One on One

Lately I have been trying to make some extra special time for Mara. It gives us a chance to talk about our life, school and most recently puberty and the birds and the bees. Oh how do I love these conversations. Is there a manual for this type of stuff?? I do the best that I can to be honest but not say too much. I mean she is only 9!! Mara loves getting a special treat and she especially loves getting me all to herself.

My hope is that if I have this type of open conversation with her now that she will always feel comfortable coming to me in good times and bad. Being a mom is the best gift that I could have ever been given. I love my girls more then anything in this world and know that this was what I was meant to do!

Coffee Date

Friday I got to have a coffee date with Renee, Melissa and Baby Drew. This little man is just a punkin and a complete spitting image of his older brother Nathan. I got big smiles and squeezes from this little guy. I love being able to take a break from my work day to spend time with some of my favorite peeps!

Wizards Camp

Mara's class got to go to the Science Center for an overnight field trip to the Harry Potter Exhibit. It was a wild wizard experience. The kids went to potions class, watched an Imax of the movie and learned anything and everything that had to do with Harry Potter.  The kids stayed up super late and got up super early. They were a tired mess on Saturday morning but you would have never known because their wizard smiles were priceless.

I love Country music

Sometimes there is a country song that comes out that I just love. This is the one right now. It explains just how I feel and why I love country music so much!

Brad Paisley - This is Country Music Lyrics

You’re not supposed to say the word “cancer” in a song.

And tellin’ folks Jesus is the answer can rub ‘em wrong.

It ain’t hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, and mama, yeah that might be true.

But this is country music and we do

Well you like to drink a cold one on the weekend and get a little loud

Do you wanna say I’m sorry or I love ya but you don’t know how?

Do you wish somebody had the nerve to tell that stupid boss of yours to shove it next time he yells at you?

Well this is country music and we do

So turn it on, turn it up, and sing a long

This is real; this is your life in a song

Yeah this is country music.

Are you haunted by the echo of your mother on the phone

Cryin as she tells you that your brother is not comin home?

And if there’s anyone that still has pride and the memory of those that died defending the

old red, white, and blue,

This is country music and we do

So turn it on, turn it up, and sing a long

This is real; this is your life in a song

Just like a road that takes you home

Yeah this is right where you belong

This is country music

This is country music

You Stop Lovin Her Today

Hello Dolly

God Bless the USA

Amarillo by the Morning

Stand by your Man

Take Me Home

I Walk the Line

Country Boy Can Survive

Love this girl!

This girl has my heart. I love her smile, her little lips, her quirkiness, her skinny little legs, her little bobbed haircut, her pudding blob nose, her crazy sense of fashion, how she is a little rootie tootie, how she picks her wee wee(blankie) all night long, how she only drinks appie (apple juice), how every morning she climbs into bed with me and says good morning mamma and how out of nowhere she will tell me how much she LOVES me! I love you Gracelyn with my whole heart. You filled it more then I ever thought possible.

We Love our School!

Join us for our OPEN HOUSE tonight Thursday January 27th OR Thursday March 3rd to see what it is all about.

Mara made the cover of the Kid Directory this month with a few of her girlfriends to help advertise First Presbyterian Church School.

Kids Directory  http://www.SouthPugetKidsDirectory.com/

Mara the Bull

Yes she is a goofball or a bull??? A q-tip bull!

Mac and Merk

Yesterday afternoon after a year long scheduling conflict I finally got to meet McKenzie for lunch. No children, no moms... just us!

It was so fun catching up and literally laughing until my stomach hurt. Mac and I have been friends since 6th grade so needless to say there are plenty of great stories to reminisce over. Yesterday we were laughing at how we used to create home videos to all the great Milli Vanilli songs. Oh ya.. Girl you know it's true...

Thanks Mac for a great lunch. I love you like a sister and can't wait to do it again!

More New Years Fun!

I Finally got these pictures off my camera to upload. They are from New Years Eve. New Years this year was kid friendly and full of fun and fireworks. The neighbors celebrated with us as we rang in the New Year!

Hope 2011 is blessing you with all that you had hoped for.

Gracelyn's Dream

This was what Gracelyn's dream was for MLK day.

Cootie Bugs

The girls and I have been playing Cootie Bugs this past week. It is so fun to see them build their bugs and use their imagination when doing it. Great family game is you feel the need to catch cooties!!!

Go Seahawks!

Supporting our HAWKS!! Kick the Bears butt!!

Lady of the Week: Mara

Mara got to be the Lady of the week at school this week. This means that she gets special jobs to do, she gets to bring show and tell(geckos, chicken eggs) and we got to make a special treat. We went ahead with cupcakes that had a Royal M on them. We chose blue because it is her favorite color and we added the green sprinkles in support of our Seahawks!

Geckos

Mara got to take our friends Geckos to school this week but before they made the trek to school they got to have a spa day in the Barbie Dream House! I wasn't to sure about these little reptiles before but now they have kinda grown on me. My oldest daughter tells me daily that she is going to be an animal trainer and that this is her first victim! We will see if they cooperate.

Finally we have EGGS!!!

The lovely Lucille finally blessed us with not one,not two but THREE eggs on Sunday morning. We have anxiously been waiting since September for this little rescued chicken to lay. Since Sunday she has been giving us two a day.

Oh and you can't tell from the flash on this picture but they are actually Easter egg blue in color.

Winter art

Here are some of Gracelyn's winter creations. I was told by her the other day that she is going to be an ARTIST when she grows up.

Happy New Year

More pics to come later but here is a preview of our kid friendly New Years Eve Party. The little ones hung on until almost 1 am.

Dinner with the Derouins

Last week we got invited over to the Derouin's for a yummy Merry Christmas/Happy New Year Dinner. Gracelyn and Sonny always have so much fun together. This evening they were snow white and wonder woman!

Lisa prepared a delicious prime rib with all the extras that go with it followed by the best burnt creme ever!!

Thanks Derouins for the yummiest and probably funniest dinner we have been too!

Jaclyn Smacklin

Mara got to spend the afternoon with Jaclyn getting manicures and going shopping. These two really see each other as sisters and it is very sweet. Love this girl and all that she is becoming!