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sorry to this blog, i haven't been good about keeping it up to date. it's just that darn facebook thing is taking up all my computer time! i love connecting with old friends and seeing what they are up to. anyways, here's a few recent pics of the kids...

Happy Birthday Canon!

we started with his favorite breakfast- oatmeal
cupcakes he decorated

he loved his new motorcycles from grandpa

Christmas is Coming!

i found this christmas tree for $19.95 so i just said great and strapped it on the car. little did i realize it would be too big for our living room! we had to cut some off the top so the star would fit and not hit the ceiling, and then cory trimmed off quite a bit from the bottom and sides (gotta love the head lamp he's wearing for the job!) the kids had a great time re-discovering all the ornaments from last year and putting them on the tree again. and now it feels like christmas in our house.

some recent pics

ocean at a fun park right by the beach
family fun in the tent

i just love this one of canon sleeping, reminds me of when he was a newborn

an update for the past few months

Staying true to our pseudo-nomadic lifestyle, this September we moved to Redondo Beach in the South Bay area of Los Angeles (this was move #9 in the past 9 years). Cory got a job as the music instructor for a private school that educates “complex” teens (high functioning autism, aspergers, bipolar disorder, etc.). Since no educator position ever pays enough, he is also teaching lessons on the side: guitar, bass, drums, and music technology. He loves what he does and is now buzzing around town as one busy musical bee. At night, he can either be found at the computer making music with his new toy (industry standard recording software) or trying to carve out a money-making niche for his songwriting talents.

Loralie was called to teach sunbeams in the new ward, and is trying to make friends as well as scope out the Mom/kids scene in our new area. She can usually be found making killer cookies, managing the finances, mothering her two whiney kids, keeping the house from falling apart, and/or trying to maintain her sanity with a little guilty pleasure the CW calls 90210.

Ocean started kindergarten in September and is busy climbing the academic ladder. She was recently promoted from Quickest Hand Raiser to Teachers Pet! She loves her teacher, and aside from a few traumatic days in the cafeteria, she likes school and has made some great friends. After school, Ocean enjoys taking art and dance classes at a nearby studio. At home, she can usually be found drawing with her markers or pretending to be the teacher—instructing her parents on the mechanics of reading and writing. While in teacher mode, she can also lead one darn-tootin’ family night lesson.

Canon is just the sweetest little boy in the world. He likes going to nursery at church (contrast with—cough, cough—the firstborn), loves motorcycles and monster trucks, frequently revels in mommy snuggles, and is regularly heard busting a gut over sister’s silly antics. Loralie made an inaugural visit to the emergency room (for the kids, at least…she’s taken Cory several times!) when Canon fell and bit into his tongue like a stapler. Despite the flappiness and depth of the laceration, the doctors decided to let it heal on its own (which it pretty much has). Canon spends most of his time talking up a storm, doing whatever Ocean’s doing, and bringing joy to our lives.

After 9 years of playing the only-one-car-for-the-whole-family game, the Mathews’ finally got a much needed second car. Now Cory doesn’t have to bus to work…and Loralie is no longer left stranded on “Kid Island” three days a week. For the most part, we like our new locale and are beginning to feel at home. Regular trips to the beach (now only 2 miles away!) have made the adjustment much smoother.

hermosa beach

we’ve been having a fun time getting to know the sites of our new area. One of our favorites is hermosa beach, just a few miles from our house. cory has gotten pretty good with his camera and took some pictures of us at sunset.

halloween

we got a little crafty with some tissue paper ghosts

"alice in wonderland" starring the mad hatter, white rabbit, and of course, alice

the perfect alice

going for it at the trunk or treat

we started off the day with a visit to the pediatrician. canon fell in the backyard and bit his tongue pretty badly, a deep v in the middle flapping open. there was so much blood. after waiting 2 hours at the pediatrician's office, she sent us over to the hospital. cory said he was surprised this was canon's first emergency room visit! i've taken cory to the er several times in the past due to various skateboarding injuries, but this was my first time for my kids. i was so sad for canon and worried about what "tongue stitches" would entail. well hours later when the doctor finally came, he said no stitches, it will heal on it's own. we were all relieved and went home to get ready for trunk or treat at the church. we had a fun time and canon quickly got the hang of putting out his pumpkin to get the candy. he kept stopping to eat along the way! we played a few games, had a costume parade, the pumpkin cory carved got a ribbon in the jack o' lantern contest, then off for home. What a day!