Happy days and fun times

All is good at this homestead. With the exception of Kevin getting a head cold but he is a trooper and hangs with us even if he is not feeling well. This weekend was our Jack Jack's Bday party. He has come along way that kids and we love him. Plus he knows how to through a great party, Bowling, pizza and Costco cake. Not to mention I made a trip to the outlet mall with the girls always so fun.Lilly is loving school more and more. Every day she comes home with something new and a Happy face meaning that she is well behaved. Her latest interest is Spanish and spelling. I happy to help her with the spanish part. Here is a little video of her singing her green song.

This week we got to see a little of Kevin's sisters. Shannon was a great help to me in preschool those 3 year olds are busy. The extra two hands were very much appreciated. After preschool the sisters and Max all went our for lunch.

There are lots of things to look forward to this week. Lilly starts her ballet class and I start a parenting class that the school is hosting. I don't know about you but a am not at all ashamed to get parenting tips, my children can testify that we are learning together.

I wish my mom would pack my lunch like this.

I came across this other day on my blog travels. And I am in love.

How much fun would it be to eat lunch every day if it looked like that? She has posted several other of her lunch creations for her preschooler. Here is the link if you want to look. She has some great ideas for lunch something different then PB&J.

Great teacher or Smart kid?

Max and I had a fun day today as he helped me get school ready for this week. I was testing out our little story as we focus on the /a/ sound this week. Look at my little guy in action. I was pretty impressed that he was able to find so many.

My class room is so cute!!

Thanks to my dad and inlaws and cute Kevin my shelves are up and look how cute my class is. Don't you feel like learning in there?

Max's first day of school

Max gets to go to school too. I have tried to make it a big deal for him but he doesn't really care either way. I guess it's not that exciting when your mom is your teacher. He knows that he is in school and that he can call his teacher Miss Laura, but sometimes he would rather have mom. He has had a few meltdowns but it has only been day 2.

I am however very impressed that he likes to be included in the class. I think by the end of the week he will be a super star kid.

Max' first day was mine as well. All I can say is how very, very blessed I am to be teaching these children this year. I have a wonderful group and I can already tell that this class is so eager to learn and full of fun. That is what preschool should be, FUN LEARNING!!!!

I was talking to my teacher friend (Mandy) the other day and she helped me realize that I am living my dream. We would sit in class at the good ole BYU and say "oh yes and when we graduate we will open our own preschool" I feel so blessed and lucky, that it all came to be. When I came home from my mission I was a little lost. I really didn't know what to do. I was studying Speech Pathology but that really wasn't going well for me. So I decide to go into Early childhood Ed. and it was like a light had turned on over my academic world. I got it, I found a passion, and I made it on the deans list. Teaching children is what I love to do. For me it is a dream job with my own children or others I love to teach. Now if Mandy would just move next door that would be amazing, we would be a great team!! ;)

7 years

It has been 7 years since this cute, young couple was married.

Now we are not so young but I still think Kevin is cute.

How do we celebrate 7 years? With roses, a jello pudding pie, and family home evening. A great day all around.

update

Just a little update from Lilly.
"Mom, there is not a girl named Sebastian in my class I just thought there was"
Now can you see why I love this girl. Another great day of school.
Tonight as she was getting in her PJ's, she had a huge smile on her face and says "I get to go to school every day!!! And when I'm done with kindergarten I get to go to college"

First day of school

She is a Kindergartner now!!! It's official. She did great, there were no fights or tears. She got up got dressed, said a prayer, ate breakfast, brushed teeth and hair done all with a smile and no complaints. Max didn't really like the new routine, meaning that there were a few tantrums we will have to work this out before next Tuesday. I walked her to a mass group of people and waited for her teacher to walk the class in. As she walked in line she had a smile on her face, then I blew her a kiss and said have a great day!!!! She blew a kiss back to me and then she was through the doors. My baby is all grown up.

All day I thought about what was she doing now. I was pleased to find out that she had a surprising handful of details to report.

These are things that she told me about her day.

She sits at the blue table. There is only one other girl at her table.

Her friend Hope opened her lunch stuff.

She got a paper cut and has a band aid.

There is a girl named Sebastian in her class.

She didn't get to share with the class the homework bear that she made.

She ate a cupcake for snack because it was the Teacher's aide birthday.

She played on the play ground for a little and has sand in her shoes to prove it.

She read the story the Kissing Hand and retold it to me. Then she showed my how my love would always be with her.

Tonight she said "Mom, come here I have to talk to you. Tomorrow I get to go to school again and again and again, I love school"

I think that is a sure sign that she had a great first day.

Pajama Party

Friday was the last day of our summer vacation. School is starting on Monday so we had to celebrate. This is all weird to me b/c this is the first year that I will have a child going to school. Lilly is more then ready, I will be the one in tears. Ever since we moved here we would pass by our elementary school and say " That's your school" At that time I really never thought that it would come so soon. Since it is such a big day we must through a party. Parties make everything better. Lilly wanted to hold a pajama party so we had one celebrating the start of school. She specifically requested to have a party that was not girly so her cousins would like it. Here was the outline.
Everyone is in PJs
Hot dogs and fruit for dinner
Games: musical pillows, charades and spoons
Make an ice cream sundae
Movie: "Ink Heart"
sleep (not so much)

I had to include an ice cream sundae b/c that is what my mom did when we were young. I always thought that was a wonderful way to celebrate. I would like to make this back to school party a tradition. I had so much fun and the kids did too. But next year I just might skip the whole dinner thing and just have the ice cream. One day a year won't kill you.

In the morning I thought I was being a supper cool Mom/Aunt and made the kids chocolate chip pancakes topped with raspberries and berry syrup. I know what you are thinking, yes, Laura that sounds so good, lucky children. Well lets just say I was way more excited about breakfast then the kids. Oh well now there are more for me.

I'm a WORKMAN!!!

We got back from our Family reunion on Monday. I'm at loss for words of how much I love my family and how wonderful they are. There were 84 that attended and we were missing some families. Now I think I can say I know everyone by name and can name them in order.

Everything was just so fun from yummy food, to kids swords. From the talent show to boat rides and swimming in the bay. The list goes on, sand castles, freeway traffic, s'mores, really hot showers, and bug bites.

My kids made new friends and I was able to catch up with my most awesome cousins, aunts and uncles. I only wish we lived closer. Until then I will count down to the next one and hope to keep in touch with ever so cool facebook.

To sum up the our time there it goes like the song Grandma's Feather Bed "we didn't get much sleep but we had allot of fun"

Here is my best Uncle Bert getting the boat ready for some fun.

My sweet cousin Natalie built about 12 sandcastles with my kids. Lilly wanted to bring her home with us. Who could blame her she is so stink'n cute.Kevin is getting in on the cooking with my cousin Jason.Arts and crafts time thanks to my Aunt Nancy.

John and Shannyn enjoying camping! The 3 musketeers Becca, me and Jamie!!!The beach and water.

Before we got there

Since the trip is 12 hours long, we decided that we should break up the trip. Bryce Cyn is about 7 hours from here and that would be a good spot to take a break. I love Bryce Cyn it is just breath taking. I wanted to show the kids how amazing and spectacular nature is. Lilly was more amazed with the hotel and made a few comments like "I don't want to see another canyon. We already saw this" I can see where a 5 year old can get tired of seeing red rock but at least now she can say that she has been.
Our little monkeys jumping on the bed.

Hiking the switchbacks.Heading to Willard's Bay we stopped for a very short, too short visit with my old roommate Antonia. We went up to BYU campus for old time sake and to show the kids where mom went to school. Of course I had to take the kids to the Candy counter and take a picture with the naked indian.