Vapor 2

The title of this blog is Vapor 2. Because like a vapor, I somewhat have a "now you see me, now you don't" quality. Sorry! It rears its ugly head in relationships (not good at staying in touch) and now my blogging consistency...not to imply you are all out there waiting for me. But, I want to declare to my friends, I love you! I miss you! I think about you! I am sorry! And, if you do read my blog, I am sorry about my inconsistency.

The 2 part is because, I am not the first person in the world to act like a vapor. My sister is the worst. She will call. We will be right in the middle of an excellent conversation, when mid-sentence she will proclaim, "Gotta Go" and immediately hang up. This isn't the frustrating part, because as busy mommies know, "Gotta Go" happens fast. For example, Sam dipping toilet paper rolls into the toilet to dampen the toilet paper roll before eating it can happen rather fast. I understand the "gotta go".  The problem is that she will disappear for days. I will call back all day to make sure everything is okay and nothing. She doesn't answer, she is just gone. So, I named her Vapor. She, then, in return, named me Vapor 2. Then, I renamed her Vapor 1. "Vapor 1 this is Vapor 2 are you there?"

I have much more to say. but for fear of boring you, I'll start uploading some pictures and hopefully have the opportunity later as this blog evolves.

Home School...

Again, I don't know why I include a "home school" section in this blog. I can't let it go.  I have concluded this section will depict various forms of home schooling...some formal, some not so formal (also known as mothering). Whatever. Just let me relabel everything and call it home schooling. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy. 

Physical therapy component to my version of home schooling.  Again, PT can be an informal thing.

Just look at her developing balance and coordination.

During our recent vacation with Grandpa and Grandma, we took a field trip to the Zoo.  Great opportunity to build some vocabulary with Presley.

Like here, in the spirit of building vocabulary,  I exclaimed to the girls enthusiastically "Look girls...um...birds...pink pelicans...they are pink." Zoe, "mom, they look like flamingos" Whatever. 

Zoe is teaching herself to write the alphabet. I'm too busy studying birds. 

I jumped in and helped with the numbers. Zoe's #4  and #5 might need further assistance. 

I almost forgot to mention the other section in our Science lesson at the Zoo. Presley learned about endangered species.  Out of compassion...

She hopped in the helicopter to go save the polar bears.

Home cooking...

Kids at the table. In my search for evidence that I indeed cook, this is all I could find in the picture library since last blog. Seriously, why would kids be at a table unless their mother cooked? Ask yourself that before judging.

More evidence. Maybe this piece of evidence is more suggestive of owning a toaster rather than  indeed "home cooking"  

All done!

Home Decor...

Please look three pictures up to the girls sitting at the table. Look above Sam's head. That is Zoe's contribution to home decorating. I have none these days. But, I am including this section in my blog because I am recommitting myself to each and every section that I originally planned on going into this blog.  However, I did recently join Pinterest to get inspired in this department. It did not inspire me. It played a trick on me. I was deceived and thought it was inspiring me as I wasted 3 hours of my life looking at every person's pins as fast as I could with my eyes bugging out of my head. My inspiration quickly turned into anxiety. I all of a sudden wanted to do like 100 house projects including 30 freezer make-ahead meals. I wanted to do each and every kid activity that any parent has ever blogged about all while making my very own kids' desks from cabinet doors. And, I also realized my immediate need to dress much cooler, wear tights under gray wool shorts with tall socks and cool boots, and not to forget my green wool jacket. Wait, I don't have a green jacket or wool shorts. I am a bit too results-driven to stumble upon such a website without proper mental preparation. My "to-do list" is too long already. I have to remind myself daily that God will give me the resources and abilities each and every day to do the things He has planned for me. I get into trouble adding my plans to His. Next time I visit Pinterest, I will be prepared. I will say to myself, "No!No! you don't need to make a year's supply of laundry detergent and turn your dresser into a doll house today...Just go make dinner and say your prayers.



Home Life... 

Zoe loves playing in the snow. We had a couple snow days this year.  Apparently, when it snows in California, people lose their minds.  I will illustrate with the following facts: Snow storm hits. Roads get horrible. School gets called off at 10:30am during the worst of the storm. Roads get worse. Teachers call all parents to come get kids from school ASAP. Everybody is now driving on these roads. Schools use intercoms and megaphones to release one student at a time to a line of hundreds of parents that are standing in the cold. Roads get worse. Everybody takes their kids home on these roads. Nobody knows how to drive in snow. The truck in front of me randomly runs into a telephone pole. Everybody's life is now in danger including my family's. Two hours later storm passes. Roads are plowed. Everything is fine. California has just turned a two hour snow storm into a natural disaster. 

 

Zoe was happy! She knows what to do in a snow storm.

Wasn't sure here if Zoe was doing snow angels or if Presley took her out.

Presley is just fine with snow days too.

Just fine.

Then, why the weird face Pres?

Sam just likes the fashion of it all.

Turns into mud a day later anyway! No Montana white winters here.

Peanut Barrel...

Peanut Barrel. Let's unpack her nickname.. Mark Mancuso (miss you, your family, and your food) called her Peanut on one of those first precious days after bringing her home. I am suddenly overwhelmed thinking about those first days...God gave us the exact friends we needed at the exact moment we needed them. For helping in hardship and nicknaming my child, thanks again Mark and gang. As for the Barrel, our very own Mark Moberg gave her that one. Completely random. No great story. It just stuck. 

Grandma and Presley exploring along the beach.

As always, Presley did a lot of ipad exploring too. This kind of activity in this particular position is not that helpful for her newly diagnosed scoliosis.

Zoe's Creations...

"It's a castle, a ring, me, and a necklace."

Ever wonder where to put your vaseline? Zoe will find a place.

Feeding her animals.

Building sand castles with Dad. Waiting to put the feather on top. 

Love you Zoe!

Sam's Town

Doll Baby eating sand.

Loves to be held by Papa ( Presley nicknamed Grandpa Bob)

Happy girl.

More Vacation...

Grandma and Zoe exploring.

I'm done naming animals, but Mark took a great picture of this bear thing at the Zoo. Is it a panda?

Back to the beach. I don't know what these are either. I'm from Dakota. Clams? Mussels?

Pretty sure this is a crab. We had a stare down. I almost stepped on this guy.

Cool crab. Love San Diego beaches!

Grandma Mary found a bunch of starfish on her explorations. Mark took this photo. This vacation was one of the most amazing encounters I've had with nature. It was amazing. The real deal. 

She actually peeled a starfish off of a rock for the girls to touch. Can't do that in Dakota.

Watched dolphins play. No need to visit Sea World. 

Back to blonde hair for those that keep up with my hair color.

Home Flash Back...

Since we talked earlier about Peanut.