Fun in the Sun

It was awesome weather yesterday so we went out and enjoyed it. Someone told me it was 90 degrees but I'm not sure. The kids played in the pool and were dive-sliding into it. Here's the video of Josh doing it.

Rubik's Cube

Last week I picked up my Rubik's Cube that I've had for a couple of years and decided to figure it out. I have only barely tinkered with it before trying a few things here and there. I was already able to solve the top two layers. These are undoubtedly the easiest layers. This last week I figured the rest out. I've traded solving ideas with some other people and found some faster ways to solve parts of it. Right after I learned to solve it, I could do it in about 4 and a half min. My fastest time is now 1 min and 35 seconds. I'm definitely not insanely fast, but I'm pretty quick. My goal is to get it down to under 1 min. If you have a Rubik's Cube sitting around you should get it back out and give it a go. If you have one that you'd rather not look at anymore, you can pass it my way because these stickers only last so long. After I get under a minute I'd like to try the 4x4x4 Rubik's Revenge. I also remember when I was a kid I had this pyramid type Rubik's thing. I'm really interested in checking all the other weird Rubik's type puzzles.

Mackenzie's Birthday!

Mackenzie's birthday party was on Friday. We had a busy day with her friend party right after school and a family and friend BBQ after that. It was a great party and everyone had a ton of fun. We played a few games including hula hoop and limbo. Mackenzie looked cool doing the limbo. We barely had enough room at the table and two girls couldn't come because they were sick. Mackenzie had been looking forward to her birthday all year and she really enjoyed it. After the party her friend Alisa spent the night and she got to play with her all the next day. It was a real treat.

C is for Cookie

Levi had a cookie this evening and really made a show of it. From the looks of him, you'd think he had some pudding. He was thrilled to be eating a cookie. It tastes great and makes a great mess. I'm sure you can tell that it was a chocolate chip cookie. Our cat Lily had kittens the other day and I'll have to put some pictures up here when I take them. I am also teaching this weekend at Western Washington University for a calculus conference, so I'm busy. I hope you enjoy this picture as much as I enjoyed watching him giggle and laugh with chocolate all over.

I Need Weed???!!!

We were in Seattle today. As we crossed the street toward Old Navy, this guy on the other side standing next to the building flipped his sign. The sign said, "I need Weed!" Does he think that since he's being honest people will respect him and give him money? It made me laugh. Joanna asked if it was legal. I'm sure it's legal to ask for it. It's just not legal to buy it or have it. I really wish I had my camera because it was comical to see this I need weed sign in front of Old Navy.

Crazy Awesome Kids

Joanna went scrapbooking today and I hung out with the kids. Before swim lessons we shot this little video. I caught them doing this little routine in the yard and ran and got the camera. After swim lessons we went to Burger King and Josh helped Levi go through the tunnels. When we got home we played for awhile and then watched "A Night At The Museum" while Levi napped. While I was making dinner, Mackenzie told me that she needed to go on a diet. I started to tell her that she wouldn't be dieting, and then switched gears and decided to ask her why she was going on a diet. She said, "I need to gain some weight." We survived the day without mom and now she's back. whew. Man she works hard. With mother's day being tomorrow I thought I'd throw in this editorial I found in the Lake Stevens Journal:

In today’s society, what’s your mom worth?

Being a mom is a full-time job – literally and according to Salary.com, Inc. stay-at-home moms are worth $138,095 per year for all of the jobs they do in the home.

Working moms are not far behind with a salary of $85,876 per year plus the salary they get for their full or part time job outside of the home.
The top job descriptions used to come up with these figures include housekeeper, daycare teacher, cook, computer operator, machine operator, facilities manager, van driver, laundry operator, CEO and psychologist.

Working moms reported that they spent an average of 44 hours per week on their job outside of the home and 49.8 hours on their “mom job” which brings the grand total of her working hours to 93.8 hours per week.

Stay-at-home moms reported working 91.6 hours per week.

Other factors that need to be considered are that moms who work outside of the home tend to get less sleep and most sacrifice a perfectly clean house to spend more time with their family.

Both types of moms sacrifice to make sure that their kids grow up happy and healthy.

While stay-at-home moms give up earning extra money, career advancement and sometimes a title, most feel that the sacrifice is well worth it.

Moms who work outside the home give up sleep, exercise and many skip lunches to have more time to spend with their family.

One interesting tidbit is that working moms are more efficient in the work place so that they don’t have to take work home with them, They want to be able the spend their time at home as quality time with their children.

I am able to relate to both types of “working” moms. I was fortunate to be able to stay home and raise my kids until my youngest entered kindergarten.

Those are years I would not change for anything. Watching them take their first steps, hear their first words and being able to show them new things and watch the expressions on their faces when they saw the eagles fly overhead or when a fish would jump up from the lake are priceless.

Some days I would wish I were working again, especially when the monotony set in of cooking, cleaning and children teething but for the most part staying home was a joy.

Once my youngest started school full-time, I was fortunate to be hired here at the Journal where I was close to home and the kids’ school and was working with wonderful people.

Now, I get the best of both worlds - being a mom to two wonderful kids and being part of a great company that is an important part of the community.

This Mother’s Day I want to thank all of the wonderful mothers in my life.

First and foremost, my mom who has always been a great example of honesty and integrity. My mother-in-law who is one of the most generous women I know.

Desiree Cahoon, our Publisher and my boss and friend, who is not only an exceptional woman but an amazing mother and mentor.

And not a Mother’s Day goes by when I don’t think of the two incredible women who made the greatest sacrifice and chose to place their babies for adoption and give them to my husband and me to love and nurture and to make our lives complete when we couldn’t do this for ourselves.
Happy Mother’s Day!

Levi

We went to the dentist today. Yahoo! Everyone had their turn in the chair, and Mackenzie had sealants put on her molars. It was really hard for her and she did a great job. We stopped by Costco afterwards to pick up some pictures, and then we went to Red Robin. I think everyone forgot about the dentist. Kenzie got a berry smoothie for sticking it out even though the sealant was a horrible taste in her mouth. The bird was there and it's now a girl. The bird has tights and everything. I was the bird 2 or 3 times when I worked at Red Robin during college. It was fun, but I'm glad I didn't have to wear the tights. I think I may have quit. Levi loves the balloons and has had one on his wrist all evening. Enjoy the video.

640 Hoene St.

I was browsing on the internet today and ran across a website with houses on Maui for sale. They are incredibly expensive, no surprise. However, I ran across the house that my mom lived in for many years after I left Maui. I want to say she lived in this house for 10 years. It may have been 8 or even 12, so the math teacher in me says she lived there for 10 years plus or minus 3 years to be safe. It was a great house. It also has a cottage below that is just under 700 sq. feet. It was cool to look at the pictures. They changed the entryway since my last visit and also the whole driveway area looks quite a bit different. The pictures are not that great. It's way brighter than it looks in the pictures. They want $875,000. If I had it, I think I'd move in. Check it out!

Off to Hawaii!

Grammy and Grandpa and Uncle Mike stopped by for a visit the other day and I didn't manage to get any pictures. The kids were thrilled that they came down. I had to run out on them to go teach an SAT prep class, but they came back yesterday on their way to the airport. This time I made sure that I got a few good pictures. Mike wasn't on this trip so I didn't get him, but I'm sure Dee will put up a picture of him with the kids on her blog. I'm excited for them as they fly to Hawaii for a vacation. They could really use one. Dad is busy non-stop and Dee is busy keeping things running and in order on the home front. They will be on Kauai for a week and then Maui for another.

I miss Maui a ton. It was such a great place to live as a kid. Going to school in flip-flops or bare feet and walking to the beach everyday after school is untouchable. I have awesome memories growing up there. I'd love to live on Maui again, but I doubt it's likely. I'm sure we'll take our own vacation there in time, although I'm not sure how dragging 4 kids around the island will be. I guess you rent a van or just tie a rope around their waists and pull them behind the convertible. Can you tell I've been insanely busy? I haven't hardly posted on here and now I'm making deranged jokes. It's been intense lately, like camping. I haven't spontaneously combusted yet, and I only have to make it through Wednesday morning until most of the latest craziness stops. My students in AP Calculus classes take the AP test on the 9th and I'm really hoping for them to do well. We'll see. I'm sure they will. Now I'm rambling. Ahhh. Good night!