July 4th 2012

 All dressed up, they sure don't look sick do they!

Pretty sure we had everything working against us this year. First off, my kids were throwing up the day before and still pretty under the weather the day of the fourth.  Second, our down stairs air conditioner went out for a good 4 hours so we were sweating for a bit.  Next my blow dryer gave up after 3 good years of service but did not last long enough for me to finish my hair, bun day was decided.  And I would say the weather was a pretty good reason for concern, thank goodness the rain let up in time for a great firework display in Boulder City.  We scrapped all our usual plans this year so no parade and no BBQ, we just rested in order to feel good enough to go watch fireworks.  When we finally got out to Boulder City the weather was absolutly beautiful, thanks to the rain storm and we were sitting in the grass enjoying the cool breeze watching the kids play.  The fireworks were awesome as usual so big and pretty and right over our heads.  The only hiccup was the fact that Natalie threw up all over me about one minute into the show.  Oh well, there was no way we were going to have a happy ending with all the bad omens we were having so I kinda knew it was coming! All in all even with all the bad, I will probably forget all of that and the 4th still can be considered one of my favortie days of the year and I hope I am building enough excitement for my kids so they love this day as much as me one day.

 

GVR Cabana

Mom, what is a cabana?  This question has been asked about a hundred times the last few weeks while we counted down the day until I could finally show my kids just exactly what it is.  Grandma booked us all a cabana to share for a day down at Green Valley Ranch and boy oh boy was it fun.  Not only did we have our own semi-personal pool but we also got to go down to the beach front walk in pool with actual sand.  Pretty cool if you ask me, except Natalie wanted nothing to do with her feet in the sand.  We had a yummy lunch and of course ice cream treats for everyone.  After a long day of making kids happy us adults decided that we will be doing a cabana again soon, just next time without the kids!  Otherwise we had a great day, thanks as always Grandma!

June is over!

That went by way too fast!  I can't believe we are already into July with the 4th just two days away.  Summer is melting away faster than I had anticipated, and I had better get going on all of my summer goals for the girls and I , like journal writing, craft making, traveling, exercising, reading ect, ect.  I think I need to make a much more solid plan of what we want to accomplish rather than me just pinning things on pinterest that look cool and then never getting around to doing them.  So that settles it.  No more pinning, just more doing!

Anyhow, June 19th my friend Jasmine had a birthday the same day her new niece Maggie Mae was born so I got to keep Jasmines kids for a bit while she went and hung out with the new baby.  While she was gone we surprised her by baking her a birthday cake.  The kids all had fun adding ingredients and helping mix the batter.  The cake turned out pretty cute but of course I forgot to take a picture of the finished product so I only have a few pics of the process.  Bummer, but happy 29th to Jasmine!

Next we had a fun play day with our friends and the Moms got a chance to do some crafting for fourth of July.  Even with all the kids running around making messes we were able to get some serious stuff done.  Not to mention all the chit chat and catching up we love to do!

Well add in way too much tv watching, one child throwing up and lots of swimming and that about sums up the rest of June. Looking foward to what the rest of the summer has in store for us!

Fathers Day

We had a great day spending time together as a family, something that is really hard to come by considering it is summer and both of the Zach's are hardly ever home!  We went to breakfast at IHop and then Zach decided that he wanted to go do the Zip Lines at Fremont Street since it is something we have been wanting to do.  The girls were upset at first that it wasn't something they could do but they loved watching us go so it was fun for all of us.  It was pretty scary by the way, it just didn't feel like the harness was going to hold me up, it did,  but that didn't keep my legs from being super wobbly afterwards.  Zachary was scared the first time and then happy to again with Daddy and Zach said he wasn't scared at all which I kind of don't believe! Overall a great day with the whole family!

Summer Mornings

Who misses having to jump up and get 3 girls ready for school each morning?  Not me.  I miss the six hours that would come after all the morning hoopla but I do enjoy not having to be ready every day.  I think Natalie is really having fun with the girls staying home too.

Play Day

Thursday I decided that I would have have some of my friends bring their kids by for a play day at our house giving the Mom's a chance to run and errand or two without all their kids.  It was fun, we made mini pizzas for lunch and then the kids went crazy, watched a movie, played some hangman and ate cookies and ice cream. 

iPhone Recap

For all the times I forget to bring the big camera!

Rebecca

A friend pointed out to me the other day that my little Rebecca has been looking much more grown up lately and I couldn't agree more.  I can especially tell in pictures I take of her, she is just looking older and also taking better pictures.

Summer Break Kickoff!

Ever since the weather got warm  three little girls begging to go swim at the M Resort.  I promised that on the last day of school we would finally go.  It was a really fun way to start the summer.  The kids swam and played their little hearts out while I got to relax and chat with my friend.  The highlight would probably be getting the kids Shirley temples to drink which they remembered their Aunt Lezlie getting them last year.  By the time we left my kids were exhausted and cranky but that is the plan this summer, to get them nice and tired so bedtime is a breeze.  Can't wait to head back!

Kindergarten Graduation

We survived and conquered Kindergarten.  Alexis and Rebecca have learned so much all year long thanks to their awesome teacher Ms. Mull.  The girls are already missing her and their class helper Mrs. Same.  They have been so good to my girls all year long they will surely be missed! 

Everyone there to support their sisters!

Adorable Alexis

Beautiful Becca

Celebrations included songs and treats, we had lots of fun!

Sweet Sleeping Baby

A sleeping baby is one of my favorite things in the world.  I love how sweet their faces look when they are safe away in dreamland.  I love getting close enough to hear their slow and peaceful breathing.  I could watch them sleep for hours if there was enough time in the day!  Natalie is approaching two and the opportunities to call her my baby are quickly slipping away, I must capture it and save it for when I have no more babies to call my own. 

Field Day 2012

After being postponed twice due to wind advisories Mark Fine Field Day 2012 was finally held on the hottest day we have had this year.  Thank goodness there was plenty of water activities to keep the kids cool.  What a fun day getting to watch Maile participate with her goofy little class.  Hands down elementary teachers are the most courageous and patient people on the planet, I could so not handle 21 of those stinkers day in and day out!  Regardless, I still enjoy spending time watching Maile interact with her friends and today was a great day to see how she has progressed throughout the year.

Some of Maile's friends.

Flashing her underwear!

Maile trying to catch water in a bucket.

Drinking some much needed water.

Team relay, too cute seeing them work together.

I love how happy this girl is to have me there, soon enough she will be too cool for me!

Love this girl and love this smile, just makes me happy!

Daddy Time

The kids and I go swimming all the time in the summer.  Daddy is always working and always misses out of the fun so when he can make it the kids are pretty darn excited!  I am pretty stoked too, it gives me a second pair of eyes and they don't beg me to get in and play, I can just be on the side where I like it best!

Love Zach's summer buzz, kinda hot if ya ask me!

The girls are getting swim lessons this summer, I have slacked with them so hopefully the water wings will be gone by the end of the summer!

Rebecca still shouldn't get water in her ears, so she stole Natalie's boat. Her skinny butt is a perfect fit!

Big brothers at the pool are an added bonus!

School Carnival

The girls school had their annual end of year carnival a few weeks ago, it was a Hawaiian themed carnival so my girls fit right in!

 

Two seconds after this picture I was cleaning up that smoothie off the ground.

Can't believe Kindergarten is almost over for them!

Surgery in the morning, carnival in the afternoon.  Pretty productive day!

More Tubes

We have noticed for some time now that it seemed as if Rebecca couldn't always hear when we were talking to her and she always wanted the TV volume blasting. Not only was she having trouble hearing but she was also suffering from chronic ear infections.  With all that was going on with her I finally asked her ped for a referral to the ENT.  Our appointment was a Thursday afternoon and Dr. Ng was shocked at how bad her ears were.  Literally one of her eardrums was "deflated" and laying against a bone in her ear canal and the other ear had an extreme amount of fluid on it.  He scheduled her surgery for the very next day.  Dr. Ng warned us that if it wasn't taken care of she could loose hearing in the ear that was worse.  Yikes!  Not to mention he said her hard of hearing was probably because all the fluid on her ears, the fluid would make it seem like she was underwater.  Poor baby, I wish I knew sooner!  Anyhow, Friday morning tubes went in, eardrum was inflated and Rebecca claims she is hearing better.  I am looking forward to her post opp appointment to make sure everything is going well. She was a trooper and only wanted Daddy!

This was from her first surgery for her cleft palate and ear tubes...two things haven't changed, her love for Daddy...

and her love for her Doggies!