Florida memories

Way to go Houston and Rachel!!!! Their long awaited day went off without a hitch... the FL rains even let up for their pictures. It was really great to be with the whole family for the first time in another state... we need to to that more often. I'm sure Houston and Rachel wouldn't mind reserving every anniversary they will have for a "family" vacation, right guys?! We'll just find a spot that doesn't require Butch to fly.

Cabbage Patch Kids

I need your comments!
What age do girls like playing with Cabbage patch kids? I have a ton. I have even more than a ton of their clothes, which Ami NEVER uses. There are 2 baskets in her closet of the accessories and I'm wondering if I should give them away or just put them away til next year.... right now she just plays with little things - mini ponies and mini Disney princesses and my little pet shop stuff....

Early mornings with the police

So I was awakened by the door bell incessantly ringing this morning. It was the Pinal county Police. Someone had called 911 and hung up. Caidgen said he saw Amie playing with the phone but she DENYED it! The officer was really nice about it and told her she was not in trouble, that he just had to make sure she was okay. Yikes. Odd part was, the phone was right by where I was sleeping and I had no idea!
I love summers.
I also got to play domestic Suzie this morning and bust out the sewing machine. I love it! I mended Amie's dance costume last week (pics later since they are on my mother in law's camera - mine's at my mom's and has been for a while). I loved getting to do that for her! I also altered a bunch of maternity shirts that were way boobalishious. It's so fun! I was never like that, and though my mom is a great seamstress I didn't learn from her growing up. She's slowly teaching me now and I am really enjoying it. Talk about nesting! I mended a church sock for Caidgen (how leave it to beaver is that) and also his spiderman costume that Amie cut up this week - WHILE HE WAS WEARING IT.
Like i said, I love summers.

What I read last night and really liked

In his gospel, Matthew mentions his own name only twice. Both times he calls himself a tax collector. In his list of apostles, he assigns himself the eighth spot.

When you empty yourself, God has a useful vessel. When you're full of yourself, God can't fill you.

God Help Us

The kids are in Aqua Tots swim lessons this week and next. The company worked with Johnson Ranch so I only have to go to my community pool. :) I even got a little discount. I LOVE that it's just Caidgen and Ami in the class. Caidgen's doing fantastic. After the first lesson on Monday he said in his prayer that night, "Thank you that I wasn't scared at lessons." We anticipated fear, but Cage was happily very comfortable with the teacher and all that he was asked to do.
NOW - Ami is another person all together. She HATES it. She is terrified of putting her face under water. This year is no better than last. The near drowning memory is there and she's not messing around... yesterday I almost pulled her out because of her crying fit. I've never seen her so upset. I told her before the class to tell the teacher her feelings and tell him not to force her head under. She was awesome at communicating but the poor guy didn't understand a word she said through the hyperventilating. I interpreted a few times, but I try to stay out of it. We got him to warn her better with a big 1-2-3, but she still cried the whole way through. It was all magnified because we were the ONLY ones at the pool besides the JR HOA Rep. There was no sound to muffle Ami's screams... (a HUGE dust storm was going on so no one but us crazies hit the water). This is so hard for me. But I need her her know how to swim so she never has another incident. There are just too many pools in AZ. I don't want to have to worry when she's at a friend's house. So I bought her a toy afterwards and if I need to every day to keep her trying I will! Whatever it takes!

Awards Day at school

This is why I haven't been doing much on the computer - busy times at the end of the year!!! Caidgen had his classroom awards day last week. He got an award for "Creativity and Cleverness." Isn't that funny? His teacher said she thinks she will see his stuff in an art museum someday. Only two kids in the class got two awards and, yes, I am bragging that Caidgen was one of them. He also won Artist of the Year from the Art teacher! That's a big deal for a kindergartner. We are so glad that his school has seen and helped developed this love in Caidgen. We would have never noticed...so my kid had a BLAST at As You Wish and said it was the best day of his life....So he brings home finger paintings with pride...it's all normal little one behavior we thought. It was the words "still life" and "Picasso" and "Mona Lisa" coming out of his mouth that made me think he was paying more attention than the other kids in class... and then his art teacher told me he's really gifted. So did his teacher and the aide. Who knew. Blue's done amazing at embracing it. I worried at first about telling him since his family are sports Nazis. But Blue said if he's got a gift, let's go with it. :) He's a good daddy.