Fall

Getting back into the swing of things around here, although things never seem to be consistant around here. No sooner did we get back to school and Niko has short days all week because of conferences. Next week the other two have early out for conferences...Which means 1st quarter is down in the books! Hooray...Niko's conference went awesome.

This week was also busy with rehersals for the Christmas play.

Niko has a wicked cough.

Matthew has been wearing the same socks all week and stinks lol

Bethany was on the music commity for the 80's dance this week.

Matthew has a reputation in our neighborhood for racing the elderly folks on their bikes and winning.

Niko can't wait to fish this weekend.

Bethany has been working hard towards saving money for her Catelina trip coming up in the
spring.

Mike is enjoying time in California with his dad and Popo

Mike and I both have been getting our asses whipped in Crossfit the past few weeks.

Mike passed two of his classes this past week.

I Aced my mid-term in my computer class.

They are tearing up the parking lot at Bethany's school and it's a big headache to pick up and drop off.

Matthew had a detention on Thursday for messing around in the bathroom with his friends. They had to scrub toilets and wash desks for an hour.

Leaves are changing.

Had my first TIP shift and didn't get a call.

Mike has been crazy busy at work lately and the next wave is here...

Pinterest is worse than facebook, i have concluded.

Fall Break 2012

Backside of a recent sunset

It was a quiet fall break...somewhat...this year.

When the momma doesn't have fall break then it's a little more difficult to have a completely free week.

Bethany's BFF was in Seattle this week, so she made herself busy at the library meeting up with some of her other friends. She went on an overnight campout with the youth group at church. They had a fun time playing games, hiking, campfires, etc...

This week our street has come alive with kids! We've lived here over a year and no sign of anyone under the age of 50 (kinda kidding) but seriously, no kids, with the exception of level 10 gymnast next door and her state championship soccor brother-a pair that is too busy training to have time for neighborhood friendships. So Matthew started playing with the two kids in the house diagnal to us. They play outside for hours on end. This week 2 more kids (one Bethany's age, one Matthew's age) came out of the woodwork. They're part-time parent lives down the street. Being that we are in the cul-d-sac, they congregate in the safe net in front of our house. So fun to see the street come alive.

Matthew is finishing out his week with grandma and grandpa. I'm sure he's having a great time.

Early this week Bethany and I auditioned for some parts in the Miracle on 34th street with the playhouse downtown. We got a call back to do speaking rolls of "Pedestrians" We are pretty excited! It'll be a busy holiday season, but so fun to ahve this opportunity with Bethany!

Niko came along with me to school again this week. I think he likes pretending to be a college student :) Today Niko and I got up super early to make sure we got him a free fishing pole at "Cops and Bobbers" It ended up being such a fun morning fishing with the 'cops' Niko caught a rainbow trout, they had all their toys to explore-SWAT unit, mobile command unit, helecoptor, etc-then some face painting, raffles, balloons, bbq luch...it was really a ton of fun.

The temps have droped to take us straight into autumn. Dropped below freezing last night and we thought it was a great time to get the fire place lit. yay!

niko's fish

We also had a big semi pull into our driveway on Thursday and deliver a very special package. Grandma and Grandpa DiValerios piano. I know our family will make many fun and happy memories around it, as has been done in years past.

I love taking the same class as Bethany! We are literally on the same page about SOMETHING haha...We are both taking Beginning Algebra. We both had a test last week and we both missed one point. Cracks me up! Also, one of her good friends at school is the daughter of my professor...small town, I guess.

Niko has had a good week off so far. He still needs to get a move on with his sarcophagus, but I'm partly to blame in that he cannot drive himself to the store. But he has it all planned out. He came to school with me today and had a blast going to college for a day :) I liked having him there with me too.

Matthew had a week of "who the heck is this kid" two weeks ago. Last week we started Monday with the principle. This week we started with praise notes from his teachers regarding his behavior. Great that he's on the right track. Sometimes he just needs to be reminded who he is...he is awesome!

Bethany had her choir concert this week. It was so fun. They really chose some good songs and I'm sure Mike and I embarrassed her pretty good as we bee-bopped in our seats. She also participated in the White Table assembly today at school singing several songs to support the event.

Tonight I graduated from my TIP training. I am kind of scared and excited to start up with a shift. See how it goes. Very excited to get into the community and be there for a neighbor.

Fall Break starts tomorrow for the other two kiddos. Looking forward to a fun week ahead.

Receiving badge and certificate for TIP

Bethany performing at BMMS

picture slideshow

A DVD slideshow I've been working on...testing it out here

Another slideshow by Smilebox

So if I keep this writing up, we are bound to have some boring, mundane posts in here once and a while. I think today might be one of them...

Lazy Sunday after such a busy Saturday. Started the day with a peaceful, quiet walk with Niko. The weather has been absolutely lovely! upper 40's-50's in the morning, then 70's 80's for highs. Just perfect. Mike got caught up on some sleep and then later work, work, work. Niko and Matthew met the new kitties across the street. I did some baking for this week, worked on some homework...nothing too exciting.

Bethany started her own blog yesterday on wordpress. Kind of jealous. I really like wordpress and if I hadn't been blogging here for so many years, I would definitely make the switch. She's such a great writer that I know that it will be a good read and fun for her.

Read a couple chapters of the Hardy Boys to the boys before bed. They are really interested in those books, honestly, I am too. Such fun stories. Then I watched PBS' new series Call the Midwife. Soo good! Then got to watch episode 3 of season 3 of Downton Abby!! Yay.

That was pretty much a day.