Summer Vacation Has Started And There's about To Be A Teenager In The House

Well school is officially out for the Legates family. I'm so glad, as I'm sure you can imagine. We finished almost two weeks ago on the 8th. It always feels great to finish a school year. I however have only gained a little more free time, because I still have to get Olivia fully ready for kindergarten. Yeah, that's always tons of fun (not really). My daughter is really smart and catches on to things quick, but she is also stubborn (joy). Well you can't have everything, and if there is one thing that I have learned during this whole teaching my children experience is that you have to adapt. Wish me luck with that.

So now for some good news. I am starting my YouTube hair tutorials back up. So you can expect the next one this Sunday. I am also going to be doing a bonus video once a month with an unboxing. I got Jeremy a subscription to Loot Crate for father's day, and he got me a subscription to Geek Fuel for mother's day. Our first boxes should be coming in a few days, and I was going to make a video showing what was in each box, and kind of do a "Geek Fuel VS Loot Crate which box is better?" sort of thing. It should be fun, and I am really looking forward to getting my first box.

My oldest so is about to turn 13. Wow! The years have gone by quick. The good news is he's a great kid, and I doubt that turning 13 will change that. He's awesome at being a helping hand around the house, and is starting to show a lot of responsibility. Yes I'm proud, and that's okay. From a mom's point of view I'm just glad I didn't mess him up some how. He was my first, and I had to learn how to do everything. It doesn't seem so bad now looking back, but I know there was a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of tears. Yes they were all worth it.

Thanks for reading, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARIEN!

Mom's day out, Rose City Comic Con, and Arms don't bend that way

I've got a three in one post here for you guys, to catch everyone up on what has happened to us this past weekend, and this week.


Mom's day out

I'm happy to report that saturday I got half a day off from being a mom, and I went out with my friend Katie. I have known Katie since I was a teen. We both went to church together (back in Maryland), and she lives about an hour away from me. We have met up twice before (twice since the move here), but it was just a small hi's and hugs, because the meetings were in busy places, and we didn't have much time. I wanted to catch up and find out everything that had been going on in the last 12 or so years of her life, so my husband suggested that I take her out to lunch, and I loved that idea.

We decided to meet up in Gig Harbor, and eat at Applebee's. It was a wonderful lunch. We talked so much, that I completely forgot about my BLTA that was sitting in front of me, and I maybe only ate half of it. Katie is a wonderful person, and I love the way she sees the world, and how she's very open about her faith.

I didn't want our time to end. We prolonged it though by going to get coffee, doing a little shopping, and going for a walk at the harbor. It was just really great to talk to an old friend, and be able to talk freely about God and how things are going. Oh and she also gives the best hugs.

When I got home, I was welcomed by a clean house. Jeremy and the boys had been busy. That was also wonderful, as I'm sure you can imagine. Yes my husband can handle the kids, and clean the house at the same time (I'm very lucky).

Rose City Comic Con

The decision to go to this Comic Con was kind of last minute. A few weeks ago I got an email from the Emerald City Comic Con (that's the one in Seattle, that happens in March) saying that their tickets were going to go on sale soon. This surprised me, because it seemed a little soon, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not. So to make up my mind I went to the web site to see which celebrity guest were going to be there. I have always wanted to meet Will Wheaton. My thoughts were "well if you are going to meet someone from Star Trek make it Will Wheaton." Why? Well he's a nerd just like us, and he's a nice guys as well, also he's my favorite actor, and that's really the best reason. But to my dismay he wasn't on the list of celebrity guest, in fact there was only two listed. I figured it was because it was to early, and that the list would grow, but that didn't help me, the person who was apparently deciding right now weather she was going to go or not. So I went to Wil Wheaton's web site, and click on appearances and I got both excited and sad all in the same instant, because he was going to be at the Rose City Comic Con in Porland, and Porland is only three hours away. Then I noticed the date. It was only two weeks away, and I thought there was no way we would get tickets. I thought it was like Seattle's Con, where you need to get tickets months out if you want to go at all. Needless to say I was a little sad for the rest of the day. I told Jeremy once he got home, and he did the smart thing and actually looked to see if they still had tickets. I'm sure you figured it out by now, but yes they did.

A week later my husband tells me that he knows what he wants to wear to the con, and I loved the idea so much that I made shirts for everyone.

Yes we were the Wesley Crushers. The shirts are a re-make from an episode of the Big Bang Theory, but what makes them even more awesome is their reference to Star Trek as well, and since we love both shows, it was perfect.

Making the shirts was so quick and inexpensive that it was almost embarrassing. When we went to Michaels to buy the shirts, they were having a sale, and each shirt was half off, so $2 each. We already had the iron on transfers, so all I had to do was find the image, reverse it, and print. So all in all the cost was about $13, and yes that was for all 6 of us.

We got a lot of attention at the Con. Quite a few people wanted photos of us. Yes just random people. 

Right after we arrived which was a little after noon, we got in line to get Wil Wheaton's autograph. We were blown away when he asked if he could get a picture and post it on Twitter.

Do I look surprised it that picture? Yeah I was really surprised. I also got him to sign this...

When I was 10 I had a huge crush on Wesley Crusher, and I think for my birthday that year I ended up getting a few of these. I opened all of them, and played with all of them (so it was okay), but now that I'm an adult, I think it's cool to finally have a signed unopened Wesley Crusher doll. :)

Later that day we got pictures taken with him.

We had to spit up because of the rules about how many could be in each photo, but we really didn't mind, and it was well worth the wait.

My youngest son Nathaniel (top photo), was over the moon about Wil Wheaton putting his arm around him (Wesley Crusher is his favorite character from Star Trek as well). That really make his day and make the 6 hour round trip worth it.

I also enjoyed this Con more. It was smaller, but not to small, and it wasn't as crowded, so you could move around and actually look at things.

Arms Don't Bend That Way

Monday night my husband and I were both snuggled on the couch watching the premiere of the Big Bang Theory, while the kids played down stairs in the basement. Right when the credits started to roll our second son Zachary comes running upstairs all out of breath saying "Darien's arm broke." My first thought was "no, he probably just hurt it, and only thinks it broke." Also at this point I could hear no crying. We went down stairs to really just make sure everything was okay. Well yes needless to say he did brake his arm, and it was quite obvious that the arm was broken, by just looking at it.

Ummm.... Yeah....

Apparently the kids were playing a game of "The Floor Is Lava" and the floor won.

So Jeremy took him to the emergency room, and from what my husband says he was a real trooper. He didn't cry once, and he was very polite to everyone there, despite all of the pain he was in. He's Wesley Crusher shirt had to be cut off though, so I may have to make him a new one.

He's okay though, and is at the doctors right now with his dad, getting a cast put on

School work has been interesting though. So my job as Homeschooling mom is going to be a little harder, since he can't write right now. Yesterday I ended up writing everything for him, while he verbalized it. I really didn't mind to much. Darien has always done really well with his work, so it wasn't to bad.

Well that is all right now. Thank you for reading, and I'll let you know how the whole cast thing goes.

I have a 12 year old in my house now

Yes it my oldest son's birthday. I really can't believe it. I know I say that every time my kids have a birthday. :)

Favorite toy : Legos
Favorite thing to play : Also legos
Favorite thing to eat : Pizza
Favorite TV show : Mythbusters
Favorite color : Green
Favorite place to visit : San Diego
Favorite book : Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows
Favorite movie : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2
Favorite Video game : Minecraft

Darien is turning 11??? What???

So my oldest son Darien is turning 11 today, and I really can't believe it. It really makes me feel old... Has it really been 11 years already?

Favorite toy : Legos
Favorite thing to play : Also legos
Favorite thing to eat : Pizza
Favorite TV show : Sponge Bob Square Pants
Favorite color : Green
Favorite place to visit : San Diego
Favorite book : Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows
Favorite movie : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2
Favorite Video game : Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon

Happy Birthday too...

DARIEN! 

He's 10 today (wow)!

This is the only picture he would let me take, because he was busy with his new presents. He was so busy that he forgot to get dressed this morning and he is still in his jammers.








Favorite toy : Legos
Favorite thing to play : Also legos
Favorite thing to eat : Pizza
Favorite TV show : Sponge Bob Square Pants
Favorite color : Green
Favorite place to visit : San Diego
Favorite book : Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollows
Favorite movie : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part 2
Favorite Video game : Skylanders

What an amazing kid he is! I feel so blessed :)

Happy Birthday Darien

My son's birthday was Saturday, and he's 9 (yeah wow). Now I know what you guys are thinking... "Randi aren't you a little late on this post? Most of the time when one of your kids has a birthday you post on the day."... And yes you are right I really try to post on that day, even if it's just a small post wishing them a happy birthday, but this weekend was busy and crazy, mostly because we had a lot of things to do, but some of it was because Jeremy had a 4 day weekend, and when there's is a cute guy in the house, nothing gets done. So I didn't get around to it until now (I know that very bad of me, and I should know better).

We celebrated Darien's birthday on Friday, because my husband was taking Darien and Zachary to Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA on Saturday (with the church). So shortly after waking up on Friday, we gave him his presents. Jeremy had off that day (a big bonus for all of us). We took the kids to Mcdonalds (a really cool birthday treat). We went to Party City to let Darien pick out a cool balloon (who doesn't like to do that). And last we went to Goodwill. We needed another book shelf (yes we have too many books). This book shelf we put in Darien's room, with all of his books on them, and this gave us move room on our other shelves (I was feeling really motherly and even let him put Harry Potter on his shelf). I made Carrot cake cupcakes (that's what he wanted), and pizza (also what he wanted). We had a dinner theater! We watched Harry Potter while eating. The kids stayed up late and ate themselves sick.

So Saturday we woke up early (5:30). The church bus was leaving at 7:30, and Jeremy had his buddy Ryan coming with, so we needed to to get ready. Shortly after Jeremy, Ryan, Darien, and Zachary left, Nathaniel, Olivia, and I set out for a walk around the neighborhood. I was yard sale day (they have one twice a year in our community), and I wanted to see what everyone had. I was just mainly looking for more summer clothes for Olivia, and books (I was looking for books). I found nothing! No one was selling anything I was interested in (yeah it happens). We walked the whole neighborhood (and I mean all of it), and nothing. Nathaniel was awesome! He walked all of it with me, and didn't complain. Next I took them (Nathaniel and Olivia) to Chuck E Cheese's. They had a blast... Olivia love the rides, and Nathaniel loved everything (not a big surprise). Lunch time comes around and we stop by Subway one our way home (yummy). After we got home I put Olivia down for a nap (yes it is time for a brake). Nathaniel played video games, and I watch the latest Bones on Hulu. After Olivia nap I took the kids to this awesome book store. It was our first time going, but I wanted to check it out because I was all used books. It's called the Book Nook. Yeah it was awesome! I got some Hardy Boys for Darien, and they had Star Trek books (yeah as if I wasn't nerdy enough). Nathaniel picked out a few books and we went home (again) (my feet were hurting by the end of this day). Bed time came around and Nathaniel wanted to stay up "I want to wait for my brothers mommy. I miss them."  "I know you do baby, but they won't be home until late. How about we get you a cupcake, and you go to bed."  "I want a cupcake, but I'm not tired."  "Come on Nathaniel, we are getting a cupcake, and then I'm going to tuck you in."... Yeah in the end it worked, he was really tired. The boys got back around 10:30pm (yeah they did get back late). They had a great time though. They got to ride in a bus that had a bathroom (who doesn't like to do that?). They got to eat at an awesome buffet, along with going to a great show. Needless to say, they all had a really good time.

So yes that was our busy weekend, I'm wondering if it will take all week to recover from it :)

From "Work is Hard" to "Working Hard!"

Okay so not everything runs as smoothly as planed. No I am not surprised by this... This includes homeschooling. So the first week went great (of course it did, it was the honeymoon period), but the second week... not so much. I had been noticing (while grading), that I had been making a lot of answers wrong (most of them from son number one). The test were great and he did well, but the workbook... Yeah that was a different story. Why is this? I think it's all to laziness (I'm sure my parents could tell you a similar story about me). Darien has enjoyed his afternoons of free time, and likes to get to them as soon as possible. This made him rush through the work, and get half of them wrong. My original plan with home schooling was to also grade them on their workbook as well as test and quizzes, and because of that I waited until the end of the day to go through and grade the work book (not such a good idea after all). This had me calling Darien over and explaining why he got so many wrong. So then I had to rethink my whole grading proses... I then came up with the whole "we will do the work over and over again until we get it right." (great idea) This will give him more practice, and it will also teach him to do it right the first time. No to mention this will also help with his understanding. If he gets a whole section wrong (despite telling me that he understood it) then I will know its something we need to work out together. Yes I should have done it this way to begin with. Lesson learned! My homeschooling proses is... with Language and Math I go over the work for the day, and read him the directions of each section, once he understands I let him do his work on his own. With History and Science, I read the chapter, then leave the comprehensions checks up to him. The work he was doing on his own, was what he was getting wrong. So this morning I announced a new homeschooling rule. We will do the work over and over again until we get it right, and if you get it all right the first time, then you will move up on the treasure chart (yay!). They loved that idea. So what is the treasure chart you ask? It's a chart that consist on 10 spaces for each kid (just the boys for now). You start at the bottom and work your way to the top, once at the top, you get to pick a treat from the treasure box (I know it does sound like fun). Things that move them up on the treasure chart include, working hard, helping out, and being kind. They can also be moved down if they are behaving badly. Today has a wonderful day. Darien only missed one question in math, and only one in history. Yes so far so good. Our first bump in the road of homeschooling, thank goodness it was only a small one.

Happy birthday Darien

On this day 8 years ago, Jeremy and I became parents. Happy birthday Darien.