We Have a Basketball Goal

We bought a basketball goal and placed it in front of the house. It's nice to go outside and shoot some hoops.

Ryan getting ready for the shot.

Ally getting pointers from dad.

And the Cruddy Mom Award Goes to . . .

ME!

I would have liked to use another word than "cruddy", but this is a family friendly site. Let me explain why I am deserving of this award.

In kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade Ally received the Leader of the Pack/Rising Star Award. This is awarded quarterly to 2 students in each class who is showing leadership skills while showing improvement.

Now I know Ryan isn't the easiest student to have in class. He talks when the teacher has asked students to stop talking (in his defense he stated to me "I wasn't talking mom. I was whispering"). He doesn't always focus on his work (he is usually enjoying the "show" around him). However, since January, we have seen such an improvement in his behavior and academics.

So I volunteer in the school at least twice a weak for 3 to 4 hours. Well, I had heard in the announcements that Rising Star would be awarded that Thursday night. I was certain it was Ryan's turn to receive the award. On Wednesday, while I was in Ryan's class, I asked Ryan who was getting the Rising Star. He just shrugged his shoulders.

Now I'm not the best at checking the kids folders in their backpacks. I don't remember if I checked Ryan's backpack Wednesday evening. I do know that Thursday night, after AWANA, around 9:30 at night, I was going through the kids backpacks getting them ready for the next day. Lo and behold, in Ryan's folder, there is a note from Ryan's teacher that states "Congratulations! Ryan has been chosen as the Rising Star. Please be in the gym Thursday at 6:30 to receive his award at the Rising Star assembly". What?!?!?!?!

After much questioning (why didn't I get this note earlier) and much crying (Ryan deserved to get this award in front of everybody) I decided it is what it is. The next day I went to Ryan's class. His teacher apologized for not mentioning the note to me. I apologized for not checking his backpack sooner. I took my camera and asked if she could present the award to Ryan in class in front of the other students.

Miss Stultz reading why Ryan deserves this award.

YAY Ryan! You rock! Good job on being a Rising Star.

Cathy's Cheer Competition

My sister's step-daughter was in a cheer competition a few weeks back. It was nice to go watch the different performances by some many different schools. Cathy's school took 3rd in their division. We are really proud of her.

She is the one in the center back row.

Legoland Water Park

On our second day at Legoland Henry and the kids went and hung out at Legoland Water Park. I didn't want to get wet, so I walked the shops. I did go into the water park for a little bit and snapped some pictures.

Ally and Henry floating down the lazy river.

Ryan shooting the water canyon as mom looks on.

Hey, look at me.

Ally and Ryan floating down the river. They were a little uncertain of going without their dad at first. So Henry walked behind them their first time through.

We loved Legoland. I think my kiddos were the perfect age for this amusement park. I loved seeing so many things made out of Legos. Who knows....If I can convince Henry to buy a time share in that area we just might go again some day. LOL

The Beach

Our hotel was only a couple blocks from the beach. So, after the first day at Legoland we drove down to the beach. It was awesome! The area we were at was not a tourist spot. We drove through a neighborhood and parked on the side of the road. We walked along a small path to a stairwell that headed straight to the beach.

There were a couple surfers out on the water and occasionally a jogger would run by, but other than that, we pretty much had the entire beach to ourself.

This picture is the background on my computer. I love this picture.

Waiting for the waves.

Ryan fell in love with the water. Henry had to hold on tight to him because he kept trying to run into the waves.

Waiting for it.....................................

And it hits! I can not say enough how much Ryan loved the water. He kept licking his fingers and saying "yum, it's salty". I think he might be a surfer when he grows up.

Beautiful.

Ally enjoyed the water. However, she was focused on finding sea shells. So Ally and I walked up and down the beach looking for seashells.

Ally did not want to stop looking for seashells. She was heartbroken when it was time to leave.

I fell in love with this spot. I have been looking online for a timeshare in this area. I would love to return to this spot.

Day 4 and 5 Legoland!

We loved Legoland. This park was perfect for Ally and Ryan. All the rides are geared towards their age group. I think they rode all but 2 rides at the park. I enjoyed just walking around and seeing all the different things made out of legos.

Here we are as we enter the park on the first day.

Ally and Ryan posing with Luigi.

Shhhhh.....there's a turtle with her eggs.

Ally, Ryan and Henry on the water blaster. I can't ride any ride that spins in circles.

Like I said earlier, Ally has gotten so brave.

Made completely out of Lego's! Pretty awesome stuff.

Ryan driving his Lego car. These cars were not on any sort of track. The layout of the track is a mini city with stop signs and stop lights. There are even yellow lines on the "roads" and multiple city blocks.

Ally and Ryan had a blast driving around Lego city.

Can you see the Capitol in the background (Henry thinks the Capitol and the White House are the same thing).

Ally and Henry riding a ride that spins too much for me or Ryan.

The kids had a blast going down this slide. I even went on it a few times.

Henry went down the slide once and he did not like it. He even slowed himself down by holding on to the side as he slid down.

Getting ready to fly the plane.

Once again, completely out of Lego's.

Day 3 - California Adventures

On our third day in California we went to California Adventures which is right next to Disneyland. Here are some random pictures from the day.

The Toy Story soldiers marching by.

Koda from Brother Bear.

Ally is getting braver and braver. Here she is on a "zip line" in the Redwood Creek Challenge trail.

Posing with Hopper from a Bug's Life.

Wow, that is a big sprinkler!

This is the Mickey's Fun Wheel ferris wheel. It is 150 feet tall.

On Mickey's Fun Wheel you can choose a stationary basket or a basket that slides on its own track as the ferris wheel rotates. Ryan and I went in a stationary basket while brave Ally and Henry went on the sliding basket. Henry said afterwards that he almost got sick and that they were freezing up there. Ryan and I were also freezing up there (it didn't help that we had just gotten off the Grizzly River Run and we were all soaking wet).

California Adventures was fun. Disneyland has more to do than California Adventures. So like my friend Joanie told me - go to Disneyland on the day that you have more time and to California Adventures on the day you have less time.

Oh yeah - get the chocolate covered frozen bananas at either place. I am still dreaming about them.