Easter Favorites

Here are my favorite pictures from Easter. I can't believe how much these two are growing up! On a side note, the Kern kids decided to write the Easter Bunny this year and ask him for items other than candy filled baskets this year. Fabulous news for Mommy and Daddy who welcome a little less chocolate temptation about the house! You know where all those peanut butter cups really disappear to! Kyle was delighted to find a skateboard hidden and wrapped up snug with a chocolate bunny, and Karly found a DS game she had been wanting also cradled with a tasty bunny. I'm guessing we've started a new tradition for the Easter Bunny and I'm pretty sure the Bunny is approving of the idea!

More Fun!

Here's more pictures from our Reno trip! Go carts are always a thrill for Mommy and Daddy so we had a blast making our way round the track with the kids at our sides. Karly talked the whole time and Kyle was quiet and cautious until the last few laps. We would have raced a third time, but the wind was blowing so cold we all had numb hands after two races. Brrr......


After tearing it up on the blacktop, we hit the greens and played 36 holes of miniature golf. Karly was done after the first 20, and only Kyle really hung in for the hole 36--no surprise there. At least we warmed up a little in the afternoon sunshine!

Few Day Get-Away!

Seeing that spring break was so early this year, the Kern kids decided that rather than going to Almanor (where there was still snow) they would rather try a new adventure. The Kern team hit the road and made our way across the Nevada state line, which the kids thought was oh so cool, and spent two nights at the ever so exciting Circus Circus. The kids had a blast at the Midway--Carnival game central--and brought home more stuffed animals than mom and dad would rather--but we also encouraged Karly and Kyle to share their bounty and offer some to their friends. They seemed to like that idea and we have already purged a few fluffy friends!

Most hilarious conversations we had on this trip! A very in-depth conversation about the validity of Santa Claus, flying reindeer, the Easter Bunny, tooth fairies and what started the whole "do we believe" conversation--the Leprechaun! It was St. Patty's day and the Leprechauns usually visit our home, they didn't find their way to Reno! Kyle is very skeptical about all of these gift giving helpers, choosing only Santa to really hang his hat on. Karly on the other hand believes in magic and therefore wants it all to be true! Mommy and Daddy reminded the kids that this subject is something that everyone needs to decide for themselves--and we left it at that. ;) Our other crazy conversation was Karly and her "Global Warming" lecture. She detested the energy use of the casinos and thinks they should all be closed down because they are killing the polar bears (due to Global Warming). Too many lights and machines, unwise use of resources, etc. LOL! Seriously, Kent and I about fell out of our chair! We asked her where she heard about Global Warming, her response, I READ it in my National Geographic school magazine. Nothing like a science lesson from a nine year old!

Our Little Pirate--ARG!

My lack of blogging over the past near month was largely due to a crazy schedule and all of our "Peter Pan" school musical practice. This is a huge production that the school takes on and the kids and directors spent six months preparing for. I got involved about six weeks ago when additional helps with choreography were needed. Loved it--but must confess that working with 43 3rd graders-- teaching them box steps and how to follow music and hear/dance to an eight counts is no easy task!
Karly was again in her element. She just sparkled in her role as pirate with all her "args" and dancing shrugs! Her week has been full-each day meant some sort of practice, dress rehearsal, and then three performances in all. She never complained about all the extra practices, getting up early and staying late into the evenings some days. She and her fellow pirates sang and danced complimenting the older kids in their casted roles. She's already talking about next year, and what possible musical will be next and what role she might have.

As for Kyle, he has the opportunity next year to join the musical. His answer--no way! We have two kids with two different passions and we think that's great!

What a Team!

Can I just tell you that even though I might be on the kids school PTC Board, Kent has stepped up as a honorary member himself. He spent the week of his vacation running errands, transporting auction items, site set-up, and listening to my rant and raves--all in preparation for our big fundraiser an Adult Auction and Casino Event. As for the event itself--Kent was AMAZING. Right by my side when I needed helps and stepping up to aide anyone else who needed assistance throughout the night. It's a crazy kind of dance we do. Teaming together in step, even if we are across the room from each other. I am a lucky girl!

As for the event, it was the best yet for sure! I have no idea if we hit goal yet with the books ($$), but it was a complete success in the "party" department. People had a fabulous time, we packed the place out, and I've never seen such positive energy from this group! We are so tired today with a few more small errands to do, but thrilled to serve the school community and do it together!

Clearing Things Up

So a recent letter home to "The Parents of Karly Kern" took us a little by surprise--Karly had failed her school vision test. After paying our $25 co-pay and meeting a very kind optometrist, the school was right, Karly is not seeing as clearly as she could be. On the other hand, her eyes are not that bad--she sees 20/30 in her right eye and 20/40 with the left (not far from my own eye sight now). Her optometrist shared with us that avid readers often struggle with near-sighted vision. Interesting. He also assured Karly that she should keep reading since many people who wear glasses are also smart (pointing to himself as he himself was wearing glasses).

That being said we did decide in the end to wait on glasses. Since she is not struggling in class and neither her teacher nor Kent and I had noticed any serious signs of difficulty seeing--the optometrist recommends that we wait, and take her back in six months to see if it has progressed at all. Eye sight changes a great deal during their first 18 years of life. Sometimes rapidly. So even if we got her lenses now, they might need changes six months later anyways. We'll still be proactive and have her moved forward in her classroom as she's currently at the back. We'll work with her teacher to ensure that her vision is a priority.

Worries over glasses will come soon enough. Kent and I are in no hurry to see our creative free spirited child sweating over broken, lost, crooked, misplaced, expensive glasses. And Karly, she's as flexible as always. We went from talk of glasses to what she'll be presenting at the PTC meeting tonight on behalf of the student council-- without a breath in-between. On to the next thing for her!

This kid, she's amazing--she'll not waste her time with one weed, there are too many flowers waiting!

"Totally Cool!"

Ah, decades dress up day at school for the Kern kids and what decade could possibly compare to the 80's--"I'm so sure"!

Kyle went with the preppy look--he had originally wanted to be a hippie but we were all out of peace signs, paisleys, and tie-die. (I have to admit this is one time that the Kern's purge factor worked against us. We long ago gave away the banana clips and leg warmers-- we don't keep anything!) Karly was up for anything, but did not like the "big" hair idea. She kept pulling down what I was fluffing up! She can't believe we wore pouffy hair! Hah! This mama with all her hair not only did the pouf, but did it quite well! They giggled as they jumped out of the car this morning--I'm guessing that Kyle ditched his look pretty quickly, and Karly worked it for all it was worth!