Lissie Lou....

My precious angel is 7 months old yesterday....These are from a couple of weeks ago. In the pictures, she was still trying to be really stable sitting up by herself. Now, she sits, crawls (belly off the floor), pulls up to standing by anything, and today started scooting around the couch. So exciting, but it's so sad to see how fast she grows and changes.




















Perfection!!!

Declaring War....

My anxiety level is at an all time high...The number and severity of the uncontrollable swirling around my hyperventilating little self is at an all time high. I can't take it any more. Really, no more...
Therefore, as of today, dear blog I am declaring war. I shall conquer and vanquish all the "stuff" that is causing me grief and is within my control. I shall win...If not, well....let's not go there.

Think positively.

My first victim...Enemy of the State of Calm #1.....STUFF. Yes, stuff. In the next two weeks I will systematically go from room to room and seriously fight the stuff. This will not be as easy as it sounds. I was raised a clutter bug (though my mom will disagree). Chotsky's, doo-dads, memorabilia....plethora of items that HAD to be saved because they meant something however didn't really and if they did ceased to do so due to the volume. Papers, cords, screws, thingy's and what'nots that "may come in handy one day". All of it will be gone. The stuff around me is causing me severe anxiety and taking too much time to control. (Probably because I am the only one trying to control it....the loved ones don't seem to mind....)

Todays mission...The office......If you don't hear from me by tonight, please come dig me out.....

Gloriously Random, Verse 2...

I am a terrible blogger, I know. Life has just been way, way too crazy lately.....Sorry Blogosphere! Until I gather my thoughts and organize my pics into cohesive topics, here for your viewing pleasure is another edition of Gloriously Random....Enjoy!!!

My girls on Valentine's Day...And yes, on laundry day I actually have a pink load!!!



My hot date to the elementary school Valentine's Day Dance!!!



Did I mention I dated the Hamburglar???


One day, we were discussing how kids look kind of like their parents. I mentioned that my mom often says that Carsten looks so much like me that she wants to put a dress on him...Then next thing you know, THIS comes around the corner.....Sorry mom....it's a little freaky...I think I'll keep him in pants....although I will save this for future blackmail use.....


Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!! We celebrated with Cat in the Hat Hats and green eggs and ham for dinner!!!



"Here's your sign!" It's official...Jason has hung out his shingle, or his 6 x 3 aluminum as the case may be. However, since the Crew involved is no more, a new shingle (or aluminum) will soon be on order....more to come!!!!



Day at UT!!! We spent an entire Saturday exploring activities at UT. They had it divided into an Arts track, Cultural track, Longhorn track, Science track, or Engineering track. Of course, we spent the whole day on the Science and Engineering track--my little engineer would have it no other way. This is Carsten and Jason building a structure from marshmallows and toothpicks. Notice their trusty assistant sampling the building material for quality (Yum!)



Then they tested their structures on an earthquake table...Carsten's only lost one toothpick!!! (And yes, the design was his--Jason just helped with the ultra sticky marshmallows)


Abrielle even built one---Hers lost a few more toothpicks and 'mallows.



Sea World!!! I'll post more later....



The PJ Trio outside the San Antonio Temple....No, I don't make it a habit of taking my kids to the Temple in their pajamas...It was late and we were heading home...Night, Night time in the car!!!


Just because I love this picture!!! (By the way, she dressed herself..)


Alyssa and her friend Maj-Lis (pronounced My-Lees....isn't that a pretty name?) Alyssa LOVES Maj-Lis. They talk and play and pass toys back and forth. Too cute!!!

Cute!!!

Way Cute!!!

Seriously Cute!!!



And Goodnight!!!

Tagged....

Rules are: Anything you have done has to be in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Hmmmm...38 to go.....not too bad...

I tag.....everyone who reads this...... : )

Dear Mr. PrezidEnt...

Carsten was just not grasping the concept of why he didn't have to go to school on President's Day. We discussed Washington, Lincoln, national holidays, birthdays, recent presidents, etc, etc. He then decided to draw this cute pic of President Obama giving a speech...


...and wanted to mail it to President Obama. I suggested he add a letter. (I can't get the letter to scan well, so I'll transcribe.)



Dear PrezidEnt OBama

I am so exciTEd. I just Love PreziDent Day. Don't skroo up.

Love CArstEn GalliNi



Ahhh.... The sentiment of a nation, as stated by a 5 year old......

Brotherly Love...

Sunday was a bad kid day. I don't just mean bad, I mean BAAAADDD. One of those days when you are just waiting for CPS to come pick up your sociopathic kids because you're obviously a huge failure as a parent. There was kicking, biting, willful disobedience, flagrant violations of every rule in existence, , blah, blah, blah....you get the picture.

Having reached my end point I first declared that only children who picked up would be served dinner. The result?? Jason and I had a lovely dinner alone. The kids hid behind the couch, watching to see if I was serious--I was. For good measure, I served Jason and I decadent sundaes.

When this failed to effect obedience, I then calmly and silently took a trash bag from room to room and gathered all kid belongings that had not been put away. One large trash bag later, Jason saved me some effort by putting a child lock on the toy room door. Finally, the kids cracked. Much crying, wailing, and gnashing of teeth later, including my first ever "you're the meanest mom ever!!" I fed them (I didn't want them in my room hungry at 2 am) and set the rules. They would have to earn back the toys--one at a time. The lock would come off the toy room door when all the toys in the bags had been earned.

Monday -- a banner day. Carsten was all smiles. Chores were done, kind words used, happy reports received from school...He earned the right to "rescue" a toy. (Abrielle---close but not quite---she gets the concept now and we'll try tomorrow.)

The rescue took longer than a government project. Oh, the options. Nerf guns, puzzles, fireman costumes. helicopters, tool sets, building sets, favorite books, ...tons of Carsten's toys were thoughtfully considered for rescue operation #1. Ten minutes later, he smiles and carefully pulls this out of the bag.....



...and hands it to his sister.

It's Abrielle's Tinkerbell Birthday cake topper. Her prized possession. It has gone everywhere with her for weeks.

Perhaps I'm not raising sociopaths after all..........

Dilemma

I have been thinking a lot lately about my kids education. I am reasoning myself out of my mind. I have never wanted my kids in public school, not that I think the education is bad, it's the "extra" stuff I don't like. There is way too much social indoctrination in public schools now and more and more they are having to cater to the least common denominator in the class. I am aiming to private school some day, but financially we're not there.

Here is what I know. I am a fan of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. I have thought long and hard about homeschooling, but it wouldn't work. I don't have that kind of patience, my son doesn't have the personality, and we are a bit too much alike. It would be nothing but unproductive head-butting. I want him to have really intensive science and math courses, because he is really interested in the subjects, but I don't want to lose the arts and other topics. I (and Jason will be happy I wrote this) also want the standard stuff like sports.

Options for next year???
1. Stay in the public school --
Pros -- close with easy carpooling, he's used to it, I'm used to it
Cons -- the above pros feel like a big cop-out, Due to the boundaries included in
the school there seem to be quite a few "least common denominators" in
each class, mostly due to the parent/family/social situations, the
science/math programs so far have not seemed particularly strong

2. Magnet School -- There are a couple around. I have particularly looked at a science/math magnet school that wouldn't be that bad of a commute.
Pros -- strong science and math, really good school...their stats are awesome and
they get the kids involved in a lot
Cons -- Do I really want his education that focused? What if he's also awesome at
music, history, or something else? Sure this place teaches those subjects,
too, but likely not as much or as encouraging. No real sports/PE programs,
Also - and this is shallow, I know - looking at the brochure, the kids look
like geeks. He makes me hesitant. I want my kids to be well-rounded and
socially adept.

3. Charter school -- There is a new charter school opening nearby. It is an IB program.
Pros -- I like the IB, it is not too far, a lot of the LDS parents around here are
applying, more rounded education without focus in any particular area
Cons -- Unsure if the education is as intensive, Right now, Only goes up to 5th
grade (not that I even know where we'll be 5 years from now), It's new, so I
don't have stats or other parents to talk to,

Like I said, I'm stuck. What do you think? What are your education plans for your kids? Am I being way to Type A/obsessive stressing this much about it in Kindergarten? I don't know. It seems better that thinking about it later on and missing some opportunities or having him not as far along as he could be. Dilemma...