First Mariners Game of 2012

It has been a rough, busy, stressful couple of weeks. Heck, couple of months! I just got back from a few days of SWAT that started to bring the stress down a bit giving me a break from the stress and reminders of everything I have on my plate both at work and at home. I just knew going to a beautiful summer day game would work even more magic. Plus, Tyler and I got seats on the third base line to watch Ty's favorite player, Kyle Seager.

Biking to school

One of the great achievements this year was Hailey learning to ride her bike without training wheels.  Not only will it make summer more fun but now we can go on family bike rides where we all ride our bikes.  Hailey has been most excited to ride her bike to school on Daddy Monday.  We had a couple of weeks of nice weather this spring and Hailey's wish came true.  She was so proud.  She did a great job.  So good, she did it again the next week.

 

Hailey Art Gallery

Two or three two hour baseball games a week has given Hailey more time than she has ever wanted to draw/read/be bored :).  But it has resulted into quite a cute collection of animals.

House Paint

Before -

peeling paint with no paint on the top beams and a broken garage door

Deciding

After -

Brand new looking house and insulated garage doors

Now I need to get rid of those red curtains!....but first I need to get to work!!

Mother's Day at preschool

Hailey's preschool always puts on the nicest mother's day celebrations.  This year did not disappoint.  I'm going to miss these next year.  When all the mother's showed up, the kids came down and got us and brought us to our places at the table.  Waiting for us at the table was a crown, framed photo, card, and other special treats.  Mrs. Eberli read us a story, the kids performed a couple of songs, the kids served us a snack, and Mrs. Eberli played us photo montage she had put together.  She does such a good job of taking pictures during the year and it's so fun to get a glimpse into some of the fun things they do.  I've helped out in the classroom quite a bit but the photos really capture the friendship between the kids.  A very special day.

Dreams

We've had a long busy week here at the Quiggles.  Outside of HAiley's activities Tyler had 3 games in a row this week Tues, Wed, Thurs.  His game start at 6pm and get sone somewhere around 8 or 8:15.  By thime we get home, showered in bed, etc, it's been 9:30 before the kids get to sleep.  So, not surprisingly the kids have been tired.  Usually they wake up on their own somewhere between 6:30 and 7:00 but htis week I've been having to wake them up at 7:15-7:30.  They are still tired but Tyler's really good at getting up.  This morning when I woke him he looked at me and said, " Why do you have to wake me up when I'm in the middle of teaching someone how to recycle."

She's ready

Baseball season has started and while Hailey is not playing this year her daddy got her some gear.  She's ready for next year.

Dad and Me Science Night

This is another one of those things that happened way back in March but better late than never I suppose.  Hailey's preschool puts on a Dad and Me Science Night every year.  Dave had to work so we changed it to Mom and Tyler and Me Science Night.  They had about 6 stations set us with fun things for the kids to make.

Strings attached to metal.  Wrap the string around your finger and put your fingers in your ears.  Tap the metal against the table.  This kids loved this one.

earphones??

Magnets

Pinewood Derby

The pinewood derby happened so long ago I don't even have much to say about it anymore.  But, I wanted to get the pictures up  in case I ever get on top of things enough to get these blogs made into a book.  The pinewood derby was definitely an experience.  Dave could probably speak to it better than I since it was the biggest deal for him. Wood crafting probably wouldn't make it on his top ten things he likes to do.  Definitely wouldn't make the list for things he's comfortable doing....he just didn't grow up being exposed to it.  And though the making of the car may have been stressful for him I think he had a good time in the end.  And I think he'd be willing to do it again :).  Tyler was just excited for the race (no surprise there).  Dave just didn't want Tyler's car to be the slowest.

The cars were checked in the night before so that when the boys arrived day of the race they were all out on display.

Tyler is the black car with yellow flames.

The race seemed like it would all be in good fun until the boys saw the trophy table.  If there is one thing I've learned from Tyler it's that boys LOVE trophies.

Really hard to get pics of the race.  The cars go fast.  Can't tell you how many shots I took and ended up with just the track and no cars!  And look, Ty's car is doing really well!

This picture is a little blurry but his face says it all.  Game on.

There were multiple races but check this out.  In one race Ty's car came in first!

Ty made it in the top 3 and even earned a trophy.  Success all around.

4Q12X April

Family blog updated for April and can be found HERE

Final Thoughts at Bedtime

Last night as I was lying with Hailey, moments before she fell asleep, she looked over at me and said, "  Mommy, if I break my legs and am going to a school with two levels, will you carry me in my wheel chair up the stairs until I learn how to go up them by myself on crutches?".  Having no idea where this is going I say, "Of course!".  "Mommy, do you think I'll ever break my legs?"  "No, I don't think so."  And then she went to sleep.  What I wouldn't give to know where all that came from. 

Stickers

Kids get stickers a lot, right?  People at grocery stores give them out as well as various other stores.  Hailey gets one everyday after dance and after gymnastics.  Here's the funny thing about Hailey and stickers......Anytime anyone asks if she wants one she instantly says yes.  Then she turns around and puts it on my hand or shirt.  She doesn't like them on her skin and often doesn't like them on her clothes.   But she she just can't turn them down. 

Build a Bear

Hailey's big gift from us for her birthday was a build a bear gift certificate.  So Saturday after her birthday she and I headed to the mall for her big day.  The first big decision was picking her animal.

 She finally decided on a dog with very very soft fur.

 She hugged and blessed and put the dogs heart in before he was stuffed.

 After he was brought to life she gave him and air bath.

 Finally she picked out his clothes.

She named him snuggles and she just couldn't get enough of him until two days later when she took him in outside and dropped him in the bark.  His fur is not the brush stuff off kind of fur.  It's the everything sticks and gets matted in type of fur.  Ugh.  So after spending a ton of money on this bear he is now stuck unloved on the couch until I can find three hours to pick bark out with a pair of tweezers. 

Easter

Yes this post is very tardy but better late than never, right?  We lucked out with such a nice day for Easter this year.  Sunny days make the family Easter egg hunts at Aunt Gerry's so much fun.  The morning started with Easter baskets of course, and our little in house egg hunt.

checking out the baskets

Assembling angry bird erasers

egg hunt

After our morning at home it was time for church.  This is as dressy as Ty gets (yes, only jeans) and they came off the moment we came home.

 We spent the rest of the beautiful sunny day at Aunt Gerry's with family eating, talking, playing, and hunting for eggs.  A good day!

cousins ready for the egg hunt

There's got to be one in here some where

Ah ha!

Finding Eggs...fast

Egg check and cash in center

Birthday girls Hailey and Jessie

My boys