The other day, Rachel came up to me and said "Mom, can I have a blog?" I thought about it for a second and said "sure". She was so excited. She said "really? I thought I would have to beg and beg to get you to say yes!" I thought that was funny. Actually, it will be a good writing exercise for her and a fun way to keep a journal. Dad said it had to be private, so we invited everyone that we thought would like to read it. If I have somehow not invited you, or maybe I don't have your e-mail address, please send me an e-mail and I'll get you an invitation. My e-mail is amanda {dot} bloomfield {at} gmail {dot} com. Just remove the spaces and change the words inside of {} to symbols. I'm looking forward to what she will write.
Tales of a 5th Grade Nothing
I hope you enjoy it too.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Mom & me
A friend from church started a community program called Mom & me. It's a free mini preschool that meets once a week and the moms all stay and help. Emma really enjoys it and it really makes her feel like a big kid. The first time she went, she told everyone at home that she went to preschool. Then she scribbles on a paper and says she is doing her homework. That kid wants to grow up too fast!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Pretty pictures
I love the clouds here. They are so beautiful. There have been a number of times when I wished that I had my camera nearby to take a picture. This was a recent storm. The clouds were all dark and swirly - especially over the mountains.
I think I'm really going to miss the rainy season when it's over.
These are some pictures that Rachel took of some plants in our yard - I thought they turned out pretty good.
Just wanted to share a few fun pictures of our new area!
I think I'm really going to miss the rainy season when it's over.
These are some pictures that Rachel took of some plants in our yard - I thought they turned out pretty good.
Just wanted to share a few fun pictures of our new area!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
El Paso Diablos
Thursday night we were able to attend a baseball game in El Paso - the Diablos. Aaron's work had reserved a special section for employees that included hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, and drinks. We got to meet some people from Dad's work and have a fun outing as a family. I had planned on bringing the camera, but forgot it at the last minute - so sorry, I have no pictures. David and Josh were sure that we were going to catch a ball. I told them it was possible, but not very likely. A tipped foul ball did go into the stands - bounce around like crazy, and almost made it to our table. A guy in the next table over stuck out his hand and got it. If he has missed, I think I could have snagged it. They were disappointed but said "we'll get the next one". Gotta love that positive attitude! We had to leave way before the game ended to get the kids home at a reasonable hour for school. I found out later that the Diablos lost 14-3 - so we didn't really miss anything great. Even though we didn't get a baseball (or cotton candy or a foam finger) the whole family had a great time. There's nothing like a good old baseball game.
Friday, August 22, 2008
My claim to fame
On Tuesday I had to run a few errands. As I was coming out of the store, a man with a video camera wanted to ask me a few questions. I guess I'm not really on top of things because I didn't know that John McCain was coming to Las Cruces the next day. They wanted to know what I thought of McCain coming to Las Cruces. Then they wanted to know what I would ask him. They asked me a lot of questions but only a few seconds ended up on the news broadcast. My kids got a big kick out of it. It was kind of fun to be on the news - even if it was only for a few seconds.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
First Day of School
Here in Las Cruces school started on August 11th. That is the earliest that my kids have ever gone back to school. They were all excited, though, and ready to start. On the Friday before school started, we went to the school (having registered 2 weeks before) so that I could find out who their teachers were and we could find out where the classrooms were. I wanted the first day of school to be as stress free as possible. Unfortunately, they still didn't have my kids assigned to teachers. Monday was just going to have to be an adventure.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that my kids could ride the bus to school. We actually live pretty close (as the crow flies) and google maps puts us at .9 miles away if you were to drive it. Since my kids didn't even know where they were supposed to go, I decided that I was going to take them the first day. After they got dressed and ate breakfast, we were getting ready to leave and I started getting worried about the parking situation at school. At the last minute, I decided that we should probably walk to avoid having to find a parking space. I had never walked to the school (I had been told by some neighbors that you could cut through some undeveloped area to get there in a few minutes). I really should have investigated it before that morning - I had Emma in the stroller and cutting through the desert that was full of brush, dirt, and sand would have been difficult. Not to mention we had to climb down about 3 feet of a rock wall. So, by the time we walked a little bit, and decided that it wasn't going to work, it was almost time for the bus to be there. I offered to let the kids ride the bus to school (because they were so excited about that) and I would drive there separately and meet them at the front door. They waited at the corner. A bus came, stopped, and opened it doors but the bus driver said that bus didn't go to Desert Hills (I still have no idea what school it could be going to). Then, another bus drove by and it was the bus number that I was expecting - but it didn't stop. I found out later that the bus drives by, loops around, and then comes from the other direction. But, at that point, I was getting worried about being late and just drove everyone to school. Then, we had to scramble for a parking space, find their names on the class lists, and navigate a school that we had never been past the front office. We made it before the bell rang and even went over and met Josh's teacher.
Here's Rachel, all ready for 5th grade.
David, 3rd grade.
Josh, didn't start Kindergarten today, but I still took his picture. And that's one of my old cell phones that he has clipped on his pants - Josh and David can spend hours playing with an old cell phone - who knew?
Patiently waiting while mom takes pictures.
Waiting for the bus (that they didn't get on!)
David in his classroom.
Rachel at her desk.
This is a few days later when Josh got to go to his class from 9-11.
He has his first full day on Friday. I hope they all have a happy, safe, successful year!
I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that my kids could ride the bus to school. We actually live pretty close (as the crow flies) and google maps puts us at .9 miles away if you were to drive it. Since my kids didn't even know where they were supposed to go, I decided that I was going to take them the first day. After they got dressed and ate breakfast, we were getting ready to leave and I started getting worried about the parking situation at school. At the last minute, I decided that we should probably walk to avoid having to find a parking space. I had never walked to the school (I had been told by some neighbors that you could cut through some undeveloped area to get there in a few minutes). I really should have investigated it before that morning - I had Emma in the stroller and cutting through the desert that was full of brush, dirt, and sand would have been difficult. Not to mention we had to climb down about 3 feet of a rock wall. So, by the time we walked a little bit, and decided that it wasn't going to work, it was almost time for the bus to be there. I offered to let the kids ride the bus to school (because they were so excited about that) and I would drive there separately and meet them at the front door. They waited at the corner. A bus came, stopped, and opened it doors but the bus driver said that bus didn't go to Desert Hills (I still have no idea what school it could be going to). Then, another bus drove by and it was the bus number that I was expecting - but it didn't stop. I found out later that the bus drives by, loops around, and then comes from the other direction. But, at that point, I was getting worried about being late and just drove everyone to school. Then, we had to scramble for a parking space, find their names on the class lists, and navigate a school that we had never been past the front office. We made it before the bell rang and even went over and met Josh's teacher.
Here's Rachel, all ready for 5th grade.
David, 3rd grade.
Josh, didn't start Kindergarten today, but I still took his picture. And that's one of my old cell phones that he has clipped on his pants - Josh and David can spend hours playing with an old cell phone - who knew?
Patiently waiting while mom takes pictures.
Waiting for the bus (that they didn't get on!)
David in his classroom.
Rachel at her desk.
This is a few days later when Josh got to go to his class from 9-11.
He has his first full day on Friday. I hope they all have a happy, safe, successful year!
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Lagoon
We were fortunate enough to be in Utah during the Lagoon day for Grandpa's work. The kids had never been to any kind of amusement park before and they were so excited. We started out the adventure at the Food tent with some cotton candy.
Since it was a hot day, the first place we went was the water park. I don't have any pictures of that (didn't want to get my camera wet). The kids had fun there but they were really anxious for some rides! They had been to the Cherry Hill waterpark a few days before and it wasn't as new and exciting as the rides were going to be. We headed over to kiddie land and put all the kids on what I thought was a pretty tame ride. Unfortunately, it went kind of fast and up and down, and Emma was screaming the whole time. Rachel is turning around trying to comfort her.
That pretty much turned Emma against all the rides for a while. Aunt Sarah thought she might be able to get her to go on the Merry go round, but she was too scared.
Rachel and the boys thought that the rides were really fun. They really had fun on the Dino Drop ride with Grandpa.
Emma finally decided that she wanted to go on this boat ride. I'm glad that she got over her fear, but the line was excruciatingly slow - only 7 kids at a time and the attendant had to buckle and unbuckle each kid. It took over half an hour to get Emma on the boat.
It was worth it though - she still talks about the time she went on the yellow boat.
Here are more pictures from the fun day.
Sarah and Spencer were able to join us and we all had a lot of fun. The time went by quickly. I love roller coasters and only had time to catch two - the Wild Mouse and the Colossus. When I had gone to Lagoon as a child I loved that ride and would do it over and over again. I guess I'm getting older because just one time on the ride made me dizzy for two days!
We all had a great time. I even ran into some old friends that we knew in Payson. This may have to turn into a Utah summer tradition.
Since it was a hot day, the first place we went was the water park. I don't have any pictures of that (didn't want to get my camera wet). The kids had fun there but they were really anxious for some rides! They had been to the Cherry Hill waterpark a few days before and it wasn't as new and exciting as the rides were going to be. We headed over to kiddie land and put all the kids on what I thought was a pretty tame ride. Unfortunately, it went kind of fast and up and down, and Emma was screaming the whole time. Rachel is turning around trying to comfort her.
That pretty much turned Emma against all the rides for a while. Aunt Sarah thought she might be able to get her to go on the Merry go round, but she was too scared.
Rachel and the boys thought that the rides were really fun. They really had fun on the Dino Drop ride with Grandpa.
Emma finally decided that she wanted to go on this boat ride. I'm glad that she got over her fear, but the line was excruciatingly slow - only 7 kids at a time and the attendant had to buckle and unbuckle each kid. It took over half an hour to get Emma on the boat.
It was worth it though - she still talks about the time she went on the yellow boat.
Here are more pictures from the fun day.
Sarah and Spencer were able to join us and we all had a lot of fun. The time went by quickly. I love roller coasters and only had time to catch two - the Wild Mouse and the Colossus. When I had gone to Lagoon as a child I loved that ride and would do it over and over again. I guess I'm getting older because just one time on the ride made me dizzy for two days!
We all had a great time. I even ran into some old friends that we knew in Payson. This may have to turn into a Utah summer tradition.
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