School BBQ

Last week at Maeley's school they had a BBQ during lunch and families were invited to come. Unfortunately Derek had a meeting and couldn't make it. The kids were all looking forward to this. Sadly it didn't play out as I had envisioned. Let's just say that Chase, Zoe and I didn't get food because the line was so long that we wouldn't have had any time with Maeley. Then Maeley decided to run around the playground chasing boys instead of playing with her siblings. That made Chase really sad. He wanted her to play with him.  Then when we were getting ready to leave she began crying. I was so shocked especially after she ignored us. I did manage to get a few pictures though.

This was Maeley's first school lunch. She was pretty excited. Zoe on the other hand was a grouch.

cute Chase

Maeley chasing a boy.

Maeley chasing another boy.

She is still loving school. On the weekends school is all she can talk about. Monday's I think are her favorite day of the week.

A little change

I had been looking for curtains for our family room for quite some time. I can't believe how hard it has been. Nothing I was finding was what I was looking for. Plus when you need 6 panels they needed to be on the inexpensive side. I was really hoping to find something with a fun print. I eventually found fabric I liked but at nearly $20/yard it was going to be too expensive, plus I don't know how to sew. Eventually I found a website, http://www.curtainworks.com/ . They have affordable options and in many different lengths. Also it just so happened that right when I found the website they had a 30% discount on your entire order.

Chase insisted on being in the pictures.

Now I realize that it didn't transform the room but it has changed the feeling in the room. With such a high ceiling it was kind bare and cold. Now its a bit more cozy and when the curtains are closed we have more privacy. Those woven roman shades do not provide privacy in the evenings at all.

The mirror above the landing I scored at Lowe's for only $20. I love it.

I'm working on pulling in some more colors but I think I'll hold off until after Christmas. Besides we've got another project in the works. Seriously Derek and I can't stop, we love projects!

We are finally tackling the entertainment area. Can't wait for this one to be finished. I've hated this area from day 1. I told Derek I wanted it finished before Thanksgiving, now its changed to the second weekend in October when my sister comes. He he he, maybe it's just my trick to get this finished!

I love our home!

Zoe's emotional side

Zoe has been emotional lately and I'm not exactly sure why. A couple times last week she was crying and then seconds later she started laughing saying, "I'm happy Mom". Meanwhile she still has tears in her eyes. Friday when Derek came home from work for lunch she was upset about something and moaning a little. We were trying several things to get her to smile and change her attitude but nothing was working. Derek was on his way to tickle her and all of the sudden she started laughing. Just like one of those moments, however laughter was then followed by many more tears. She tried her best to fake being happy but she wasn't and it showed. She's a crazy little girl. I would have loved to catch that on video because it was hilarious.

Here are some random picutres of her.

  

Zoe playing Maeley's Leap Frog Explorer while Maeley's at school.

Zoe had been asking me to do her hair curly for awhile. It looked so cute. Note to self don't curl Zoe's hair for church, it's flat by the time we there.

Fun at the park

Today we went to the park for park group knowing we could be the only one's that show up. Ever since school has started very few people have been going. However my kids love going so we decided to go anyways and I brought my camera. I'm so glad we went. I got some great pictures. And yes we were the only one's there.

I love this picture. Zoe's sweet smile always puts a smile on my face.

And then there's Chase. This boy is a sweetheart.

Zoe has attitude. She was all upset over something. This pose cracks me up.

Then immediately after the last picture she did this pose. She is such a girl.

Jumping from one irrigation cover to the next is always a hit with the kids.

Chase hanging from the "licorice" as the kids call it.

Gotta love Chase.

On our walk home I thought it was funny that Zoe shoved Maeley and her rats into the cup holder.

I'm glad we were the only one's at the park today. It was a great day to play and have fun snapping some pictures of them. By the way the weather has turned cool this week and we are loving it!

Labor Day weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. We certainly didn't do anything that exciting but somehow doing the norm is fun when you're doing it together.

Friday Maeley had the day off school and Derek came home a little early. We quickly ate and headed off to the library only to find out it was closing right when we pulled up. That was sad for the kids. To make it up to them we got a movie from Red Box and some candy and went home for movie night. The kids picked out Rio. They loved it.

Saturday was nothing too exciting. The kids watched Rio again before leaving to run errands. Our first errand was Home Depot. They happened to have the Kids Workshop going. Derek kept Zoe while he got what he needed and I took Maeley and Chase to make their dry erase message boards. They loved it. I think we will need to do that again. Those boards came in handy while running around because they enjoyed drawing while driving around. We made it to Restore looking for some cabinets for another project. They didn't have any in the sizes we needed however they had tons of cabinet doors. We decided to buy the cabinet doors (they were half off) and make the bases ourselves. Then we finished up grocery shopping and quickly went home to put the groceries away. Then back out to the library. Good thing we made it there before closing.

Sunday was okay. I think the kids enjoyed getting to talk with both sets of grandparents that evening. Maeley was telling me this morning how much she misses them all. The weather on Sunday was amazing! The high was only 77. It felt wonderful being outside and leaving the doors opened. And in the evening it rained! The rest of the evening was spent reading library books.

Monday I made muffins for breakfast and everyone liked them. Derek got the kids bedrooms rewired so there are separate switches for the light and fan. It has really been bugging him. We got some paint and let the kids paint their message boards. That was definitely a fun activity for all of them. It was another cooler day so we had dinner outside and had races in the grass. Maeley is getting quite creative with the songs she makes up. And we ended the day with family home evening.

We took the dry erase board out and let the kids paint the frame. I had the kids wear my paint shirts.

Zoe didn't make a message board. Derek gave her a scrap piece of wood instead. She was happy as could be.

Maeley waiting for the pink to dry so she could paint some green.

This little boy went to town, he loved it.

We have so much fun together. I love my family and am so grateful for the love that is in our home.

1 year

Last week we hit the 1 year anniversary of moving here. The sense of time seems so strange. On one hand it doesn't feel like we've been here that long but on the other it feels so much like home that it seems like so much longer. We truly have enjoyed it here and hoping for many more to come.

To celebrate we went out to eat. The first night after arriving here we went to Blake's Lotaburger. It's a New Mexico fast food restaurant that Derek had said we needed to go to. In the year we have been here we'd never been back. We thought it would be fun and kind of cheesy to go back on the anniversary. The kids loved it and remembered going there before.

Now that I've experienced all the different weather in each season, hands down fall is the best. Winter was long. This was the first "winter" I've really experienced. Living in Arizona my whole life didn't give me a sense of what winter really is. Even here I'm probably still missing out. We had to buy a whole new wardrobe for all of us for winter. We hit a 40 year low, -14 in Rio Rancho one morning. I froze. When spring came I was excited but that turned into pure irritation with all the wind. We were stuck in doors yet again because this spring was one of the windiest ever. This summer hasn't bothered me at all, however it is warmer that normal. I sure wish the temps were at the normal which I heard today is 86, however we have been in the low 90's. I really won't complain though. It beats the 110's in Phoenix. The mornings are feeling cooler and I love it because fall is just around the corner. The other morning before school Maeley was picking up the dog poop in the backyard. She tried getting out of it because it was "too cold". I told she needed to toughen up, it wasn't that cold. It really felt great.

Different

Since school has started I feel like my days are just so different. It feels so strange not to have Maeley around. I mean she is nearly 6 and now gone all day for the first time ever. I do miss her, but I'm not sad about it. I don't think its easier without her here but its not any harder. It just feels very different.

Maeley- Wow. This girl loves school. I'm certainly not over exaggerating that. She has told me every day since the first day of school. She hasn't complained about anything. I really think this is going to last all year too. I think school is everything she dreamed it would be and then some. She already acts more grown up. Last Wednesday on her short day I thought she'd like to relax and watch a movie in the afternoon with Chase and Zoe. No way that girl was too busy to slow down. I've overheard the three kids playing pretend school. It really excites Chase and Zoe. They have such a great big sister.

Chase-  He most definitely misses her. He was asking today if its her short day and was disappointed when I said no. I'm pleased with how excited he has been about doing our own little preschool at home. He has put so much more into learning than ever before and it shows everyday we work together. If only I could get somewhere with his speech. I try and it gets me nowhere. He gets frusterated and I loose my patience. I have learned when we are working on a specific sound that if I ask him to repeat something I can only do it once or he stops.

Zoe- She really looks up to her big sister. She wants to do everything Maeley's doing. I've notice a huge change in how Chase and Zoe play together. Chase doesn't get as mad at her like he did before. I think this next year Chase and Zoe are going to get very close. When Chase goes to school next year its going to be a sad sad day for Zoe. Oh, Zoe knows how to spell her name now. Its cute to hear her spell it for you. She loves to point out when she sees one of the letters in her name on street signs.

Another project completed

Here is a before picture of the kitchen.

(This picture was taken when we were house hunting last summer.)

After

Painting kitchen cabinets is no easy task but it was something we wanted to do. It has really changed the feel in the kicthen. Its so much bigger and brighter. I enjoy the kitchen so much more now.

We are planning on getting new countertops, sink and faucet eventually. But for now its amazing what a difference paint can make. With each project completed I'm loving our home more and more.

Maeley's first day

Yesterday was Maeley first day of kindergarten. Boy was she ever excited. The first day for kindergartners starts one hour later than regular. Which in short means it was the longest morning ever. With all that time to spare Derek made a yummy breakfast of Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate chip pancakes (Maeley's request) and  scrambled eggs.

Ready to eat. Maeley loves getting her hair done with curls. It reminds her of Molly (the American Girl doll) in book 6. She had me read all those books again last week and she did not like when I stopped reading. 

This picture puts a smile on my face. I love my cute kids.

She is so grown up.

(by the way this shirt was for the first day of school and not a school uniform)

Maeley getting her name tag from her teacher Ms. Cox.

She didn't cry when we left she was just beaming with excitement. I think she will do great in school she loves to learn.

After school we had cookies and milk while she told us about her day.

A few things I don't want to forget.

When I went to register Maeley for school in April we met several teachers. Ms. Cox was my favorite.  Apparently Maeley made an impression on Ms. Cox because she requested her.

Sunday night Derek gave Maeley a blessing. Maeley had a huge smile on her face while she got it. It made her feel extra special. Later she was giving the family prayer and got emotional at the end. When she was done I asked her what was wrong. She immediately burst into tears and blurts out, "I'm going to miss you guys." It was so sweet. So for just a couple minutes Maeley and I cried together. She got it out of her system and she was excited again for school.

Chase and Zoe have done well with her being gone. Yesterday was special for them too because Daddy stayed home all day. Plus we took them to McDonald's for lunch which rarely happens. They do talk about her often and ask if it's time to pick her up at the bus stop. Chase was ready to go after we ate lunch today. I had to tell him nope, she doesn't come home for 4 more hours.

Playing together

Today is cleaning day. Normally the kids help me pick up and organize their toys. 

Not today. I just don't have it in me today to pull them away from playing together. Let alone get upset with them from bringing toys downstairs which is normally not allowed. They are having a blast and that's all that matters today. Maeley starts school Monday, all day kindergarten. I know Chase and Zoe will miss her as well as Maeley missing them.

Maeley

Recently we got Maeley some new shoes for school. Only problem was she needed to learn how to tie her shoes before school starts. She picked up on it fairly quickly and loves her new shoes.

I'm so proud of her. She loves to learn and she can't wait until school starts.

photo session

Last week I just wanted to snap some pictures of the kids. After I took only a couple of pictures Maeley took over as the photographer again.

Zoe is so darn cute!

Such a sweet little boy.

She is growing up way too fast. She starts kindergarten in less than 2 weeks.

Chase took this picture, I just cropped it down.

Wish this picture wasn't fuzzy.

Wish I knew what he was laughing at.

Apparently I did not get the memo about doing funny faces.

I love my kids. Now if only it were all smiles and games all the time. Lately there have been some hard days particularly Sundays.  Two Sundays ago Zoe was in a bad mood and wouldn't go to nursery she just kept crying. That is complete opposite of her. Derek and I just sat in the hall during Sunday School with her and gave her a snack. After awhile she was happy and herself again so we took her to class. Only minutes after sitting down for the third hour a primary leader came to get me because Chase was crying. So I sat with him in the halls the last hour. He was terrified by the three men that were substituting the 2 sunbeam classes. So this past Sunday Chase started bawling when we dropped him off at the primary room. He hates Sharing Time and then he doesn't like his class because the other kids are rowdy. What can I do? I'm totally not sure at this point. Zoe was being grumpy again. I think for her she needs a nap. The long drive to church either puts her to sleep but then wakes up when we get her out of the car or gets her sleepy enough to feel "yucky" as she puts it. After trying to convince Chase to go to class and failing we left. I had to pull Maeley out of her class. She was upset and then she was crying. When we got home we sent Chase and Zoe to their rooms for about an hour and a half. Maeley got spoiled by picking out a movie to watch and having some M&M's. I've always thought Sundays are hard but this is unbearable.