On The First Day of Summer Vacation my Day went like this...

Today was my First Official Day of Summer Vacation...

Did I sleep in? No, up at 5:30 a school habit.
Did I exercise or run my 3 miles? No, instead I got C and T up and ready and loaded for girls camp.
Did I make them breakfast you ask? No, I helped them pour their cereal. I did help T get her sack lunch packed and ready.
At 6:45 we loaded the neighbor girl, and my girls in the Excursion, and I drove them to Wal-mart to get batteries for their flashlights, and then to the Stake Center to catch the bus and meet the group. They quickly jumped out of the truck, waving, blowing kisses, and ran to meet their friends and leaders. That left M and I sad and glad. I walked over to get a real hug and kiss good-bye. But my girls were so excited and laughing, with the other girls. I stepped back and realized they were growing up. (I hope on Wednesday, when they return, they are excited to see me)

Then...M and I rejoiced in being together and having Mommy and Me time. She asked after the girls were dropped off, if I would swim with her this afternoon and play in the pool with her. I thought that was so sweet that she would ask me. We then treated ourselves to breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts. (I tried to choose healthy, knowing I will have to exercise)

After M and I went to a benefit Garage Sale for a girl that goes to Middle School with C. (Natalie has recently been diagnosed with Cancer.)
M and I found some great steals and deals at this garage sale.We bought a couple of puzzles and we are currently frustrated with a 1,000 piece puzzle. (Who knows if all of the pieces are even in the box.) I bought some Halloween decorations... (that I plan to tweek. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Chanelle, who always finds great deals and can change them into something fantastic!)
I almost bought a lady bug Halloween costume, so I could tweek it. Every year at school, we have a book parade, during Reading Week. I am always scrambling for a costume. I thought maybe I could be the "Grouchy Lady Bug" or a friend from "Miss Spider's Tea Party"

We then returned our library books, started that puzzle, went swimming together, and that night her daddy and I watched her pirouette at her dance recital.

In memory of...

M asked this morning what Memorial Day is all about. Mike explained to her that Memorial Day is a holiday set aside for remembrance of our fallen soldiers from all of the wars that our country has ever been involved in from the Revolutionary War to the Irag War. At the moment he was telling her, I so badly wanted to transport our SUV into a space craft or a time traveling machine, so she could see things that would help her remember what this day is really about.

This is the Marysville Washington Cementary. I have never seen a cemetary so decked out in flags. It always made my heart proud to drive by it.

The USS Carl Vinson, returning to port in Bremeton, Washington in 2003. I wasn't there, at the port, but I will never forget the unity of community as it pulled into port. I loved how the sailors were all standing so proud in their whites, waving to family and friends awaiting for them.

My grandpa fought under General Patton in World War II. He returned safely home to my grandma, mom, and uncle. But there were many who didn't. My heart goes out to their family and friends this day.

...And for the men who fought very early in our country to make it what it is today, I thank you. Thank you for fighting in what you believed in, to make our country free. Every morning as my children in my class raise their hands and place it on their hearts, to Pledge to our flag, I think of you.

No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks...a quote by Alice Cooper

Okay so, it has been a while since I posted. We are alive, healthy, and finishing out the school year. (The countdown is 3 days...of absolutely, positively...NOTHING!!)

I wish we had gotton out before Memorial Day this year, but the district calandar people didn't plan it that way! I guess that is okay, because now I can just sit, laugh, and play with my 1st graders, and probably cry for joy that some of them are leaving, and sadness for some others.

As the school year ends, summer plans begin. With Arizona summer vacations being short, due to year round school, summer seems busy already...I hope there is time for rest!

Things that are on the family list to do:
1. Dance Recital for M
2. Master's classes (I have 2 this summer, 2 nights a week for 8 weeks)
3. Girl's Camp for C and T (they leave 2 days after school gets out)
4. Painting the foyer (hopefully before family comes to visit in June)
5. A trip to Lake Powell (God's secret if you have never seen or heard of Lake Powell, check this link out.http://www.lakepowell.com/)
4. Yeah!! Family comes to visit in June
5. Camping for the 4th of July
6. C and Mike have birthdays
7. Boot Camp (Yes, I am signing up for Boot Camp..or have good intentions of it. If Helen on the Biggest Loser can do it, I can too!)
8. reading a good book (not Twilight)
9. organizing some unorganized things (mainly M's bedroom, and a couple of cupboards)
10. some scrapbooking caught up.
11. the upstairs started for expansion of a family room
12. fishing for Mike

stay tuned...."A goal not written is merely a wish!"

Count your many blessings..name them one by one...

We are so fortunate to know the Lauro family. Natalie and C met during the fourth grade and were in the same school class for 2 years. The girls even went to California to Sea World for a school trip together in 5th grade. This is Natalie's story and I would like to share it with you. Her story will make you go hug your children and thank Heavenly Father for your small blessings in life.
http://www.pchhandprints.org/ (Click Natalie's story)

Sweet 16 and Prom....

CD came over and re-asked T out to the prom last Monday in a creative way. The fun part was, that it was her 16th birthday and so it made it a little extra special. She found this fun note on her door, and then she had to pop the balloons with a rose that he left.

The question was hidden in a balloon somewhere other than her bedroom. So she went on a scavenger hunt throughout the house and finally found the magic balloon.

She answered back by making a cake and putting a big yes on the top of the cake. She dropped the cake off at his house when he wasn't home, so he found her cake in the refrigerator when he was scrounging for some snacks.

For T's Sweet 16 party, we had a bunch of her friends over and they played games, swam, we BBQd, and then they went dancing.

We finally broke down and bought T a cell phone. We decided now that she is driving, it would be important to have a phone. (call us old fashioned for not getting a phone sooner but really she had no social life before now:)

Tina doing hair for the dance, cake and ice cream, and the new phone!

Well Saturday was the prom. This was T's very first date, and it was her prom date's first date. It made it sort of special for both of them, but the funny thing, is neither one of them can drive quite yet, so CD's mom drove them to the prom. Cd's mom came in and took more pictures than me! I wonder if she blogs too!!

T was very excited and all day she prepared for the dance. She went and got her nails, toenails, and her eyebrows waxed. We did her hair and make up, and we frantically ran to the hair salon and Wal-mart looking for cute clips and or babies breath to put in her hair at the last minute.

Her hair turned out nice! We did a half up do, and put rhinestone barrettes to hold some of the curls.

This is her dress. She chose a tea length dress, and her shoes were silver with rhinestones.

This is her date. C said after they left, that he looked a lot like Troy Bolton.

She had a great time at the dance, was home by midnight and didn't turn into a pumpkin.

We found the dress, we found the shoes...Prom will soon be through!

Today T and I had a fun day shopping for her prom dress! (I do have to admit though, I was worried that it would be frustrating to find a modest, well priced dress, in the midst of a very wordly, strapless, skimpy, designer world!) But I was wrong! T googled modest dresses in Arizona, and found a place in Mesa that sells them. We went to the store, and the selection was slim, but the woman sells them from her home too. I gave her a call and she graciously invited us over without an appointment, and the day before Easter to boot! She has a bedroom in her home that she uses as a dressing room, and she had racks and a huge closet full of the most beautiful formals. (Everyone of her formals are modest, and at the most reasonable prices.) She kept handing T more and more choices. It was so fun!! T would swirl around in the 3 way mirror, and smile or shake her head. T finally decided on a tea length, teal green formal. After dress shopping, we went to Cafe Rio for lunch, and then went shoe shopping. T found some really cute, strappy heels at the Nordstrom Rack, and then we headed home.

I honestly thought that we would be gone all day, and that we would come home empty handed, and a little bummed! I am so happy that we found that fabulous dress shop called 'A Dressy Occassion' I hope someday, wedding dress shopping is as easy!!

Bedroom Bliss

YES, I have finally reached bliss in the bedroom!! Hey this isn't X RATED! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM???



This is what I am talking about......

Our New Mattress! (although, that is not my bedroom)

We finally broke down and bought us a new mattress. We tried this mattress out, but the price tag was way out of our price range. So we had decided on a Sealy, when we went back to buy the Sealy, the Heirloom Mattress was on sale!! FOR HALF OFF. They were clearing out the floor models. This bed is so comfortable....and for all of you people going GREEN, This mattress is made of soy and latex, so in 10 years when I am out shopping for a new mattress, I can be rest assured that my mattress will biodegrade just fine!

SLEEP TIGHT...