This year we had a combined birthday party for Levi and Carlos. They each invited their class (and siblings) and we weren’t sure if we had lost our minds. They chose Nerf War as their theme and it turns out it was super easy and fun! There will be plenty more in our near future…we have a great yard for it and there really needs to be no plan, the kids just go at it. We had target areas and free play areas. Even the adults got into it. Fun times for sure.

Yup, Trey is reading chapter books now, I may be biased but I’m pretty sure he’s brilliant.

Carlos just hanging around at school…what a joker!

Levi is the sweetest boy, he went into our field to pick a bunch of wild flowers for both me and Dee. He tied them with a piece of grass to keep them together. So thoughtful.

Celebrated at Great Wolf…couldn’t find the lighter for the candles so Mary had the great idea that he blow the flames out of the fireplace. A big blow and a simultaneous flip of a switch and it worked!

Just a few pics from Great Wolf – what a fun trip! It was the annual Island School trip, so lots of friends there to play with.
Carlos had been so bummed on Sunday because he was just 1/4 inch too short to get his green wrist band that would allow him to go on the Howling Tornado slide, but by some miracle, when he got measured on Monday he had grown! Just the birthday present he was hoping for.
Trey finally got his sleepover (at the hotel) with his best friend, C.J. so he was the happiest boy ever.
We endulged in some pizza and beer. You gotta do that sometimes and it tasted good.
All in all a fantastic trip!
All in all a fantastic trip.

Here is a video link to the Howling Tornado: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e73Y2cm8SGA

This Mother’s Day we had a little different plan than in years past. Since it was the day before Carlos’ birthday and the next day off from school, we decided to plan a trip to Great Wolf Lodge. Apparently most moms don’t think that is the place to spend their day, it wasn’t real crowded.
We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast out with Nana and Papa to celebrate what an incredible mom and Nana we have been blessed with, then hit the road.
I love this picture of Carlos and his Nana, their special relationship really shows (well that,and she had just given him a cup of coffee!)
Love you, mom!

Levi’s teacher sent me this snippet of a “weekend news” page that he did in March.  It’s very cool that she sent it and it was one I hadn’t seen.  So sweet!

> Levi
> 3/12/12
>
> My mom and I took my bed apart and moved it into the work room. It is
> so much better because I can sleep in the dark and not in the light. And my
> head wasn¹t uncomfortable. I got three little pillows. And it is peaceful
> and quiet. But the rain came and the wind blew in harder. I was happy that
> I had an electric blanket. But the wind kept me up all night long.
> I have my very own desk. It is little but I don¹t care. I also have
> an MP3 player. My lamp is small but I do not care again. I also have a
> sleeping cat.

The place our boys go to school is incredible.  Yes, they learn how to read and write, they learn their math facts and about history but the real core of why we have them there is the community.  There are so many people helping them realize who they truly are and how to be the best they can be.  They listen to them, encourage them, support them and challenge them.  They also hold them accountable for their actions and help them to find ways to work through any obstacles or problems they may run into.
Last night was the annual auction, and as it’s a really fun night to be a part of, it’s also a chance for the school to raise money for financial aid.  There is ZERO chance that we could send our boys there without the significant financial aid we receive.  We are so grateful to have them there.
So every year we go to the auction, ALWAYS raise a paddle for the financial aid flurry (sometimes it’s $50, sometimes more…we give what we can) and last year we even got a framed art work from Carlos’ class for $100 (which is unheard of!).  Other than that we try to help out by bidding items up and bidding on some of the smaller silent items.  We usually don’t take much home.  Last night was pretty typical, Dee bought me a beautiful little bracelet, we got a couple raffle tickets and felt great to put $250 toward financial aid.  We threw up our paddles for each and every one of the boy’s class art projects but were quickly outbid. 
When the quilt made by Carlos’ class (the Pandas) came up, we did our bid and set the paddle down.  As always, we hope those items go for a lot as they are incredible works of art and such mementos to treasure but  get a little sad that we can never afford to bring one home.  It sold for over $400 and when the bidding was over I wasn’t sure who had won, because they were behind me.  Then I got a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around, I was being handed the quilt.  Another parent had bought it for us.  Immediate tears, gratitude, loss for words.  This community is what makes the school so incredible, the genuine kindness and compassion.  I am grateful and humbled by the generosity. 
When we got home it was late, we had tears from Trey because he didn’t understand why we couldn’t buy one of his class projects and auctions and economics are tough to explain to a 6 year old.  We are going to try and recreate one so that helped.  He went off to bed and Carlos curled up with the Panda quilt and I was overcome with a rush of emotion.  I know we are where we need to be, with this amazing group of people surrounding us and our boys. 

Today was We Are Family Day at Safeco Field.  We got tickets through the Kitsap Foster Care Association and going was part of Levi’s birthday present.  Mary agreed to watch Erin (as she would have so much more fun with her Maymay and Alice then being schlepped around Seattle).  I had a gift card from my birthday and found a super cute hat for Erin, then was happy to be able to get the food everyone wanted and splurge instead of our usual take a sack lunch on the ferry and a bag of peanuts for the game.  FUN day but I’m exhausted.
Came home and took a walk to the beach and enjoyed a mellow evening throwing rocks in the water and looking for beach glass.  Great day.