy snack time with her class and then read them two books. He read, "Giggle Giggle Quack" and "Who Can Fi It".  He did a fabulous job and had so much fun reading to them.  They all listened well and enjoyed his books a lot. The second book he read was written and illustrated by a dear friend of mine when she was 9...the cutest part was how he told them he had met her, like he was talking about a rock star.  It was adorable.  I was so proud of him and glad he was able to go and read.  I love this little guy!

 Erin listened and laughed...she was very proud of him too...

He got a huge round of applause at the end and his whole face lit up...it was a good day!