JD's New Tattoo...The One That Just Wouldn't Go Away!

JD came home from Dad's house with this cool new skeleton tattoo. He felt like a super cool rockin' dude! And of course showed it off to EVERYONE! It was a nice tattoo...probably one of the best fakies that I have ever scene; and had real sharp colors too. (Of course not that you can see it so well due to my cell phone camera and all.) Oh well.

But for Jeremiah, the best thing about his new tatoo...was that it

*DIDN'T WASH OFF FOR NEARLY 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!!*

No matter how many times Mom bathed him, or how hard I scrubbed, or all of the usual concoctions that I tried- that tattoo was stayin' on! (It was actually 3 or more days old in the above picture.) Much to JD's delight And my frustration. Now he really was part of the Big Boyz club. (You will all be happy to know that the tattoo is now completely removed; and we are awaiting the next time he comes home with another one of those Super Tattoos from the Diner! ~ I'll keep you posted.

A Little Bit Of Miss Red To Throw Into The Mix...

These are some older pictures of Makayla & Mom (me!) at the L. A.
Kid Space Museum.

This was our first trip there in
2004, when Makayla's

Pre-School Class went; and Mom

went along as a volunteer parent.

We had a lot of fun that day. And

Makayla got a chance to explore the

whole place, and then we had a

picnic lunch with all of her

classmates. Thse pictures of us were

taken at lunch, and right before we

left for the day. Makayla was 4 years.

*We enjoyed ourselves so much thatday, that we decided to go

back later, when JD was a bit older, so thatthey could enjoy it

together. It was even more fun the 2nd time we went!

Rest In Peace Nana Cooper...

On April 1st, 2009 my Nana Cooper celebrated her 96th birthday in her home, with her family and friends. 2 weeks later; she passed away peacefuly in her own bed, in her own home.

Nana was a wonderful and very special Lady, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She touched many lives during her time here. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother of 3, and a grandmother to me. And then later to my own children. We were not bound by ties of blood...but instead were connected through ties of love.

I do not mourn her death. Instead I celebrate her life, and what she meant to all of us. I know that she had a full and happy life; and that now she has gone home to meet her God, and to be with her husband, and her family.She was a wise and loving soul. A rare woman, more full of life than people half her age. She had many lessons to teach. I remember many of them. 96 years is a long time to walk this Earth. We should all be so lucky.

May you rest for a thousand years in the Summerland...

...in the Land Of Tir Na Nog.

Thank You Nana. You will always be remembered, loved and honored.

Carmella Cooper April 1, 1913 - April 18, 2009

First Day Of Water Play 2009!

What a great way to kick of the first day of Spring Break!!!

Today was the first day warm enough to pull out the old toddler pool for a little splashin' around!

The kids and I spent the first day of our Spring Vacation hanging aroung the house, kicking back, playing and enjoying not having to go to school. The kids woke up early and had breakfast while getting to watch the morning cartoons that they usually miss while in school. Then, while Mom got to clock in a wee bit of extra shut eye; Makayla and Jeremiah took turns hiding plastic Easter Eggs and searching aroung the living room for them.

Then, after they got tired of that, they started a new game/craft project. They divided all of the eggs up between them; and then drew faces on each, and gave them all names. After they had their 'Egg Babies', Makayla transformed an egg carton into their 'Egg Farm'. She also cut little blankets for them, while Mom made head kercheifs for the girls, and bibs for the boys. They had a whole morning's worth of fun on that activity! (Those are my favorite kind of activity...the ones that let them get crafty AND use their imagination.)

After lunch, we pulled out the play clothes and the hose for a bit of water play. That is when our little neighbor Vicka and her mother Natasha came over to join us. They are some new friends that we meet this year, when Vicka and her Mama moved here all the way from Russia. Natasha is the new wife of our neighbor's brother; an Vicka goes to Kindergarten with J.D.

The kid's splashed around all afternoon,until it got a little cold. After we changed into dry clothes, and our friends had left; the kids put on the old, "Mom, we're bored!" routine. So, I took them for a scooter ride around the neighborhood, where we stopped by our other friend's house, to see if they could play for awhile.

Brian, Michael and their Mama, Lorraine came over to play on the trampoline, and share a pizza dinner with us. All in all, I would say that we had a fabulous first day of Spring Vacation. Who can complain about craft project, water play, TWO playdates and pizza, all in one day!

J.D.'s Kindergarten Easter Party!

There is nothing like a good Easter Egg Hunt,
to get you in the mood for Spring Vacation!

Ms. Park's Kindergarten Easter Party was a whole lotta fun, for both the kids and the parents.

Mom volunteered to fill and hide he Easter Eggs for the big hunt. Then all of the kids came out and had a ball finding them.

Afterwards, the kids and the parents who wee there, went back to the room for some more Easter fun.

The kids counted their eggs, and checked out their candy loot.

Then, Ms. Park had some Easter Basket crafts for the kids to make.

First they colored, and then cut out the baskets, and then we put them together.

Then the kids sang a song or two that they sing in class, and passed the time until school got out.

...and then before we knew it, the bell rang, and it was time for Spring Vacation!!!