Coming this weekend!

Cowgirl Myla and her 5th Birthday

Wanted: for felony cuteness and random spouts of sass. This couldn't be more true. This girl has both. For her birthday she wanted to celebrate cowgirl style...and so we did! It was a great time and her friends from school and our neighborhood came. We made cowgirl necklaces, ate a bunch of junk food, decorated cupcakes, painted fingernails and bossed around the mom (yeah, that's me). Myla was in heaven.

The Cowgirl

For her birthday Myla got her own room with a new bed. She was so excited. We've had the three kids in the same room for awhile. It's a pretty big room and they wanted to be together. But its time for the girl to get her own girl room. She loves it and so do I.

Teacher Hope

Myla just finished MELP (pre-K) and adores her teachers: Teacher Hope and Teacher Cece. She will be a big kindergartener next year. Her teachers were awesome and she is so excited to go to kindergarten.

Myla with Teacher Cece

Myla is also in dance and had her big recital a few weeks ago. They did a sleeping beauty number and a pirate tap dance. So cute!

Myla is 2nd from the left doing her sleeping beauty.

Myla at 5:
* determined
* sweet
* sassy
* so smart
* observant
* loves getting into makeup
* hates getting her hair done (by me anyway)
* loves swimming and playing t-ball
* loves her daddy and grandparents
* has tea parties and loves to paint nails
* loves helping mom in the kitchen
* wants a puppy (not gonna happen)
* is very social and loves playing with friends
* best friend in Kaitlyn from MELP
* is ready for kindergarten!!

The Gavman turns 3!

Gavin is 3!! Where has the time gone!?! June is a big and busy birthday month for us, and Gavin kicks it off with his birthday. We had a little party at a small splash pad with Gavin's friends and cousins and we had so much fun! I wish I caught more pics. I managed an unblurry one of the birthday boy.

Gavin:
* so sweet
* makes goofy faces
* is charismatic
* talks non-stop
* loves joy school (on summer break)
* misses his "fwens" when we leave joy school
* loves his brother and sister and copies everything they do
* loves to say and do stuff to make us laugh
* can be bribed to do anything with the promise of apple juice
* loves swimming and riding his tricycle
* is obsessed with Thomas and all things train
* loves his daddy and is so excited when he comes home
* is about to move to a big boy bed
* loves to hold up his three fingers and say "I am freee!" when asked how old he is
* is mommy's little buddy when the older kids are in school

We're still here...

Wow am I a lousy blogger. I go through phases, and this was a down for me. Obviously. :) Since there is way too much to catch up on, here is what we have been up to recently. Baseball and t-ball. Fun, fun, fun. The kids loved it. The parents...loved and loathed it. It was so fun to watch the kids. But at 2 games per kid per week for 6 weeks we are ready to get back to normal life. And we only had 2 kids in it. I can't imagine how it is for families with more than that. Anyway, their coaches were fantastic and we are so grateful for their efforts! I'm sure it's not easy. Here are some shots of the kiddos in actions:

Ok, I can't upload pics right now. I guess blogger is being silly today. But I've typed this out, so darnit I'm posting it. :) I'll try again later.

And in other super exciting news: KEVIN GOT A NURSING JOB! Yes, I shouted that. He graduated exactly a year ago, so we've been trying for awhile now. It's a great opportunity with a great company. He starts May 31st and he is thrilled. Have you ever seen Kevin thrilled? Let me tell you, it's quite a sight. :) Our summer vacation plans had to be put on hold, but it's completely worth it. He'll be doing a paid internship with a 95% chance of being hired full-time after that. It's perfect for him.

Gavin is loving joy school and loves his friends. Everytime we leave he says, "I miss my friends." It's been such a wonderful thing for him and I've really enjoyed my time with the other 2 year olds. They are such amazing little people.

Cade and Myla are loving school. They have less than 2 weeks left and then summer vacation!! We have fun things planned and I'm just looking forward to spending time with my kiddos, sleeping in a little, and not being a taxi for 8 weeks. :)

Woo Hoo!!

We just received wonderful, fantastic, awesome news!! Kevin took the NCLEX yesterday, and, thanks to modern technology, we already know that he passed! He is now an official, full-fledged RN. He has been working so hard the past months studying. Yesterday he came home from the test happy. That was a good sign. Then today, when I was checking the Arizona Board of Nursing website, there it was! He passed! I won't lie, I cried a tear or two, or lots. I'm so proud of him!

SOOC New Years Eve

Straight Out Of Camera Saturday (or in my case, Sunday) hosted by Marvelous Mommy:


This was taken on New Years Eve. We got some fireworks to light and the kids loved watching them. Well, all the kids except Gavin. He was not a happy camper. A double ear infection will do that to you.

I've got a case of PCD

Post Christmas Depression, that is. Do you ever get it? It's kind of crazy, after all our family left and most of the holiday decor was put away, a wave a sadness hit me. Where did Christmas go this year?? I feel like I barely got to enjoy it. With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season -- ward parties, family parties, shopping, school events, baking, trips to the ER and winter illnesses, along with normal living, it was just insane. I didn't take one picture on Christmas day. Not one. I was just too exhausted and overwhelmed to even think about the camera. In fact, after all the presents were opened and grandparents visited, we trudged home and crashed on the couch and watched movies. It was so nice to just do nothing.

And then the whole family got sick and the PCD set in. I don't know. I know this is kind of a depressing post, but it does inspire me to do some things different for next year, so it's not SO busy that we just get overwhelmed and really lose the true meaning of Christmas. I love Christmas and busyness of it. That's what makes it special, cramming in so many activities and spending extra time with loved ones and friends and baking and shopping. I love that stuff. So what was different this year?? I'll have to think about that.

On a brighter note, we had an awesome New Years Eve. My mom came over and we watched movies and played Rock Band. Then, around 11pm, Kevin's family rolled into town. Ron, Lynn, Aubrey, Aiden and Oliver spent the weekend here and we had a blast. We went to the movies, played at Jump and Shout, rode our scooters, and ate yummy food. We are so glad they came to visit.

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas we wish you all peace, joy and love. As cliche as it sounds, we really do mean it! We rejoice in the true meaning of this season, Jesus Christ. It has been interesting this year, teaching our children that we are celebrating Jesus and not Santa Claus and presents. They have grasped it in a way that has humbled and amazed me. This time of year is truly magical. Merry Christmas!