Celebrating at Medieval Times

I wasn't up throwing a big party for Hannah's birthday this year. But still wanted to do it up special since turning 10 is a milestone birthday. She chose to go to Medieval Times for her birthday and she got to bring along a friend, she chose Emma, who's been her BFF since birth, literally. We arrived ninety minutes before our showtime as directed to do when I made our reservations. We hung out in the lobby, looking at the horses, and all the souvenirs, and enjoying an expensive Pepsi that came in a collectors mug. :) Upon entering the castle, we learned we'd be cheering on the red and yellow knight and were given crowns to show where our loyalties laid.Once inside the castle arena we were seated. And we had great seats! We were on one of the sides that not only gave us view of everything going on, but we were also out of the direction of the dust of stopping horses, like last time we were at Medieval Times. We had a great time. The show was great, the food was great! And it was fun celebrating Hannah's birthday this way.

Turning 10 and an Overnight Field Trip

Our 'baby' girl turns double digits today! She's ten years old!!! And what better to spend a milestone of a birthday than an overnight field trip with her class. The school bus was scheduled to leave at 8:30 this morning and then off to the Pacific Coast where they would explore the tide pools and then board a Tall Ship mid afternoon, where they would become the crew and run the docked ship for the next sixteen hours.

The teacher chose four parents to accompany the class. And despite all my hardworking efforts in helping raise funds and working in the class for special events, I was not chosen. This is the first field trip I've never been allowed to go with the class, either on the bus, or follow behind in my own car. I'm totally relying on some of the parents on the trip for pictures and will hopefully share those once I get them.

Since she was to be away for her entire birthday, I wanted to make her day special. One of the things needed for the day was a packed sack lunch. I bought a pretty bag and wrote on it and packed her lunch in the pretty bag. Packing her favorites, and a special napkin, and a birthday card tucked in there as well. The other thing I did was made a batch of jumbo cupcakes and I decorated one cute and put it in a cupcake box I'd saved from a recent cupcake indulgence at a local cupcake shop. I also put a few matches and a candle in a baggie. And put all that into another paper bag and hand carried to a mommy friend who was going on the field trip. The plan was for her to present it to Hannah when they ate their lunch. Hannah had no idea!Hannah was so excited for today! She was up before 6:00 this morning and was dressed and had her hair done and ready to start the day long before the time she's normally dragging out of bed. She opened a few presents and then we had breakfast. Daddy made French Toast and we sang "Happy BIrthday".With her bag packed and her sleeping bag and extra blanket in a trash bag, we paraded across the black top to the place her class lines up. There was so much excitement in the air. The kids were ready and had a full day ahead of them. Hannah was chosen to be a "Mate". She was to be the person in charge of her crew of five other girls. She was very excited about this position and after getting the initial set of instructions from Ms. Harris, she was doing a great job of bossing leading her crew.The crews were lead in single line formation out through the school campus and to the front of the school were they stowed their gear beneath the yellow submarine and boarded the bus for their adventures. Quite a few of us Moms, and a couple Dads, stood until the very last minute and then waved our children off for an adventure they soon won't forget. It was difficult to put her on the bus and come home. Not being allowed to go with the class really stinks, but for reason it wasn't meant to be. A growing time for both of us I'm sure. This is the first time she's been away overnight with someone other than family or friends. I know the four parents with the kids, three of them I know fairly well. So for that I'm thankful.

And in this day and age of technology, I've already received a texted picture, and am staying updated through status updates on Facebook by the parents on the trip who are secretly updating. I've also already learned that they sang "Happy BIrthday" to her on the bus ride down. LOL. There's not been an update since before 2:00, which means they are now on the ship, and perhaps have had the 'law' laid down as to the fact there was no such technology in 1834, which is when the story they will re-enact takes place.

Hannah's Milestone of a birthday celebration will continue through the weekend, with a family trip to Medieval Times and a family dinner on Sunday night with her favorite meal!

Checking Things Out

Hannah's class will take part in an overnight field trip next month aboard a Tall Ship and re-enact parts from the book they've read this school year called Before the Mast. The teacher only allows four parents to join the class on this trip and I was not chosen. Steven and I are in Newport Beach for a few days and not far from where the Tall Ship is, so this afternoon, we drove down to the harbor to take a peek. I'm so glad we did. There were classes ending their overnight trip and a new class just beginning. I decided that since I won't be a part of the trip next month that I would take pictures of these kids embarking on their overnight adventure. We got to hear the First Mate talk to the teacher and parents and gave them a brief run down of what was expected, etc. And then watched as they addressed all the kids and told them what lied ahead in their journey. So, we're standing there, watching and listening, and then I spot Jennifer and her family. She is our Room Mom, the mom I've worked really hard next to this year in fundraising and helping in the class, etc. She was chosen to accompany the class on the trip. They have out of state family visiting and staying just up the coast and they decided to come and scope out the ship too!!! It was so bizarre to run into her. Just another sign of how committed we are to our kids well being. LOL. After watching the school group board the ship, start their journey, I'm kinda glad I wasn't chosen to go. It looks like it's going to be a lot of work!!! LOL. But we do think Hannah is going to absolutely love this field trip and have a great time and we can't wait to hear all about it when it's all done and over with.

Perfect Attendance Assembly

Our school started a new incentive program this last trimester in order to boost attendance, prompt arrival to school, and staying until the school day is finished.

Hannah had perfect attendance and was recognized at a special assembly today for grades 4-6. There were only twelve 4th graders out of hundred that were recognized.Every student who had perfect attendance this trimester received a certificate and coupons for the local fun park with miniature golf. And then the names of each student from each grade were placed into a bucket for a raffle of either a $50 American Express Gift Card, or two $25 Gift Cards. Each grade level had winners. They started with the 4th grade and Hannah was drawn for a $25 gift card!! She was so excited and of course already has plans to spend it on Legos! After school, we went to Dairy Queen with Gramma and celebrated the achievement with an ice cream cone and then the girls came home to find a special treat from Mom and Dad - the coolest Beach House Lego Set! The assembly was the perfect way to kick off vacation! We're officially off track until April 4th!!

Legos!!!

The girls got some girlie colored legos for Christmas from Gramma and Papa and in the last month and an half, they are on a Lego Building/Playing extravaganza! We went to Disneyland today after school (thanks to it being a minimum day) and while there, we hit the Lego Store at Downtown Disney. It's been a few years since we've been in the store since they've not been into Legos until recently. The store was overwhelming...the Star Wars kits, the Indiana Jones sets, the cities, the houses. All were very appealing. I would have loved to have bought several sets, but just like they were when I was a kit, they're expensive. Having a side yard that desperately needs weeds pulled, I struck a deal...they pull weeds for a set amount of time, and I'd buy them Legos. There was no hesitancy on either of their parts, and thus a deal was made.Hannah chose a Lego set that I told her was worth an hour and a half of weed pulling. Rachel chose a set that needed to have an hours worth of weeds pulled. We shook hands and I purchased the sets. They can have them once their end of the bargain has been met, and thankfully, tomorrow is another minimum school day.

Mission San Luis Rey

Hannah has been studying the California Missions in school this trimester. And with today being a holiday, I thought it would be fun to go visit one of the missions! Gramma came with us and we made our way to the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside.One of the neat things about this mission is that this was the very mission that I did my report on when I was in the 4th grade and my parents took me to visit it when I was in the midst of writing my report. There's a picture of me somewhere in front of this very fountain! There was no photography allowed in the museum or in the church. But there was some pretty beautiful architecture and wood workings inside. In addition to the things Hannah shared with us about all she'd been learning in school, she got a little education from me and Gramma about the differences between the Catholic faith and ours. We had to explain the candles you can light for prayers, the wall mounts that held Holy water, why so many crucifixes.The cemetery was beautiful. There were headstones that were very old, and surprisingly, some that were very recent (like in the last 5 years). It was interesting to read the dates, the details, and the names. It was fun to explore the Mission. Hannah enjoyed it. And I mentioned that perhaps when they are off track next month, we'd make a trip to the San Juan Capistrano Mission. After our time at the Mission, we weren't too far away from probably the best Home Goods in Southern California, so of course we made a stop there. And then we weren't too far away from where Uncle Bart lives. He was in San Diego for the day working on a side job, but we left him a Valentine's package on his doorstep, and then stopped at our favorite donut/bakery shop across the street from our beach campground, looked at the beautiful ocean from our route to the freeway and then hit the road home.

What a beautiful, beautiful day to drive to San Diego County. The skies were blue. The hills were all green from the all the rain we've had. Flowers are starting to bloom. The sun was brightly shinning. It was most definitely a great day for going on an adventure!