Thursday, December 31, 2015

Sled with Kids

B gone on business trip. My first day and night with kids.

Took 20 minutes to get ready, drove 20 minutes to get there, and sled for 10 minutes. The girl was cold and belligerent, the boy liked it for a little bit. Both need better gloves, they've been spoiled by the nice weather in Vegas and Arizona. Coming back to 18 F degree is hard for the.






Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Back Home for Tucson Xmas

We left for 7 days and took Sadie for the first time to az.

Day 1 drove to page az, stayed in quality inn and ate Mexican lunch at Beaver
Day 2 drove 5 hours to tucson and had dinner with grandparents
Day 3 visit great grandma in her home care facility
Day 4 took kids swim in tucson home pool
Day 5 hang out
Day 6 Uncle Dan and family comes and visits
Day 7 left for Vegas, long drive 6 hours ate Vegan Chinese dinner at China town. Da bomb!



Came home on Monday....now 5 days before school is back on!!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

40 Acts by 40

1. Refuse to use anything in a package. Especially, single wrapped items.

2. Repurpose things you might throw away.

3. Recycle.

4. Plastic bags. Only 10% is biodegradable. Means it is there for 500 years.

5. Compose vegetables and old fruits.

6. Plastic bottles thrown away, end up in oceans where fish eats them and we eat them.

7. Avoid buying one time use products. Water bottles, plates, use cloth napkins.

8.  Bring a reusable bag when you go shopping. California ban plastic bag in 2014. Making it the first state to do so.

9. Use small wash cloth, instead of hand wipes (baby wipes).

10. If you go out to eat, bring your own reusable container so no plastic is used.

11. Plastic water bottles take 1,000 years to biodegrade. Also, tap water is actually more strictly regulated than bottled water.

12. Make cleaning rags and handkerchiefs out of worn-out clothes and material scraps.

13. Host or attend a clothing swap where friends/family bring unwanted clothes to swap.

14. 

    Saturday, December 19, 2015

    Miss A 2 years and a quarter

    At 2 1/4 years old, you love life.  Sometimes can be dramatic if things don't go your way. You get hurt easy whether it is brother hitting you in the face with a doll, or my closing a door, and your face is close by...

    Favorite food: Anything

    Saying: Likes to mimic what brother says, falls down and says "Im okay"

    Show: Curious George

    Loves school, Ms. Linda, and friends.  Loves to participate with everyone.

    Xmas PArty




    Wednesday, December 16, 2015

    It's Zebra

    Wes was looking at Ari's new book from Uncle M. and he didn't know the horse looking animal with stripes. Then Ari told brother, "It's zebra".

    Love how my two year old is teaching my four.

    Sunday, December 13, 2015

    Stack Bob

    Today I finally got my hair cut again but she did it very short. At least I can wait till March to get it done again.  Last cut was in September for picture day.  What I like is a A line bob with face framing layers in the front. This time the bangs have been cut, so it is short in the front and stacked in the back. $17.50 plus tip Super cut Jenn (asian gal) Midvale.


    Saturday, December 12, 2015

    Another Day of Learning

    At work, I help host the faculty xmas party. That was refreshing, from being a SAHM to introducing ice breaker game and provide meals to 80 or so people.

    I am also leading 150 kids in xmas sing a long with "santa is coming to town" in Chinese and English.

    My own babies are learning about "Bells and the sounds of Winter"




    Wednesday, December 9, 2015

    Gem of W

    I am grunting tonight because my right knee is in deep pain. My son heard me moan and asked "Mom, do you need to poop?" So cute!

    B said W had to fart tonight and went to another corner of the room while they were both in there. My boy has social ettiqute.

    Saturday, December 5, 2015

    Xmas Event Medical Office




    Ugly Stepsister

    Sometimes I feel like an ugly stepsister with my partner teacher. She is younger, more beautiful, and lately getting a lot of attention due to marriage.  Yes, I do feel jealous for all the gifts and attention she is getting. B tells me to focus on the positive. Other teachers chose to observe her while Randy is here, yet no one chose me. I feel like I am the ugly step sister.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2015

    Chatterbox A

    She talks and talks. What use to be "dog" she now says "dog play ball", often she might also say "where is chocho" Is cho cho wet?  She talks away.

    Mom- A do you think Nico is handsome?
    A: Yep.

    Saturday, November 28, 2015

    Thursday, November 26, 2015

    StoryTime Wes

    For thanksgiving family came to play with us and eat with us for 5 hours. We ate, watch parts of star war, went to the park, and play some more. W really likes being told stories and likes to create his own story. It was a great birthday present for me.

    Massage Birthday

    Went to get a $40 massage at massage cabin provo. Then went to see 007 Spectre with B. Had Olive garden for dinner from student parent gift.


    Friday, November 20, 2015

    Trains and School

    Kids at daycare

    A's favorite phrase: "and, then...and, then" as she is trying to tell me what happend in her day.



    Wednesday, November 18, 2015

    Community

    Going back to work is like being back to society.

    Today my old teaching partner came to give me my early b day gift. A bag full of apples and a jar of caramel.  He is extremly kind to me. Same guy who gave me 500 to spend on listening center for kids.

    Feeling blessed.

    Fun things!

    W sees an interacial couple on wedding card, he asked Bryce.  "dad is that when you were born?"

    Apparently, my kids think you are us.

    Monday, November 16, 2015

    Mr. Big

    W is 4 years and 3 months old, he too is progressing as he should be.

    He knows many of his letters, letter sounds, and now we are learning sight words from computer school.  He can tell me what he did at Ms.Linda's school, and often negotiate his needs and wants.


    Mama's Girl

    Love how my baby girl demands a kiss from me before I leave her at daycare. She ordered, "mama, a kiss" And then I can leave.

    She is now 2 years and 2 months old, she knows a lot of words such as "bottom, help you, what the hecky, building ready yet?, loves when I joke to her.

    I love how she is so in tune with the feelings of others. The other night when she saw me sobbed while watching a show, she kept hugging me and giving me kisses.

    My baby is getting so big!


    Thursday, November 12, 2015

    Ha!

    Fun day today. We had Byu visitors, state visitors, and cascade elementary teachers. One whom I used to sub for.. fun now he is visiting my class.

    Pick up the kids around 5:30 and we came home and made ginger bread cookies. They loved it.

    Monday, November 9, 2015

    Tales from Pre-School Version A

    Me: A what did you do at school today?

    A: Circle time.

    Me: Who are your friends?

    A: Emma and Nico.

    Vocabulary growing like a weed, speaking in sentences.

    For example, drive past homeless person, she asked: "What happend?" More aware of her surrounding.

    Friday, November 6, 2015

    Back to Friday

    Today I worked from 6-6pm. Yes I conisider my babies work. W woke up at 6:30 and we left home an hour later. THey stay at daycare for 8-5pm. I love my job dearly and had to get things done, especially not having to work yesterday. My american co workers don't understand that, because they think I am sick and should go home. But instead, I would be alone with 2 whining, screaming kids 4 and under. I did take them to mcdonalds for dinner and gross that there appraently was poop in the slide. yuck!

    Bry 's plane delay in Mexico, may come back tomorrow.

    Thursday, November 5, 2015

    Surprise! Second absence of week

    Today I took the day off to rest my voice. Kids were at daycare from 8-4pm. I did yard work (rake leaves), clean house (funny it looks like I didn't clean it), watch mind numbing tv and cooked corn chowder for supper. Kids liked it. It is a cold day, we even had snow in the morning.

    My voice is better but still raspy. Going to work tomorrow.

    8:41am

    So I am now home from taking the kids to daycare. I was going to keep them in a little longer but W wanted what he always did in the morning. It's their routine. Just like my students, even when I'm not there they know what we do each day and what to expect next.

    I am sick with laryngitis. Yesterday, worked the whole day with just whispering to the kids, and the kids were real good.  Today just chilling at home. Get some cleaning and cooking done. B will come back late night tomorrow. Kinda miss the guy, a lot.

    At work, I help organized Randy's b day celebration, apprently no one did it for him last year, but this year with me on board, I had enlisted helpers to bring treats for both building. He said for his 60th he went and done 60 acts of service, and don't count the ones that people ask. I just think that is the coolest thing. I think I will seriously consider doing that for my 40th.

    Wednesday, November 4, 2015

    Three words A

    A: Gong Gong give me house (doll house)

    Doc said she should be able to produce 2 word sentences, she is  producing 4 words.

    Tuesday, November 3, 2015

    Back to work

    Without a voice. My energy level was low for teaching today and by the end of day, my voice was virtually gone. My students had a lot of quiet time today. My own babies have electronic time. What you gonna do, when the main caregiver is sick...


    Monday, November 2, 2015

    Maximize Monday Off

    I took the day off to run errands and spend time with kids. Here is what we did.

    We went to 5 places today. First we went to their doctor's appt. glad there was another doctor available. Then, we went to get prius serviced and ate at mcdonalds. Next, dropped them off at Ms.Linda (I had 2 hour break, walked Sadie, take a nap, go get flu shot). Last, met Gong at Lehi and took all to Curiosity museum. Forgot my camera but it was entertaining for $40 (15 adult, 12 child, 12 senior). Came home at 6:45pm. We ate, took a bath, and tv time. It is 8:41 and all is quiet.
    B is in Mexico until Friday night. It is extra hard because I am under the weather. Hope my voice come back tomorrow.


    Saturday, October 31, 2015

    Halloween Partay!




    PRe School Partay! Nice of her to enlist her children to go behind each door and let the littles do some trick or treating.  She is a good care giver.

    Wednesday, October 28, 2015

    End of Life Conversation with a 4 year old

    Wow! Amazing article I read today about a family with a very sick 4 year old whose quality of life is down south. She has a genetic diease which is incruable and if  she gets sick she would die.  The doctors say she could survive in the hospital or die at home.Family being religous ask the 4 year old do you want to go to the hospital or go to heaven.  She chose to die at home.

    The procedures for this little girl, for the toughest would scream, but she is so weak, all she can do is cry.  My heart breaks for her and her family, because this takes toll on the whole family. The mom is a doctor and the father had to quit being a airforce pilot to care for her full-time.

    Just really makes me think, as I have two healthy children about the same age. Makes you evaluate what really is important in life.

    Tuesday, October 27, 2015

    I wov you mom

    Tonight my son said "I wov you mom"! He does not say this much, so for me, it means I'm doing a good job.

    Friday, October 23, 2015

    Busy Working Days

    Wow! So we are in our 3rd month of mama work schedule. Mornings are what you call mad dash. Boy wakes up around 7 and girl 7:30 then off to day care at 7:45am. I do come home exausted because I'm now with kids all day, but sure these are 8 year olds and there is a lot more support.

    The day care is nice that she post to fb pics every day, so I know what happend in their day.

    W is 4 and 2 months and likes mr. potatoe head, puzzles, and asking alot of questions that start with "but why mama?" He is able to communicate himself better as well. This has a lot to due with maturity and being around his peers.

    A is 2 years and 1 month old. She loves to do what everyone else is doing. If you are painting she better be painting too.  This girl has lots of language and often say "what you talking about mama?" and "oh" when you summarize for her. Another phrase is "No Wes!", must be said many times at daycare.

    Good thing is we try to do a family activity each week and with Halloween around the corner, we ve been to many pumpkin patch and today the Pumpkin Parade at Riverwoods Mall.

    Sunday, October 18, 2015

    Teaching Grit

    #5 -- Everyone can learn grit
    #4 -- Praise the effort, not the end result
    #3 -- Encourage your kids to solve small problems
    2 -- Don't pack their camping gear
    #1 -- Make your kids make their beds

    Saturday, October 17, 2015

    Hee Haw Farm






    Hee Haw Family fun! $6 per person. Includes Courtyard activities, hayride, hayride to pumpkin patch, animal petting zoo, giant slide and animal train ride. We spent a good two hours! Kids are out.

    Monday, October 12, 2015

    Acrobats

    We got to see a show with acrobats today. The kids were spellbound.

    Sunday, October 11, 2015

    Sad Eyes

    Its hard for me to see my mom like this. I hope she does not feel defeated instead feel empower that she had integrity to leave her former employer.  I will do all in my power to help her find work. Starting with her resume.

    Donors Choose First

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/listening-center-for-learning-chinese/1728273/?rf=email-system-2015-10-proposal_approve-teacher_3186552&challengeid=20661524&utm_source=dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=proposal_approve&utm_swu=4258

    My first ever crowd funding project went live today. First week, all donations are matched up to $100. So excited!! if it does get funded, I will get it in Jan. 27th.

    Saturday, October 10, 2015

    Jaker's Pumpkin

    Family fun for 5 bucks corn pit, slides, hay ride, petting zoo (donkeys, pigs, goose) and pumpkins for sale. Sad note a little after we left hayride, a little kid fell off the hayride and had to go to the hospital.