We've been blessed with a very smooth first week of school. I'm so proud of the kids for getting up and going each morning so that we could be out the door by 6:40am every day! School is school for Wade--he likes his teacher and says everything is good. I think he might be a tiny bit bored (straight 100s on everything he brings home), but things will definitely pick up now that his teacher has had a week to build routines. Rhiannon is a little more enthusiastic--every afternoon she walks through the front door and looks like she's floating on clouds, you can tell she is so happy to be in middle school!
I feel like I'm floating on clouds, too--I was able to take off the walking boot on Tuesday after I got a clean bill of health from my doctor. He said to wear stiff shoes and stear clear of heavy activity for another 6 weeks, but my foot has healed nicely. I asked the doc about this small bump on my foot, and he said that was new bone that had formed to protect the injured area. As long as I don't feel discomfort, he said it should be fine. So far it's been okay. I'm re-learning how to walk without the boot--the first day was pretty rough, but I forced myself to use the left foot more as I did some volunteer work at Wade's school during the week and did some light aerobics with ladies at the church this morning! (Well, they did aerobics and I did my own version!)
Tonight we're having some neighbors over for grilling/swimming, and then tomorrow night we'll host another grill/swim with our game night group. We're looking forward to it!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
And so it begins...
 |
| Rhiannon starts 6th grade; Wade starts 2nd! They're ready for a great year! |
We turned a page in the CA Cushing history book today. Our kids will never attend the same school at the same time ever again. It's a little bittersweet to me that Rhiannon and Wade won't get to experience middle school or high school with each other. I loved going to high school with Brant and Logan--Logan even shared an art class with me during my senior year! Thankfully Rhiannon will be a good trailblazer for her brother!
Today also marked the start of a MUCH EARLIER daily routine for us. Instead of taking our sweet time in the morning, the day went like this:
5:53am--Rhiannon hits the showers
6:10am--Jason is out the door and off to work
6:15am--Wade hits the showers
6:30am--Breakfast
6:40am--First day of school photo shoot
6:45am--Out the door to take Rhiannon to school (there was a very long line at the base gate)
7:06am--Bye, Rhiannon! Have a great day! (first time I've NOT walked her to her classroom!)
7:15-8:15am--shower for Mom, Mom and Wade chill, clean up the house, take more pictures
8:15am--Leave to take Wade to school
8:40am--Gates open and we get to go to Wade's class and say hi to Mrs. Bishop
8:50am--Mom gets a hug and knuckle bump from Wade and says goodbye!
It's weird being awake for nearly 5 hours already! I'm going to take it easy and then go pick up Rhiannon who gets out of school 45 minutes before Wade does. If it's not ridiculously hot outside, I'll drive straight to Wade's school and we'll just hang out there until he gets out. Rhiannon and I can chat and she can maybe do some homework. We'll see.
Tomorrow I'll start a car pool with my friend Heidi--we both have kids at the same schools. I'm going to take the morning shift for a few weeks, and she's going to pick kids up the afternoon. We'll see how it works out!
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Cushings go to Legoland!
You've been warned--this post and its pictures are ALL ABOUT LEGOS! Jason treated us to a day at Legoland to end our beach trip, and we had a great time. The weather was perfect, too. The kids loved the rides and rollercoasters, and we all enjoyed the amazing exhibits, especially the Star Wars and USA area. I'm not sure what the Lego count would be in all those creations, maybe a gazillion?
We got to the park right when it opened and enjoyed our stay most of the day until around 3:00pm when it suddenly felt very, very, very crowded. :) There comes a point when you just can't move the scooter very well through all those people! Beep-beep!
My favorite parts of the day were taking a picture of Jason and the kids with Darth Vader, and taking a boat ride through the Lego creations--THAT was cool.
Thanks for a great memory, Dad! I'm glad we went--it's definitely something one should see in their lifetime! :)
Jason bought a truck!
He did it!
On Saturday we drove down to Ontario and the greater Los Angeles area looking at used trucks. Jason was very organized with spreadsheets, CarFax reports, and addresses. He settled on this used 2003 Chevy Avalanche, 4-wheel drive, V8, seating for 5. Another cool feature is that he can take down the back row of seats and have use of a full-size truck bed if needed. The exterior is in amazing condition and the interior has a few quirks which he can fix if they bug him enough. A/C works great, too!
I'm not sure what finally made him take the plunge, but Scout campouts in the mini-van may have had something to do with it!
We're happy for Dad and excited to see what adventures he tries in this new toy!
On Saturday we drove down to Ontario and the greater Los Angeles area looking at used trucks. Jason was very organized with spreadsheets, CarFax reports, and addresses. He settled on this used 2003 Chevy Avalanche, 4-wheel drive, V8, seating for 5. Another cool feature is that he can take down the back row of seats and have use of a full-size truck bed if needed. The exterior is in amazing condition and the interior has a few quirks which he can fix if they bug him enough. A/C works great, too!
I'm not sure what finally made him take the plunge, but Scout campouts in the mini-van may have had something to do with it!
We're happy for Dad and excited to see what adventures he tries in this new toy!
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Beach Trip Monday was our big family day--all of us, including Great-Grandpa Rod, Nan, Nick, and Rochelle drove to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It was HUGE and wonderful! I wish I'd taken more pictures, but at least I have a few to show for the wonderful day we had there. I didn't capture it, but we were able to see a brand-new antelope taking its first steps during our ride around the park. It was so sweet!
Jason treated me to an electric scooter--I'm so grateful because I know I would have made it about 5 minutes on crutches!
This was our last event of the day at the park. These guys were hilarious, loud, and really good at scaring the heck out of us with their acrobatic madness!
Imperial Beach!
We have been home from our Imperial Beach trip for two weeks. Yesterday Rhiannon was staring off into space and said, "I was just thinking about the beach!" The trip was a major highlight of our summer--an amazing week-long vacation with the Cushings! We did miss the Cropper clan this time, but they had a VERY good excuse (welcome to our new cousin/nephew Charlie!!!!).
The weekend we arrived for the final "big" Jensen Family Reunion was also the US Sandcastle Competition weekend in Imperial Beach. There were people and cars everywhere. I felt like a billionaire sitting on the balcony of the condo and watching thousands of people mill around on the beach just below us!
We drove down on July 23rd and met up with Grandpa Rod and Grandma Deb to shop for groceries before checking into the condo. (Most of our meals were made in the condo--it worked out really well and saved a ton of money, too.) Brett, Jaymie, McKaleigh, Colton, and Alex, and Great-Grandpa Rod, Nan, Nick, and Aunt Rochelle rolled in later that night.
Sunday was the official day of the sandcastle competition. I think that morning was the first and last time I went out on the beach itself. I was feeling pretty good and used just one crutch (more on that later). We got out there early before all the people started coming, and it was fun! I loved watching Rhiannon and Wade play in the waves, but I got so nervous when they moved closer and closer to this rock outcropping. Lifeguards had to go out in the ocean and tell them to move (embarrassing, but I'm grateful the lifeguards were doing their job!)
Later in the afternoon Jason went down to fight the crowds and take pictures of all the sand sculptures for me. He deserves the Best Husband On the Planet Award--when he finally made it back to the condo, he looked pretty frazzled and said it had been like combat trying to make his way through all the crowds!
That night we went to the first official reunion event--because of the sandcastle competition it took us an hour and a half plus to drive 10 miles away. There were almost 200 people at the reunion's opening social. I only knew the Rod and Deb Cushing side--it was strange! But I'm happy to say I at least recognized most of the Jensen clan by the end of the week.
Just before bed on Sunday night, the opposite side of my hurt foot, ankle area, started causing me problems. It actually hurt worse than my initial injury! I think I'd been walking weird in the sand with the one crutch and put a lot of pressure on that side of my foot, so I was back to square one with both crutches and didn't go out to the beach again the rest of the week. I am SO grateful to Jason, Brett and Jaymie, and Grandpa and Grandma who took care of Rhiannon and Wade and let them enjoy as much time on the beach and in the ocean as their hearts desired. It really stunk being stuck in the condo, but everyone was really nice about it. Thanks, guys, for all the help!!!!
Here's a quick outline of the rest of the week--more posts and pictures to come....
Monday--San Diego Wild Animal Park!!!
Tuesday--Reunion Beach Olympics and Family Sandcastle Competition (the turtle made by the Cushing clan was FABULOUS!) Jason and I enjoyed a date night, too--thanks, Grandpa and Grandma! We saw Captain America and ate at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM). After the Olympics and spending all afternoon in the ocean, Rhiannon clued me in on some painful "burns" on her legs, almost like rug burns on the inside of her legs. Grandma saved the day with some Neosporin--it helped a lot!
Wednesday--Golfing for Jason and Grandpa and More beach time! I made it down to the condo pool with the kids and had a great time chatting with Great-Grandpa Rod, too.
Thursday--Padres game--they won! The weather was amazing, too! Reunion closing social and talent show--I wish I'd taken pictures then. It was great!
Friday--Last day. Sadness. McKaleigh and I stayed in the condo with Colton, Wade, and Alex while the girls went shopping and the boys went golfing. That night we took a group picture--yay!!!
Saturday--Farewells! And Legoland for the CA Cushings!
It was the perfect summer vacation, and being with family made it that much sweeter. WE HAD A BLAST!!!
Enjoy these videos taken early in the week! They give you a good idea of just how close we were to the ocean!
The weekend we arrived for the final "big" Jensen Family Reunion was also the US Sandcastle Competition weekend in Imperial Beach. There were people and cars everywhere. I felt like a billionaire sitting on the balcony of the condo and watching thousands of people mill around on the beach just below us!
We drove down on July 23rd and met up with Grandpa Rod and Grandma Deb to shop for groceries before checking into the condo. (Most of our meals were made in the condo--it worked out really well and saved a ton of money, too.) Brett, Jaymie, McKaleigh, Colton, and Alex, and Great-Grandpa Rod, Nan, Nick, and Aunt Rochelle rolled in later that night.
Sunday was the official day of the sandcastle competition. I think that morning was the first and last time I went out on the beach itself. I was feeling pretty good and used just one crutch (more on that later). We got out there early before all the people started coming, and it was fun! I loved watching Rhiannon and Wade play in the waves, but I got so nervous when they moved closer and closer to this rock outcropping. Lifeguards had to go out in the ocean and tell them to move (embarrassing, but I'm grateful the lifeguards were doing their job!)
Later in the afternoon Jason went down to fight the crowds and take pictures of all the sand sculptures for me. He deserves the Best Husband On the Planet Award--when he finally made it back to the condo, he looked pretty frazzled and said it had been like combat trying to make his way through all the crowds!
That night we went to the first official reunion event--because of the sandcastle competition it took us an hour and a half plus to drive 10 miles away. There were almost 200 people at the reunion's opening social. I only knew the Rod and Deb Cushing side--it was strange! But I'm happy to say I at least recognized most of the Jensen clan by the end of the week.
Just before bed on Sunday night, the opposite side of my hurt foot, ankle area, started causing me problems. It actually hurt worse than my initial injury! I think I'd been walking weird in the sand with the one crutch and put a lot of pressure on that side of my foot, so I was back to square one with both crutches and didn't go out to the beach again the rest of the week. I am SO grateful to Jason, Brett and Jaymie, and Grandpa and Grandma who took care of Rhiannon and Wade and let them enjoy as much time on the beach and in the ocean as their hearts desired. It really stunk being stuck in the condo, but everyone was really nice about it. Thanks, guys, for all the help!!!!
Here's a quick outline of the rest of the week--more posts and pictures to come....
Monday--San Diego Wild Animal Park!!!
Tuesday--Reunion Beach Olympics and Family Sandcastle Competition (the turtle made by the Cushing clan was FABULOUS!) Jason and I enjoyed a date night, too--thanks, Grandpa and Grandma! We saw Captain America and ate at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM). After the Olympics and spending all afternoon in the ocean, Rhiannon clued me in on some painful "burns" on her legs, almost like rug burns on the inside of her legs. Grandma saved the day with some Neosporin--it helped a lot!
Wednesday--Golfing for Jason and Grandpa and More beach time! I made it down to the condo pool with the kids and had a great time chatting with Great-Grandpa Rod, too.
Thursday--Padres game--they won! The weather was amazing, too! Reunion closing social and talent show--I wish I'd taken pictures then. It was great!
Friday--Last day. Sadness. McKaleigh and I stayed in the condo with Colton, Wade, and Alex while the girls went shopping and the boys went golfing. That night we took a group picture--yay!!!
Saturday--Farewells! And Legoland for the CA Cushings!
It was the perfect summer vacation, and being with family made it that much sweeter. WE HAD A BLAST!!!
Enjoy these videos taken early in the week! They give you a good idea of just how close we were to the ocean!
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