Valentines Day And Hockey

Another Hallmark Holiday has come and gone.  I'm not a huge Valentines Day fan just because I don't think you need just one day to be told how much you are loved or whatever.  It should happen several times throughout the year!  With saying this we did celebrate a little just because it's fun with the kids.

Alyssa had her party at school that Wednesday and was so excited about it.  I love this age!  Since she had swim on Valentines day we got pizza for dinner and of course the kids got some little gifts that they loved.  Cory and I weren't going to do anything but he surprised me with a nice bottle of wine that I like.  We had plans to go out to dinner the next night so we kind of used that as our celebration. 

Saturday our friends invited us to go to hockey with them.  They have season tickets right behind the penalty box of the visiting team.  Cory and I both love going to sporting events and wished we had more time to go and enjoy it.  We were excited to go and the kids were as well.  Both of them have been in the past and I was excited to finally get them to a game this year.

Knox was really into it until the last period where he then wanted to go to the bathroom every few minutes.  Which he never used just wanted to go wander around.  At the end of the second period the ref/official gave  Knox the game puck.  It was pretty cool and he was very cute about it.  Alyssa was a little upset she didn't get one but such is life!  I did explain that we had another one at home she could have and that seemed to make it a little better.

My friend and I got the kids a bunch of treats that they enjoyed and we did manage to stay the whole game.  The Everett was playing Seattle and unfortunately lost but it was a good fun time.  When we got home the kids were exhausted and to bed they went.  We had a big day on Sunday so I was really hoping for them to get some rest!

All Four Santa Pictures

Again a little late but better than never.  Here are all four of our santa pictures this last year.

Kindergarten....It's Not What It Used To Be

I knew in Marysville the school district registered earlier than the other schools around the area for Kindergarten.  When I received the information in January that it was going to be the first weekend in February my heart skipped a beat! 

Come September I am going to officially have a child enter the exciting yet scary world of elementary school.  Up until now her main influences good and bad have been us, her parents, and family and friends who we have chose to hang out with.  Now she is going to start spending time with children and adults who are going to start influencing her good and bad that I have no control of for the most part.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited for her and everything to come.  It's just scary too and a whole new part of parenting.  I'm sure I will have many more posts on my thoughts, fears, and reality on this in the coming months and into the next school year so bare with me!

Back to the registration.  Alyssa was so excited to go and Marysville does what they call a Kindergarten and School Registration Expo.  I was actually pretty impressed with it.  The nice thing to was that since I came prepared I didn't have to wait in any long lines.  For us the actual part of registration was less than five minutes.  We went around to some of the booths got information, checked out the bus and saw some cheerleaders.  Guess who was excited about that!? 

What really hit me was when we were at the literacy booth and were handed out  five small books that she will be supposed to be reading next year it kind of freaked me out.  Not the beginning ones but the one by the end of the year where there are a few sentences. 
I probably sound crazy and that's fine.  Don't get me wrong the sentences are simple but really kindergarten?

I feel like kindergarten is the new 1st grade and preschool is the new kindergarten!  Again I'm very excited for her and she is so ready to start this new chapter!  Thankfully I have six and a half months to worry!

Afterwards we went to a good friends birthday party at a pizza place and the kids had a blast.  To top off that weekend we ended with another birthday party at a jump place.  The same place Alyssa will be having her party this weekend.  It was a great exhausting weekend.

Mr. Giggles

So this is a little late but better than never right!? Here are some of the things Mr. Giggles our elf did this year while visiting us. He arrived Thanksgiving night and stayed until Christmas Eve. Of course my first time doing this I picked the time when Thanksgiving was a little earlier than normal so I had a lot of days to do this!

The kids had a blast with him and still talk about him. They can't wait for him to come back! I can't take credit for all of these ideas some I had seen on line. I thought of a few that weren't age appropriate that I thought would be funny. Maybe next year he will get a little crazy! Anyhow I didn't put all on here but enjoy a few!