That's it - a school year in a nutshell. It has been quite a year. Here are some highlights and lo-lights:

• Sterling started Grade 6
• Kaedo started Grade 5
• Shannon started working almost full time
• Craig started working on a special project for his work
• Sterling was diagnosed with Tourette's
• Kaedo lost 5 teeth
• Sterling grew to 5'2.5"
• Kaedo grew to 4'11"
• Kaedo started bowling and Sterling finished bowling
• Craig got a new job
• Shannon applied for a new job
• Sterling graduated to GRADE 7! OMG
• Kaedo graduated to grade 6
• Sterling was diagnosed with ODD
• Kaedo spent almost as many weekends at his buddy's house as he did at ours
• Craig played two seasons of football
• We celebrated 4 birthdays
• We took a dream vacation to Florida
• We took 40 Gnomee pictures plus the extras from while we were away

While it has been a hard "year", it has been a great "year" and I almost wouldn't change anything. Here's hoping to a great summer where the kids are busy, active and having fun. Here's to a mini holiday for me and holidays for Craig and the boys. Here's to a night at the drive in and maybe a trip to Niagara Falls. Here's to helping both boys become the best boys they can. Here's to hoping I get my new job. Here's hoping that everyone stays happy and healthy.

Let the summer begin! Only two weeks to our trip West!!!

Space Project

Special guest blogger alert. Even though Shannon has already posted once today, this is two for the price of one day.

Sterling had a space project due on the second to last day of school. I know crazy since it was the same day they got their report cards. Now its tough enough getting him to do a project when it counts for something so you can only imagine his motivation when it doesn't count at all. On the upside, we convinced him to do it on the space shuttle since we were fortunate enough on our holidays to watch the final night launch. I dutifully spent hours editing the video we made of the event so he could share it with his class. I would have liked to spend more time getting it better but on the night before it was due with a written report still not done, time was limited. Apparently the class thought it was great and even asked to see it a second time. (Man I really rocked grade 6 this year) When I asked what they liked so much Sterling said ' the music'. Now if you've seen my videos before you'll know I always try to set them to appropriate music. In fact Kaedo even said 'you can find a song for any video'. I think it is actually starting to show my age as the songs I find are slowly becoming classics. Since I don't think I got a chance to share the video when we got back, here it is. P.S. Should be obvious, but just so you know, the clip at the beginning is from NASA, we weren't that close ;)

These jokers were putting on a show this morning! Week 40 - That means we have been at this for 9 months. Pretty cool! Can't wait to show a side by side on week 52.

A New Do

My hair has been the bain of my existence for so long I can't even think of a time when I liked it. So, today was the day. I dropped into my closest Great Clips. Can't beat a $13 haircut. I had had a trim by Julie before and she was in today so I thought I would give her another shot. I had 3.5 inches cut off. It feels so much better. I had mentioned to Craig last week that I was going to grow it but it drives me nuts. I hate putting it back but it is sometimes such a hassle that I do. So now, I can't put it back and I am loving it! I remember the days (vaguely) when I spent $200 on a color and $65 on a cut. Those days are long gone. I am no longer coloring my hair - the grey is taking over - and I am no longer going to "the salon". And you know what? I feel just as good with this haircut and I like the lack of pressure to color, buy products, book my next appt so I get in when I want it, that happens at the salon. So, while I like the pampering of someone washing my hair and styling it, I realize that I can and do wash my own hair and they never style it properly anyway.

So, for summer, I have a new do that I am lovin'!

The making of a not so perfect ice cream cake

Usually I have made a chocolate sour cream cake for the birthdays in our house. I love that cake and have been eating it for at least the last 30 years (thanks mom). This year Kaedo decided he wanted an ice cream cake, and of course due to Sterling's allergies a bought one wasn't an option. So, Thursday night, Sterling and I went to Price Chopper to purchase what we thought would be the makings for an ice cream cake. Two flavors of ice cream, chocolate Oreo crumbs, chocolate cookies, chocolate syrup and icing. Friday morning I got up and started creating. When I say creating I mean fumbling around trying to figure out how to make the damn thing.

I pulled out my handy Spring Form pan and made the wafer crust. I then followed that up with some ripple ice cream and then added and layer of crushed FudgeeO type cookies then topped that off with vanilla ice cream. It needed to get into the freezer pronto after all of that as it was starting to defrost. Once I had let it freeze up again I decorated it up (looks very lame) and put it back into the freezer.

Since Kaedo loves ice cream - as does Sterling and Craig, the cake was a big hit. My thighs thanked me for this delicious cake as I am not a fan so had none.

Birthday Part two!

Had a great evening with the kids. We saw Toy Story 3 and LOVED IT!!!! It was so good and funny. The boys all loved it. We went to Pizza Hut and spent the whole time throwing out Toy Story trivia questions for Kaedo to answer. He is the Toy Story Master and was pretty good at answering our questions - even the obscure ones. We got home at about 9:45pm and had Kaedo's ice cream cake. We sang and he blew out his candles - after the one his put out with his fingers. The kids then watched a movie and I made a bracelet for Sacha. I had already made one for Josh and Kaedo and myself (Sterling and Craig didn't want one) and Sacha decided he needed one too.

The picture is one I photoshopped for each of the boys (the faces not blurred, of course) and put in little 3.5 x 5 frames I got at Michaels for .79 ea. Pretty good deal. Made their shirts for them - their favorite Toy Story character and a quote they said from one of the movies. They wore them to the movies and a guy at Pizza Hut though they were part of a baseball team. Ha!

Anyway, Kaedo said he had a great birthday and I'm happy about that. It is very important to me that the boys have great birthdays. Your birthday is such an important day and I want them to have great memories of the parties we threw for them and the things we did.

Sweet 11

Happy 11th to my sweet boy!

I can't believe it! He is so sweet and these pictures are so great. He looks so happy and loves his gifts. Thanks to everyone who pitched in. He was thrilled. He knew what he was getting the DSi and was sure he was getting some games but that didn't take away from how happy he was with his gifts.

Busy day today. I have had about 3 hours sleep and the day started way to early. Kaedo has asked for an ice cream cake, so instead of making the usual I will be learning how to make one of those. Ugh.

I will be picking Josh and Sasha up from school with the boys and they will come over here. We will then be catching the first showing of Toy Story 3, heading out for pizza and coming home for cake. The four of them will then crowd the basement with every blanket and pillow we have and will have a sleepover.

As per the Birthday tradition - one I have implemented with Emma as well, I will be making Toy Story T-shirts for the kids to have today.

Anyways - 11 years. Man has time gone fast. Considering how hard his entry was into this world, you would never suspect how hard is "baby life" was. He is amazing, awesome, great, sweet, kind, loving, and adorable. I love him to bits! Happy Birthday Kaedo!