Monkey Bars

Here's a video clip of Kaelyn crossing the monkey bars. She has been trying really hard at recess every day and she finally accomplished the feat! She really wanted Grammy and Grampy to see her.

Although she CAN make it all the way across we didn't capture it on this video because I was standing in the way. (You can see the look of disappointment on her face when she drops down at the end.) There were too many kids at the park to keep trying to get a video of her making it all the way so I figured you could just take me at my word .. he he he!

Enjoy!

Super Aunty!

Darcie invited the kids to spend the night at her house on Saturday. She picked them up around 4pm and that is when the fun began ....

As if my two kids were not a big enough hand full, Darcie and Brian invited another 3 kids from their neighborhood along for the ride. Here are some pictures of their night ...

Dinner at 5 & Diner (my kid's FAVORITE place to eat)

A trip to Toys R Us ... check out the cart! Aunt Darcie and Brian love to SPOIL the kids. Pretty much every visit includes a trip to Toys R Us. This time the whole neighborhood got a new toys!

Ice cream anyone??

This is Kaelyn's new friend from Aunt Darcie's house, Cassedy.

After all the stops, Kaelyn got to have Cassedy spend the night over at Aunt Darcie's house. I guess they stayed up until 1am watching The Little Rascals.

Thanks Darcie and Brian for spoiling the kid-o's! We love ya!

Fall in Arizona

So I hear that Fall is here ... you would not know it by the heat in AZ! Anyway, we had a great weekend ... we rung in the season poolside:-)

Saturday morning the kids and I went over to Stacie's house. They just moved in to an absolutely beautiful new house with a pool. The kids went swimming while we hung out together.

Her girls are SO cute!

Here is Kaelyn, Ryen, Mia, and Zacky


Kaelyn & Ryen

Mia and Zacky

I put this picture in here to remind me of how quickly my kids are growing up! Apparently Zack knows how to color and stay in the lines .. say what??? Last I noticed he just scribbled out the entire page. I was in shock watching him color over at Stacie's house! I guess pre-school is really paying off - ha ha ha!

Twinkle Twinkle

The kids are already practicing for this years Christmas program. This is a song that Zack will sing along with the other 3-5 year olds. Kaelyn has been helping him with the words this week. Kaelyn is in the 6-9 year old group and she will be performing O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, and .. hmmm ... 6 other songs I can't think of right now:-) Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... here are Kaelyn and Zacky ... dah dah dah daaaa!

Kaelyn's First Tooth

After many attempts to remove "wiggler" from Kaelyn's mouth, we were finally successful tonight! She really wanted to have it out for picture day which is this coming Tuesday. She is so funny ... I can't wait to see what she smiles like in her school pictures. She wants her missing tooth to be showing.. ha ha ha!

Labor Day Weekend

We had the best Labor Day weekend! We spent the weekend at the Arizona Grand Resort (formally called the Pointe at South Mountain) with family and friends. Adam and Ericka arrived on Friday. Polly, Mike, the kids and I met up with them on Saturday. Duane lives near the resort so he was able to join us both days for dinner. Then on Sunday Jenna and Pipebomb joined us for some time by the pool and dinner.

Jenna and Pipe's baby girl (Mckenna) is due in 1 week. I am totally bummed that I didn't' get any pictures of them, she is one of those pregnant women that looks absolutely ADORABLE pregnant (totally skinny with a round tummy)! ** We missed everyone that could not make it this weekend!

We hung out by the pool all day on Saturday and Sunday. The first night we ate dinner and Rustler's Rooste and the second night we went to Aunt Chilada's, other than that we just enjoyed the weekend poolside with people that we love. The kids had a blast and so did we!!

The bull that lives in front of Russtler's Rooste

This is Cannon (Adam and Ericka's son), Kaelyn, Savannah (Ericka's cousin's daughter) and Zacky
Kaelyn and Cannon playing Little Pet Shop.

Mike and Ericka

Mike and Zacky

Zacky going down the slide at Rustler's Rooste

Me anxiously awaiting my steak dinner:-)

Duane (Mike's friend since high school), Adam, and Mike

Adam and Polly
Mike and Adam relaxing in the sun.
Zacky after drinking his "little boy margarita" aka strawberry smoothy

Zacky with Aunt Polly's hat on.

Kaelyn and Zack
Polly

Cutest girl in town!
Kaelyn and Zacky hitting the waves. This area of the pool is a wave pool. There was also water slides, 3-4 different swimming pools, volleyball / basketball pool, and lazy river.

Zacky practicing his swimming.
Me, Zacky and Polly

Greetings!

Oh my goodness it has been busy around here. I officially started student teaching this week and it has been quite an adjustment for all of us.

This past weekend Mike decided to take the kids and I to our very first puppet show. It was great fun for all! We saw The Little Red Hen. Here are some pictures that we took. The kids got to look at tons of puppets, watch the show, then make their very own puppet! Fun Fun Fun! Here are some of the picts:

Happy Birthday DARCIE and BRIAN

Happy Birthday to my baby sister, Darcie, and my future brother-in-law, Brian!!

We love you guys SO much and we are really looking forward to your birthday dinner tomorrow:)

Thanks for everything you guys do for us, we are SO blessed to have you both!

Happy Birthday to two of the best people I know!

LOVE YOU

Zack's First Day!

Our Zacky (aka: Tooter, Tootery, Toots, Toot-Toot, Tugs, Tugboat, Tuggy McTuggerson, Mr., Mr. Sirs, Nah-Nah, Nons, NuNu, Nunny, Wacky-Wacky-Yay, Bub, Bubs, Bubby, etc.) started pre-school today! Between Kaelyn and I, "Mr." has TONS of nicknames that I felt the need to share with you!! I am sure he will continue to acquire more through the years!!

Zack has been excited all week long about going back to school and seeing his friends. I don't know why but I think it is SO darn cute when he calls his little 3-year old friends by their first and last name!

Today when I went to pick up Zack from school I walked into the room and was able to watch him interacting with his friends for several minutes before he noticed that I was there. As soon as he saw me he burst into tears and started running towards me. Naturally I assumed he missed me terribly ... what mother wouldn't?? As he ran towards me I squatted down to his level so that he could run into my arms, but I was not greeted with a hug. In fact, I was greeted with a swift shove toward the door!! THEN the Little Stinker started telling me to go back to school because he wanted to stay longer!!! Can you believe it??? My little "Mama's Boy" totally betrayed me today... boo hoo! Sniff Sniff, I am over it now:-)

Cabinet Fun!

One of Zack and Kaelyn's favorite things to do is visit Mike at work. What kid wouldn't love going to a huge warehouse of empty cabinets?? All those secret hiding places and cubby holes!! We took some pictures of them today hiding in the cabinets.

Student Teaching

I finally found out that I will be student teaching at Sky View Elementary, in a 4th grade classroom! The wait is finally over! Here's the school's website:

http://portal.peoriaud.k12.az.us/sites/SkyViewEL/default.aspx

My mentor teacher is a guy, I'm not sure if that will be a good thing or a bad thing, I'm believing GOOD!! At least the wait is over!! I was a little nervous after watching that show on T.V., Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader! As soon as ASU called me today I ran to the computer to research the school. While I was checking on the school I came across a quiz titled "Are you Smarter than a 4th Grader". I am VERY pleased to say ... drum roll please ... I passed the test! I feel much better now! No but seriously, it is crazy how much we forget in our old age. These little guys have to learn A LOT and I hope that I can make that process fun for them!!

Bye - eeee!

Twins

Kaelyn and her best friend, Jenna, decided to wear matching outfits to school today. Jenna showed Kaelyn the green shirt about a month ago. Kaelyn LOVED the shirt and wanted one SO BADLY. When we finally got around to going school clothes shopping Kaelyn hunted down the shirt at Target; she was SO proud of herself for finding the it.

The girls both agreed several weeks ago that they would wear matching outfits on the 2nd day of school. Ohhhh, to be a 1st grader again!!