Okay, so I haven't had a chance to post anything new since the day before Christmas...but we've been extremely busy...
On Christmas Day after breakfast and the kids opened up all of their gifts, just to let them know that there are less fortunate people in the world we drove to downtown San Antonio to the Salvation Army which was actually a homeless shelter to donate some items like, blankets, cans of soup, toilet paper, bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes. As we walked in, each of us carrying a bag of supplies, we asked the kids to take a good look around. They noticed that there were various people trying to get settled in for lunch, as we talked briefly with the director, a little boy around the same age as Michael wanted to play with him and his Toy Story toy. It really pulled at my heart. We wanted the kids to understand that there are kids their age who might not be as fortunate as they have been especially after "Santa" has been so good to them. And after seeing that little boy I think the message really hit home for them. I hope that we will continue to remember what we saw that day and find ways to give back no matter how small the gesture.
We celebrated the New Year at my Aunt and Uncle's house, popping off some fireworks, later to find out that it was illegal in the city limits (Whoops!!) But thankfully we didn't get caught because we actually set off all of our fireworks before the local police came into the neighborhood to pass out warnings and tickets to residence setting off fireworks...Whew! We dodge a bullet there...that would not have been a great way to start off the New Year.
New Year's Day we celebrated Keanu's 1st Birthday. He is the son of my 1st cousin Bryan and his beautiful wife Jenny. I was fortunate enough to take pictures for them that day helping capture the memory. It was extremely nice to see so many of my relatives and to see my kids finally meet some of their many, many cousins. Makayla was extremely excited because for once she wasn't the only girl to be running around. I can't imagine what she must think about always having to play with boys and then suddenly have a ton of girls to play with. In some strange way it puts a smile on my face because I'm just so happy that all of my kids have the next few months to get to know some of their cousins. As Army children it's a rare thing to be able to spend time with family longer than a family vacation.
School started here on January 3rd and we all rolled out of bed bright and early, lunches made, backpacks packed with school supplies and armed with registration forms ready for Joseph and Makayla to start their first day of school in their new school...only be to sent home after turning in their registration forms. The secretary needed a day to assign them to a classroom, completely understandable considering we just showed up without warning. However, the following day they were able to start school, no problem and after the first day they both came home saying that they LOVED their new school.
Joseph celebrated his 7th birthday by having a classroom party, Danny and I brought cupcakes and juice to the school for JoJo to share with his new friends. His teacher seems stern but friendly (if that makes any sense...) After school we took JoJo to Toys-R-Us to pick out toys for himself using a gift card from his Grandma and Grandpa B. He was very selective, walking up and down each aisle trying to decide what is the best way he can stretch his "money" and still get what he likes. Smart kid. He decided to pick up a police car/patty wagon play set, a matchbox tank set and the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
After our trip to the toy store we went out for a family dinner at Olive Garden, where Mikey decided to throw up in the front entrance (YUM!) Poor kid, he seemed like he was trying to fight off a cold the weekend before and I guess he lost the battle that night. OH!! I almost forgot to mention that JoJo had his eyes checked for the first time since he was a baby. He mentioned some time ago when we were in El Paso that he was having a hard time reading the words on the dry erase board but we couldn't find a place that would check his eyes being that he was only 6 years old at the time...long story short, he needs glasses for reading. He seems pretty excited at the idea.
Yup! Mikey was sick for sure! We ended up taking him to the doctor to find out that the had a slight ear infection and was suffering from some crackling/weezing in his lungs and was prescribed an inhaler...if you haven't had the pleasure of giving a toddler medication via an inhaler...let me just tell you it has been a nightmare! Mikey for his 32 lbs self is a pretty strong kid and he's a scrapper too! So, it takes two of us to even attempt to give him his inhaler; one to hold him down and the other to hopefully hold the inhaler long enough for him to breathe in the medicine. Believe me when I say NOT FUN!
Whew! I think I'm finally catching y'all up with what's been going on with us...
Finally, this past Friday, JoJo and Makayla were being released early from school and in their school when it's early release day, the entire school has a picnic during lunch and they invite the parents to join them. Danny and I decided that we would go, and bring them McD's as a special treat for them. I went to JoJo's class and sat in the tiny chair with his table mates. It was great to interact with Joseph and his new friends. But some of his classmates were a bit jealous saying that it wasn't fair that "He got a cheeseburger AND a chocolate shake!!" Ummm...sorry, I'll have to think of something else for the next time. Danny and Mikey joined Makayla in her class where they got to watch a movie while they ate lunch. Both JoJo and Makayla both seem to be adjusting well to their new surroundings and I'm so thankful for that because it was one of my biggest worries that they would have a hard time adjusting to new teachers, new rules and new friends.
I really need to make sure that I don't take this long to update the blog again because trying to remember everything we've done for the last few weeks has been pretty tough. Maybe Danny and I shouldn't have been playing so many rounds of SPEED with my cousins, April and Calunie! Ha Ha!
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far! 'Til next time...Take care!
