Just a mom's chance to brag...

Well where else can you really do it besides your blog :) I am so proud of Lauren, she tested into third grade math so she gets to skip 2nd grade math. She is very excited yet nervous because it's a new class she goes into with a different set of kids. She is really a good kid. Obviously she has days like everyone but overall she is extremely helpful, loves school, loves her family and her pets and generally does what she is asked. Hopefully she knows just how much she is loved!

Lauren's 1st day of 2nd grade

Can you believe it. I found these pictures and can't believe the way time flies. The first is Lauren in kindergarten, then 1st grade then today 2nd grade. In usual Lauren style I was the only mom that had to walk into the classroom followed by another teacher having to come get me and go back to the class to calm her down. I really truly thought that by having the same teacher, same class and knowing most of the kids that I would have a tear free 1st day. Hmmm, does that mean maybe just maybe she will still want me to go with her to college :)

Hmmm, did someone forget to tell me....

that I am old enough to have a 2nd grader :( I can't even say it out loud without choking. I can't believe Lauren is in 2nd grade, she is one of the older kids of the class now!!!! She officially starts school in 10 hours so pictures will be posted tomorrow. I am actually hoping this is the first year that doesn't start off with both Lauren and I crying.

Don't you just love good ideas...

Okay so my friend Angie had this really cool idea, so I stole the idea. Thanks Angie :) it's a map on corkboard in a frame. We got map tacks to put a tack on every place we have visited as a family. So far our map is looking a little bare. We have a few in California, one in Utah, one in Hawaii and for just Shawn and I one in San Antonio and one in Boston. We need to travel more with the girls so it's getting to be time to visit the midwest :) Maybe someday I will get brave enough to drive!!!

Fun day with Cousins...

We got to have a fun day with Aunt Gayle, Sierra and Alex at the Heard Museum. They had so much fun watching the Native American dancers, especially the 8 year old hoop dancer. We had never been there so it was a chance to see something new and also get to spend time with all the kids and learn something all at the same time.

Our tooth fairy is fired....

Okay seriously is it that hard? Lauren has now lost 8 teeth and 3 out of those 8 the tooth fairy has forgotten to come the first night and had to try again the second night. How pitiful is that! I think our tooth fairy needs to be fired and we need a new one. No one ever warned us about the forgetfulness of the tooth fairy at 11pm at night :) Well I guess we will try again tonight with a note :)

Steps of a cartwheel

So in trying to capture Lauren in the stages of a cartwheel here is what we got (excuse the underwear it was right before bedtime :) I know someday she will kill me for this but thought it was cute!

Hailey dancing to Hannah Montana

I have never done this before so I am hoping it works :)

Sign of the times....

Oh the things kids say. So I came home from work today and overheard Hailey talking to the girl that was babysitting them and Hailey told her how her computer (kids play one) was special because it could text message :) Seriously! I don't even text message so this one didn't come from me. Can't wait to hear what they say next..

Big sister Lauren

These are the days that I really appreciate. These are also the days where I think the girls will have a close relationship. I know alot of siblings don't get along and don't get me wrong these girls love to argue with each other but it seems that overall they really care for each other. They especially love each other if someone outside the family is picking on one of them. Then they get in ugly sister mode and stand up for each other. Ohhh, I hate to be one of the boys that comes along and one of the girls tell them they aren't good enough for their sister.

In case you can't see it Lauren is helping Hailey get ready in the morning when we had to leave, she is brushing her hair and brushing her teeth. I didn't get the camera in time for when she was helping her put on a belt :)

Day of parties

We had two great birthday parties that we attended today. I had to share some pictures from Abby's birthday party, she just turned 4! Her mom, Jilene and I shared an office together about 7 years ago and I can't recall a birthday that we have missed for the the girls we have. So to date that means that Lauren, Ainsley, Hailey and Abby have had 21 birthday parties between them :) Abby had a petting zoo birthday party very similar to Hailey's and the people always do a great job and everyone has a ton of fun.

Lauren then had a birthday party at Jeepers (a bigger kids version of Chuck E Cheese) where she got to reunite with some friends from school and the moms all got to catch up on the summer. Wow the girls are growing up. Although I have to admit it is nice to sit on a bench and chat with friends while the girls run from game to rides and we don't have to worry about them :)

Susan's list

I am... Susan
I want...for nothing bad to ever happen to my family
I wish... I could control my kids fate
I hate... that there are people in the world that hurt other people
I miss... being near my family
I fear... the day my kids move away from me
I feel... lucky for what I have
I hear....kids growing up too fast (what they are talking about already)
I smell...fresh cut grass
I crave... Chocolate
I search... for answers to alot of questions within myself
I wonder... what my kids will be when they grow up
I love... alot of people and animals
I care...about other peoples views of me
I always... wanted to be a vet. but couldn't handle the sad parts
I believe...that my girls will grow up to be responsible,happy, independent women
I dance...not as much as I want to
I sing...only with my kids :)
I cry... alot, whenever something really happy or sad happend
I'm happy when...I see how much I am loved
I don’t always...sit quietly cuddling with my girls
I fight... with my family more than I should
I write... Not enough, I haven't really journaled since the girls were born
I never... go to bed without checking on my girls
I listen... Hannah Montana, sad but true
I need... to find my true self, don't think I have yet

Hailey's answers

I am... Hailey
I want...my own hamster
I wish... that I had a chiuaua
I hate... when my pets die
I miss... Roscoe (our cat that just died)
I fear...ants bite me
I feel... when Kayla puts her nails on me
I hear.... Kayla barking
I smell...Kayla
I crave... a tiny bunny
I search... seashells
I love...Mommy, daddy, Lauren, kayla, pepe, sebastian and oliver
I care...when my pets die
I always...write my letters of the alphabet
I believe...that there are no monsters in my room
I dance...ballet with Ms. Brenda
I sing...with Lauren
I cry... when I get scared
I'm happy when...lauren plays with me
I don’t always...play with Lauren
I fight... with Lauren
I write... by myself
I never... hit my pets
I listen... to mommy and daddy
I need... writing something I want to write

Lauren's thoughts....

I saw this on my friend Robin's blog that she did on her kids. It's really cute and gives you an insight to how your kids interpret different questions.

I am... Lauren
I want...a puppy
I wish... I had a pet bunny
I hate... that it is so hot out
I miss... Roscoe (our cat that just died)
I fear...that scorpions are going to get into my house (only in AZ :)
I feel... the ground
I hear.... mommy talking
I smell...nice rain
I crave... a pet bunny
I search... for ants
I wonder... where Roscoe is
I love... my family
I care...about my pets
I always... get mommy and daddy a kiss before bed
I believe...in God
I dance...with Ms. Brenda
I sing...at home
I cry... when I get hurt
I'm happy when...mommy lets me watch TV
I don’t always...get to have candy
I fight... never
I write... about Disneyland
I never... did Acrogymnastics
I listen... to my teachers
I need... help with acrogym

Look who's on a business card...

Ms. Brenda the owner of the dance studio that Lauren and Hailey go to decided to make new business cards and she used Hailey's picture on the card. Didn't it turn out cute, she surprised me with it today :)

Lauren's first sleepover....

Okay I know most kids by age 7 have had a sleepover, unless you have an overprotective, psychotic mom like me. So Lauren is finally having a friend (that has been to sleepovers before) spend that night. I am taking babysteps by having a friend that I know well and know that she will be okay therefore taking one step closer to Lauren spending the night at a friends. I also know it's important to not be too far from home in case you get a 10pm phone call :) Lauren has spent the night at familys house but never a friends without me, hopefully we will accomplish that before school starts in 3 weeks so we can add that to the list of summer activities.

I would post 4th of July pictures but we had an incredibly uneventful 4th of July. I am feeling very unpatriotic :( We went to see fireworks but with weird wind conditions they were late so we thought we missed them, jumped in the car in search of them, they started when we were in the car so we stopped. They only lasted 5 minutes so we left and 20 minutes later they started up again. I have decided next year I want to go somewhere where the weather is cooler, we can watch a parade, dress in red, white and blue, sing some american songs and sit and watch the fireworks. Maybe we can just go to flagstaff for a few days :)

San Diego fun!

We just got back from spending the weekend with Shawn's sister Colleen, her husband Mark and our two neices Caitlyn and Addison. The girls have so much fun with their cousins and I realized that all 4 year old girls must know the work "actually" and "like" (in valley girl useage not sentance about liking something). We made it to the San Diego zoo and Sea World nights. I think I turn into a kid again and can't wait to play at the parks. I love Sea World, especially feeding the dolphins and rays. We spent about 8 hours there but I think I could have lastest 12 :) Here are a few pictures from the day.

Lauren also felt so grown up with reading stories, helping with baths and general little girl care. She even charged for her services but told the little ones if they worked with her she would split her earnings with them :)

Now it's back to work for a few weeks :( and then Lauren starts 2nd grade in 3 weeks! Days are moving fast and we are just trying to hang on for the ride....