Boys vs Girls

Let me start out by saying that I love my children. Each one brings an element into your family that would not be complete if we didn't have them, the perfect piece.  My whole life I have felt this natural feud with boys vs girls.  I suppose it is because I was out numbered and boys always won. Being the only girl did have it's upside. I never did have to share a room. The other day Lilly and Max had friends over.  I do really love when the house is full of kids and fun, but when I watched my kids play with their friends it is so obvious that I side with the girls.  To me they are cute, giggly and self contained.

The boys on the other had are all over the house. Making a foam pit to jump off the stairs.

More piles of pillows for some ramp or obstacle course.  

Throwing and swinging animals around playing chuck the animal. Yes there was a casualty.

Notice the boys are not in one picture. They wouldn't be still enough to catch them.
So like I said before I love my children but for right now in this moment I think I enjoy the girls.

Getting into the school Groove

We are going on 3 full of school for the big kids. So far things are going well.  Both of them have friends, and they are staying in a routine with homework and reading. Last week they started riding their bikes to and from school.  It is hot outside but a little heat is okay, and they get lots of water when they get home, plus it gives them a little exercise. Luke and I will join them on occasion to make sure they (Max) isn't doing anything crazy.  

Preschool is now in it's 3rd week. I have a great class and one of my students brought me an apple on the first day. I know I'm lucky, I love my job, I love these kids and really lets be truthful I like being a teacher.  

Luke will start school next week with a co-op that worked out for us. He is pretty excited and I am too. This will be our trail run. If he is good for me in the class I will take him into my class next year.  I'm really hoping that will be the case. So we will see how it goes.
This year the kids get out every Wednesday 1 hour early for staff development.  So before we got too busy in the school year we went out to the the Arizona Museum of Natural History after school.  We all had fun panning for gold.

 creating ball mazes,

  being in the movies and

seeing the dinosaur bones.  I had to laugh at this picture because it is so typical. 2 kids standing and letting me take a photo while the other one can't stop wiggling for a second.

I have always loved the street sculptures that are in downtown Mesa. By the museum there were 2 right across from each other so we stopped to take a look. This is the first thing that Max thought of to do.  

 Luke loved the polar bear cubs and wanted to be one too.  Lilly had a good idea to walk around and see all of them.  Yes that would be tons of fun but not in this heat so I think we will make a family day out of sometime in the fall.

Sunday morning I enjoyed this little moment. The 2 big kids in bed together playing Minecraft. I would much rather see them reading or writing a story together but I can't complain they were working together on their neighborhood and pool.

Remembering Summer Once Again

I have some pictures floating around that documented a few other summer adventures that I didn't get around to posting.
In June Max and his friends went to a week long lacrosse camp.  He enjoyed it for the most part but is not dying to sign up for a league like I was hoping for. He learned a new sport and got to be with friends so nothing lost.

When we sat to watch this is what the other 2 were doing.  Honest Luke was such a good boy this summer. He was dragged to swim team and practices and did pretty well.  So when he wanted to wrestle his sister in the middle of the gym I let it slide.

Right before school started he participated in a week long Olympic camp. Each day they tried and learned a new Olympic sport.  They tired rugby, field hockey, badminton, and Max's favorite archery.

Both of these camps were taken through the city of Mesa. I love my city they did are great job, resonably priced and fun for kids. 2 thumbs up from me.

Here is Lilly at her final choir performance she did a wonderful job learning all the Broadway songs. She even learned a harmony part in "Tomorrow" that we can sing together. Oh that makes me sooo happy to sing with her.  Lilly was super excited to have here 2 grandmas there for the performance and also very excited that she got to sport her new glasses in time for the concert.

I love these kids and I love to see them try new things to get out and see what the world has to offer. 

August 12

I can't seem to keep up with much these days but I did take 12 pictures today.

1.  Waking up in the morning is not Max's favorite thing to do.
2. Kids shoes on and ready to head out the door for school.
3.  90  at 8 am. Yep we live in AZ
4.  Luke enjoying a little Wii time.
5.  While I spent the morning calling, emailing, ordering,cutting and creating to get ready for preschool.
6.  Dentist at 11 am no cavities!
7.  Putting books together for tomorrow.
8.  Luke helping me in the preschool room so I let him do a little shaving cream painting. He loves to write his letter L
9.  First day of homework, thankfully it went pretty smooth.
10. Max finally has a loose tooth. He wiggles it every chance he gets.
11. Kevin taking us to Sonic for our family home evening treat.
12. Prayers are said, books read, kids in bed off for a run for me.

Back to School

Against all my wishes the first day of school came. The kids got up got dressed and for the most part were excited to go. On Monday night we met their teachers and familiarized ourselves with the class room.
Max will have Mrs. Baker.  I'm am very excited and so is Max.

Lilly will have Mrs. Luke.  Mrs. Luke moved up this year so Lilly had her for different learning groups last year and knows her pretty well.

When teeth were brushed and shoes were on we headed out to take our first day of school pictures.

Lilly's first day of 4th grade.

Max first day of 2nd grade

And a shot of all 3 because Luke refuses to be left out.

 So Luke and I didn't get to lonely, we went out to breakfast with my friends and after that had a play date with Michael and Mandy.  However the afternoon was still a bit too long and Luke missed his playmates. Max and Lilly got home happy about their day even though Max had just a little bit of homework.  Success I would say. Bring it on 2013-2014 school year we are ready.