Count Up to Christmas

The count up to Christmas has begun!

I love this time of year. The little joys, the anticipation, and the goodwill. I think I may even enjoy all the lights and decorations more than the kids enjoy them. I love driving into the neighborhood after dark and seeing all the lights and decorations neighbors have put up.

The days of Christmas with the kids have begun and their morning surprises. I don't know if it is more fun for me to put out these little treats or for the kids each morning to run down the stairs in anticiaption of what they will find. This morning they were greeted by this little guy/gal:

They were so happy when they saw her/him. They named the little elf Cutie-Magic and have come to the conclusion that since Cutie-Magic is magic afterall, that the little elf is both he and she, depending on the day. ----Only in the world of two six year olds!

I hope you too are enjoying all the  joys and magic of the season:)

Birthday Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

What a fun day! Jesse and I joined Laney and Daniel's class today for afternoon snack time. The kids and I made green and pink froggy cupcakes. Her must have theme was, The Princess and the Frog. Jesse even joined the kids for recess. They had him playing Barbies! Laney's take home treats for her classmates were punch balloons, glow stick necklaces, and pink and purple princess yogurt pretzels.

A special birthday dinner? Of course! The birthday girl's choice---Burger King----ack!. For a week Laney had been looking forward to her Burger King birthday dinner, but after opening Aunt Michele's gift to her, she declared we were staying home so that she could paint her unicorn. Thank you Michele! We stayed home and enjoyed take out and a new Barbie movie, with Strawberry cake and chocolate chip cookies with milk for dessert. From beginning to end we had one very happy little birthday princess.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANEY!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Off with their heads!

We kept the book theme going again this year. Daniel and Laney have been so into Alice in wonderland this past year, seeing many movie and cartoon versions, as well as reading different book versions. 

The kids had so much fun with these costumes. Laney all weekend long was shouting "Off with their heads!!!" Then she'd cup her mouth and giggle. Daniel thought this was pretty funny too, and kept laughing as he ran away from her.

We took them trick or treating at the mall on Saturday and in our neighborhood on Halloween. Amazingly the weather was even great for tricks and treats, not too windy, cold or raining. This just doesn't happen in Michigan at the end of October. Great weather not withstanding the kids ended up being more interested in visiting friends homes, and our old house in the neighborhood than in getting candy. After they had made these stops, and only a few others, they told Jesse, "Okay, Daddy we're ready to go home." I think the most fun they had was getting their faces and hair painted, and running around the yard in their costumes goofing around. Laney insisted that Jesse and I dress up, so we made costumes. We were cards from the Red Queens army. Laney loved this. She said, "This is great! Now I'm in charge and I get to tell you what to do."-----Not quite little squirt. Oh, how this child loves being in charge!

I Loved how the kids looked in their costumes! It was another super fun Halloween. Hope yours was too! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Back to school

This week was back to school on Tuesday. Don't they look cute! They were both excited and nervous their first morning back. They had me walk them in and help them get settled in. I think I needed to do it as much as they did---a little ease in to the day without them. We were all nervous about their first full day. Last year they were half a day kindergarten. They did better than fine. They were all smiles and excitement at pick up time. They love d it! That's not to say though, that the evenings were easy. The crying and bickering was endless---ugh! I know it will get easier- I know it will get easier-I know it will get easier. I will just keep reminding myself of this until it does.

On a less crabby note they have each picked after school activities. We told them they didn't have to have any if they didn't want to, but they did. Laney will be learning the basics of soccer with kinderkickers at the Y and maybe playing on a team next time. She's really excited. She also wants to take up the violin, still looking into that... Daniel is taking a Hip Hop dance class. They both start this coming week. Looks like it is shaping up to be an interesting week for sure.

Tucson at last!

Tucson was the initial reason for our road trip with destination Zeinab's Graduation. Laney came down with a nasty little virus, so she and Jesse missed Zee's graduation. But, we still packed a lot into only a few days there.

Wet hit the Desert Museum on one muy caliente Tucson day. We saw lizards and other creepy crawlers, a large pack of havelina, mountain lions and bobcats. And, let's see on another day Michele and the girls took the kids to a movie and Chuck E. Cheeses(of course). They love spoiling the kids. They had 2 huge baskets filled with all sorts of goody's for the kids. It kept them busy while we were there and also on the road during the rest of the road trip---yeah!

Michele arranged for someone to come over and braid Laney's hair. It came out beautifully! What a treat for Laney. And, yes me too--- made mornings sooo much easier:)

We also had lots of yummy mexican food and lots of wonderful family time.

All too soon it was time to hit the road again. This time for Cottonwood and Super Gramps and Super Gram!

Meteor Crater

This was one of Daniel's favorite stops. The winds were over 75mph that day, and Daniel thought that was way cool. The kids thought it was fun going through the museum and learning about meteors and especially the one that caused this crater.

A couple hours later we were back on the road in the hopes of making Tucson by nightfall. So, it was bye-bye big giant hole and crazy winds, and hello highway!

Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly was not even on our radar. Driving into Arizona late one night in search of a lodging, that was were we landed so to speak. What luck! It was so picturesque, and the locals wonderfully friendly.

Even the kids got into taking pics and exploring the local flora and fauna. Daniel was particularly interested in the wild yucca, and Laney LOVED that wild horses roamed the streets of the city! We had to the pull the car over a few times so that she could take pics of the wild horses.

I wish we had had more time but we had to hit the road for our next destination, Meteor Crater...

Road trip!

The first stop on our road trip this past spring/summer was to Grammy's in Colorado. It was great seeing Sheila and Eddie,plus the kids got to see their cousins. They played outside in the backyard all day long. It was great seeing them all play and work together all day with not even one squabble. Actually it was amazing. When do kids play all day together without squabbling over something---anything!?

Sadly we were only able to stay the one day, but it was one great day! And next we were off for Arizona...

Last day of school

We made it back from our family vacation just in time for the kids last day of school. Daniel and Laney were so happy to see all their friends and say goodbyes. Their class had a super cute presentation for all family and friends in attendance, that summarized a lot of what they had learned this past year, in movement and song. It was also great that both Jesse and I were able to be there.

It was an interesting school year with lots of learning, fun times and even bumps along the way. I think they both mostly enjoyed the year. But, I am happy to have them home all day again and look forward to a fun summer with them before they enter first grade and that all day school day. I think it will be harder for me than them. But I,m not going to brood over that. I am going to enjoy the heck out of having them with me each day this summer.

Now 6!

Daniel's big day was March 17th. His morning began with a package from Grammy at our front door before even leaving for school! What fun!

Later that morning I was able to join his class for a Happy Birthday snack time.
Daniel and Mrs. Frusti. Look at him--- so cute!--- So sweet!

Race cars... of course. We all know I have no skills when it comes to preparing sweet confections, but these were a huge hit with the kiddos. YEAH! And, you don't want to know what a ridiculously long time these took me, but I'd do it again.

Now Daddy's sweet confection.
I actually baked this, which is supposed to be an, an oversized cookie, and Jesse decorated it. Came out pretty cute, and more importantly, Daniel loved it.

Birthday wishes.
I think they were both making wishes. I wonder what they were?

Happy Birthday little buddy! Life is so much sweeter with you and your little sis. Happy birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

sigh....he's now, six.

sing and move

Last week Jesse and I went to one of Laney and Daniel's culminating events at school. We got to see what the kids do in music class and learn how each year of music builds on the next. It was really cute to see the kids singing, moving,and grooving. And, it was equally impressive to learn from their music teacher that the kids start writing their own music by fourth grade.

In addition to the culminating event Jesse also got to visit the class and give the kids a lesson on his job. He even made up a song to sing with the kids. Apparently it went over great, because every time Daniel and Laney's teacher sees me, she tells me how impressed she was and how captivated the kids were. Five year olds- they're a tough group! WTG! Jesse

I hope the kids have more events before the end of the year. When the kids come home they sometimes talk about recess and lunch, and Laney likes to share what they are learning in Spanish and sign language. It's nice to see what else and how they are learning.

It's Party Time!

We had Daniel's party on Saturday. He was so excited that he was up by 6:30am. And, we all know Daniel is not a morning person. As, you can see he could hardly sit still, later that afternoon, waiting for his first guest to arrive.

The set up: The theme was Speed Racer. Ms. Kate from Kidz Art did a tee shirt project with the kids. It was loud, and crazy, and fun, and then amazingly super quiet as all the kids focused on their projects. I will have to remember to post pics of Daniel and Laney's tees.

One super cool Speed Racer cake for one super cool almost six year old.

Let him eat cake. Yum yum!

Daniel was so cute in his hat and helmet!

One super fun 6th birthday celebration goes down with "a million thumbs up!" from the birthday boy.

Sledding into 2011

It's been a long time! Jesse, the kids, and I, so enjoyed the holiday season and break. During the break we visited a new and now favorite sledding hill, that the kids now excitingly refer to as, "BIG HILL!" Daniel and Laney now ask everyday if it's a big hill day. We went today and plan to go again tomorrow. The kids have such a blast! I have to admit, I, myself, have not ventured down the hill. I'm having fun watching and taking tons of pics. We are all looking forward to a lot more sledding days to finish out this winter with.

A little evening fun with the kids. We cutout snowflakes and taped them up all over the back door and the stone surrounding the fireplace. Daniel sat today and made a whole pile more, which I need to get taped up.

And, oh my gosh I can hardly believe that it is the New Year already. Resolutions? Yeah of course. OK, so I admit I didn't do so hot with last years. The plan this year is to recycle, recycle,recycle those of last year. Sure it's only barely been over a week, but so far so good!

Happy New Year! Here's to lots of joy, love, and health in 2011!