Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Doin' the Puyallup

This past Saturday, we (the Pawlaks plus Julian and Christian, the Brannons and the Crocketts) headed to closing weekend of the Puyallup Fair. Our total count for the day-6 adults, 7 kids and total craziness keeping track of eachother! But we had a GREAT time!! We started out on the rides. Each family bought a 120 ticket card which I was sure we would never burn through. That is until I saw that the first kid ride was 7 tickets per rider! Yeah, it didn't take long to use them and what was left was quickly used on games at 6 tickets a piece! I am pretty sure we could have went on a mini vacation for what we spent : ) When it started to get dark, we headed over to the exhibits and browsed for a bit. Of course, we had to get a small token to remember our trip to the fair. After wandering back through all the exhibits to find that one booth, going back out to the ATM and then sending Uncle Adam to purchase them, we had 3 happy little kids with these...







Wednesday, September 21, 2011

22 months-Just 2 months shy of 2 years old!

Ok, so I am a day late with this post as Michael's 22 month birthday was yesterday and I realized as I was looking at 2nd birthday party ideas that he is just 2 months shy of 2 years old : ( Where did the last 22 months go? He is getting so big, so handsome, so mischievous and yet so sweet!

The above photo shows Michael's newest love for a children's character-Elmo. Now he has not sat down long enough to watch Elmo but has a few Elmo items and when he says it, it is the cutest thing. Mykayla and I love to walk through stores with him and say "Michael, who's that?" and he replies in the sweetest voice "El-mo". Like any other mommy whose child falls in love with something, I of course pick up every little Elmo thing I find like this hooded towel or Elmo books.

Michael has added some more words to his vocabulary too! Elmo-of course! My other favorite word he is saying right now is airplane (only the way he says it is much cuter). He points to the sky and says it even if he can't see it behind the clouds, but can hear it. We are going with airplanes for his 2nd birthday party theme and I can't wait to start planning, have found some cute ideas!  He also says apple and nana (banana). Any fruit round in shape is an apple and the rest are nana's. Last week at school, he said his buddy Leo's name. Sounds a little like hello but you can still get the idea : )

Finally, Michael likes to "Throw his hands up in the air sometimes" Had a cute video to show but Blogger or the laptop is again having issues and I don't have the patience right now to wait : )

I am so grateful for the joy that Michael has brought us! Love you Little Man!

Monday, September 12, 2011

My thoughts on this day after 9/11

Yesterday being the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I read several wonderful blog posts and Facebook statuses and yet throughout the day, I never mentioned it myself, just liked a post here and there. On Friday night, my dad and I were talking about what we were going to do on Sunday, which also happened to be Grandparents Day this year.  I mentioned that I knew I didn't want to sit around and watch 9/11 coverage because it would just be depressing.  Buy yet when I couldn't sleep and woke up at 7 am yesterday morning, I immediately turned on the news and watched the memorials while it was still quiet in my house. I listened to several of the names of victims being read, watched family members etching their loved ones names from the memorial and listened to Amazing Grace and the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I am SO GLAD I did indeed tune in and watch some of the coverage.  All though sad at times, it was amazing to watch!  We did not spend the day watching TV but instead went out, had breakfast, did some thrift shopping and enjoyed each others company. I was lucky enough to hang out with my dad, my children's grandpa, my family member while others were not because of this awful act. I could not imagine what it would have been like to lose someone on that day and I pray that those who have not found comfort yet will.
With all that being said, I guess I hadn't thought much about the impact 9/11 had on my life. I personally do not know any of the victims of 9/11 or know anyone who does but know that thousands of Americans did and were deeply impacted by it. I have been thinking today and really my life was impacted by 9/11 and currently is impacted by 9/11...
Adam and I got engaged in February of 2001 and were planning our wedding for March of 2002. We were going to take our honeymoon to Walt Disney World, Florida. I was so looking forward to it even though I have a terrible fear of flying. I was determined to do it since it was something I had wanted to do for a long time.  The events of September 11 changed our honeymoon plans quickly, I was NOT getting on a plane anytime soon. We drove to Disneyland instead. While this may seem somewhat petty now, I am sure I am not the only person who would not fly for several months. Thus impacting several vacation plans, plans to see families and celebrate or mourn with them.
When the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan started, I had some family members in the military or that joined the military after September 11. I am SO PROUD to say that I have 2 brother in laws and 2 cousins who all served in our military and went to Irag or Afghanistan. My family members serving and protecting our country and searching for those who took part in this terrible act on American soil.
Kevin, Scott, Keith and Eric-THANK YOU for your sacrifice! I am proud to call you family!
Fast forward about 7 years from 9/11; Adam was hired on with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department in October 2008 and graduated from Law Enforcement Academy in May 2009.  Until yesterday, it did not hit me that Adam is a first responder, those men and women who are the first to respond to accidents, tragedy and yes, acts of terror. Being the wife of a law enforcement officer is nerve racking at its best. I hope and pray that Adam will never have to respond to a tragedy of this magnitude but if he does, I know he will do everything he can to help even if it means not coming home to us for days. Each call that Adam responds to makes me more and more proud!!




These are the two pictures that always stick out in my mind when thinking about 9/11.
NEVER FORGET!


Sunday, September 11, 2011

Quick living/dining room transformation update

So excited about the dining room table and chairs I found at the Goodwill today, had to share real quick before bed. My dad was here for the weekend and he likes loves to shop thrift stores. We hit up the Goodwill in Federal Way last night. This morning we took Papa out to breakfast for Grandparents day and then went off in search of a couple more Goodwill stores. We headed into Tacoma and the first one we found turned out to be only a distribution and donation center. We decided we "were making a memory" (a common Kinyon thing to do) and went in search for a couple more we had found online. The first one we found is where I found the dining room table and chairs. I have been on a hunt for a smaller set for our dining room so when I saw it, I was so excited. We then headed to one last Goodwill and there was another thrift store "Treasures N Thrift" in the same parking lot plus an ARTCO Crafts. It was destiny that our "memory making" led us there. We found some treasures at the thrift stores and then headed to ARTCO. Let me just say I am not sure how I have lived here for 5 years now and have never been in this store. AMAZING!!! and I will be going back for sure! I found some scrapbook paper of course, my weakness. All in all, a great Grandparents Day! I am glad we were able to do what Papa loves to do. 

Here is my table and chairs...
It fits and matches perfectly!


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

My Kindergarten Classroom

My favorite thing to do at the end of each August/beginning of September is get my classroom ready for my new class. By the last week of August, I am ready to tear all the summer camp stuff down and start fresh with the school year. I have been working very steadily the last week and a half to get my classroom just how I like it and need it in order to feel comfortable and ready to teach. Thought I would share the different areas that make up my classroom this year. Today was my first official day of school and so far, I am liking the set up.

 Main word wall
 Popcorn words
 Small sample of "other" word walls. I have one of these in each area.
 1 table ( I have 2 tables/6 kids)
 My teacher banner that my amazing big sis made for me. She also made me a FRIENDS banner that I need to put up.
Daily Schedule
This is my dramatic play area currently (My all time favorite area of the classroom) It is Miss. Bindergarten's classroom after the book Miss. Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten

Hope you enjoyed this small glimpse into my classroom. Stop by anytime if you want to see the whole classroom. I have a blast adding new things to it all the time!