Winter Crazies

 Just about once a week we have had Jodi (Marty's old on air partner and best ex-work wife EVER) and her 3 year old son, Josh, over for family dinner.  The 3 kids get along great and it is always a night of laughs and good food.

 

 Benjamin continues to build big towers... and give them hugs and kisses.

 We were in Mexico for Valentine's day this year and did not get to make our traditional Valentine's day cookies.  The kids did get very nice cards and money from both Grandma and Papa AND Oma and Opa.. very spoiled kids.  They were so excited about getting mail and getting money that all the pictures turned out blurry because they could not stand still.

 Benjamin as an air traffic controller at preschool

You never know how they will end up entertaining themselves.....

Glasses, Grandparents and Citrus

Because Marty and I both have terrible eye sight, Josie (and probably Benjamin) didn't have a chance at seeing 20/20.  Josie needed a stronger prescription so off to the eye doctor we went.  She handles it all like a champ!!  She had a little trouble picking out new frames as her old red ones received so much attention and many compliments. Finally, after MUCH deliberation, she settled on these purple/turquoise beauties.

In early February, a heavy box was delivered from Grandma and Papa.  We were all thrilled to open up and enjoy the delicious Arizona grapefruit and oranges from their tree.  Thanks!!

 We had gone to a kid/adult party awhile back.  All the kids were downstairs watching a movie and after some time I wanted to check and see how they were doing.  Nothing like seeing your kids like this to help you enjoy the rest of the party.  So sweet!!

 Here is a cute photo of Benjamin thanking Grandma and Papa for the yummy citrus.

 

TEN Years!

Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend this year marked the 10 year anniversary of the (in)famous Mountain Music Lounge trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Marty and I had met once before but it was this weekend that really brought us together.  We have fond memories of our 3 days of kayaking, concerts and (very strong) margaritas.

Look how young, well rested and happy we look ;-)   To celebrate the milestone we decided to take a family trip back to the same area in Mexico with the kids.  Mexico trip 2014 coming up soon!

Classes - Spanish and Preschool

Since last Spring I have been teaching the after school Spanish program at Josie's school.  It has been a really fun way to SLOOWWLLY get back into teaching again.  The best part is that it is all the things I love about teaching and none of the bad.  There are only 15 kids in each class, there are no school meetings that I have to attend and no grading.  Win, win, win!!

When I started there was one beginning class with 10 students. Now I have one beginning class with 15 students and one advanced class with 9. 

 Josie is truly amazing in her ability to pick up languages.  She is pretty much fluent in German and is by far the best student in the advanced class.  She is not flustered by what she doesn't know and is able to figure things out very quickly when it is in context. She also has an incredible memory so once she has got something she's really got it!  This quarter she is taking the advanced class and my assistant in the beginning.  She is a huge help and the other students like her and respect her.  Below she is helping a group of beginning students.

I continue to work in Benjamin's preschool class once a week.  It has been a fun way to get to know his friends and observe what he likes to do.  Most weeks he chooses to play in the block area.  This particular week he and his friends took every single block out of the cupboards and built an enormous structure.   

Ta-Da!!

Of course when it was time to clean up they all got suddenly VERY tired!!

My American Girl

After Christmas we got a "free hairdo" gift certificate for Josie's American Girl doll.  Benjamin had a birthday party to go to so Josie and headed up to the American Girl store and café.  Oh, My!!  What an experience that was.  Wow!  Marty hates these dolls and truth be told I don't really like them either.  They are so incredibly overpriced and overhyped!  The store was so out of our league and comfort zone.. or at least mine.  But we made the best of it. We even had a small snack at the café. They have little boosters for her dolls (she brought all three) and so the 3 dolls, Josie and  I had a nice little snack at the café.  Notice Josie and her doll have matching glasses :)

Mango Smoothie

 Josie and all of her babies up at the table.

 Josie trying to carry all of her babies

 And finally, the reason for the visit... her doll getting her hair done, for free of course.  Who pays $20 for their dolls hair?!?!  Clearly a lot of people.  The place was packed.  Who knew?

Although it wouldn't be my first pick for how to spend some quality time with Josie it was nice to hve some just Josie time.  Since Benjamin, it was been way too few and far between.  Love my girl!!

Tamarind Tree and Karaoke!

 

In early January Marty and I got the rare chance to go out with friends.  First to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Tamarind Tree and then on to a Karaoke Bar... So out of character but oh, so much fun.  Jodi and Marty doing a duet.  Terrifically awful!!  We are all so old, it was more of a dare than anything.  Once Jodi and Marty sang we all left.

Post Christmas Play

Well, it is six weeks post Christmas and I must report that I'm doing well on most of my New Year's resolutions but failing miserably at keeping the blog up to date.  Oh, well. Better late than never.
A few photos of the kids enjoying all of their awesome Christmas gifts.  There was a point over break where the kids kept bickering with each other and not sharing. I got really frustrated and gathered all of their new toys and hauled them outside and put them in the car.   If they couldn't share then they didn't deserve them, right?  It was interesting.  They were very upset at the time but then they didn't ask for the again. Two days later I brought them inside and it was like Christmas all over again.

Benjamin got the most amazing remote control train set called Rokenbok from Oma and Opa.  We were first introduced to it by our British friends who have a huge set.  Benjamin always wanted to play it when he went over to his friend, Charlie's house.  I was able to get an incredible deal on Craigslist and Marty and Josie headed down to Oma and Opa's a few days before Christmas to set up the track.  He LOVES it!!

Josie painting her glow in the dark solar system from the Wiley's.

Once we got home we (Marty) had to spend another couple hours setting up another track.

Pay off was huge though:

They each got their own bean bag chair.  I wasn't thinking of the Seahawks when I bought them but the colors and the chairs were nice for watching the playoff games and the Super Bowl.  Notice Josie's American Girl dolls watching fro the couch.

 

More Rokenbok.

All tuckered out from so much playing....

Josie and her babies chilling in her bean bag

Marty is not quiet about his dislike for Josie's dolls so t was particularly funny to see that Josie piled them all around him as he tried to work on his laptop.

Liz and Ed got Josie a cool tea set.  She could not wait for her friend Elliott to come over and have tea with her and her dolls. 

The set came complete with sugar cubes.  They each had 2 lumps and then toasted.  If you look closely you can see her dolls sitting on the other chairs.

 Benjamin enjoyed showing Charlie and Henry his new batman cave

 And playing Rokenbok, of course.