We don't need no stinking epidural!

Our family continues to grow...my sister, Jen, gave birth to a little boy on Saturday night. Joshua Jordan (he'll be called JJ) was born at about 9:50 and weight 9 lbs 4 oz, 21" long. Jada and Jack are so excited. All three kids were over 9 pounds, which is almost huge (just in case you didn't know or were wondering). Jen had the last two without epidurals. Epidurals are overrated. I do not speak from personal experience b/c I had to have c-sections, but Jen says the worst part is actually the contractions/dilating. Pushing is a huge relief and feels good. I don't know about all that, but JJ came flying out (really--the doctor juggled him).

It was a busy weekend actually, because I also went to a bridal shower (for April) and a baby shower (for Mandy). Mandy is having Alaina in a couple of weeks, thank goodness, because she hasn't lucked out and had any of the pleasant side effects of pregnancy (supposedly there are some). Right now she's swollen with high blood pressure (not too bad) and shoes two sizes bigger/wider than normal (and they still don't fit). I think I will buy her some dressy slippers b/c that might be all she can wear before this is over.

Andre has his meeting with the psychologist this week to discuss his answers he gave for the psych exam he took last week. There is also a state patrol open house that we are both going to so that I can learn more about the job, etc. If this all goes well, he might be able to start the arming course in June.

License, Registration & Proof of Insurance

Finally...Andre got "the" call from the State Patrol. He has been offered a alternate condition of employment, which basically means that, as long as he passes his psych and medical exams, he has a job with the Washington State Patrol as soon as a spot opens up for him in the training courses. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's basically the drift of it. I'm pretty sure he's pass the psych exam, since he doesn't seem that crazy to me, and he's in the best health of his life right now. So all is good. We're still in a holding pattern as far as planning anything (summer trips, etc.) because we don't really know when he will get to start. Things will probably be really busy around here come August, though, because he'll most likely be in some sort of training and I will be starting back to full time teaching (I've been part time since Victoria was born) and I'm going to do my National Board Certification next year.



Here are a couple of fairly recent pictures of us. The one of Andre and I was taken when we went to see George Lopez in Seattle. SO GREAT!

Roxy Wine Bar -- check it out

Andre and I enjoyed a nice evening at the newly opened Roxy Wine Bar last night. They just opened for business a couple of weeks ago and have got a great thing going. The atmosphere is just right--casual but classy, with a 200 inch screen showing old b&w movies (no sound) and great music playing. There is a large area available for dancing, too (we didn't partake). The decor is beautiful and they remembered to include the bathroom, which I found nice (and clean, for that matter). The wine selection is amazing--I'm no expert, but I thought that the list was pretty extensive and the prices were very reasonable. The owner told us that he's getting so many new (and obscure) labels in that he's having a hard time keeping his list updated--so I wouldn't always rely on their web site for an all-inclusive list. They also have several beers on tap, including micros, in case wine is not your thing! We had to have a snack with our wine (or I would've had an even worse headache this morning), so we ordered a meatball crostini plate (that's not the official name of it) that was really good. They serve a variety of appetizer-style dishes, as well as salads and soups. Then we shared a yummy slice of chocolate cake a little while later.

So, in case you hadn't already guessed it, I highly recommend Roxy Wine Bar. It's located on the corner of Auburn and Kennewick Ave. downtown. YUM!

I don't like to run...

We signed O up for soccer because she wanted us to...however, after playing a few times, she decided that she did not like it anymore because doesn't like to run. She actually said that. I'm thinking, great, is my 4-year-old going to be a couch potato? I don't think so, because she's very active otherwise. We still had her go to the rest of her games (I think she only had a couple left after her announcement) and she actually refused to go in when her coach tried to put her in.

This is very different from V because she is running all the time--that's her only speed. So today I signed them both up for gymnastics (or, nastics as they call it). Also their request. Andre's comment was, "Can't they do something cheap?" YMCA soccer was definitely cheaper than nastics. I'm pretty sure they're going to love it, though. Tomorrow is our first class. I'm just glad that they can be in the same class so that I don't have to worry about what to do with one while the other is in class.

I read Fast Food Nation last week and found it pretty much fascinating. It was very informative and quite an eye-opener. The author comments about there being "shit" in our hamburgers...which is making me seriously consider not ever eating another one again. Luckily, I don't really love them anyway!

Tomorrow evening Andre and I are going to a new wine bar that's opened up downtown. One of his buddies from work owns it, so we are excited to check it out. I'm having a student of mine babysit the girls--this will be her first time watching the girls at our house, but she's played with them when they've been with me at school for functions, so I think it'll be good.

Working in the yard is cool, too

I'm finding that I really enjoy working in my yard these days. This feeling might be coming from the fact that I am anxious to go from ugly dirt to pretty landscaping, or it might be from the fact that I actually kind of like it and the time goes by really fast. Probably a little of both because I still haven't mustered up any energy to go around to the back yard...the front is looking fab, though, if I do say so myself. The girls and I planted a Japanese honeysuckle today that should smell awesome, attract hummingbirds (and bees) and will climb up one of our columns on the front of the house. We also planted a couple of flowers...dwarf daisies, I think, and they are really cute. Tomorrow I'm scrapbooking, but I'm thinking that I might go buy some more flowers and put them in pots on the front patio. We'll see...will post a picture when it's all done.

Reading is cool

I'm working on the Time Magazine 100 Best English Language Novels since 1923 list. I just got finished ordering the last three books from the A's (the list is alphabetical, so I figured I'd just go in order). I've liked every book so far, some more than others. A list of the books are on my goodreads page (see link at top right corner).

Had a little BBQ tonight with some friends; they have a six year old daughter and she's super cute. The girls had a great time and are very tired now, so I think that bedtime shouldn't be a problem.

We've been working on Andre's garage all this last week and I'm hoping that we'll do the girls' room this week (spring break).

Mexican Birthday Parties

Anyone who is in a mixed race marriage (esp. Hispanic/Caucasian) knows exactly what I'm talking about here. We went to a 2 year old birthday party today...it started about 2:00 and was still going strong at 6:00 when we left. The party was for one of Andre's friend's son. They are a mixed family, like us, but his wife is a lot better about maintaining Mexican traditions. A white family's 2 year old party would've lasted two hours, tops, and that includes cake and presents. Probably a lot more fun for the kids the Mexican way -- they had a pinata, etc. and by the time we left our girls were full of carne, candy, and cupcakes...Andre was full of beer :-) I was exhausted, old white lady that I am.

April Fools

So, I love April Fools day. Good times. A list of my (with the help of co-workers) accomplishments for the day:

• Posted this sign on the staff bathrooms: KSD has run out of toilet paper. Please use your own resources


• Helped saran wrap a co-worker's mini van and then the stuff in his office after he took the saran wrap off his van (they got the saran wrap out of the trash can)


• Sent call slips to the same co-worker's 5th hour class for every single student to visit either attendance, principal, ASB, or security


• Posted a picture of an inmate that resembles our VP in the mail room. Put a new caption under the picture about how our VP is now charged with forgery, etc.

This is all I plan to do because I am tired of thinking about it...I do have big plans for next year, though.