Fun at the fair.

The Kindergarten classes went on a field trip on Friday. We went to the Cochise County Fair. It was fun. The weather was nice and cool with cloud cover for the majority of the day. I was a little upset because I wasn't going to get to spend time with Alex. The little girl I am a para for is in a different Kindergarten class. It worked out where her family was all at the fair so i did get to spend time with Alex. We watched a juggling guy, he even juggled fire. It was fun for the kids. We got to eat lunch together and found Smokey roaming around and just had to have a picture with him. All the kids chose two rides to go on. Alex and her friends chose a little roller coaster and and spinning jet ride. It was a lot of fun.
I swear I see this fence climbing goat every year. It's a friendly little thing. All the animals were so cute. I liked the sheep the best. A few of the kids were grossed out when we were looking at the cows a one decided to pee. I've never heard little boys scream so loud, at least none of them got any of it on them. LOL, fun times!!

Rah Rah Rah!!

Sydney is so awesome. She has gotten the hang of cheerleading and is loving every minute of it. The final performance is tomorrow night at the football game. She is sooooo excited. I recorded the girls doing their dance, but it was practised many times afterwards. It's just a sneak peek. I'm going to record the cheers and dance with music tomorrow night. I'm sure you're all just dying to see the routine. You rock Sydney, keep up the GREAT work!!

2nd Day of Cheer.........Hooray!

Sydney is absolutely loving cheerleading. I think we may have created a monster here folks. She walks around clapping and saying the cheers. Even finishes it up with a big kick! I was very apprehensive about signing her up. She has never ever done this sort of thing. I was so afraid of her feeling like she wasn't good enough, being made fun of, quitting, or just not having as much fun as she thought she would. She lacks in the coordination department and can't really memorize songs or chants very well. She has done nothing but squash all my judgements and fears. She may not be as perfect as some of the girls but she works hard, pays attention, and tries her very best. I've never seen my little girl so happy or so excited about something. This was the best $20 I ever spent! She now wants to be a cheerleader when she grows up instead of an Archaeologist. WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!



Way to go Sydney!! We're so proud of you!

We've got Spirit!!

Amie you're going to love this post (weren't you even cheerleader captain one year?). Sydney started her cheer and dance clinic today. She was a little scared in the beginning but she got the hang of it in the end. The clinic is for girls in 2nd grade through 6th grade. The high school cheerleaders are great and very patient. The girls are learning two cheers and a dance. They get to learn the Souja Boy, spelling? Good thing mommy loves that dance and Sydney already knows it. Who doesn't know that dance???? The clinic is all this week with a final performance at the football game on Friday night. When I was really little I was a cheerleader for pop warner football. I loved it. I was never a cheerleader in high school but my mom was cheer coach for a number of years. The closest I ever came to being a cheerleader in high school was being the mascot. My mother-in laws first memory of ever seeing me was at a game. I was wild and crazy running back and forth in front of the bleachers leading the crowd in the wave. I was really CRAZY. I think it was quite a shock when quiet, mellow Clay started dating me. Then later marrying me, Oh my was the family in for a treat!
There were way more kids then I thought there would be at the clinic. Most of the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. They were very fast learners and coordinated as well. We'll see how many return tomorrow. We'll have video of the final performance! Sydney was so afraid she wouldn't have any friends there. She was so relieved (as was I) when many of her friends showed up. She says they're going to practise their moves at lunch. I can see Sydney as a cheerleader when she grows up. Maybe she'll even be a mascot!

Family Fun.

After the girls baths we were all a little bored so we decided to play a game. Of course it HAD to be a littlest Pet Shop game! Not to often is Dad able to play along. It was so nice to have a rare night together as a family. Since the new season of some of our favorite T.V. shows hasn't started yet we've been doing a lot of game playing. All of our board games are finally being put to good use. Alex's favorite board game that we have is Littlest Pet Shop Hideaway Haven. This is a very fun game! We have quite a few Littlest Pet Shop games but this is proving to be the most fun!
Sydney's favorite board game that we have is Gassy Gus! What a GAS this game is!! It's a ton of fun. We always laugh so hard when we play this one.
One of my favorite kids board games is Don't Wake Daddy. I love this game. My kids have always been told not to wake Daddy, so it's right up their alley. It's kinda scary too because you never know when Daddy is going to come flying out of bed!
Clay's favorite game to play with the kids is Sequence for kids. I think he likes it because it's a strategy game. He also like to play Guess Who (and yes they make a littlest pet shop Guess Who too that is very fun). I won't go into our favorite adult board games, but if you're ever having a game night at your house you have to play Toss Up, Last Word or Mad Gab. Have these games handy for your next game night and they'll be the favorite among all..........you have my guarantee.

A day to never be forgotten.

I still remember exactly what I was doing, the exact time, and exactly where I was when I heard the news. We didn't have t.v. at the time nor did we have high speed Internet. My mom kept us pretty informed. As soon as I finally did see the reports from the news I was shocked to say the least. I remember being glued to CNN for days as the information came. This is an event I never even thought possible. My children will know what happened on that day years ago. They will be taught to be thankful each and everyday for the great country we live in. We will always remember.........will you?

Another Thunder Wagon!

Wow, I can't believe how much rain we've been getting. I'm not complaining at all! I love the rain. I haven't had to water any outside plants for quite some time now. As soon as they start to look a little dry, here comes the rain. The lightning, the thunder, all the rain. It was great. Another terrific thunder wagon (as a friend would say).
We'll see if I'm still so happy and chipper about the weather when it comes time to mow the yard. I don't mind yard work either. Clay has HORRIBLE allergies, and the bugs just love him for some reason. So to save him, I do the yard work. I actually like to mow, and no we don't have a riding mower! My mom has always liked doing yard work, maybe that's where I get it from. Hmmmmmm She likes doing dishes too, I guess I stepped out of line for that one. I dislike dishes very much!

The temperature here lately has been so nice and cool. Today I was standing on the back porch watching the storm blow in and it almost felt like Winter. I even got goose bumps and a tad bit chilly. I can't wait for fall. For the leaves to change, the weather to change, the smell of fireplaces burning, and to drag out all the warm pajamas. I love this time of year!

Crazy??.......Who me?

Let me just start off by saying, I am not crazy!! I have had so many people ask me why on earth I would want to be at the school all day when both my kids are in school all day? They say, you could have the whole day to yourself, do what you want to, get a break. Well that's not me! If I stayed home all day, sure my house would be super duper clean but then what? Watch soaps all day, take cat naps, scrapbook till the cows came home. Nope that's not for me. I love working at the school. Now mind you, when I was a stay at home mom I loved every minute of that adventure also. This year preschool sure started off with a bang. We only had four kids from last year return, the rest moved on to Kindergarten. The majority of the kids this year have more severe disabilities than we had in the past. In past years most of the kids that came to preschool, came because of speech.
We've been in school about 24 days now. It's amazing how much a child can change and progress in such a short amount of time. Most of our preschool day is spent socializing. We do lots of playing, some reading, singing, dancing, and passing the bean bag. The little girl I work with has very limited speech but her two favorite things to say are..... I go outside play??.......and Shake, shake, shake your bean bag. What fun to be able to witness such learning going on on a daily basis.
I won't ever say being a teacher is easy, nor is it going to make you rich and famous. I for one, am up to the challenge. I've been thinking a lot about going back to school to get my teaching degree. The more I think about it the better and more excited I feel. I also feel that working with children is the greatest talent I have been blessed with, so I might as well use it. There is just something about kids, I've always had a strong feeling to nurture and teach them. Being at the school full time this year has made me realize that this is what I was meant to do, and I couldn't be happier. Plus, I get to see my own kids everyday, have their schedule, and get to see first hand the progress they are making in school. I love the kids and they love me, what more do I need!!

So, once again. I am not crazy, I just love what I do. The people I get to work with are amazing, the kids are so great, and a little extra money never hurts!

Thank Goodness for Nana!

Have you ever had a day where you just want to throw your hands up and forget the world. Well Saturday was that day for me. We had a full day scheduled. We made it as far as the primary activity day and the rest of the day was done for. I don't have many days like this. I'm usually a very happy and flexible person. There was just something about Saturday. I don't know if it was the late breakfast, the weather, Clay being sick and grumpy, or my long list of things to do, that finally broke the camels back. So what would make a day like this go from forgettable to Unforgettable?? A trip to Nana's house!! My mom is awesome, she always knows just what I need to feel better. If it weren't for her and a little retail therapy I probably would have left the kids with a sick grumpy daddy and went and vegged on a bench in the mall.
My kids had a blast. All my worries and stresses seem to just go away when I get to hang out with my mom. My dad was gone to Wyoming for a family funeral so it was a fun girls weekend. I DO NOT do play-doh in my house. This was a huge treat for my kids. They loved it, so did I. I didn't have to worry about it getting ground into my carpet. My mom is the person I laugh the most with. I can't tell you how many times we laughed until we cried this weekend. What did we laugh at you ask?............I have no clue. The littlest things can be such a riot when I'm with my mom. We had gone and gotten an oil change at Walmart on our way to Benson. I told the kids to pick Nana out a prize. Nana was also having one of those hard life days, so we decided to help each other feel better. Well, the kids picked out Flarp. Out of the whole store they wanted to get her a small can of putty that makes farting noises. At 88 cents a pop we just had to buy one of every color. We must have played with that stuff for at least three hours. We laughed so hard. It was so dumb but at the time it was so hilarious!
The next morning I was playing with the Flarp, it wasn't funny at all. Weird. I'm so glad I live so close to my mom. I have no idea what I would do without her. I wouldn't mind having more terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days if they all turned out ok like this one. Thanks mom, you're the best!

BOUTIQUE!!!!!!

My Aunt Bev has had a boutique since I can remember. She is very talented and crafty. She always has the cutest ideas. I am going, I've been saving my money for months. Christmas shopping here I come! If anyone is in the area and interested here is the info.



TATTERED LADIES BOUTIQUE

Fall is soon to be in the air and that means it's Boutique time! Save the dates and mark your calendars!

Oct. 16, 17 & 18 at my home. 3745 E Hopi Ave. Mesa
Thurs. and Fri., 10AM to 7 PM Sat. 10 AM to 5PM

All kinds of holiday craft items, home decor items, one of a kind shabby chic and lots, lots more. My Uncle Hoke will be in the kitchen making homemade green chili burros and salsa by the jar. Homemade holiday treats and all kinds of goodies. You won't want to miss this. Look for the TATTERED LADIES signs directing you to the Fun!

Warm with no chance of rain!

Today was a great day to play outside. It was actually more on the hot side rather than the warm. A tiny bit humid but nothing like it has been in recent weeks. Alex was feeling better, and all the homework was done. I let the girls play outside on the trampoline with a sprinkler turned on under it. We should have done this all summer long. This was way easier to get up and ready compared to the swimming pool. They must have stayed out there for a good 2 1/2 hours.

You can't really tell in the picture (the above picture), but Alex's hands are making the I love you sign in sign language. She often gets that sign mixed up with the rock and roll hand gesture they make on Guitar Hero. It was fun to watch them play their air guitars and sing Born In The U.S.A.!

Our old dog Angus, (we've had him for 15 years, how old is that in dog years? We got him a few months after we got Bonzo cat my Freshman year) doesn't like water at all. He use to go down to the river with us and play in the water and after a long run behind the four wheeler he would lay in puddles of water. Now he runs when he hears the hose. When we give him a bath he looks so sad like we're killing him with water. Since the girls had the sprinkler on, he was all the way on the other side of the yard hiding out in his dog house. I only got him out because I bribed him with a tennis ball.


Here's a little video of the kids having fun. Not the best quality but priceless none the less!