July 12, 2011

Sometimes Clara feels the need to be something else.

And sometimes she doesn't want to have her picture taken.

But I do it anyway.

July 8, 2011

I am trying to get caught up on my blogging. I have quite a few folders sitting on my desktop with groupings of pictures, just haven't had the time or the desire to sit down and document our life. I need to get back in the swing of things, this is our life and I love having it recorded.

Back at the beginning of July our neighborhood had a block party. For some reason the HOA was under budget and had money in the fund that they had to spend or risk losing. They decided that they would have a party for the kids. They rented a large water slide and hired someone to come do snow cones, cotton candy and hot dogs.

It was a typical Las Vegas July afternoon with scattered rain clouds and high heat. The kids didn't care one bit! They had a blast.

When we first got there Thomas headed right for the slide with his cousins (we love living in the same neighborhood as them) and Clara headed for the cotton candy and snow cones.

We first tried to control how much junk the kids were eating, but it was pointless. They didn't have as many kids show up as they would have liked, so it became an open bar and they let the kids (and lets face it, adults) eat as much they wanted. Every time I couldn't find Clara all I had to do is make my way over to the cotton candy machine to find her.

Cousin Jett

We had such a great time and can't wait until there is extra money in the budget again!

life.

As a mother I am constantly trying to protect my kids. I'm sure I'm not alone. However, there are some things you can't prevent, some things you can't control.

Thomas' best friend moved to California.

I knew it was going to happen. I actually knew 9 months before it was going to happen. At first I didn't wan't to mention it to him. I know how much he is like me and how easy it is for him to worry about things TOO much.

I'll never forget the day that Thomas found out Ryan was moving. We had been playing at the park with him. They were having a great time, but it was time to wrap things up and go home to get dinner started. As we were walking away, Ryan made some mention of having to move to California. As soon as the words left Ryan's mouth, I saw it in disbelief and sadness in Thomas' eyes. As we were walking home he started to cry. I wanted to take away his pain, but I knew I couldn't. I could only comfort him.

I tried to get him excited about Skype and phone calls and how he would be able to email him whenever he wanted. It kind of worked.

Eventually moving day rolled around. We were getting ready to leave for the day and I knew that I had a decision I had to make. Do I drive off and not take him to say goodbye? In other words, do I close my eyes and hope he forgets that it is happening? Or do I drive him by the house and give him that final chance to say goodbye? As badly as I wanted to drive off and hope he forgot it was moving day, I knew I couldn't. I have a problem with avoidance I don't want to teach him how to avoid things. Instead of turning right to leave the neighborhood I turned left and found myself driving around to block to Ryan's house. When we pulled up his dad was locking up the truck. I rolled down my window and asked if Ryan could come outside. Thomas didn't want to get out of the car. He was sitting in the back seat and said he was fine to wave goodbye (he is SOO like me). I had him get out of the car to give Ryan a hug goodbye while I gave my good friend Janae a hug goodbye.

We both got back in the car and were quiet. I drove out of the neighborhood with mixed emotions. I was so sad that he was upset, but I was glad that I made him say goodbye.

You win

Dear Steve Jobs,

You're a genius. Sorry it took us so long to jump on the bandwagon.

Sincerely,

us

how to plug your nose

We have been spending a lot of time at the pool lately. I never thought I would be a public pool mom, but it's been fun to spend time there. The kids are making friends and I have been having a nice time relaxing in a lounge chair reading.

The other day Clara and I were in the bigger pool watching Thomas show us his swimming skills. Clara kept on sticking her fingers up her nose. I couldn't understand what she was doing and asked her to stop picking her nose. She told me she was plugging her nose, not picking it!

Since they have a no camera policy at the pool I asked her to demonstrate her nose plugging skills when we got home. I will admit I tried it and it is very effective.

I couldn't NOT post a picture of her cute ruffle butt. Now imagine this running across the pavement to the snack bar clutching her dollar bill in her hand. So cute!

I'll keep her.

staycation

I had one goal this summer, that was to make it a memorable one for the kids. This is Thomas' first official summer vacation, so I wanted to make sure we had lots of fun experiences rather than sitting around the house watching TV and avoiding the heat.

Our great friends, The Jennings, were visiting town to celebrate their anniversary. They had a hotel room comp'd, but were not going to be using it the final night so they asked us if we wanted it. I was so excited to take them up on their offer. Steve and I thought about dropping the kids off with my mom and heading down to the strip on our own, but we decided the kids would love it! Even though we live in Las Vegas, we rarely go to the strip and thought the kids would always remember having a staycation.

On Monday I let the kids watch a little bit more TV than I usually do. While they were occupied, I went upstairs and packed all 4 of us into 1 suitcase and quietly hid it in the back of the van. That afternoon we had a graduation party to attend for my nephew. We went to the party and then excused ourselves after an hour or so. I told the kids we needed to meet one of daddy's friends downtown. They asked me all about him on the drive and asked me what his name was - I told them it was Caesar. We pulled into the parking garage and the kids were completely clueless. I got them out of the car and then pulled the suitcase out and asked Thomas to roll it for me. He asked why we needed a suitcase and I told him we needed to bring some stuff for Daddy's friend and a suitcase was an easy way to transport it. As we walked into the hotel, Steve was just getting there. All 4 of us walked over to the towers and picked up our keys. It wasn't until we were in the elevator going up to the 32nd floor they finally asked if we were staying in the hotel. They were THRILLED.

Our room was incredible - probably one of the nicest ones we have ever stayed in. We hung out in our room for a little bit and then went downstairs to the Forum Shops and had dinner.

This was our view out one side of our window.

The kids had a great time in the MASSIVE tub. I filled it up a little too much and ended up having to drain some water because it would have been over Clara's head while she was sitting.

Steve had to wake up and go to work the next morning, but the kids and I got to stay and play in the hotel.

Clara was n heaven! She grabbed the Hershey's Bars, climbed up on the bed and watched PBS. .

This was the view out the other side of our window. I originally didn't want to take the kids down to the pool because I thought it was going to be a little too "adult" for them. After we saw a few kids playing around with inner tubes I figured there was no reason to not go. We spent about 2 hours down at the pool.

After we got out of the pool and went back to our room to clean up we went and had a snack and some Frozen Hot Chocolate over at Serendipity.

We had a fantastic time and can't wait to do it again!

Thanks Heidi and Mike!!

fathers day

Sometimes I take a step back and ask myself how I got so lucky to marry such a wonderful man. Steve is an amazing husband, but more importantly he is a fantastic father.

Happy Fathers Day! We love you so much.

Speech Therapy?

Dear Clara,

Thank you so much for not being able to pronounce your 's' sound. You provide us with more entertainment than you realize when you call your little-princess-glitter-shoes your farkle shoes or when you ask for frinkles on you ice cream. I'm sorry we constantly ask you to tell our friends and extended family members about your favorite pet store,PetFarts. It's just too cute to not share!

You are a joy!!!

I love you,

mom

School's Out!

I don't think I have ever been as excited for a school year to end than I was this year - not when I was a student or a teacher. Thomas was so ready for a break and so was I!

The day before school ended the kindergarten classes had a celebration. I think it was just a ploy see how many mothers they could make cry. Especially when all the kids in Thomas' class sang this song...

I wonder if I'm Growing

I Wonder if I'm growing

I Wonder if I'm growing

My mom says yes I'm growing

But it's hard for me to see

My mom says eat your sandwich

it will make you grow up tall

But when I eat my sandwich

I'm hardly bigger at all

And I wonder if I'm growing

I wonder if I'm growing

My mom says yes I'm growing

My mom says wash your hands now

Then you can go and play

Hey! I can reach the tap now

For the very first time today.

And I think I must be growing

Oh I know I'm really growing

My mom says yes I'm growing

And now I know it's true.

He insisted on wearing his collar buttoned all the way up for the occasion. We tried to talk him out if it, but he felt he needed to be dressed up.

After the celebration we went to Smashburger and Yogurtland with Grandma. It was a fun morning.

Eggies

Clara has a thing for eggs. She LOVES them, but I LOVE when she talks about them.

According to her, eggs aren't cracked, they're "hatched."

and they aren't scrambled, their "scribbled."

A letter

Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma, Aunt Barbara and Aunt Mary,

Remember when we were little and we would visit Grandma's house? We would always haveour dinner out on Grandma's porch on the big red picnic table and aunt Barbara would always make her peach jello. That jello was sooo good.

Remember how all us kids would eat while we were wearing our swimsuits? We were all so anxious to get in Grandma's pool. But we thought you guys were dumb. Why in the world would you make us wait 30 minutes before we got into grandma's pool after we ate? All 7 of us grandkids would sit around on the porch in Grandpa's Disney director chairs and play with Bridget and Misty while we waited until you said we could dive in.

When we got bored with the dogs we would wander out to the side of the pool. Many times we would slowly make our way down the steps. We figured getting in up to our ankles wasn't going to hurt. Then our calves, then our knees, and then our thighs. Then we would hear you guys yelling from the porch, "Not yet!! You guys still have 10 minutes!!"

To tell you the truth, I never really believed in the wait 30 minutes rule. How bad could it really be to go swimming right after eating?

You see, I am a parent now and our kids love to swim. I have never been as harsh as you all were and made our kids wait to get in the pool.

Steve didn't really believe in the rule either. He says his mom did the same thing, too. (must have been a generational thing)

Well, we now come to you all and say - "You were right." We finally saw the disgusting effects of swimming too close to eating. Unfortunately, Steve saw the effects up close and actually got to feel the effects come spewing out of Clara's mouth. Maybe she threw-up because the rice and beans didn't settle too well? Maybe she tossed her cookies because she was being thrown around like a little rag doll. Or maybe she threw up because we let her in the pool before 30 minutes had passed. Whatever the reason was, as a couple, Steve and I have decided to take stock in your advice and not allow our children to swim anymore until the food in their stomach has been digested. We should have followed your lead in the first place.

Thank you for the life lesson. We love you all.

Love,

Steve and Amy

California, Part deux

When we first decided to take a little vacation we had a place that we wanted to visit in mind.

I'm sure you are thinking Disneyland. Why wouldn't we go there if we were in So. California?

But you would be SOOOO wrong.

We went to the Reagan Library, silly!

Believe it or not, this place is really cool. The kids had no idea who Ronald Reagan was, but we think we were able to teach Thomas a little about him. We blasted through the museum section to get to the main attraction we were going to see.

Was it the podium?

or the trivia game about proper dining etiquette?

No...

We went to see Air Force One.

Which was too big to get a picture of with my camera. I left my camera bag hidden in the car and only brought my camera with my 35mm on it. You can kind of see in in the background of this picture that Clara took. (she's getting good - not bad for a 3 year old!)

Steve heard the airplane was a new exhibit and thought Thomas would enjoy seeing it. We actually all enjoyed it.

and after 3 hours it did this to our kids....