Reading 'Riting 'Rithmetic

Here is the slideshow from all the nine million images I uploaded to flickr in the last 2 days!

This morning I dragged myself out of bed. No, wait, Kevin kicked me out of bed. Yes, he shoved me out of bed because I couldn't figure out why the music was on in my room, in the dark, in the middle of the night. At 5:45 am. I threw on my clothes, this time with my shirt right-side out, and went to the kitchen to start some water for coffee. Did you know that the thought of making yourself a cup of coffee at 5 in the morning, doesn't translate to giving you a caffeine boost if you don't actually make that cup of coffee? It's true.

Kevin kindly got the girls up and to the potty for me. I poured Liberty and Melody each a bowl of cheerios, and dressed them while they sleepily shoveled food into their maws. They had their typical morning argument, completely in whispers. Why did I think it would be a good idea to take these two? At least they were quiet while they accused each other of staring . . . Oh my.

We grabbed three cameras and headed out the door in tennies and sweatshirts and holey jeans. And a snow white headband.

We made it down to the park again just as the balloons were rising! We have impeccable timing. This time, we parked closer to the far side of the lake, and watched as the balloons rose up over the trees, skimmed across the lake, and headed straight for us! It was pretty exciting. Melody was interested for approximately 30 seconds, give or take 15. She took a handful of pictures, and then spent her time alternately whining about breakfast (which I had been sure to feed them before we left for this very reason) and throwing clods of mud into the lake. Occasionally her spirits were lifted by a PINK! balloon, a garish yellow balloon shaped like a chicken head wearing a bow tie, and Noah's Ark. Though to ask her afterward, she had a fabulous time, and of course she would like to go to the glow tonight. We'll see about that.

Liberty was a great photography partner. She helped me switch my lenses. She pointed out all sorts of lovely balloons with unique markings. She loved the Old Fashioned Patriotic Balloon with Swags and Stars and Stripes. It was my favorite balloon too! She only occasionally asked about breakfast. Mostly to be sure that we were in fact going to eat at a restaurant exactly like the one Ainsley ate at yesterday.

We walked around the lake towards the festivities, but I knew we were on a tighter schedule, so we didn't actually go all the way to the concessions and launching area today. We found out that there is swimming at the lake for $3 a day for kids, and boat rentals, and a nice playground, and fishing! The girls really want to go back with their fishing poles. We also didn't see any tadpoles this time which was quite disappointing to Liberty.

Afterward, we headed back up to IHOP with very hungry tummies. The last time we ate at IHOP, about 6 months ago, they were having a Horton Hears A Who promotion, and my girls were sorely disappointed when the Seuss-like creations were missing from the menu. But a "Create-a-face" pancake was tolerable substitute. That, and I let them sample some of every type of syrup. Melody just had to tell the waitress how much she loves tomatoes and enchiladas. Liberty was a bit tired and cranky at this point, and I was glad we were close to home. The poor kid sounds like she is hacking up a lung. But I am glad she was able to make it out to see tha balloons. And while it wasn't quite the peaceful, meandering adventure of yesterday, it was still a nice time. It's amazing how taking just one child out of the equation makes them so much easier to handle! The rest of the day is going to be filled with regular Sunday activities, with the possiblilty of going to the glow tonight if the weather stays nice. We've never actually made it to a glow, the weather is usually too cold, rainy, or windy! Or the kids are too cranky . . .

Tomorrow should be nice too. Kevin has the day off, and I might just venture down to the park for one more photo excursion! Hopefully Kelly will come along too!

The pictures so far have all been mine; I am going to dedicate and entire post to the girls' pictures, sometime in the next couple of days . . .

I dragged myself out of bed at 5:45 a.m. and pulled Ainsley out of bed a few minutes later. We dressed in the dark (I even had my shirt on inside out, whoops!) and stumbled out to the car. Then we drove away into the sunrise!

We walked up to the top of Prospect lake just as the first balloon was taking off!


Ainsley and I both took lots of pictures, and she took a couple of videos. We had a really nice time just the two of us. And I bought a souvenir that I have been wanting for three years straight. So I bought it. :) I will wait to tell more about it until I have a picture!

We chatted, we oohed and ahhed over the balloons. We cheered for the folks whose baskets dipped into the water. We cheered for the ones who made it back out again when it looked like they might get stuck (and soaked!). We smelled the lovely street fair smells. Ainsley won a hat from the Geico booth with a little green gecko on it. She loves hats!



And when all the balloons had floated away, and some had even come back to land at the starting area, we chatted with the local weatherman, and he was much better looking in person. We lazily made our way back to the car after swinging on a park bench. (This park has several bench swings!) Then it was off to breakfast at Mimi's!

I had such a lovely (early!) morning with my oldest. It made me realize how much I need to do this more often. Not just to grab a kid and run her to the grocery store, but to intentionally do something special individually, just for no reason at all.

We were wondering what were going to do with our nasty burned up microwave, and I forgot to put out the trashcans this morning. Thankfully the trash collector came to my door and asked me if I had any trash! I asked if was able to take the old microwave, and he said, "Of course!!" Hooray! It's the little things in life that excite me.

Tomorrow is the annual balloon festival! We'll see who ends up going with me in the morning. I'd like to go every morning, and to at least one balloon glow, but that's very ambitious. We just all had such a good time last year, and I know the girls really want to go. So, we'll see. Liberty has been under the weather and has a nasty cough, so I don't really want to drag her out of bed at 5 in the morning. *must go look up time of sunrise!*

Co-op should be interesting. Its very different from our old co-op. Especially because everyone is going through the same curriculum. It should be very helpful, especially because I can see literature and writing becoming very time-consuming for Ainsley this year. And I think that Liberty needs that extra little bit of social exposure. Kelly is going to be teaching her History class, so that ought to help, I think. I am teaching a class in which I have no students, and no access to the curriculum. I am hoping that I might be able to get my hands on the cds and videos, but there is no guarantee. Nobody seems to have it . . . Hmm, should be interesting. At least I am finally going to get to put four years of college into action, even if its only 45 minutes a week. The plan is also to start teaching my girls piano. I am also thinking about starting a homeschool choir. Its just an idea right now. But I was always really impressed with my sister's homeschool choir, and thought it was something I could do. I am praying about how to go about it. Its something I am considering anyway. I might need to get in touch with my sister's choir director and chat with her about how she got started. It would also be fun to have a little music ensemble. Now that I am getting connected with the local homeschooling community, but brain is turning with ideas. Of course that means I have to actually talk to people. And just the thought gives me hives.

The girls had their first chat with the teach, which also left me feeling a bit ambivalent. Is that the right way to say that?? But there it is. Part of me is really bummed that I didn't get the other teacher. I already have had some really good conversations with her, and I feel like she and I would be friends outside of COVA. But maybe it's better if I cultivate that friendship with her apart from school. I don't have specific complaints about our teacher, so I can't really explain why I feel the way I do. But I am sure as we get to know her better, it will be fine.

I think I am rambling, but there is a lot in my head today.

Oh yes, dinner was delicious! Kelly fixed a double batch of lasagne and brought the second one over to us today. Yum. And I didn't have to do anything but pop it into the oven. Oh, and the sourdough bread from Target was ever so delicious. The girls proclaimed it as good as Disneyland. Which is a high compliment considering my girls could live off the sourdough bread from Disneyland. The bread from Disneyland is made by the Boudin Bakery and is the perfect combination of sour, sweet, crispy, soft, and delicious. Especially warm from the oven. And tonight's bread was so very close. I may have to go have another piece right now. Thanks Kelly!! (And I hope you sleep comfy in your tent tonight!)

Also, I am very pleased by McCain's choice for VP. I'd heard Palin's story right around the time she gave birth to her sweet little baby boy. I was impressed by her then, and am even more so now. I think she was an excellent choice!

I am also praying for my mom and dad today. They had to put down their sweet dalmatian today. My dad has been through so much since January, and this was just one more painful thing for them. I hope that seeing my sister tomorrow will help ease their hearts. I am glad that I can be there a little for my mom, but I wish I could physically give her my shoulder to cry on tonight. Okay, now I need to go get a tissue.

Last night was a really unique experience. We got to see all the animals at the zoo at dusk and into the night. The more nocturnal animals were all active. We got to hear the mountain lions huffing and puffing and growling at us. The porcupines were climbing their tree. It was so neat! I have some videos to post eventually.

This morning was our first meeting/ parent orientation for co-op. It looks like I am going to be teaching 3rd grade music. Finally going to put my degree to some use :)

I have plenty more to say, but my pillow is beckoning me, so it will have to wait until snacktime tomorrow!