Kindergarten, Seriously?!?

I cannot believe our little princess has started Kindergarten!!!! It has been a little more emotional for me than I assumed it would be. She is just growing way too fast. 

She has been really enjoying riding the bus, doing homework with Colin, and packing her lunch. I am so glad that she seems to be adjusting well. She also started soccer (pics soon). I think she will have a great time playing with girls from her class.

I love seeing her personality blossom and her likes/interest expand! She is using so many big words (like duplicate)...her sense of humor goes beyond her years. I just love her so much!

Colin's Menu: Quesadillas

Colin's 

Colin chose to make quesadillas for his first meal planning adventure. I was very impressed with him. He used a sharp knife for the first time, had to put things on the burners (turn them on) and use a skillet for the tortillas.

This recipe was very simple. All you needed was tortillas, refried beans, cheese and any toppings you wanted. Colin decided to add black beans and corn as well. So we had all of the items that required warming up on the stove going on low, while Colin cut up all of the toppings. We did tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, avocados, and mushrooms. 

Then Colin had to take a tortilla, put refried beans on it, black beans and cheese. Then place it on the skillet with either a little butter on it or spray oil. He added the top tortilla before placing on it on the skillet. I helped him with the flipping. Colin was able to cut the tortillas as well.

Plain Jane - Meli

Mine (Will's was similar)

For dessert, Colin made pudding with a galore of toppings. I told them that they will not always be able to do these type of desserts. Thankfully these are the only two days we will do desserts. Still that adds up for the month!

Sundae pudding

On to 3rd grade

Our 3rd Grader

Colin had his first day of third grade today. I think this has been the hardest emotionally for me thus far. I think because Meli is our last one starting and 3rd grade is getting a lot older. I remember third grade and that just does not seem so little anymore. 

Our traditional little chalkboard we have used every year is packed in the garage still, so we had to improvise. I hope to find the other before tomorrow. Meli will start Kindergarten on Wednesday. Then she does not go again until Monday. They split the kids over two days and have both teachers spend time with both groups. Then they determine the best fit for each kid based on personality. Trying not to put all of the shy kids in one room, etc. We get to find out who her teacher is Friday.

Almost 9

Colin had a great first day! He seems very excited about 3rd grade! I am having a great time with his age. I love the books he wants to read on his own and ones that I can read to him. We have been reading the BFG and Junie B Jones. We had to take a break from the BFG since it got packed. Darn boxes! So, Meli picked Junie B Jones for her pick, then Colin gets to pick, and then I get to pick one. We will hopefully be starting the Harry Potter series here soon.

Meli Too

Meli wanted her name added and blue balloons. She is obsessed with the color blue. Everything has to be blue. She thinks your favorite color should be your eye color. Which happens to work for our family. Colin and I love green and Will likes blue. She got confused when she tried to tell Grammie that her favorite color has to be brown, which Grammie refused to say was her favorite color. 

Strangely though, Meli keeps telling me that yellow is my favorite color too. Not sure why she thinks that. I am guessing it is because I told her it was such a happy color.

Meli wanted to go with Colin

Our Big Boy

I am sure I will make Colin take more pictures tomorrow, when I have the chalkboard. Stay tuned!

Meli's Kitchen: Turkey Burger

Turkey burgers

This is the first week that we are having the kids separately plan their own dinner menu (including dessert) and cook it. Meli went first choosing turkey burger sliders with pears and green beans. Will decided to add Red Lobster biscuits (one of his fave). For dessert Meli chose marshmallows dipped in chocolate and ice cream cones dipped in chocolate with vanilla ice cream. She actually did a very good job. She got to crack an egg again. She added all of the seasonings and stirred the meat. She did not want to touch the meat, which I was OK with. So, I made the patties and put them on the grill. She picked out of the condiments and veggies. I was very impressed that she would pick things that she did not like, but knew that Colin or somebody else did. Meli is super picky, so I am hoping that this will help her want to try more things. Thankfully she seems to like something in every food group. Plus, she loves protein rich foods. She just has very simple taste. Nothing mixed. 

Very yummy

So first meal was a success!! Colin is up next. He chose cheese & bean quesadillas with a vanilla pudding.

Need to work on her presentation

I think we will like the two cookbooks for kids that we chose.

Both recipes came from the Cooking Class book

Sprinting Champs

The two videos are from several weeks ago. My dad was trying to wear out the kids' energy. It definitely worked. They were doing this forever before I came out. They were so tired after I video taped. I loved Colin's determination to beat his time and Meli's too. Plus, her face was so serious!

Two Little Chefs

We started a new thing with the kids, where once a week they each get to plan a meal and help cook it. Last week, we were rushed so they both helped me with one meal together. They both wanted to make breakfast for dinner. 

I was very surprised how they both did with cracking the eggs. Neither one made a mess what so ever. Colin's egg cracking method was a bit unconventional (I wish I would have thought to record his attempt) but it worked. 

They decided to make scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. I was not as hungry, so they were sweet and made me a small bowl of oatmeal.

I think that this will be very fun for the kids. It will also help to teach the importance of the major food groups and balancing that in a meal. I will also let them choose a  dessert (probably more on the healthy side) on their cooking days. I need to find a good kid's Cookbook. 

A Coast Getaway

Road trip!

Last month we took the kids on impromptu road trip to the coast. Meli had been a little confused about the whole moving thing. It did not help that we had a few weeks between our old house and new one. We also were staying at a house during that two week period, and on vacations we tend to get houses rather than hotels.  Poor Meli. She really was unsettled.

Her truly happy place is around water, preferably the ocean. She is our little fishy. It is so amazing to see her in her element. The look of pure joy just makes your heart melt.

Happy Kids

We headed to Lincoln City for the first part of our trip. We spent time at the beach, perused the outlet malls, had a family dinner at McMenamins, swam at the hotel pool. Meli loved the hotel. My memory could be wrong, but I do not believe she has stayed at a hotel since she was two. She loved it! I think if she stayed at the hotel swimming pool the whole time she would have been satisfied. My mom came with us, so we got a family suite that was very exciting for the kids.
.

The wind was crazy

That night, Will and I had a date night. Will had never been to Kyllos, so we tried there. The food and drinks were delicious. We also were lucky and got a table with a window view of the beach. Sunset was gorgeous! My picture thru the glass did not do it justice. 

Sunset dinner

Dad & Son

Wonderful restaurant

My frilly drink

I do not usually do frilly drinks, but thought it would be fun. I cannot remember the name but it was something about a beach. Delicious (a little sweet for me - so one was good). I love taking pictures at restaurants, usually to irritate Will. Hence the drink shots. My second drink was a Champagne Twist or something. I liked this one a lot. More my style - not as sweet.

Haha, he didn't even know

Sunset stroll

We got to see the world's shortest 

On the way out of Lincoln City, Will saw a Christmas Cottage store - which sparked his memory that he had actually been to this coast town years ago. His memory of Oregon is horrible. He got the whole car excited for Christmas. Now we  will be hearing about that until the end of the year. 

Hotel

We spent the next day in Newport. I have been hoping to take the kids to the aquarium. Colin loves all types of animals. He was so happy to explore the place. 

Colin's treat

Will's treat

The kids had so much fun

The aquarium was pretty nice. The kids loved the under water tunnel. Colin really wants to do the sleepover in there. Not so sure about that. The idea of sea creatures swimming around me in pure darkness seems very creepy. Plus, I have seen all of the Jaws movies a ridiculous amount of times.

Meli

Meli thought it was funny to see Dory

Happy kids

She was not sure about touching

Did not look at the hair before taking the picture

The kds' favorite part

Under sea adventures

Oh no!

Will's happy place

We also headed to Rogue for a family lunch. They had a pulled pork sandwich made with their homemade root beer. Seriously delicious. There cider was wonderful too.

I really wanted to take the kids to Ripley's Believe it or Not, the Wax Works, and Under Sea Gardens, but we did not have time. Plus, I am not sure how Meli would like the wax things. I loved it as a kid but not sure about these two.

My Super Sweet Boy

Last week, the kids and I were exploring our town, kind of saying goodbye. Colin is sad to change schools, but somewhat excited for something new. I explained that we would definitely keep in touch with his friends.

Meli is excited for the move, but at the same time not quite sure what is going on. She seems a little unsettled. I think it was hard because we stayed in a house at Sunriver, then at a family members house (once we sold our house), then finally into the new house. I think she just needed it to be done so she knew the final picture. Somewhat a rough behavioral weeks for her, but at the same time it was somewhat understandable. She was very nervous whenever I would leave. Made me so sad.

During our exploring, we came across this cute little guy. The first time we saw him, he was laying down and did not look like he was going to make it (or dead already). We headed to our destination (ice cream) and said a prayer (at the request of Colin) that either the little guy would be OK or if not, it would be quick for him.

On our way back towards him, I could hear Colin behind me whispering a little prayer behind me ("let him be OK, let him be OK"), Colin swears that when we got to him his eyes just opened! I am thinking it was before that, but he is adamant about it.

We must have sat and watched this guy for at least 30 minutes. I was surprised he did not scurry away. Especially with Meli fairly close to him. I am guessing that he was injured somehow, but did not see any obvious marks. Hopefully he ended up OK.

It was so sweet to see Colin (and Meli) so concerned about him (or her). I love their big hearts. Definitely a melting heart mom moment.

                                                               ~ Love, Hugs & Kisses ~
                                                                         The B Family

Trouble & Sweetness

With as rough and tumbly Meli is, I am so surprised we have not had bumps sooner. She constantly has bruises and (if my memory is accurate) has had one head bump prior to this. Of course this happened right before bed (and Will and j have a growler calling our name in the fridge), but poor girl it's fairly big. Colin is being very sweet and reading his book to her. Such a sweet boy. Even if it is party because he feels horrible for helping to cause the bump. He is always sweet though. They were just too excited about their new rooms and play room. 

Moving is Exhausting!!

Moving can be so tiring! It feels like we have been packing forever. We only have a few more days at our house, which is bittersweet. I am exciting for being in a new place but we love our house and little town. I do seem to get antsy around the three year mark. This next area will have so much to do, it should be difficult to get bored. Hopefully. I think Will would love it (well I know he would) if I could commit to one city, state, etc. What can I say, my free-spirit self does not like being restricted and loves to explore new places. Who knows though. 

It will take us a little while to get to our new house...I am super excited. Hopefully the transition will be smooth for the kids. Meli asks everyday when we are moving (it feels like every few minutes)...I am so ready for that to be done. 

The kids have been very resourceful with playing and relaxing with no furniture. I love seeing their creative play. So fun and imaginative. Meli is really getting into art!!  I love our little art time together. The only problem is she wants to work on whatever I am doing. I cannot imagine the mess she would make with charcoal! She also loves my adult coloring books (truly a great form of relaxation). Such a bither. I will post some of her recent art soon. 

Until next time...