The Royal Blog

11/30/09

11/30/09

While I was waiting to pick E1 up from school, I decided to call the ped's office and see if they could fit her in for an H1N1 shot.  They could, so we went.  E1 wanted me to take a picture of her arm, and let me know several times that the shot really, really hurt. 

 

Four Year Checkup

E2 wasn't really mad, she just wanted me to take a picture of her mad face (like I don't see it often enough....). 

E2 is 42" tall (95%) and weighs 38.5 lbs (75%).  Doctor said her gait is better which I assume has something to do with the pelvic tilt he mentioned last year. 

She was verrrrrrry nervous about going to the doctor so I was a little hesitant about having her get the H1N1 vaccine.  Doctor recommends it though (CDC is predicting another H1N1 spike in 2 and/or 6 weeks due to Thanksgiving and Christmas travel) so I okayed it and she was fine.  She did make sure I knew however that it really hurt. :)

(p.s. at E1's *7* year checkup, she was 46.5" and 49.5 lbs)

Why E1 still believes in Santa

* B & I couldn't possibly eat all those cookies ourselves.  (And she was serious. I thought "Hello? Are you new here?"  but said "That's because you don't put out Oreos.")

* There's soot in front of the fireplace every Christmas morning. (I said "I know - like I'd make more work for myself and do something I'd have to clean up!")

* No offense, but Santa's presents are a lot more expensive than what we buy her.  (Bless her heart, she thinks the phone she got last year - and hasn't used since March - costs about what a laptop costs. Which she wants (laptop).  If Santa can give her a phone, he can certainly make a laptop for her.  "Yeah, well, Santa's noticed you don't take very good care of your things.")

* She wants a Blackberry.  (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.)

11/23/2009

Gratitude

What I am especially grateful for this week:

1. 11 years with my fantastic husband.
2. Grandpa T made it through his surgery! eta: And he's already HOME!!!
3. Amazingly fantastic fall weather.
4. E1 had a fantastic time at A's birthday party.
5. Got Z Children's Place jeans and all the kids some comfy pj's for $8.50.
6. Something Blue magnets!
7. Six straight years of beating Michigan!
8. E1 did NOT want to go to dance (mandatory) and open gym (mandatory according to me) last night because it was Math Night at school; boy was she a snot weasel about it. After working on beam and floor for a bit (with frequent glares cast my way), she came over, apologized, thanked me for bringing her grips and gave me a kiss.

eta: Thanks for all the really nice cards!! :)

Something Blue Flair Magnets

I got my Something Blue magnets yesterday - LOVE them!  I made these for E1 - they go along with her motivational/visualization CD.  She really liked them and I am sooooo pleased with how they turned out.  The photo doesn't do them justice - they look amazing and are so well made.  Can't wait to make some more!!

11/20/09: Ladies in Red

I thought about reminding E1 and Z to wear OSU shirts today but never got around to it.  Coincidentally, all the kids ended up wearing red today.

 
 

11/20/09

This morning was a little rocky:

 
 

By the time we arrived at preschool however, the forecast changed from thunderstorms to partly sunny:

 

Photo Flashback: Siblings

A sweet moment in time where everybody got along for a few minutes, and E2 couldn't talk.  Aaaaaaaah. 

11/19/09

11/17/09

11/17/09

11/17/09

11/16/09

11/16/09

And look who lost a tooth last night!

11/16/09

Gratitude

What I am especially grateful for this past month (I can't believe I skipped so many weeks and I don't believe that helped my increasingly sour attitude):

1. I got E1 a motivational cd - she only listened to it a couple times ("It's boring!") but I truly think it helped her get her giant on the strap bar this week and get a 9.450 on beam yesterday. She is now saying things like "I can't wait to go to the gym tonight" or "I wish I could go to the gym tonight" which is a very, very nice change of pace. Granted, she mostly just wants to go do giants on the strap bar, but considering that a week ago she wanted to quit over having to do giants someday, I'm very happy.
2. Z's parent-teacher was a massive wake-up call. The boy is seriously DISORGANIZED. He's very bright, very respectful, participates well in class but can't get things done on time to save his life. Forgets assignments. loses homework, aye yi yi. We are giving him every tool we can think of to help - planner, locker organizer, bigger messenger bag, reminder after reminder. I'm not too worried about grades right now, but I do want him to have his act together before high school. And I hate to see him so stressed out.
3. E2 is done with dance which I am kind of bummed about. Fortunately she is (begrudgingly) willing to continue with gymnastics.
4. E1 had a great meet yesterday and got her highest beam and all-around scores so far this season.
5. E2's nose is almost totally back to normal!
6. Grandpa T has surgery for his aneurysm next Friday. Not that surgeries are sunshine and rainbows, but I am slightly phobic about aneurysms. They scare the crap out of me.
7. Z's indoor soccer team (coached by B!) is 2-0! Z's weekends are pretty busy soccer-wise. Outdoor training, indoor training, ODP tryouts and indoor games. Keeps his skill levels up over the winter and gets him away from the computer. And he loves soccer! He is actually enjoying the ODP (olympic development program) stuff. We don't really expect him to get picked for the state team next spring - just thought it would be a good experience. I was pleasantly surprised too that he was willing to go - he only knows a few people participating and there's a big chance of being rejected next spring.
8. Bath and Body Works Foaming Hand Soaps are 4/$10 - LOVE that stuff!!
9. IcyHot - I don't know if it really works or it's just the placebo effect, but E1 puts a little on and then I don't have to hear her complain about all her real and imaginary aches and pains.
10. E2's preschool teacher quit which I am a little bummed about but she did a good job selling the incoming teacher ("Mom, I am getting a new really cool teacher!!") and her preschool/daycare does a fantastic job of hiring good people.
11. I got the girls' closets weeded out and organized on Friday.
12. After the last couple of meets, several of us have gone out for dinner. So nice for the girls to have fun together away from the gym, and for us to hang out with a truly awesome group of people.
13. Tabatha's Salon Takeover is back!
14. Z has been more into reading lately.

Competitive Gymnastics: Season 3 Level Five: Season One Meet: Five

Vault: 8.900
Bars:  8.700
Beam: 9.450
Floor: 8.750

AA: 35.800 (I think she got 4th place?)

Just like his old man ;P

Z: "Wouldn't it be cool if you went to college and got a degree and then got a part-time job for some extra money?"

Me: "I DO have a degree"

Z: "Oh.  In what?"

Me: "Economics."

Z: "Oh.  (I think there was some pity in his tone...) Well, if you did get a job, what kind of job would you get?"

Me: "Z, I would love to get a job.  But what exactly do you think would happen in the summer?"

Z: "What do you mean?"

Me: "Who would take you to your soccer camps? Who would take E1 to her gymnastics practice?  Who would watch E2, and how much would that cost?"

Z: "Oh, that makes sense. So it's hard to balance work and family."

Has the kid been watching Oprah??? :P

11/12/09

Early release day, hooray!  So now we're watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover!

You can ring my bell, my bell, ring my bell

 

Today E2 got to ring the bell and received a ribbon for some squat-on vault or something like that!
 

11/11/09

Progress Report: Grade 5, Quarter 1 11/10/09

Grade/Achievement

A: Classroom work consistently meet the highest expectations
B: Classroom work meets expectations and has a good degree of accuracy

Performance

3: Strong
2: Satisfactory
1: Minimal

Social Development: 3's
Work Habits: 3's
Reading: 3's, A+
Writing: 3's
Writing Process and Applications: A-
Writing Conventions: A-
Spelling/Word Study: A+
Social Studies: 3's  Geography/Regions: A+
Science: 3's Astronomy: A+
Health: 3's  Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs: A
Math: 2's (expressing ideas with clarity), 3's, A

I'd say fifth grade is agreeing with her!
 

Almost back to normal

Cut is healing nicely, color has run through the rainbow and is starting to fade, breathing is much better, voice is no longer nasal.  I feel so bad about her left nostril though.  Someone assured me it will eventually return to its former shape - but I told E2 I'd get her plastic surgery as soon as she turns 16!

Flashback Photo: November 2005

Flashback Photos: May 2006

 
 

Competitive Gymnastics: Season 3 Level Five: Season One Meet: Four

Vault: 8.550
Bars:  9.050
Beam: 8.800
Floor: 9.025

AA:  35.425 (6th "I was just happy I placed!")

11/06/09

11/05/09

Poor Baby!

Poor E2 bumped her nose again during tubby time and boy did it swell up/turn purple!   She won't leave the ice pack on so I rushed out and got her some Motrin. :(

I don't know if the photo does it justice, but it looks much worse than before her bath.

11/04/09

B & E2 were at the bookstore last night to get the latest installment in the 39 Clues series.  Apparently B told E2 not to climb on a table, and apparently someone did not listen, and then took a nose dive off said table.  E2 had a very restless night and is staying home today. Fortunately her nose doesn't hurt too much (drinking from her sippy cup was uncomfortable) and she let me clean her up a little.  I am having trouble not laughing at her extremely nasal voice.

And here's the kidlets on November 3rd of last year:

Parent-Teacher Conference

Had a conference with E1's Language Arts & Science teachers this morning.  She is doing SO well.  Organized, fits in well, has adjusted well, fine with the increase in homework, so much fun to have in class, calming influence on the other kids, etc etc etc.  The only area where they have noticed a difference is writing.  She is not a bad writer, just hasn't learned how to expand on her thoughts and write more detailed sentences. 

11/02/09