Standiford Family

Today was just beautiful outside even if part of the day was gray.  The temperature made it to the 60s.  Yesterday and today I wore sandals.  Kade won the argument and wore sandals to school today.  My toes have been naked for several weeks now.  I was very happy to paint them and show them off.

I love this polish color.  It’s called “Blackberry Baby”.

This afternoon Mickey did some cleaning in the yard and garage while Mat and Kade played outside.  Meg worked more on the presentation part of her science project.  It’s almost done.

Today was an “Oh, shoot!  I haven’t taken a picture of anything yet.” day.  We went to church.  Came home, had lunch.  I helped Meg redo the last popcorn popping for her experiment.  We dropped the kids off at my parents’ so we could go to an open house.  Didn’t love the house.  Picked the kids up.  Mickey helped Meg with her layout for the science project.  Had dinner.  Read scriptures.  Mickey helped Meg some more.  So I thought it would be fitting to get a picture of Meg typing up her info.

The project is due on Friday.  I think if she works at it a little every day it will get done.  By the way, Meg found out that when you store your popcorn (non-microwave) in the refrigerator you get the best popping results.

Kade is learning to be a handyman like his dad.  Today Amanda and Chris moved into their first house.  Mickey helped with the loading and unloading of the truck and the kids and I showed up later to help unpack and clean.  It was decided that the locks needed to be changed.  The men went off to buy the supplies.  Kade was right there in the middle of things for the first door.  He was thrilled he was allowed to use the tools.  I’m sure he’ll need a refresher course for the next locks he changes.

The girls were no slouches.  They were running things up and down the stairs, vacuuming, and chowing down on red vines until they needed a movie break.  I unpacked most of the kitchen.  Pictures of these events were taken but did not turn out clear so Kade gets to star in another potd.  Good thing he’s cute.  You gotta love that expression of total concentration.

An experiment gone WRONG!

Today started out just like any other Saturday.  I got to sleep in a little.  The kids were up watching tv or playing the computer.  Mickey made a run to Lowes.  Then he took Meg to a softball practice.  (Yes, already, and yes, it was indoors.)  Megan also needed to finish up a little work on her science experiment.  Mickey helped her with it.  I was still lounging in bed (one of the perks of having a great husband) when Meg comes to the door asking where the air freshener is.  I asked why.  Oh, the popcorn burned.  Right after that I could smell it.  I got up and I could see the smoke filling the entire house.  (This is really good when your house is on the market.)  I went to the kitchen to see what the damage was.  Just really smokey.  The windows were already open.  I lit a candle hoping that would help with the smell.  I got a fan to blow the smoke out.  After most of the smoke was gone I got out some Febreze and sprayed that stuff everywhere.  It’s now about 10 hours later and the smell is still here, although I’m getting used to it.  How do you get the burn smell out of the house?  We have a ton of realtors coming through on Tuesday and another showing on Wednesday.

Why do the kids not have school on President’s Day?  I think they’re missing out on a great learning opportunity.  There’s not much I can teach them about those guys and places like the library are closed.  I did appreciate getting to sleep in though.  We had a very mellow day off.  The kids actually got along with each other.  Maybe those prayers are finally getting answered.  I only got mad at them once.  That’s amazing with them being home all day.  The kids entertained themselves by watching movies, playing video games, and eating their valentine chocolate.

Two bags of Doves are gone and the third would be gone too but it’s missing.  Somehow Kade misplaced his but the girls were nice and shared.

I really wish that meant I’ve been on the treadmill running all day.  But no.  I’ve been running the kids and myself around in the van since 7:30 this morning.  The picture is us waiting for Meg to come out of school.

Here’s the run down of the day:

7:30 - Meg to school
7:40 - Mat misses her bus (for the third time this week)
7:50 - Mat to school
9:03 - Kade to school
9:15 - Back home to workout and shower
11:16 - Take meds to Kade at school
11:30 - 30 minute drive to get massage (ahhh)
1:07 - 30 minute drive home
1:47 - Pick up Kade
2:12 - Go home to wait for Mat’s bus (Kade got out 10 minutes late so we had to skip our library trip)
2:50 - Pick up Meg
3:04 - Meg to dentist (Mickey’s picking her up on his way home.)
3:30 - Leave dentist, Mat to orthodontist
4:08 - Go home

I know it’s not that bad but I’m tired of being in the van.  I’m such a home body.  I only have one more trip tonight.  I’m going to church to do some quilting.  Speaking of quilting I still have a little more to work to do on mine before I can cut all the yarns and tie them.  My fingers and lower back are so sore.

Tonight Megan played in her first basketball game. Her fifth grade team has been practicing for about two weeks and tonight they participated in a jamboree with two other schools. They played a fifteen minute quarter against each of the schools. Megan came off the bench and played quality minutes in each quarter. She did take a couple of shots but didn’t get her first basket yet. She did grab a rebound and had the ball in her possession a number of times.

I guess our school corp. has a new policy for report cards.  At the end of the first semester they want the parents to go to the school to pick them up.  This allows the parents to schedule a parent-teacher conference if the parent wants one.  I realize this makes more parents be involved but when you don’t need a conference about your children it’s a waste of time.  Whatever.

Today was the day for Meg’s school.  I stopped by after lunch to get hers and her teacher, Mr. G., was at the tables handing out the 5th grade ones.  (Meg’s class must have been attending a specials class.)  We chatted about Meg a little while I glanced at her grades, all pretty good.  Lots of comments like “pleasure to have in class”.  At the very bottom of the paper, I noticed it on the way out, was an asterisks by Honor Roll.  I knew Meg was going to be thrilled.  She had been a little peeved about Mat making it and not her.  (At least it wasn’t announced in the classroom like others were.  I don’t know if it’s because she made it for the grading period and not the semester.  Who knows.)  When I saw that a plan came to mind.  I wanted to get a shot of Meg as we told her she made the Honor Roll.  I called Mickey and told him the plan.  He was in.  Mickey picked her up from basketball practice and I sat her down and Mickey read off her grades.  And oh, what’s this?  You made the Honor Roll.  ”Really?!” she said.

Mickey and I decided that we needed to celebrate our smart girls.  (They totally get this from me.)  We grabbed a quick dinner while Mickey was playing hero by donating his much needed O- blood.  Then the kids decided to go to Dairy Queen for ice cream.  (Really, I thought.  It’s so cold.)  Here’s some pictures from the celebration.

Here are Meg’s grades:

Orchestra  A  (performance is outstanding)
Reading  A
English  A
Math  B+
Science  B-
Social Studies  A-
P.E.  Pass
Keyboard  Pass
Enrichment  Pass

On a side note, Kade is feeling much better.  He had a bloody nose this morning and was not ready to be up.  This combination was fun.  Luckily Mickey was planning to take the girls this morning so I didn’t have to worry about them while I dealt with Kade.  I got him settled on the couch.  His nose had stopped bleeding but he felt like it was going to bleed again.  I let him hold a wet washcloth to it.  He did so for about an hour and after that he seemed to be getting better.  I dozed on the other couch all morning and kept waking to him talking to me.  I would crack my eyes open to find him bouncing around and doing all kinds of stuff sick kids don’t do.  I was amazed at his recovery.  He went several hours without needing to wipe or blow his nose!  He is so going to school tomorrow.

Today’s is not the best picture but oh well.  I only had about 1 minute to take it.  Is it a coincidence that I woke up with a headache the day the kids go back to school?  I think not.  That’s what today’s picture is about.  Going back to school not my headache.

They are smiling so I guess going back is a good thing.  I did have to take Meg her violin because she thought it was a B day and not an A day.  After school Kade and I went to the library with our friends Noah and Amy.

Mickey went back to work this morning after plowing off another 5-6 inches.  I’m sure I’ll get a shot of that soon since we’ll be getting more and more snow.

Megan went last Wednesday for a follow up x-ray.  She then saw the doctor on Friday.  He said her arm had corrected itself.  She has been cleared to do all activities!  She was so happy to not have to wear that brace anymore.  She also got to play in her soccer game on Saturday morning.  With being on the sidelines for a month she has lost her staminia.  We’ll have to get her doing some conditioning (jogging on the treadmill).

Here’s a few pictures from Meg’s game.