Spring Break

SPRING BREAK! Woo hoo!! Okay, so we weren't totally crazy and out of control, but we did have a really fun Spring Break. The boys spent the first two days of break at work with Dad (thanks to NO child care for the week), and then I took Wednesday through Friday off to spend with the boys.

We went to the planetarium, lots of parks, Ft. Gibson Lake, and we had tons of fun at home too - riding bikes and scooters and running through the sprinkler.

We also were fortunate to have Uncle Bobby, "Aunt" Erin, and her daughter, Jaelyn visit for part of the week as well. We are looking forward to their move to Oklahoma this summer.

We found a new park that allows the boys to play while Mommy runs the trail. We made a morning of it and brought a picnic lunch.

We went to Ft. Gibson Lake and visited the FREE Nature Center (I love free stuff). We got to play with lots of fun stuff - like this feather. We also saw a bald eagle, coyotes, snakes, foxes, beavers, turtles, and fish.

Besides putting snake skins on our heads, we also went swimming in the VERY full lake, but I was too busy soaking up the rays to take any pictures.

All three of the kiddoes were brave and petted the snakes. They also wanted to hold the snakes, but the park rangers said no. Oh darn.

Check out this garage sale steal! Jackson has definitely outgrown his tricycle so we'd decided to get him a new bike for his birthday, which isn't until May. While out for a run through our subdivision, I found a garage sale (shocker...I love garage sales). What are the chances they had a RED DORA BIKE, exactly Jackson's size, and only $10. Yes, Jackson desperately wanted a Dora the Explorer bike. I was fearful he'd be riding around town on a pink or purple bike, but we found the only RED Dora bike in town. Woo hoo!! Winning! Oh, and Jackson FLIES on this thing. I thought there would be a trial and error period of figuring out the big boy bike, but no. I literally have to run (fast) to keep up with him. I guess he was ready!

Mohawk Park

Last week we had to pick up Daddy at the airport. Mohawk Park is a great park near the airport, but we rarely go because it's kind of a long drive, but since we were going to the airport anyway, we decided to leave early and get in some play time first.

Andy was flying in from Salt Lake City. He took Grandma Vicki back home to Idaho, and now we are back to being a family of four. It's nice to get back to our old routine, but the old routine means back to child care. Today Ethan started at The Young Einsteins, a before and after school tutoring program. It's in a mother's home, and it's only Ethan and a few other kids. He seems really excited to be with kids his age, but away from the chaos of a daycare center. I love that the mother is focused on education! Jackson is now doing extended care at his preschool. He remains in his classroom with his teacher so I don't foresee him having any adjustment issues. The only difference is he'll take a nap and eat a snack at school, both of which he was excited to do! Neither option is as great as having Grandma here everyday, but I think we're going to make this work. Here's hoping for a smooth transition!

Enjoy the pics from Mohawk Park!

CLEET

When I was hired as a probation and parole officer, I was informed that part of the training was to become a certified law enforcement officer. So, since November 14, 2011, I have been attending the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (aka: CLEET, aka: Police Academy). This training has required me to be away from my family EVERY Tuesday through Friday for the last 16 1/2 weeks.

When I first started CLEET, I thought it was pretty cheesy. I just pictured the "Police Academy" movies and couldn't help but laugh at myself. Andy even joked about me taking classes in "Donut Eating 101." Now that it's over though, I realize that CLEET was HARD. The hardest part was definitely being away from Andy and the kids, but some of the tests required lots of studying. I had to learn how to shoot a handgun and a shotgun...at a target...for a score. I had to learn defensive tactics, which required me to literally get beat up and beat up others. I found muscles I never knew existed. I also learned to drive tight corners at 55+ MPH and how to recover from spin outs.

On February 29, 2012 I graduated from CLEET with my badge and the coveted CLEET card. I am so glad it's done, and I am so proud of myself! Bring on the bad guys!

Me with the other girls from CLEET.

My wonderful roommate, Diana, another probation and parole officer.

I did it!

Jackson, Jackson, Jackson

Terrible two's? Never heard of them.

Terrifying three's? Ooh! Ooh! Over here! Pick me! Pick me!

We are DROWNING in the "three's." Drowning. Can't breath. Must...have...air.

Let me preface this by saying, we love Jackson. He is so loving, smart, and fun. He is also hard-headed, demanding, bossy, whiney, and a big pain in my butt! I'm his mom; I can say that. I'd like to blame a lot of Jackson's behaviors on my being at the law enforcement academy since November. According to Andy, "Jackson never acts out when you're gone." Of course he doesn't! Why would he behave for his mother?!?! Now that the academy is winding down, I'll be home everyday, and I can't handle the constant misbehavior.

When I ask Jackson to do something, he doesn't. When Jackson doesn't get his way, he throws a HUGE, MASSIVE fit. Every single time. He won't stay in time out. He is trying to weasel his way out of naps.

Any advice on how to make my three-year-old lovable again? Or should I just hold on until May when he turns four. Things HAVE to get better at four....right?

Going on an "a-venture" with his brother.

Playing with the slime he made from his "science a-speer-i-ment."

This picture was taken on the one day I said he could skip nap. Ha! I win!

Love you Jackson!

The Rocket Show

The weather has been, dare I say, "Spring-like" lately. It was so nice on Sunday; upper 50's and NO wind (a windless day is rare in Oklahoma). We decided to grab some snacks and head to the park to shoot off a rocket. Building and blasting off rockets has become a new favorite past-time for our family, but we've been struggling to find a windless day. I also made a video of the actual rocket launching, which I'll upload if I ever figure out how.

Juice box and granola bar? Check! Bring on the rocket show!

Daddy and Ethan setting up the launch pad.

(Who loves shorts in February? Andy does!)

My little rocket scientist in between launches.

BLAST OFF!

Baby it's Cold Outside

I think winter may have finally made it's way to Oklahoma. It's in the 30's and it snowed (only 1/2 an inch, but it counts)! Winter should be gone by tomorrow when temperatures return to the 50's and 60's. I do love the mild winters in Oklahoma, but when 1/2 an inch of snow falls, Oklahomans act like it's Armageddon. I saw more car accidents on my drive to school than I saw after three feet of snow fell in one day in Maine. The boys were hoping for a snow day like neighboring Tulsa, but Broken Arrow stood strong and decided 1/2" was not a justifiable amount for a snow day. Despite the "cold," we're still enforcing the play-outside-as-much-as-you-can rule.

A quick play in the snow before school this morning.

Most of it has melted now.

RollerBoys

Last weekend, since there was no football on (besides the boring ProBowl), we decided to go rollerskating. Grandma Vicki loves rollerskating, and we figured it would be a fun outing. Fun? Sort of. Crowded? YES. Have I mentioned, my husband and sons SUCK in crowds? Because they do. Jackson got his skates on; realized how tricky it was going to be; and immediately asked to leave. Ethan, too, was frustrated by the fact that he wasn't automatically awesome at skating, but he didn't give up quite so easily; and once he got his hands on a skate mate, he was good to go. Andy, Vicki, and I had fun when we weren't keeping small children from falling. I think every child in Broken Arrow had an urge to go skating this day. In the end, we had fun, but next time we go, let's hope there are a lot less people there.

All fun and games until they wanted to move.

This is the only picture I could get of Jack.

Ethan was MUCH happier once he got a skate mate. I forgot to mention, skate mates were available at a ratio of about one skate mate to every 459 kids. They were like GOLD. I had to nearly fight other moms for this one.