daniel's field day

look at us...

Amber surprised her sister Kimberly, my college roommate, with a trip out to Phoenix to celebrate her 37th birthday. It was great getting to see them and spend some time hiking and just hanging out. They were able to see the sights in Sedona and then head to the Grand Canyon. The trip was short but it was great to have her around!

claudia's field day

cleaning house

I have been busy with a long "to do" list of things that I have to do before we move. I hold on to things that have meaning. I keep things that don't. Sometimes I feel like I am a hoarder. Some may say that I am.

I have been giving things away so that I know they have a good home to go to. Yes, it is just stuff... but like I said I keep things... it is ridiculous. But sometimes hard to let go.

Cleaning out the tool boxes is a task that I gave Daniel... yes, boxes; there are 3 hand held ones and one large one on rollers. I knew that he would just jump at the chance because he loves organizing, sorting and finding new things to play with. There were many screws, nuts, bolts and other little odd thingy that had been collected throughout the years and thrown into the boxes. His work is definitely cut out for him.

Daniel spent all afternoon working on just this one task... AND he was as Happy as could be.

Yes, I am paying him... he wants to earn money for an itouch. That is his motivation. But by the time he does have enough for his purchase, I wonder if he will really decide to buy it or not.

Taking cleaning out a few days at a time... but Still lots of left to do!

pasta please

While Mitchell's grandpa was in town... He came over and made Pasta for us. The kids loved listening to him speak with an Italian accent, mix the ingredients together, and call for his assistant... We now know where Becca gets her since of humor!

Oh, Yeah, and the pasta... simply amazing! YUM!

More Pasta Please!

parties and playtime

While Kaylea is at her friend's birthday party...

I am with my friends, Kim and Amber, watching my kids play.

family videos

From my high school memories of pageants and cheerleading, crazy college times, to the birth of our babies... these old video tapes are now on DVDs. The kids have been watching them daily, laughing, cracking jokes at my big hair, and SouTHERn DrAwL! Even Scott hadn't seen some of these... I heard a few chuckles coming from him too.

april family picture

get what you can get...

bravery

Claudia is the bravest kid I know! As long as I can remember she has never cried when given a shot, had a tooth pulled, or anytime she gets road rash from a fall. She is amazing! I just wanted to document it for her to remember!

a solution

Samuel's solution to sucking his thumb!

*I had to take Claudia to the doctor because she hadn't been feeling well. Samuel had his mouth taped shut like this the entire time.

sundrop

One morning as I am getting ready for preschool, I get a call from my friend Mandy. Because I was in too much of a hurry, I wasn't going to answer and thought I would just call her back later... but I decided otherwise.

Me: "hello"

Mandy: "what is that drink you love so much?"

Me: thinking... what is she talking about?

Mandy: "you know the one from North Carolina."

Me: "you mean Sun Drop?"

Mandy: "yes, that is the one... they are selling it in Target!"

Me: "Sun Drop?" confused, "are you sure? no way! is it green with yellow label?"

Mandy: "yes, it says Sun Drop." laughing at me.

Me: screaming into the phone... "you have to get me some! AND can you bring it over now!" but she was dropping her kids off at preschool anyway.

10 minutes later, I have a Sun Drop in my freezer waiting for me!

Waiting, Waiting, just Waiting for that first sip!

The jungle goes like this...

"Sun... drop... the down home taste that picks you up!"

Growing up, this was my favorite soft drink. When I met Scott, he too loved it. He always referred to it as the... "Nectar of the Gods." This is a drink that you could only find in North Carolina and a few places in South Carolina. When we moved to Washington D.C. it was nowhere to be found. So every trip I made back home, I would stock up and bring it back with me to DC. Really, TONS of it, so much that it is way unhealthy! I can't believe that I am actually admitting this... my addiction to this drink!

Then we moved to Phoenix... and of course, we were really far away from our beloved drink. So, whenever my family or friends flew out, I would ask them to bring a case with them. No kidding... that was my only request! My friend Kim even flew some with her all the way to Australia!

Now, just as we are moving... Sun Drop comes to Arizona! Yeah!

So, now, the question is... is it in Memphis?

*Just the other day as I was reading the thread on Facebook, I noticed that a friend that I grew up with, who now lives in Hawaii, posted about Sun Drop coming to the islands! She too was just as excited as I was! Just had to laugh! I guess we North Carolinians just love our Sun Drop!

speech

Everyone in the third through sixth grades had to write and give a speech to their class. Daniel chose the topic of Ships Throughout the Ages. He spent many hours researching and writing about his topic. His favorite part was drawing the ships and creating the timeline. It was important to him that we watch while he practiced memorizing his speech and using expression.

We were proud of the work and effort that he put forth into his project. Great job Daniel.

Samuel?

While I am sweating, aching, and pain is running through my body doing this...

Samuel is doing this...

(This was Samuel... all on his own! I had nothing to do with it.)

playdough

Do you ever get tired of playing with playdough?

march madness

This year Scott, Daniel, and I filled out the brackets for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Daniel would come home from school everyday and ask if there was a game on TV, who won/lost, or when the next game was being played. It was so much fun rooting for your chosen team or just rooting for the underdog, especially when Scott chose a different team. Tons of yelling, jumping, and bragging when on throughout the weeks. It was great for Daniel because he learned quickly all the ins and outs about the game.

Needless to say, no one pick the winner... but it was exciting anyway.

Next year, when we are in MEmPHiS Daniel wants to play basketball... so, our first purchase will be a goal. He has to start somewhere.

many blankets

24 blankets!

The activity day girls and Kaylea's friends made blankets for the kids at Phoenix Children's Hosptial.

They were very proud of all their hard work!

you did it... Samuel!

After months of taking off and putting on his training wheels, by himself mind you,... Samuel finally decided that he wanted to ride all on his own. But it was Daniel who gave him the confidence that he needed to pedal off by himself! His smile lasted for days!

You go Samuel! We are all proud of you.