San Diego Firehouse Museum

On Friday afternoon I picked the kids up from school early and, as promised, I took Kailani to Target to pick out some new clothes. She's been wanting some new dresses, and Target has new spring clothing out now. Kailani had lots of fun picking out her new outfits. Hopefully the weather starts to improve so she can wear them.
Actually, she did wear one of the new dresses today, along with her new white sparkly shoes. Today would have been the perfect day for her rain boots, but since they weren't her newest pair, they didn't make it on her feet today...even though it was pouring down rain.
Even though it was raining, we headed out with the meetup group to tour the San Diego Firehouse Museum. Lots of people cancelled last minute because of the weather, but we braved the storm! Kailani gets really upset if we have to miss something because she gets all excited about it. The kids all had a great time at the museum. We even managed to get a group picture of all of the kiddos.
After the museum, we headed to Chipotle for lunch. Becky won lunch for 4 there, so she treated us to burritos. She has got to be the luckiest person I know right now...she wins contests left and right. It was the first time we ate at Chipotle, and I would definitely go back. After lunch we went to Lakeshore to do the free craft. We were just expecting to make a bookmark, but they were having a Dr. Seuss party since his birthday is next week. The girls got their faces painted and made Dr. Seuss crafts. By the time they finished all that, Kailani and Jaylynn didn't even want to make the bookmark.
Kailani and I looked at globes and I bought a small one for her. She's been asking some questions lately and I think she's ready to learn about this stuff. On the way home from school this week she asked where the sun goes at night. I tried to explain to her how the earth rotates, but my fist just wasn't doing the job. Kailani understood what I was telling her though. She's been enjoying pointing out the places where everyone is. She'll point to North America, where we are...South America, where Uncle George is...Hawaii, where Kaia is...she's having fun with it. We just realized that the book she got in her Chick-fil-A meal on Tuesday is a book of questions...one of the questions is, "Why does the sun set?"
We made a stop at Barnes and Noble and Kailani picked out a few Easter books. I picked up a few books I had been wanting. I saw Sir Ken Robinson speak last week and I am really interested in reading his new book The Element. It's all about finding your passion in life. I also picked up a book of 2500 fun and educational things to do in Southern California with kids. The woman who wrote the book has approached our school and wants to come speak to our families. Before heading home, we stopped at Yogurtland for some self-serve frozen yogurt:)Zachary started clapping the other day. I asked his teacher, and they have been working on it. He is doing more and more each day. He's eating everything now and just loves food. His favorite is the little Gerber Graduates cheese curls.
I am finishing up my second week of teaching my "classroom management" online course. It's tough work! I've been spending 2-3 hours per night on the computer in discussions, answering questions, and grading papers. I enjoy it, but I am not sure that I really want to "choose" to do this often...maybe over the summer when I don't have lot of other things to worry about.
We're looking forward to a relaxing day at home tomorrow:)

Getting to be such a big boy!

Chuck E. Cheese and the Science Center

This passed weekend wasn't as busy as a normal weekend for us. When I picked the kids up from daycare on Friday, I surprised Kailani by telling her we were going to Chuck E Cheese. She had only been one time before for a birthday party and probably didn't remember much about it. She has seen commercials for Chuck E Cheese though, so she definitely knew it was a place she wanted to go. Kailani enjoyed playing the games and going on the rides. She was able to get enough tickets (20) to get a little green lizard she had her eye one since we arrived. Zachary was even able to go on a ride. He loved the pizza.
Saturday it rained most of the day, but we went to a birthday party for one of the little girls in Kailani's class. She chose to skip her last cooking class to go to the party. The party was at Pump it Up. Kailani and Zachary had fun in the inflatable jumpies. Kailani now wants her birthday party to be at Pump it Up.
Sunday we had planned to go to the zoo, but it was raining on and off. We ended up going to the science museum instead. Kailani and the girls had a blast. Zachary loved making music and Kailani had fun making a scribble robot. After the museum, we headed to CiCi's Pizza. I had never heard of this place before, but Becky talked about how good the food is. It's an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet. Kailani loved it. Ever since Chuck E Cheese, she only wants to eat pizza.

USO Valentine party

This was actually the most relaxing weekend we've had in a while as far as being out and about. Friday night we went to game night with the meetup group. Since Becky and I both wanted to go, we had to take the kids along. There were other kids there, but it was hard to really have a good time while keeping an eye on the kids. Makenzi was good about keeping the older kids occupied. I thought Zachary would fall asleep on the way to the girl's house, but I guess it wasn't a long enough drive. We ended up leaving around 9:30 because the kids just wouldn't settle down. Both kids fell asleep on the way home. We're looking forward to the next game night...even Zachary:)

Saturday we went to Kailani's cooking class in the afternoon. She made fruit soup. The kids used fruits that were all colors of the rainbow: strawberries, tangerines, bananas (the teacher forgot these though), kiwis, blueberries, and grapes. The kids cut up and mixed the fruit with orange juice and vanilla yogurt. Kailani liked it. She'll miss her last cooking class next week because of Trinity's birthday party. The teacher is going to teach another cooking class in April on Saturdays from 1-2 and then a crafting class from 2:30-3:30. We'll probably do both:)

On the way home from cooking, we stopped at Costco. It was so easy to shop since the buggies there have a spot for two kids in the front. Good thing Zachy can sit up in the cart now. Kailani loves tasting the samples at Costco.

Saturday night we were had cooking club with the meetup group. Each month someone hosts cooking club (I will be hosting next month) and picks a theme for everyone to make a dish. This month's theme was casseroles. We went and had dinner and it was fun. On the way home...it was a nightmare.

On our drive home, I heard Zachary gagging. It didn't sound normal, so I pulled over to the side of the freeway. There was in fact something wrong...he was blue in the face and clenching his fists. I pulled him out of the carseat and laid him on the front seat like I was told to do with Kailani when she has a seizure. Luckily I knew what was happening or else I would have freaked out even more. The worst part was that I had forgotten my cell phone at home. I never leave my cell phone, but I didn't realize I had left it until we were almost to where we were going. I didn't go back...but I am sure I will next time. Since I couldn't call 911, I tried to flag someone down. It was 9pm and cars were flying by me...no one would stop. I was screaming for someone to stop, but no one could hear. Finally, someone stopped. He called 911 and stayed with me until the ambulance came. I wish I knew who he was so I could than him. By the time the ambulance came, Zachary was doing fine. Since it was the first time though, it was better to have him checked out. Becky happened to drive by since we were leaving from the same place. We both followed the ambulance to the hospital. It was hard not being in the ambulance with him, but he was sleeping when he got to the hospital, so at least he wasn't scared. The doctors at the hospital couldn't fine any reason for the fever. His temperature was 103.2. They diagnosed him with a febrile seizure, like Kailani has, and let us go...the quickest trip to the ER ever...30 minutes in and out. They can't be sure he'll have more. We'll just have to watch him carefully whenever he has a fever.

Since Zachary was still running a fever, we cancelled our busy Sunday plans. Becky took Kailani to the USO Valentine Party with her girls. They met up with Nicole, Madison, and Alexander there. They had a great time. I wish I didn't have to miss it, but am lucky to have someone here to help out. Daddy surprised us with flowers and teddy bears for Valentines day:) We had dinner with Becky and the girls...roast and mashed potatoes...everyone had 3 helpings, even Zachary (of potatoes).

Monday we just hung around the house. Becky and the kids came over the play. I took Zachary to the doctor and he just has a virus. I kept him home today just to be safe. He does have a really yucky runny nose, but no fever. I'll try taking him to school tomorrow. We're missing Chick-fil-A tonight...I think it's only the 3rd time in the last year...but Becky is going to bring us dinner and hopefully Ms. Joy will give the girls the art project to bring here for Kailani to do.

We've got a pretty slow weekend coming up...just a birthday party at Pump it Up...that's it.

Making Music

Zachary realized that he could make music by banging two pots together:)

Princess Tea Party

We had a busy weekend planned...Kailani woke up on Friday talking about the donut meetup we were going to after school. Unfortunately, the girl who organized the meetup cancelled it because it was supposed to start raining later that afternoon. The first thing Kailani asked when I picked her up was, "Are we going for donuts?" I couldn't tell he were weren't going, so we met up with Becky and the kids at Yum Yum Donuts. We hung out at Becky's house the rest of the night at had dinner with them.

Saturday we met some people for a meetup to Yogurtland. We've never been there before, but we'll definitely go back. It's a self-serve frozen yogurt place where you choose your own flavor and then cover it with all kinds of toppings. You pay for your yogurt by the ounce. Kailani loved her concoction! After Yogurtland, we headed to Lakeshore for the free craft (since it was in the same shopping center). The kids decorated a heart. Then we headed to the Olive Garden for soup and salad. Kailani had the "chili soup" like daddy gets.

After lunch we had a few minutes to spare and we stopped at home to get the girls ready for their Valentine Princess Tea Party. Kailani dressed up as Cinderella and Jaylynn was Snow White. The party was at one of the parks in Chula Vista, through the rec center...same place Kailani takes her cooking class. The girls had a blast at the party. They decorated a crown, danced like princesses, decorated a wand, listened to a story, and had a cupcake and tea (fruit punch). After the tea party we had about an hour to come home and change to get ready for the movies. The new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie was playing on base so we went to check it out...in the pouring rain! The kids were so tired they feel asleep on the way home.

Today, Zachary woke us up at 6am. Kailani was already asking by 7:30 if Makenzi and Jaylynn were going to come over. Kailani and I spent some time doing her Valentines for school (Princess and the Frog) and making goodie bags for her Sweet Heart Party at school on Friday. Becky came over a little while ago and the girls are playing dress up.

Tomorrow is a holiday for me, but the kids will go to daycare while I go visit/observe my two student teachers. I will be teaching my first online class (classroom management) starting on the 16th. I've been preparing for that class over the past week with a mentor. I am excited about teaching. The kids will go to daycare, but I'll be able to pick them up earlier than normal.