January Happenings

I can't believe that we're already in the last week of January. If the whole year goes like this, I'm going to be pulling the Christmas decorations back out in a blink. This month has been incredibly WET here. We need the rain, the mountains need the snow, and the reservoirs need the refill. But I have to say, it's been tough spending the better part of a month inside with a mud-loving pup, a highly energetic kitty, and a collection of restless sniffley kiddos.

The kitty (Phineas) and the pup (Lina) in a rare quiet moment.

I think we're all over whatever bug has been floating around the last few weeks. I finally got over my bug... and then Colin brought home a brand new one that he then immediately shared with his little brother. Both boys have missed a little school this month because of it - but I think we're all finally bouncing back.

Colin was our big birthday boy on the 12th. I can't believe he's already 7 - that's a big number for me. From 0-6 they're still "little" kids... but something mentally switches for me once they hit 7. Now I don't feel like I can think of him as a little boy anymore.

Our January Birthday Boy

We celebrated his birthday by going to his favorite pizza restaurant. It's this HUGE place with about a dozen big dining rooms each with a different theme. There's the extreme sports room (lots of videos of skiing and surfing being shown on multiple TV's), the music room with music videos playing, the cartoon room, the sports room, and a couple other that I'm forgetting - all decorated in theme and with TV's showing various entertaining stuff. Of course, Colin's favorite room is the only one without video screens and loud music. He likes the "cabin room" - it's all decked out with rustic decor, a wood beam ceiling, and a big stone fireplace with a cozy fire burning. I have to admit, it's my favorite too. Paige can't understand why he doesn't want to go into the one that has 12 screens of Spongebob Squarepants playing. But Colin likes his quiet place - and we usually have it all to ourselves because almost everyone else in the restaurant seems to be drawn to all the music, lights, and noise.

The food is all buffet style: a ton of pizza, pasta, salads, soups, and desserts to choose from. Colin likes to pile his plate full of pizza and carrots, and then retire to his quiet table and eat. And when we've all finished eating, we go out to the main game room that has every activity you can think of. They have skeeball, video games - all kinds of stuff that you can play (with credits you purchase) for the chance to win tickets that you can then turn in for prizes at the end of the night.

Paige and Aidan are actually riding on that fuzzy, spinning thing...

The building is so big, there is also a little indoor roller coaster and spinning ride - which both Aidan and Paige love to ride. Colin has no interest in that and instead likes to just play all the games - especially the ones where he can pretend to be driving a race car.

Something more Colin's speed - he loved this race car game!

The name of this place is John's Incredible Pizza... but Colin calls it "Pizza Planet" because it reminds him of the pizza place in the movie Toy Story. So the last two years he's asked to go to "Pizza Planet" for his birthday. And if I'm reading the indicators right, I believe we'll be going back for Aidan's birthday as well.

Aidan trying out the motorcycle game

Last week I had to attend the informational meeting for parents with kids starting Kindergarten next year. That's right... Aidan is off to Kindergarten in the fall. Now THAT makes me feel like time is flying by. Schools are assigned based on where you live, so Aidan will be going to the same school that Paige went to for 5th grade (right after we moved into this house). However, because Colin is in a special class, he doesn't go to that school but goes to another one that is about the same distance away - but just in the other direction. I'm trying to decide if I should put in for a transfer for Aidan so he and Colin can go to the same school. The only concern is that I don't necessarily know where Colin will be going in the future. The teacher he has this year also teaches 2nd grade, so I'm sure Colin will stay where he's at next year. But after that, depending how he's doing - he may be recommended for another special class that could possibly be at a different school, or may even be "mainstreamed" back into his home school, which is the one that Aidan is supposed to go to in the first place.

Anyway... not sure what exactly we're going to do there, but the first step either way is to register Aidan for the school he's supposed to go to, so we got his paperwork in for that last week. I'm kind of sad that my baby is off to Kindergarten next year... but kind of excited too. All three kids, in school, 5 days a week! I feel sort of guilty that I'm secretly so tickled about that.

Paige went to her school's winter formal last night. She looked so pretty! No formal date this year... she just went "with a group" that all hung out and danced together. According to Paige, all the boys at her school are stupid and immature, and she doesn't like anyone right now. That's right, Paige... stay true to your standards. I certainly doesn't break my heart that she's not all distracted by boys and boyfriends - there is plenty of time for that. But I hate to have to be the one to tell her that boys never really get "more mature." Sorry hon...

Paige all pretty for the Winter Ball at her school

So, the forecast says we may actually see the sun for a bit on Tuesday and Wednesday - but the rest of the week looks pretty gray. I normally love the winter storms and rain, but even I'm looking forward to warmer spring weather at this point. Yeah... it's been raining THAT much. I'm hoping to sneak the kids up to the snow at some point to play and sled. The weekend storms have been pretty bad though, and I haven't been brave enough to suggest driving up to the snow in the midst of of the crazy weather. I know Hank has driven in the snow a lot... but in a minivan during a white-out? Maybe next weekend will clear a bit and we can give it a try. In the meantime I'll need to borrow some snow clothes, or pick some up at a 2nd-hand store somewhere. We are sadly under-prepared for actual ice and snow... and without some semi-weatherproof gear, I predict my boys will play for approximately five minutes and then insist that we take them somewhere warm and dry with lots of hot food. Hardly worth the drive up the mountains.

Well, I am off to fill out the "returning student" paperwork that I have to turn in for Colin tomorrow, work on a project that I told Colin's teacher I would help with, and finish up some tax stuff for Hank's business. How come I'm not actually in school, but have all the homework?

Have a wonderful week, and we'll talk to you soon...