The weather in Northern CA is so cool....

We had spring like weather this time last week, and for the past several days it has been rainy and overcast. Well, that is what it is supposed to be like in January in Northern California. I honestly can't complain, I like the change of weather. The only drawback that I can see is that the kids can't really play outside. Oh, and that Otis (whippet) refuses to go outside. I think he just pokes his tootie out the doggie door and does his business (into the garage) without ever actually going outside. We've busted him, but, being the brat he is, he really doesn't care. At all.

Declan got his white belt in karate last week. He is pretty proud of himself. The Sensei (sp?) had a little 'ceremony' for Declan and the other little boy that got his. Greg swung by just in time to see it. Declan took it very seriously, it was so cute! Grasshopper.

I went to scrap with some girlfriends yesterday at Green Tangerines. It was a completely unproductive day for me... well, except for running my yap. There were 4 of us, and 2 scrapped, and 2 yakked. =) Love you Deanna! I met Greg and the kids at McDonald's after the crop. He took them there to let them run wild after being in the house all weekend. Maren got to play too. I'll upload the pictures in a minute. She thought she was a hot shot, and I just hope no one gets sick....... ICK.

Hmmm... what else. I've been getting on Facebook a little more. It's addicting. You start thinking of people that you know, and sure enough they are on Facebook. Then the next thing you know, you have 200 friends (like my niece) and you didn't even think you knew that many peeps. It's an easy way to say hello to *everyone* you know.

It totally feels like Spring here!

And it makes me want to clean the entire house from top to bottom. I've got the hallway upstairs lined with plastic tubs of the girls outgrown clothes. I've got the 'redecorate' bug too. Greg worked out in the back yard this past weekend, got the leaves all picked up. The bushes are bare or gone, and the grass is dead. I think of how much time I used to spend out there (before kiddos) and all the plants I planted.

Teagan and I went to the Wild Bird store and got some seed for the birds, so at least they come around! I got some shots of a Goldfinch in the bubbling fountain, and the hummer at the feeder. They are very fearful of us, but hopefully they will get used to us being around. I can rememebr springs in the past that the kids are out back playing and the birds are at the feeders.

Look at this sweet little bird!

I took the kiddos to one of the local parks yesterday. I dressed Maren in pants that I didn't mind her scooting all over in. That poor child has barely had any tactile experiences. She's never even seen dirt (well, besides the dirt inside my house! LOL!) She found soft dirt, bark and, loved touching the grass. She tasted a few things and scooted everywhere. There were a few big piles of leaves the kids had a blast playing in.

Maren got to swing too, which she thought was pretty cool.

It's 63 outside baby!!!

And the kids are playing OUTSIDE!!! YESSSSS! I love days like this. I even saw a hummingbird at the feeder. I knew he was out there because he gives me all kinds of fly-bys and warnings from the trees when I'm outside. I fixed him some nectar (to make nice) and put the feeder on the fence outside my kitchen window. Bless his tough little hummingbird heart. I think I'm going to have to get some fresh thistle seed for the Goldfinches, they aren't touching the what I put out last week.

Maren has finally decided to walk. She started furniture walking the day after my Mom got here. She loves her new-found freedom and wants to walk all the time now. It's murder on the back though... good thing I have a good chriropractor lined up.

I think I had mentioned Declan started karate. I've been taking him 2-3 times a week. He's getting pretty good, and will earn his 'white belt' tonight. This is big deal time around here. I'm just hoping that the good lessons like listening and focusing will convey while at home too.....

My Mom went home on Tuesday =( and I've been trying to get back into the swing of things solo. With weather like this I should be taking the dogs for walks and the kids to the park. Everyday. I think I have "pissoneveryonesparade' syndrome, though. I start dissecting each little part of walking the dogs down to the point that I don't want them to go (pooping, picking up poop, carrying the poop type thoughts). Then the kids at the park is not a relaxing, sitting looking at my magazine type thing either. Usually one of them poops, or needs to poop too. Maybe I have 'uptomyelbowsinpoop' syndrome really. So we stay home. Or we occassionally entertain others at Target.

My girlfriends and I are planning our first annual scrapbooking retreat at a house in Lake Tahoe this March. We discussed the details at scrapbook night this past Saturday. I'm looking *so* forward to going. I think I'm going to start planning my pages now so I don't have to bring absolutely everything. It's fun to just sit and basically assemble the pages once I get up there. Plus, with all the chatting that we do, I can't be responsible for putting everything together from scratch. Plus, I think we are bringing wine. =)

Alright, I'd better go see why the kids have suddenly gotten so quiet....

So, a note to the 4 of you, who read my blog...

I apologize. I get irritated when the blogs I go to don't have an update..... and then I quit going there all together. I am guilty of not knowing where to start, so I don't do anything. I scrap like that too, ya know. I like to scrap the day to day things, while the holiday pictures sit untouched. I got Halloween and Christmas photos printed so I can scrap the last 4 yrs worth.... It doesn't help that between 3 cameras, I have over 330 pictures of this Christmas...... *sigh*

So. In a nutshell, this is what the Loop Troop has been up to. The kids were out of school for 2 weeks for the holiday. We had Nana, Grandma & Mr. Lee, and Uncle Billy & Aunt Jayne here for Christmas. We had people sleeping on air mattresses everywhere. Good food and fun was had by all. Santa brought Declan a deluxe Matchbox cars track, that does like 4 or 5 tricks. Teagan got a bike of her own, and Maren got a pony riding toy. Pink, of course.

Christmas Eve

Maren's pink pony!

The Bean on her new bike.... the laminate floors are great for riding it in the house.

Bub taking a peek into his stocking.

We celebrated the New Year with friends Sara (Declan's future wife, only she doesn't know it!) and Nikki. We were the last to leave again this year, and were home by 10:30 or so. I was in bed before midnight. My Mom stayed home with Maren so she could hit the hay and we could have 1 less kiddo to be on the lookout for.

Declan started Karate on the 5th. This is the first organized anything he has done. Bless his heart, he is *so* cute doing his moves. He was so excited, and I'm glad we waited to do something he wanted to do. Teagan can do ballet once she is potty trained (I KNOW!!!). I can't even remember what it's like to only have 1 kid in diapers... we've been keeping someone in business over the past 5 1/2 yrs. And I can honestly say I have been up to my elbows in it. I have done my time. Sheesh.

Alright, I don't want to overdo it and burn myself out so early in the year... =)