Great Wolf Lodge

February break from school. We took the little boys to Great Wolf Lodge for two days. We were joined by a bunch of families from school. Highlights from the trip:

*Stopping at Sonic for Cherry Limeades and lunch on the way.

*Walking into the Lodge and finding a bunch of our friends waiting for us!

*Jumping into the Wave Pool!

*Drifting down the Lazy River with our friends!

*Heading back to the room to catch American Idol.

*Story time in the lobby in our pajamas.

*Going to Sonic in our PJ's to have sundaes!

*Spending the morning playing withour friends in the waterpark.

*Wearing our swimsuits out of the Lodge in the 71 degree weather (IN February!!)

*Swimming and playing until we were the last family still there from our group!

*Stopping at SONIC one more time on the way home! Just one more Cherry Limeade please!!

Johns Hopkins...

DS #1 and I went to Johns Hopkins today for a yearly eval with the neurosurgeon. DS had a three hour MRI first, then he had a break before the appointment, so we headed back to the Children's House to clean our room, pack, and grab some lunch.

We were fortunate enough to get space at TCH last night. They are in the middle of some renovation and a part of the house is shut down to guests. So thankful they had space for us since the first appointment was at 6:45a.m.!

Looks good. The Brain Tumor Board still has to review it next Teuesday, but the preliminary report was good. Tumor is stable, Chiari is stable, slight enlargement of the thoracic syrinx likely but not needing surgical intervention yet.

Poor boy got horribly sick on the way home from the hospital. Keeping him home Wednesday...

Valentine's Day Random....

Mommy got a dozen beautiful red roses from Daddy! Did I mention they are beautiful?

The little boys each brought home a rose from school for Mommy...very sweet!

Mommy let Daddy sleep in and surprised everyone with a yumy breakfast!

The boys were excited to find gifts at the table when they came to breakfast!

DS #1 had Bball practice this morning!

While Daddy and DS #1 were gone, Mommy and DS's #2,3, &4 made super yummy Valentine's Day Funfetti cupcakes!

We took the boys out for Dim Sum as a lunch surprise!

Daddy surprised Mommy by purchasing steak and lobster for dinner! YUMMY!Daddy makes the best steak and lobster dinners!

We ate dinner on our wedding china. The boys got to have sparkling cider with their dinner in real wine glasses! Fancy!

Mommy and Daddy watched Nights in Rodanthe after the boys went to bed.

Valentine's Day Breakfast!

On the breakfast menu:

Heart shaped pancakes
Fluffy eggs
Fresh berries
OJ slushies

Gifts for all!

Valentines....

So, I am in an anti-commercial Valentine's card mood. Finding the overly commercial cards covered in Hannah Montana, Spiderman, and Indiana Jones simply more than I can bear to shove in my boys hands, I decided we'd create our own this year! We've done this before and enjoyed it. I'm game, the boys are game, and so we go, off to the craft store to grab some supplies.

We start with simple craft paper in a cheery red, then head off to the heart shaped doilies, pausing to look at some heart stickers, passing them by after they are deemed "too girly", we stare at a myriad of stuff...and we stare some more.

Finally we head out of the land of overly cheerful hearts and sparkles crossing the store to the famed Dollar Aisle! There we discover packs of pencils, Silly Putty, and Grow A Pets! Eyes grow big with the wonder of it all! We decide that this year the triplet boys will create a goodie bag together instead of individual Valentines.

Passing on the Silly Putty, we grab an assortment of Grow A Pets (pirates, dinosaurs, princesses, ducks, dogs, and cats), several packs of pencils, and some cellophane treat bags to go with our red cardstock. Twenty three dollars *gasp* later we are home with our loot! Tomorrow we will begin assembling our Valentine's Day delights!

What have I gotten myself into???

Earlier today, I had DS #2 (10yrs old) with me in Target where he selected three small heart shaped boxes of chocolates for the three little girls he is enamored with. I am frankly afraid to ask DS #1 (16 yrs) what he wants/needs for Valentine's Day!!

The circus is coming to town!!!

Okay, not literally to town, but two hours away which is close enough! DH and I just bought tickets to take the boys to see the Ringling Bros Circus this spring. Finding 7 seats NOT in the nosebleed section was fun...not! We had a hard time finding ones in a good spot until we searched the last show time of the day, 7:30p.m. and viola, fab seats, smack in the center, about a third back. Good thing the boys are older now. We'll still have the two hour drive to get home after, but it'll be fine, they'll likely sleep through most of it!

We took the boys three years ago for the first time. Well, they've seen the funky litle off off off Broadway version that swings through small towns with dancing cats, but... So, we decided it was time to do it again! Even the oldest, rapidly approaching 17, agreed to go with us!

Random details....

DS #1 saw the head of Orthopedics at JH this week. His scoliosis has not gotten any worse in the last two yearly visits, and factoring in DS's age now (almost 17) we have been moved to an as needed status for return visits. Fabulous!!!

DS #2 has been having a lot of joint pain in his hands, feet, arms, and legs. Doctor is concerned he has a form of arthritis....sigh, poor kid, he's 10! He's been having pains in his legs for over a year, they had been calling it growing pains at the last practice. This new octor though has ordered a slew of blodwork to make sure there's nothing lurking and to look at the RH factor.

DS #3 (7 yrs) is getting ready to compete in his first Pinewood Derby tomorrow. He chose a pick up truck design. Painted it black and metallic green. It's fabulous so far. DH and DS are still working at it. Competition is in 12 hours! : )

DS #4 (7yrs) is getting ready to compete in same Pinewood Derby competition. His car is a patriotic car, all red, white, and blue and metallic with stars and stripes!

DS #5 (7yrs) is also getting ready for the Pinewood Derby. His car is black with metallic blue paint! Fabulous. Trying to design a lightening bolt for him now...for the door. He's hot that way! LOL

Me? I'm sick again....down for the count. It would be lovely if they could figure this mystery illness out. I am back in bed again much of the day. SO tired of being sick...so tired of having to find someone to cover for me. I couldn't even teach my class this afternoon. Just unloading the dishwasher makes me faint and I start panting.

DH? He's worried....about me. Burdened by having to pick up more of the household chores. The dishes loom out of control....and we'll not talk about the laundry. Planing to have DS #1 do the laundry tomorrow.

Tomorrow perhaps I'll have some Pinewood Derby pics to share!!!