Mr. Monkey

In Morgan's kindergarten class they get to take turns taking Mr. Monkey home. We take pictures and then send back the pictures and a paper on what we did with Mr. Monkey. Morgan brought him home on Thursday, but then we kept him for the weekend. Here is what we did!

Morgie has to wear an eye patch 6 hours a day for a month to try and get her right eye stronger. This was her first day with the eye patch, so we thought that Mr. Monkey should wear one too so that she wouldn't be afraid. Thanks Mr. Monkey!

The two friends out by the trampoline.

Coloring!

Mmm, mmm Shaved Ice at Bahama Bucks! Even better...got to see Chelsea! (She's working in the background) it was a pretty busy day!

...And finally...cousin Connor's birthday party at Bounce Jungle!

Happy Birthday Roo!!

Happy Birthday to my Roo Roo!!! Rylee had a great birthday! She got to take two of her best friends to Makutu's Island. It is a huge indoor playground with tunnels, bridges, trees, slides and best of all air conditioning! :) Finally, something fun and active to do out of the Arizona heat! Ha! After the kids wore themselves out, it was back to our house for cake and ice cream and presents. I am so glad for the cute little friends that Rylee has!

My attempt at a cute centerpiece, all with things I had on hand!

I can't believe all the candles on this cake!

This is one glance of Makutu's Island. Fun!

Rylee and her two adorable friends!

Silly!

Glad all the girls could have fun together!! No drama at all! Gotta love it!

Some things about Rylee -
*Rylee is very outgoing and fun. She makes friends everywhere she goes. She is always the life of the party! She makes any time with her fun!
*I've said this before...but Rylee LOVES to sing. She sings all day long. She came out singing and never stopped. The good thing about that is that she has an incredible voice, with perfect tone. I love to listen to her. I hope she will keep singing her whole life!
*Rylee loves to do the monkey bars. She is very athletic and loves P.E. at school.
*Rylee is not a typical "middle child". Her sisters fight over who gets to play with her. She never should feel unloved.
*Rylee is very happy and very affectionate. She will never get or give too many snuggles.
*Rylee is naturally confident. Not overly confident, just enough that she is sure of herself and others want to be around her because of it.

Happy Birthday!!

New Day

Thank goodness for a kick booty early morning spin class!!! Nothing like it to get my head back together. I am feeling much better today. I usually don't write much when I am feeling like I was yesterday, but I gave it a shot and it is what it is! :) I like today much better. Hence, the life of a female with crazy hormones right?! So a couple of random thoughts. I am trying to be a better mom, as always, and so the things I am working on right now are:

-Give more opportunities for success and celebrate them big time!
-Say yes more often, not "I don't care" or "whatever you want"....yes. Not sure why I felt I needed to do this, but as a kid, I think it is good to hear your share of yeses.
-Give sincere praise for things done right and for the little successes they share with me during the day.
-Pray very hard that I can understand each child's individual needs and that I can get help from above in dealing with them in the best way that gets through to them individually.
-Love them like crazy!! (This one is easy for me!)

I am sure that I will give my kids issues in one way or another, but I hope that I can keep it to a minimum!! I absolutely LOVE being a mom and I absolutely LOVE the kids that I have been sent! In my opinion, there is no greater responsibility and no greater joy.

Brutal Honesty

This is going to be very random and all over the place...just as my thoughts are today. When I was a child, I had a certain picture in my mind of what life was like in my house, with my friends, all around me in general. I interpreted things as a child would and it became my reality. People can grow up in the same family even and have a different reality. I think in becoming an adult, I am finding things out that I never knew, or putting things together as an adult with a little more knowledge does, and my "child reality" has really been turned upside down.

A few weeks ago I traveled out of state with 2 of my sisters to a funeral of a dear uncle. It was a very quick trip, 90% of which was spent in the car, just talking. We talked about our lives and growing up and so many things that they perceived differently than I did as a child. Maybe it was because I was the youngest, maybe it was because I saw things I wanted to believe, or maybe I am just completely oblivious. :) They would say, "Lindsey, you were there...how can you not remember that or how could you have thought it was this way or that way?" They weren't being negative at all, in fact, it was an amazing trip and very eye opening for me.

Last night Jason and I had one of the most honest and candid discussions that we have ever had in our 11 years of marriage. Once again, it was very eye opening for me and some things are not as I perceived again. It was a great discussion and one that I know we were both glad to have. Another event also happened this weekend that opened my eyes to the world and I wish it never happened. Another thing that changed in me as an adult instead of sticking to my childlike reality.

Maybe I just think that life is always filled with sunshine, rainbows and butterflies. Maybe I just think that it always should be. Maybe I think that, in general, people are good and have good intentions. Maybe I am naive, maybe ignorant to some things. Maybe I think that I am supposed to have more joy than sadness in my life. Maybe I just feel different today. Maybe I feel like my eyes have been opened to a lot of things and I am glad, but part of me wishes they were still closed...and that was reality. I am not sure about this whole adult part of life. I wonder if I have been basing my confidence on what others think about me. When I feel loved and special and unique do I have more confidence than when I feel like I am just here treading water trying to stay afloat and no one notices? I don't like losing the positive, rainbows and butterflies person that I am. Maybe it's annoying, maybe it's unrealistic, but maybe that's just me. How do I keep it around, when so many things are thrown at me and it would just be easier to take a different view of life? It's amazing that in my 30s I am rediscovering myself and my reality again. I am sure it will keep happening forever, it just has its moments. I think I just feel a little numb right now. Change and growth are good. I can't expect things to stay the same forever or I would never grow. I think I am fighting this a little and I just want to come out on top. So there are my random thoughts for the day. I am not sure this made me feel better and I am not sure if this even made sense. Whatever! :)

I saw this quote today and a good friend's blog...so I decided to take it and put it on mine. Good quotes are meant to pass on, right?!

"Sooner or later a crisis will enter your life, and how you meet it determines your future happiness and success. Since the beginning of time, everyone has been called upon to meet such a crisis. A closer look will show you that most "crisis situations" are opportunities to either advance or stay where you are. Indeed, most changes in your life will take place out of either 'inspiration' or 'desperation.' Whatever comes your way, give it meaning and transform it into something of value. Your personal growth is the process of responding positively to change. A precious stone cannot be polished without friction, nor humanity perfected without trials."

First Day of School!

4th grade here she comes!!

Watch Out 2nd Grade!!!


...Watch out World!!...oh, I mean Kindergarten...Here she comes!!

The sun was a little bright! Nothing like a 100 degree Arizona morning to start the first day of school! Gotta love it!

Morgan and her teacher at "Meet The Teacher Night"

Walking into her class the first day! So exciting!

Her table

After I took this picture and a little video, Morgan asked me if I was going to leave yet. I guess she was pretty ready for school! When I said goodbye, she got a little flushed. I think the reality hit her, but then she was fine about 2 seconds later. 3 days into school and she still loves it! Full day kindergarten is just what she needed. She has been so happy! I did not provide her much structure, so I am so glad for school!

...And this is where I found Morgan...less than an hour after she got back from all day kindergarten...out cold! School will do that to you!

Jason's 34th Birthday!

Another year come and gone! Happy Birthday Honey! We just had a mellow day hanging out with our little family. Jason requested crepes for breakfast and salmon for dinner with a chocolate cake. Yummy! I got Jason a massage table, since we are always giving each other raindrop massages, but I didn't hide it very well, or have a good lie made up in case he found it. He found it on Saturday, yes, one day before his birthday! Oops! I tried to cover it up, but it didn't work. So he got his birthday raindrop massage a day early. Oh well, still super fun! Can I just say how much I love this man?! With every year that passes, he just keeps getting better and better. He is such a great dad. He has really stepped up and spends such quality time with his girls. He is so affectionate and loving with them and is building a strong bond that will carry with them through their lives. He is such a romantic and is so loving to me. Jason dreams big. He doesn't like to settle. He loves change. He always has a lot of things going on and likes to keep his options open. I love that about him...so I guess he married the right person! :) He pulls me out of my box a lot and it has helped me grow. We balance each other very well and I am so happy to celebrate another year of his life with him...with many more to come!! :)

Yes...34 candles on that little cake=BIG flame!

But he still blew them out with one puff..I am so proud! :)

Big Hugs! I guess they are proud too!

Haircuts

So I am always pretty conservative when it comes to getting my hair cut and my girls' hair cut. I am not sure what got into me last week, but Rylee wanted to chop her hair off and I was completely open to it. Hayli was so proud of me for being so open to everything. Taylor wanted bangs, so now she has bangs. Everything turned out cute because of my amazing niece Hayli! Thanks Hay!

Yes...those are tears on Taylor's face. She wanted bangs, but started stressing out about the change before the first cut. Glad she didn't decide to chop her hair...we could have had a huge meltdown!! :) The good news is that she loves her bangs and looks beautiful! She always does!

A little too short for locks of love, but that is a lot of hair to cut off. Hayli asked if I wanted to do the first cut and I said NO WAY! I am not that open I guess! :) Rylee wasn't stressed at all! Taylor must get it from me! :)

The Cute Results!

There's the smile back!

Taylor's 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to Taylor! Most of the birthdays in our family fall in the summer. Makes for a party of a time! Taylor wanted crepes for breakfast, which is our family favorite, with warm vanilla pudding, fruit and whip cream. Taylor was able to invite 3 of her best friends over for a pedicure party. Taylor has been begging for a real pedicure for a couple of years now, so now she got one done...by a professional...at my house! Perfect! The girls had some lunch, did some crafts, got some pedicures, had some cake and watched The Lightning Thief. That night we took her to Swirl-It...our favorite frozen yogurt joint. It was a great day!
Some things that I love about my Tay Tay:
*She is the most responsible 9 year old I have ever met. She always has been. I can trust her to take care of anything we give her. She is mature beyond her years.
*She's so much fun. We have gotten to the point that we just love to hang out. She loves to be a part of the "adults". She has no problem talking to adults and is not shy that way. I love that she is outgoing and has a beautiful personality.
*Taylor is full of love. She loves to take care of her sisters, especially Kamryn. She is so sweet with her and is always so much help. She also loves to take care of our dogs. She is an animal lover...big time.
*Taylor is a great artist, a great writer and is very smart in school. Her teachers always LOVE her. She is so sweet with little cards she makes and pictures she draws for me.
*Taylor is very aware. She always seems to sense when I am having a bad day, or not in a great mood. (I don't think I hide it to well...oops! :) ) She always asks if she can help or gives me a big hug. It is very cute.
*Taylor likes to please. She listens the first time...everytime. She is amazing that way. I am so happy that she is my oldest and that she is who she is. I love her to pieces!! I couldn't ask for a better kid. I am a very lucky Mom!