Splash Island

Izzy was invited to a classmates birthday party today and it was at a fun county park splash park. This neat little gem is just a few miles from our house and I see some fun summer days spent here.

Drew's Last Day of School

One kid down and one to go.


(he pulled his finger through the chalk right before I took this)

Drew's class had a fun Luau Party for the last day of school. I have never seen such a fancy party for a group of 3-4 year olds. check out this spread...







We plan to continue meeting up with Drew's classmates weekly throughout the summer. How could we not keep this goofy group together?









and we can't forget his teachers...




I am crossing my fingers that Drew gets in class with his "new best buddy" Jack W next year...his mom is a preschool teacher at the school so I am hoping she has some pull :) ...and how cute are these two together?


*and as a side note notice the mismatched crocs...told you this is how the kids wear 'em.

Class "Pet"

Fuzzy came home from school with Izzy last night.

He had a very busy afternoon/evening while staying with us. Immediately after picking Izzy up from school we went to meet some friends at their pool. We put Fuzzy in his sunglasses and propped him up to play the role of lifeguard.

After a quick trip home to shower, we headed to school for the art festival. Here is Izzy standing in front of her artwork (above her head).



This is Izzy posing with her eel outside her classroom.



From the art show we decided to get some ice-cream at Jack's.



Then it was home and to bed.

At school this morning Izzy had to read what she wrote about her outings with Fuzzy. Apparently she was the first kid to bring pictures to accompany her synopsis and for this she got to do the school news show at the end of the day! She did this once before when she took in the "chapter book" she wrote - this is a huge deal for the students selected each day because it is shown in all the classrooms.

I just wish there was some way for me to have been notified about it. I would love to see how Izzy acts while being interviewed by the principal. Does she answer the questions when asked? or does she do her shy smile and just stare at the person? Hmmmm, guess I'll never know.

Pete's Birthday

Poor Pete...his birthday was on a work day - and a busy one at that. He left at 6:30 that morning and didn't get home til shortly after 6:30 that night. I guess the good news is was he was home. He literally walked in the door to hiding children and this on the table.



The kids love to celebrate a birthday round here! Drew figured out what he was going to get Pete for his birthday weeks ago and never once gave his gift away. Pete of course knew what it was, but not because Drew told him.



Izzy was excited to give Pete a book that she had picked up just for him at her book fair earlier that day.



And then "my" gift to Pete was surf lessons. I am hoping a couple of his friends will be able to join him, but if not that's okay too. He has been commenting about wanting to learn to surf and now that we are mere miles from the ocean it is perfect.

I wish we could have spoiled Pete all day long, but truth be told this was so much easier :) ...and Father's Day is just around the corner!


(dual cakes: Izzy wanted to get him an ice-cream cake - which is what Pete wanted. Drew wanted to get him a cookie cake - which is what Drew wanted. Rather than argue (cause who really argues 2 cakes?) we got both!)

Sunday Nights

For the last couple of weeks we have taken to meeting up with friends at a local bar/restaurant. We have a drink, eat $4 meals and almost feel like we aren't parents.

The kids are busy doing this...



Isn't this just one of the most fabulous ideas? It is such a nice way to end the weekend and get ready to start the week.



And when faces are this red from so much jumping, then you can bet bedtime is easy peasy!

Habitat for Humanity

Once a month after the kids are in bed, Pete and I sit down for a "family meeting". We typically discuss finances, monthly schedules, upcoming trips or visitors, and whatever else may be on our minds.

The beginning of every year we have the "big" meeting where we review the past year, evaluate how we did, and set goals for the upcoming year. This year one of the things we wanted to do with the kids/family is get more involved in giving back to the community.

This past weekend we had the chance to get the kids involved in Habitat for Humanity. Pete and some colleagues volunteered, and while the kids couldn't be involved in the construction aspect we took this opportunity to give back in another way.

The kids and I went to see the house that "daddy was helping to build" and provided the crew with lunch.









*Izzy's Monday morning "morning work" at school involves writing a sentence and drawing a picture of what they did over the weekend. I haven't seen the drawing yet, but was told that her sentence said, "I went to visit my Daddy while he helped build a house for the less fortunate". Her picture was of the house with Pete on the roof. I was waiting to post this entry until the picture got sent home, but I have yet to see it?

Blue Red, Red Blue

For well over a year now the kids have each worn one blue croc and one red croc.



Izzy wears blue, red (left foot, right foot) and Drew wears red, blue.

Those who see the kids on a regular basis think nothing of it anymore...those who encounter them for the first time always have a fun cute comment on their fashion statement.



It is just one more thing I want to remember about these two little people :)

...seriously, look back and chances are if you can see their feet in the picture then they will have on mismatched crocs.

Swim Lessons

We enrolled the kids in swim lessons for 6 weeks leading up to summer.

While we think swimming is an important skill for the kids to know, the truth is these lessons are kind of below their swim level. The lessons are only 30 minutes and with 6-7 kids in the class they don't get alot of individual attention. Once this session ends we will continue with private lessons for the kids. The instructor (who you will notice is like 40) is pretty sure he can have the kids swimming butterfly in no time.

Regardless, it is pure entertainment for Pete and I to sit and watch them from the side. Here's a glimpse into 30 min on our Saturday mornings.

Drew is a natural - no fear and willing to try anything.








And Izzy is the most perfect student - always listening and following directions.






But with lots of waiting between students this is what happens most of the lesson. ...could they get any closer?

Mother's Day 2011

I think from as far back as I can remember that I wanted to be a mom. I love everything about this holiday! I love to celebrate the incredible mom that I have, the amazing mother-in-law that I have (who raised 8 fantastic kids), and that I am a mom! To know me is to know how much I love being able to stay home with the kids everyday...so by default it is like Mother's Day everyday over here :)

My Mother's Day festivities began this past Friday. Both kids has school programs for me to attend.





Saturday was almost like Mother's Day because Pete had kid duty for a good 6 hours. He took the kids to breakfast, swim lessons, a birthday party and then to pick up his new car. While he was away having all that fun I was sitting in our driveway manning a very uneventful garage sale. My biggest sale went to the neighbor behind us (who actually bought all her purchases prior to the sale -Izzy's old clothes and bike) and the second largest sale went to a lady buying toys for her church (how could I not load her up for next to nothing). The third sale...well, in 6 hours there wasn't a third sale. Oh well. Once the kids and Pete got home they settled in to play a new Wii game and I watched Sex and the City. I can't tell you the last time I watched a movie while the kids were awake, uninterrupted. Probably not since Izzy was under a year?

So Sunday morning found me lounging in bed til Izzy busted in my room (okay she quietly crept in) with a super sweet card and picture. She made her card a week ago and the front was a song and the inside a poem.

Once Drew joined us (Pete was out getting coffee) he immediately started crying silently because he felt bad for not bringing me anything. I had to remind him that he gave me a card and necklace at school on Friday! Then, as if they knew to be extra kind to me, they disappeared to play SO nicely with one another in the toy room while I sipped my coffee and read my paper. I can't even say it was Pete's doing because at this point he was at the gym (he didn't want to go being Mother's Day and all but I insisted).

We spent the entire day at the Strawberry Festival. It was such a good time. I was nervous to go because I thought it would be hot and crowded. Thankfully it was only hot.



love the excitement on Izzy's face in this shot


in this shot Drew was so dizzy that he simply fell over in the seat






this boy just loves his sister somethin' fierce!




I got a bit full of myself and decided to ride the swings with the kids...shortly after the ride started spinning I had to mentally tell myself "you will not be sick. you will not be sick!" Ever since I had kids I can't spin, swing or do heights!


The kids sure loved the ride - rode it two more times!


This is one of my favorite rides. Check out this sign posted at the entrance ;) (you have to be under 48 in. to even enter)


My question is what happened that would even warrant this sign?


it was boys v. girls on the ferris wheel




And finally, what is a festival without food. Check out the size of these snow cones.


4 years old and he prefers fingers over a spoon.






Once we got home, the kids immediately took a bath while I ran to Ulta for some goodies. On my way home Pete instructed me to pick up dinner from a deli we like. He had ordered it and paid for it :)

Now we are at home and Pete is playing with the kids while I enjoy a glass of wine and type this. Soon the kids will be in bed and then I will slip into a nice tub of bubbles and think of how very blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband and two fantastic kids!