School Daze

Now that I haven't posted in so long... I finally decide I need to post. LOL

The kids go back to school next weekend. That being said, they still have to go twice for testing (each) plus the Back to School ice cream social/meet the teacher on Friday, so it's like they are already back, wouldn't you say?

I was made a Squad Mom for the Junior Denver Bronco Cheerleaders this year. Yay. No... I don't get free/discounted tickets to the games because my job is to be with the girls... LOL You'd be surprised how often I get asked that. But I work with a great group of girls and a wonderful Big Cheerleader - Lelanna. :) She's great. And now that the football season is upon us, the girls are busier and busier. We have our first performance next weekend at the Saturday Preseason Game. We have practice this weekend at a different time, different place than normal. So much fun...

Thought I'd do a quick update! :) That's all for now.

Ice Fishing

For MLK day my kids went ice fishing with Daddy and Daddy's cousin Randy and his girls. Arcadia is the only one that lasted the entire time. LOL Ken caught one fish, it was too skinny, they threw it back and he decided he wanted to go sledding with his cousin Kayla instead. Arcadia ended up catching 6 fish. Four of them were either too small or sucker fish... didn't want to keep them. So we had trout for dinner and it was good. :) I'll post pictures and videos when I have them.

JDBC Finale

We've done our last game. Arcadia did okay for not actually ever practicing except for today. Bad thing about being short is that you're in the front of the line (no one to watch performing)... Good thing about being short is that your in the front of the line (I can video her with no problems).





Here's both videos to enjoy. :)

Now for those of you that actually wanted to follow my Gluten-Free Blog - here's the link:

Gluten-Free in a Gluten-Loving Household

It's nothing much... Just a beginner's thing... but hey it's a start... ;)

Day two of 2011

Well... I made it through the first day with a lack of sleep type of hangover where all I wanted to do was lie down, but that didn't happen until I had to go make dinner.

Dinner did turn out well... Thank you Tyler Florence. I was pleasantly surprised. I did peel off all of the dough off of mine, but I know I still had a little flour in there also... Oh well...

Today is Arcadia's last Junior Denver Bronco Cheerleader performance. She's still up in the air on whether she wanted to do it again next year. She kept asking me if all her friends were doing it again. I only knew of two for sure, but she wanted to know the third one before she decided.

So I'll be packing up our lunch boxes and head on out this morning at 9:30 AM to be at the bus by 10AM to help check in the other girls. Of course a stop to Starbucks will happen first. I'm a permanent volunteer for the group so we have to be there early. I'm hoping the girls get to sit on the bus and stay warm. Otherwise, I'm putting as many as can fit in my car with the heater on. Her uniform is all ready set out for her for after her shower. I have a few "new" parts to it downstairs. They asked us to have them in a white turtleneck shirt under their leotard and of course, headband (a winter one, not a everyday, hold your hairback one), gloves and scarf. I also have nice thick cotton tights for her also. So we'll see how this goes today. LOL

I'll try and video tape today, but my hands will be full of coats. Guy does have his uncle's seats for the game though and they're right behind where she'll be performing, so that counts for something...

Out with the Old... In with the New...

So... I haven't posted much here in the past year. I know. It hasn't been the best year so I'm so hoping that 2011 will be a much better for all of us.

I'm going Gluten-Free totally because of a wheat allergy. I have recently come to realize that everytime I eat wheat, my body starts to revolt. I haven't been totally good up to this point, but it's hard around the holidays when starting out. But now my body will start to thank me and I'll start actually feeling better.

The kids are starting their "computer club" with Daddy. They are actually in their first session right now... learning about networks and how things work through the network and internet. They seem enraptured at this time. They're actually paying attention, answering his questions and coming up with their own questions. This may be a good thing for them to actually become interested and learn about the family business.

I'm also going to start making fun lunches for the kids when they take their lunches to school. We'll see how they like it.

Another thing we're going to try is to have one day a week where we make a different dish we've never made before. Today we're trying Tyler Florence's - Beef Wellington. Of course, I'm peeling off the crust and just eating the insides, but it should be fun.

Hope that this New Year finds everyone healthy and happy.

BTW - I'm also starting a new blog to help me keep my Gluten-Free diet in tow... :) I'll post a link here for anyone that wants to read it. But it's mainly to help keep me honest.

Update

Wow... didn't realize it's been so long...

So... what's up in the lives of the Kittelsons...

Ken and Arcadia have both started back to school. Ken's now in Third grade and Arcadia's in First. Both love their teachers so far.

Ken is now a Bear Cub in Cub Scouts... even though his Den Mother (me) has done NOTHING as of yet to advance him on... so sad...

They are both starting music lessons. Ken takes piano and actually seems to be liking it. I think it has a lot to do with his teacher. She's absolutely crazy, but she makes learning fun for him. Arcadia has chosen to take violin. Unfortunately we are STILL waiting on her violin to arrive for us to rent for her. ugh...

Arcadia is also now a Junior Denver Bronco Cheerleader. She absolutely LOVES it. She gets to do a performance at certain games with 600 other girls. She has a little uniform and everything. She's already performed at a Rockies Game (baseball) , an Outlaws game (lacrosse) and one Bronco Game. She's performing again on the 26th. But this has also opened other opportunities for us. For example, the entire family gets to be part of the giant American flag at the 9/18 game and then we get to sit in the giant Bronco's barn with other families and watch the game and socialize. Lots of fun!

We still have two hamsters, but are now down a fish. Oh well... makes the hall table that much more open without a tank in the center of it.

Missing loved ones...

Okay... so I haven't posted in a while... but I thought I should...



Lot's has happened since my last post. The biggest being the passing of my Mother's husband Craig. He was a wonderful man, but I'm glad that he's no longer suffering. I'll be going out in June for his Memorial service. We love you Craig!

As for everything else.... nothing seems as important... I'll post at another time..

James Craig McIntyre

1948-2010

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

My baby girl turns 6 today. I can't believe it... Where does the time go???

I thought I'd look and post some old photos to celebrate...

Newborn (about 2 days old here)

At 6 months

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday (okay, so this one was on Valentine's right before her 3rd... ;))

4th Birthday

5th Birthday

1st Day of Kindergarten

Right Before Christmas

Right After Christmas

We'll take some at her party this weekend... as well as at Ken's also....

Happy Birthday Baby!!! :)

Swim lessons

Ken and Arcadia have finished their first round of swim lessons. Ken's actually doing much better with his swim techniques. He just really needs to refine his overhand strokes.

Arcadia's doing really well, but she seems to have issues with doing the stuff on her own. She'll do all the strokes and kicks as long as the instructor is holding on to her. The second he let go she started flailing. Guess we need to work on the learning how to do it on her own. Our next round starts next Monday.

Pinewood Derby Time!

Ken's Cub Scout Pack had their Pinewood Derby. Both Ken and Arcadia had cars in the race.

I'll let you take a gander at whose is whose... LOL

Ken raced the Wolf Den (since he's a Wolf... LOL) Arcadia raced in the Open competition

These are the Cars for the Wolf Division... Trevor's was named the "Swamp Gator". It was cute... it even had googly eyes. Ken's is "Green Lightening"

Here are Trevor and Ken at the finish line (yes, I didn't dress Ken in uniform, bad Den leader, bad)

After three heats, Ken's car was first. No need to continue to two more heats.

Ken got a nice certificate for winning.

Ken went on to race in the finals against the winners from the Tigers, Bears and Webelos. Ken's car won four out of five races. (One race his wheel came off the car, we had to do a quick pit stop between heats).

Here are the top three winners. It was Wolf, Bear and Webelos.


I also thought I'd through in a few pictures for fun from the end of last year.



That's all for now... but there WILL be more... :)

New Year, Fresh Starts

This new year has been going well so far... Ken and Arcadia started back to school on Tuesday and they are happy to be back (as am I!). Ken's getting ready for his Pinewood Derby this weekend. We worked on the car Sunday and he sanded, painted, painted, painted... LOL I did some detail work to it and then put a clear glossy coat on it. Wheels are on and the car is weighted... let's see how well it works and how fast it will go. Arcadia also built hers (well, okay, so I'm doing most of it)... she picked the colors and painted it... I added stickers and clear gloss coat. Will be putting the weights and wheels on tomorrow...

Ken has a new teacher to start out the new year. He was very heartbroken when he learned his old teacher was moving to California. He really seems to like his new teacher. He was very excited to learn that there were a bunch of different things around.

We started swim lessons this week. Mondays and Wednesdays. We missed last night due to extremely poor road conditions. I know, I know... but I don't think the kids needed to be exposed to sub zero temps with wet hair, ya know. We'll hit the class on Monday.

The kids are also getting excited about their birthday's coming up. Ken wants his at The Denver Hop and Arcadia's having a swim party. I got everything reserved, now to party preps. :)

The tooth is gone!

Ken pulled out his OWN tooth last weekend... yes... that's right! He pulled it out all him self. He sat and worked and worked on it all Saturday morning because he didn't want to go to the dentist to have it pulled! LOL What ever works!

The countdown to Turkey day...

Well, the kids are "officially" on vacation from school for the next five days. The entire Kindergarten class (five classes all together) hosted their annual Thanksgiving Feast. Parents were all asked to bring something (from plates and cups to the Turkey itself). There were tons of pumpkin pies, tons of turkey, tons of appetizers... it was actually a really nice feast. Something for everyone. Arcadia's class made the Mayflower and that was on stage as a "centerpiece". They also each made a separate one to bring home. Arcadia, of course, forgot to put her name on hers, so hopefully we didn't steal someone else's masterpiece. That is now our centerpiece of our table for Thanksgiving. I wonder if the clay will actually dry at some point... only time will tell, right?

I have our Turkey almost thawed out. I'm sticking it in the brine tomorrow. Then off to the Fryer it goes Thursday afternoon. Good ole Alton Brown never disappoints! I have potatoes and may actually try my hand at making homemade hashbrowns... yea... we'll see how that goes... HA. The house is all cleaned, just a few little things to put away (like the deliveries that came today).

Thank you Grandma and Aunt Pat for the Holiday doorbell and the Auto disguise. LOL I've always seen them everywhere. Now to go get batteries for the doorbell... Kids used my last C.

Now to sit and actually figure out my menu for Thursday. Nothing too fancy, but still have to shop for it all.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kids and Pets...

Well, we have had our hamster, May, for one month now. The kids absolutely love her still and shower her with little things when they can or with attention. Ken broke into his piggy bank and bought her a hamster ball. She absolutely loves it and loves to "run" around the house in it. She's basically explored every inch of the first floor. We haven't allowed her on the second floor or the basement for obvious reasons, don't need a loose rodent in the house... LOL

The fish are fine. I never realized how active Goldfish really were, or how long they can live. We did research and it looks like Arcadia could take these two to college with her if she wanted. LOL

Pet update

It's been almost a full week and I thought I'd do a quick update...

The pets are a big hit. Arcadia runs home after school to feed her fish. We did get another goldfish so the first one didn't seem so lonely in that tank. She's proud of them, but wishes she could have a hamster. We told her that she'd have to wait until she's seven. She understands and is happy to be able to play with May.

Ken is absolutely in love with May. He carries her cage around everywhere. She's figured out the tunnels and is on the wheel most of the time. She loves to be out, but we don't let her go too far, just on top of the coffee table or bed. Ken gets to take her to "visit" the class tomorrow at school. We'll see how well that works out.

Pets...

After so many discussions and debates, the kids now have their own pets (yes, that's plural).

Arcadia got a goldfish and promptly named her Julia. We got her a cute little pink Mermaid aquarium for the top of her dresser (our old one basically took up the entire dresser and being a girl, we need that dresser top!)

Ken got a hamster. She's a grey Russian dwarf. She's extremely soft and very cute. She also has the neatest cage!

Well... Fall is here

Fall has "officially" arrived. It's been cold and wet and dreary here, but that doesn't stop us. Well... it did stop soccer practice on Monday and it may even stop the one today, but that's fine with me, I prefer not to be out on cold wet evenings.

We did have cub scouts and we worked on knots. Ken can now tie a overhand knot, a square knot and his shoes! Yes, we have conquered the shoe tieing!!! About time!

Wow... Long time no write

Well... I'm sooo sorry for the lack of posting...

Lots has been happening...

Ken and Arcadia both started school. Arcadia is blossoming in Kindergarten. Her teacher is a wonderful influence for her. She loves geometry... who knew?

Ken's doing pretty well. His reading scores are high (as are Arcadia's, by the way).

Arcadia and Ken are both in soccer this year. They are both doing really great.

I have pictures of Arcadia right now. Ken's to come soon.

Soccer Photos

Thought I better put these up before someone decides to disown me... :)



Ken's Soccer Team:





Arcadia's Soccer:

Tornados and my experiences with them

Growing up in the Panhandle of Texas and various parts of Colorado and Texas and visiting Kansas every summer, you'd think I'd be used to Tornados and Tornado warnings, right? Hey, when we lived in Pampa at one house we had a siren in our backyard and man was that thing loud! But we heard it... every Saturday at 11:30 (right before Fat Albert, LOL) the siren went off and we'd suffer through the test, hoping that would be the only time we would ever hear the sucker. And at the other house we had a storm shelter. The place smelled of mold and dirt, but at least we had one, most houses didn't at least that I remember. Mom, Clark and I were very lucky not to see one tornado or funnel cloud while we were there, though now I see Pampa featured on the Weather Channel all the time with various tornadic activity.

Then every summer I'd spend in Kansas we'd have at least one warning, if not two and I'd spend the time in my grandparent's basement (remember Grandma). I remember one summer, my Grandparents were at their friend's house in the country and my Aunt and I were at their home. We spent a good amount of the afternoon in the basement because of warnings, watches and the like. At least everyone made it safe through that one. And then the one summer we all spent out in Arizona. Grandma, Grandpa and I were traveling back to Mesa after spending time traveling Southern Arizona when we came across a nice, interesting looking tornado. My Grandparents didn't want to own up to the fact that this was in fact a tornado to me. They were afraid I'd freak out. In fact, I truly wasn't sure myself, having never seen one in person. If I knew, I would of been freaking out. I remember driving through a town where the rain started lightly, then harsh, then hail, then nothing... the calm in the eye of the storm and there it was. It was touching the ground, but was quite see through and then the opposite affect on the way out. I remember someone saying when we got back to the trailer park in Mesa that the tornado destroyed one bar and then disappeared. Of course, this could all be my imagination, but it's a very strong memory so I count it as real.

Since I've moved out here to Colorado there have been very few tornados. Two happened around two or three years ago about 2 miles south of my house and the lake nearby, but I never saw them and we didn't have sirens. We now have sirens (that the city reluctantly put up after those tornados) that never go off, even in a warning. They went off yesterday. It sent silent shivers up my spine, but I was calm. Got the kids in the basement and made sure we had what we needed. Before the sirens went off though, I was outside with the camera. I got a few pictures of the nasty looking clouds and one that I learned later was the funnel cloud disappearing back into the clouds.