Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Naughty Mason

Mason's note from daycare yesterday...

Monday, April 27, 2009

2.79 mile walk!

After the kids went to bed, I ventured out for a walk. I knew what route I was going to try and thought it would take about 20-30 minutes maybe. It had to be like 1 or 1.5 miles. How about 2.79 miles and 45 minutes!

I figured out the distance using a website called mapmyrun.com.

Card Club - April

Sunday, April 26, 2009

April Birthdays

We hosted a party for the April birthdays - Dad, Mom and Marissa. The boys loved having them over. Zander even wrote 'Happy Birthday' on the front step to welcome everyone.






Wednesday, April 22, 2009

It's Kindergarten Orientation Eve!

OMG, I cannot believe that Kindergarten orientation is tomorrow. Where did the last 5 years go?! It seems like yesterday that we were taking Zander home from the hospital. And now he's almost 5 and about to start kindergarten! I'm crying as I'm typing this post. This may be a good thing. I need to get out all the tears before tomorrow night to save embarrassment - for myself and Mana.

If this orientation is anything like preschool conferences, I will be a mess, no doubt. But maybe it won't be so bad since it's a lot of paperwork, touring and listening to the "rules". At preschool conferences a few weeks ago, the teacher shared Zander's "Strengths and Goals" as follows:

Strengths
* What a sweetheart! A kind, caring & smart little guy.
* Very bright & catches on to things fast.
* Participates, answers questions
* patterns, rhyming, letters, etc.
* Went from knowing 49 to 51 letters this year! (that dang lowercase q gets me every time too!)

Goals
* Encourage drawing pictures, people w/ details, places, even labeling them
* Keep practicing name writing with lowercase letters
* playing with peers a little more, or asking peers to join him or if he can join - just building that confidence.

How could I not get all emotional after the teacher shares this info.... maybe with the exception of her elaboration on the first strength. When she went on and on about how Zander is so kind to his classmates, taking turns and giving up his turn for them.... I stopped the teary-eyes and looked at Dennis as if I wanted to say "Is she talking about OUR kid?!" but I suppose he's a bit of a different kid when he's not be pestered by his 2-year-old brother and retaliates.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Easter

Easter egg coloring was going fine and dandy last Saturday... until Zander tipped over the BLUE dye.




Easter morning, the boys found their baskets. Zander got a bike helmet and Mason got a "derby hat" (Mana might have made that name up - the kind Samuel L. Jackson wears).


Sunday, we wet to my parents in the AM and to Liz & Keith's late afternoon which included an easter egg hunt. This picture of the 4 of them was impossible. I took a bunch and still none of them are looking. And to think in 4 months, there will be 6 cousins!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Mason LOVES Flight of the Conchords

Totally mesmerized...


Here's the video he was watching if you're interested...

Monday, April 13, 2009

open heart surgery.... SO amazing!

My trip to Boston last week was so wonderful. I cannot believe that in my 9+ years at Medtronic, this was my first time in the OR. I observed 5 cases at Brigham & Women's Hospital - amazing!
This is a horrible picture, I know. Scrubs for occupational attire - I could do that!


I had a few hours to walk around the city before training started...

My view from the hotel room.

Sweet 3-story Apple store!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Tag reading system

Today we finally broke out the Tag reading system that Zander got from Santa (and Santa won it on the Mommycast podcast). It was a lot of fun for him. He's been reading some easy Dr. Seuss books with me, but when I showed how to use the Tag, he liked being able to do it on his own. It comes with one book, but there are many available for purchase. It's battery powered and the sound is decent. There's even a headphone jack!




I'm off to finish packing. I'm heading to Boston for a work trip Monday afternoon - returning Friday early AM.