Some Photos...

Where oh where have the last several weeks gone??  For that matter, where did the school year go??  I just dropped off B at school for her last day of second grade (yikes!) and D's last day is Friday. 

As you might have guessed from the complete lack of blogging for the past two weeks, I've been a bit overwhelmed with the thought of an entire summer that I need to plan for them.  And, here it is.  Luckily, we've got a couple of VBSs on the schedule, and I'm on at least 10 waiting lists for week long summer camps through the city rec program (missed that early morning, standing in line at 6 am on a Saturday requirement to get in before all the camps filled up).  The rest is all me.

I think we'll be at the pool.  A LOT.

Anyway, here are a few pics from the past several weeks for those of you (grandma) who have been patiently waiting on me...  :)

Sisters

So, this morning, I was in my office wrapping up some website work I've been doing and my two girls were sitting in the kitchen talking with one another.  I was eavesdropping and the exchange was too cute not to blog about.  Here's what I heard:

4 year old: "B, am I still your best sister ever?"
8 year old: "Um hmm.  D, you're my only sister."
4 year old: "Will I be your best sister for all of our lives?"
8 year old: "Yes."
4 year old: "Bless your heart."

Doesn't it make your heart melt?!?  So sweet.

Snow Day in Las Vegas!!

Bet you didn't think we got snow in the desert, huh. 

Well, it's rare, and a few weeks ago we had a real snow day, where it was... well, sleeting.  It was cold and really, really wet.  (If you look super close, you'll see the streaks of snow captured by the camera as they came down)

Then, yesterday, we went sledding!  On snow!  Only this time, the snow was limited to one hill in town and it was 60 degrees and beautiful weather (this, I'm finding, is my kind of snow!!).  One day a year, our neighborhood association does a snow day, and the kids can sled down a hill at a nearby park on snow they bring in from... somewhere.  The kids had a blast and I was amazed at the turnout for a fun family event like this.  It reminded us of our home in Colorado, and we didn't have to endure the storm before we could enjoy the snow this time!  Win - Win.  :)

The only downside was the wait in line - it got up to about 20 minutes.  But, we didn't have to do any shoveling when we got home!  Since everywhere else in the nation is getting pounded with a huge storm, we didn't want to be totally left out in Vegas!

Children, Don't Exasperate Your Parents

So, our 8 year old lately has been repeatedly asking the same question of every member of our family.  She's obviously very interested in the answers we all give, but apparently, we're not giving her the answer she's looking for, so she just keeps asking.  For her, hope springs eternal.  For us, exasperation is setting in.

Maybe it's the way we think as adults, or maybe it is truly a question with such an obvious answer that it needs not be asked (as I have often thought to myself).

See if you can figure out if there's more than one way to answer this question, because, so far, neither the four year old nor the mom nor dad can seem to get it right.  She asks, "What is your favorite part of going to sleep?"

To this random question (part of a series of "What is your favorite...?" from B lately), we have all independently (and more than once) answered, "the sleep part."  Seriously, is there any other possible answer?

Finally, this weekend, Kyle had the inspiration and genius to turn the question back on her (we have neglected to try that route, thus far).  As he asked her what her favorite part of falling asleep was, I thought, "That's perfect!  Finally, we'll get the long-awaited correct answer to the question that won't die!"

As I sat on the edge of my seat, and Kyle and D listened intently for her response, she says simply, "I dunno."

sigh

Cupcakes and Gingerbread girls

Here are some pictures from Halloween 2009. Enjoy!

Celebrating 8 Years with Aubrielle!

Here are some highlights from last weekend's celebration of Aubrielle's Birthday. Enjoy!

And, please excuse the off key singing!

For the birds

So, we're driving in the car yesterday, headed to the grocery store and from the backseat we hear, "I'll bet the birds here fly south for the summer!" Aubrielle was musing on the intense heat (it was 108 yesterday). Her father said, "you mean they fly north for the summer?" and Bri said, "yeah, I bet they don't stay here!"

Maybe you had to be there, but it was such a funny, yet thoughtful thing for a seven year old to blurt out at random.

I hear that it is worse in the deep south with the humidity and high heat, but it is sure hard to imagine hotter than this! I'm thankful daily for swimming pools, misting systems, and spray parks!

This is a test...

So, we went to see the movie _Up_ yesterday (incredible film, btw) - you really should see it. Beautiful and full of relevant life lessons and great messages.

So, there was this one scene (don't worry, I won't spoil anything) when the main character has to make a choice. A choice that is between something that is deeply important to him (understandably) and something that should be deeply important to all of us, but something the character isn't all that attached to, comparatively speaking.

At that moment, I was really (I mean, REALLY) identifying with the main character and his dilemma. I got so wrapped up in his situation that I lost sight of what the right choice was. I had to actually ask myself what it was and I wasn't sure for a moment. Well, in the spirit of total honesty, I asked myself because my 7 year old daughter was talking in my ear and asked me, "Momma, what is the right choice?" In that moment, I really wasn't sure, and as I write this, I'm baffled and amazed at how easily and completely I lost sight of truth and the stark difference between right and wrong. My judgement was clouded, just like the character's was, because of my own human emotion and selfishness.

I found myself saying the same things the character in the movie was - "I didn't ask for this!" and "It's none of my concern!" when faced with the consequences that would fall upon one of the other characters if I, ahem, the main character chose what he really wanted. It doesn't help that I've faced a very similar loss lately to the one he was facing if he chose against his desires - he would be giving up his home where all his memories were made. I mean, I was really feeling for the poor guy, ahem, myself (once again!).

I was shaken abruptly back into reality when my daughter answered her own question, saying, "the right choice is A because that is really more important than B, right momma?" (she did not say 'A' and 'B', I'm omitting the details so as not to spoil the movie for you!) A was the universally important choice, the one that valued the life and well-being of another character, and B was the personally important choice to the main character. My 7 year old knew the answer right away after considering the options, and I did not until she told me how she came to that conclusion! It was such an 'Aha' moment. I think I told her like 10 times how she was right, that 'A' was absolutely the right choice. Almost as though repeating it would forever etch it in my own brain so I'd never forget that again!

I'm not sure whether to be more overwhelmed with complete pride for my daughter, who obviously has absorbed some truth and is learning to filter real life through that truth, or with complete horror over my own sudden amnesia about that same truth because of my personal struggle with materialism and wanting to put my needs before others'.

I was reminded of this scene this morning while reading my devotional, which spoke about how we are put to the test time and time again in this life with the purpose of learning to do the right thing, rather than just saying what we'll do if faced with certain circumstances. Our true character is shown by what we do, not by just what we say we'll do.

This is a test.

I want to pass the way my daughter did yesterday.

Well done, Aubrielle.

Time flies...

Wow! Has it already been a whole week since I last blogged?? Time is slipping away from me. Seems there is lots of exploring to do and as it turns out, two young children are hungry for my attention now that school's out and we're in a new environment. But, it's been good.

We've had a steady diet of visiting parks, some with spray parks built in, some just utilized for their pathways while we bike ride (Bri is now riding without training wheels, which was previously not achieved because of the mountainous area we used to call home = not so safe for learning to ride a bike).

We spent Father's Day at the beach in California - a quick weekend road trip to Huntington Beach, west of LA. What a fun time! It is so much fun to brave the strong ocean waves and marvel at just how amazingly huge the sea is and just how small we are. We had a great time with the children - this was Denali's first time at the coast (that she can remember). During the ride out, she kept asking when we were getting to the pool - that was her frame of reference, and we DID have swimming suits! Bri and Kyle got boogy boards and rode some waves. We had a nice dinner at a local Italian restaurant and strolled home (to the hotel) on the beach in our dress clothes. While it was a little chillier than we've been used to (it was 60-70 degrees the whole time we were there), it was a welcome break from the heat of the desert.

Yesterday, I broke down and decided it was time to end the denial and finally register Bri for school here. We got ready, then gathered up the various paperwork they required from us and went over to the school, only to be told that Bri is missing a vaccination?!? Funny, no one ever mentioned that before to me... So, we were turned away (again) and told to get the shot and come back. Seriously?

This required that I find a pediatrician ASAP, which is something that is on my to do list, but I thought I'd have a little more time for that... Anyway, we have that appt. this afternoon.

So, in a not so neat nutshell, that is what we've been up to. It's a wonder how the busyness of daily life can take over - especially at a time when I was just sure I'd be bored and wondering what to do with myself. HA!

A few shots...

Here are a few photos of the girls in our first couple of weeks here in our new city. Enjoy!

A monumental hair cut

Yesterday, after countless mornings of fights and tears over the task of brushing Bri's beautiful, but unruly head of curly, long hair, we decided to take her for her first ever haircut by a professional (I don't count as professional in this area!). Here are a couple of shots.

Just to give you an idea of the amount of hair that was cut off.

Her new look.

She says she feels "so different now" and she told me this morning that her new favorite hobby is brushing her hair - with no pain involved! She seems to have a whole new outlook on life since yesterday afternoon, and is so excited to show her school mates - she wants to get to school early today. Isn't it interesting how our countenence changes with something slightly altered? I feel the same way after a good haircut, pedicure, or relaxing massage (we really need to not neglect ourselves as much as we do!).

While it was harder for me to see her long hair go, I have to admit that it is nice to easily be able to brush through her hair now (the price we've paid for beauty all this time!!). However, I do distinctly recall sitting in the salon watching my little girl get her first "real" haircut and realizing in a very big way in that moment that she is growing up so fast. Before we know it, we'll be picking out prom dresses and discussing makeup techniques. Ah, the bittersweet taste of motherhood as we realize we are working ourselves out of a job...

A day at the park

We took advantage of the gorgeous weather this afternoon and went to the park. You'd think the girls never get the opportunity to run wild in a huge grassy flat (oh, wait, they don't! We DO live on the side of a mountain!!). Anyway, we found one down in the Springs at a park, and here are some shots.

Enjoy!