How can anyone get any sleep around here?

When Rod and I were buying a bed, we settled on a Queen size bed. We tend to sleep right next to each other, so there was no point in getting anything bigger. However, we did not calculate into that equation 2 kids, 2 cats and 1 Minnie Mouse. 


2 HUMANS+2 KIDS+2 CATS+1 MINNIE MOUSE=No room in our bed.


We always start out with just the two of us. And then Charlie hops on up. He gets sick of sleeping at around 3 a.m. so then starts mewing to be let out. Rod of course, is oblivious to this, so up I get to boot him out the door. Usually, Lola does sleep with her buddy, Ellie, but as you can see (above) she sometimes prefers our bed (lucky us). Mia usually comes in sometime in the middle of the night, armed with her Minnie. She likes to sleep with "one leg in one leg out" so the blankets usually get pushed down and some people (me) end up FREEZING!!! And on this night, Ellie had a bad dream so clambered in too. She has been crowned Champion Kicker and Elbower, so when she gets in, I get out. Explaining a black eye when you work with a bunch of social workers is not ever a good idea. Yes, it truly is a miracle that anyone ever gets any sleep in this house.


(I feel like I need to clarify that Rod's wrist bandage is the result of a work injury. Although the sleeping situation in this house is enough to make anyone grab a razor!!!)

5th Grade (Already...how did THAT happen?!)

Ellie went back to George Washington Academy for 5th Grade. Seems like only yesterday she was in kindergarten. Actually, seems like only yesterday she was a baby. Crudd, I'm getting old... Anyhoo, she was way excited to go back to school. We did all the usual back to school shopping, uniforms, shoes, backpack, supplies, etc. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Winder, which, as I am writing this in April not August, I am happy to report is a GREAT teacher. Ellie loves her. They share a great love of reading (yes, she certainly is my daughter) so talk about books and what to read next. 

Back to Preschool (again...)

Well...it's now April 13th, and although my intentions were good in doing this blog, I am obviously full of it... Oh well. Mia went back for her 3rd year of preschool in August 2011. She started preschool at an early age because a bunch of the other kids at her babysitter's were going to school. And she went back for the 3rd year because she missed the cutoff for kindergarten. She was more than happy to go back to Miss. Mary's though. She LOVES Miss Mary. Miss Mary is the bomb-diggedy of preschool teachers. She is fun but firm and has long "gold and sunshine" hair which makes her a winner in Mia's eyes. 
Check out Mia's face in this photo. This is pretty much as good as it gets. Whenever Mia gets in front of a camera, her eyes get all scrunchy like she's worried about getting blinded by the flash :)

You know you live in the desert when...

 Yeah...This was the temperature my car was registering when I got into it this afternoon. Why oh why do we live here?? The thing that is really hard is that I still think like a Welsh girl. The kids are back in school, which to me translates to wearing jeans and sweeping up leaves. I am wearing jeans today because I am sick to death of Summer clothes so am rebelling... Gotta cool down at some point, right?

Woke up to this UFB (Unidentified Flying Bug) on the outside (thank goodness) of my bathroom window the other day. Ick... Pretty sure they don't have these in Wales.

Back to School

 Ellie went back to school a couple of weeks ago. She was pretty ready after the summer holidays but isn't quite so sure now that we're back into the routine of getting up early, wearing a school uniform and doing homework every night. She has a great teacher, Mrs. Winder and is excited and happy to go to class every day. We pulled her out of karate after 4 years because she wanted a break and was just tired of doing it. Instead, she's doing Hip Hop and Jazz and so far is loving it :) I love it too, because the studio if 5 minutes from the house and right next to Costco. Super convenient! Can't believe Ellie is in 5th grade already. I already have to Google things if she needs help with her homework. Methinks I am in trouble :)

Best Zoo Ever!!!

 We spent the morning at Roos-'n-More zoo in Moapa, Nevada (yes, that Moapa-the one in the middle of nowhere between here and Las Vegas. It was the best zoo ever. It's just a small place run by 2 vets and a bunch of volunteers. It's only open on select days of each month and on the morning we went there were about 50 or so visitors. It's totally hands on. They bring all the animals out and you get to hold them and pet them. It was sooooo cool. Cannot wait to go back. Anyone want to go with us ? :)

This toucan loved Rod's wedding band.

We got to feed carrots to the camel.

  

We got to hold a baby kangaroo!!! So dang cool!!! She was about 8 months old and kept licking her arms because it helped cool her down. Poor Mia was the last one to hold it and by then it was sick of us, so wouldn't stay still. She just got a scratch on her arm. Poor Mia...

A SNAKE!!! When we asked if the snake bit, we were informed that everything with a mouth can bite. Hmmm... thanks for the reassurance. I had never touched a snake before. Very weird. This snake eats 3 mice a week. Ewww...

This owl is a little confused on the time of day. Seems like it should be sleeping...

South American raccoon

 Rod loved the birds and they loved him back. They just hopped right onto his hand. Ellie was a lot more excited about holding the animals than Mia was. I think the kangaroo freaked her out...

"It's cute Dad, but I'm still not touching it!"

Had to put this photo in because she looks so cute with her bazillion freckles :)

Lemur

Crazy little monkey. Glad this one was in its cage...

2011 Sherman Family Reunion

Liah, Mia and Lucy painting picture frames

Lucy, Porter, Mia, Elise, Liah and Amy getting ready to play. The kids had a blast with the games Amy had prepared :)

Porter with his stick :)

Mia with her bubble blower

Liah and Lucy chase their bubbles

Elise

Mia trying to figure our how she can get all the candy out of the pinata with one blow

Mia, Liah and Porter in the sack race .

We went to Pine Lake Reservoir for the 2011 Sherman family reunion and had so much fun. The girls would spend every minute with their cousins if they could. We played and ate and played and ate some more. I have noooooo decent photos. I will blame this on the fact that I had just worked 70 hours and was sleep deprived and took 2 days to wake up. And then my camera died. I need to get some decent photos from the rest of the Sherm clan. Still, we had a lot of fun. Amy coordinated everything and was AWESOME!!!

Bryce Canyon

 We hiked down to the Queen's Garden at Bryce Canyon. It was a lot of fun and not too hot or too difficult. The only problem with hiking down into a canyon is that you have to, at some point, hike out of it... Still, it was fun :)

I look like an owl...or a fly... Either one, it ain't a good look...

Mia checks out a Prairie Dog and wonders if she can take one home. Run Prairie Dog, Run!!!

So dang cute. And most likely rabid...

Our Tipi

When we booked the campground at Ruby's Inn, we found out that we could stay in a tipi for not much more money. Heck yeah!!! It was huge inside and the coolness factor made it worth it. However, they do not tell you how FREAKIN' COLD IT IS!!! We about froze to death. We all ended up in the same bed. I put on every but of clothing I had with me plus some of Rod's and finally got a little bit warm. Methinks the Indians built fires in there for a reason. Didn't think the staff at Ruby's Inn would have much appreciated us making a fire though :)

ATV Demons

Funny Girl

Lookin' Goooood...

Rod begged and begged to go on an ATV ride. I finally relented in a quest to stop the nagging :) and we outfitted ourselves in giant helmets and cute goggles and hopped on the 4-person ATV. And it was FUN!!! We followed a trail for about an hour and got to see antelope and deer. The view at the end was incredible. Mia LOVED every minute of it. She held on for dear life and tried to get Rod to go faster (hmmmm.... wonder who she takes after?). Ellie and I were happy to just trundle along :)

Speed Demon in the making..

Rod in his element and lovin' life...