Summer Summer Summer

We are done swim lessons with one week left before school starts!! That means this week is all about FUN...and with this insanely beautiful weather that means BEACH:)

[We did manage to go once last week, but squeezing it in between trips to the Y just isn't that relaxing. I did get some pictures though.]

Kya with her silly face on

Jordan with her model pose--as usual

Tyson NOT wanting his picture taken

Oh, and I was there too:)

It's Done

Okay, so Tyson is all registered for pre-K---seriously PRE-K!! When did he get so grown up?! I have gone back and forth so many times on the whole preschool thing. Anyways, we'll see how it goes. He starts September 15th...and you know I am going to be voluteering every day:)

Finally Something to Write Home About!!!

First

--AND MOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED--

Tyson has been pooping on the potty!!! Okay, I absolutely try never to admit to the fact that I have an almost-four-year-old who is not completely potty-trained, but I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I have tried EVERYTHING this past year to get Tyson to poop on the potty (he has been peeing on the potty pretty much since Christmas)--candy, toys, TV time, spankings...you name it, I tried it. Anyways, on Sunday he finally just said "Mom, I need to go poop on the potty." He has gone everyday since Sunday (that's FOUR days)!!!! I really hope this is the end of pull ups for us. I couldn't be happier:)--although, now he is the proud owner of a dart gun (a whole new set of problems).

Second

Jordan and Kya have learned to ride their bikes without training wheels. Jordan has been so scared to ride her bike for years now. She just refused. So about 3 weeks ago she said "Mom, I really need to learn to ride my bike without training wheels." So we took her outside and she got it, first time. Then Kya wanted to be like her big sis. and tried too. Now Jordan can ride completely and Kya just gets a little shaky on the starting and turning parts. But I am so proud of my girls:)

Third

We have been doing swimming lessons this summer--non-stop. Jordan and Kya already knew how to swim, but they have improved so much! Kya can DIVE off the diving board!! She's the only one in her class who can do it, so I like to brag about it. She also is a rock star with the backstroke! Jordan has moved up to almost the highest level. She knows so many new strokes, it's amazing.

I don't know if any of you remember Tyson's history with swimming lessons. Last fall (when he turned 3) I put him into lessons and he would not go in without me. Finally, on the last day or two he went by himself, but he was still really scared. Well this summer was completely different. I got him a pair of goggles and he was a little fish. He just wants to keep his head under the water constantly! Then today while I watched him...he actually swam for a bit--BY HIMSELF!! What a big boy--he's only 3!! Anyways, his teacher tells me that he will probably skip the next level and move straight to Rays. Wow!

Fourth

Okay, this last one is about ME. I'll have to admit something else kind of embarrassing for this one:) When I started having kids, I stopped wearing earrings. They were just a pain. I told Mike I just wanted a pair of gold hoops that I could leave in all the time, so I wouldn't have to worry about changing them. Well, for Christmas one year he bought me a perfect pair of hoops. They were quite the challenge to get in my ears, but once they were there, I couldn't even notice them. Well (here comes the embarrassing part), they were so comfortable and life got so busy that they have been in my ears for the past~at least~SIX years!! Anyways, this past Friday I decided it was time for them to come out. So Saturday, I headed out to Claire's to pick out some new earrings. I feel like a brand new woman:)

1999-2009

After ~almost~ ten years of marriage, a few things have aged.

1. My Ring: While I was up in Canada, I was washing my hands when I heard a clank on the floor. I looked down at my ring and two of the small diamonds were missing. I searched and somehow found both of them on the bathroom floor. I quickly pulled my ring off only to find in completey bent out of shape. So I have been without a wedding ring for the past month or so:( Maybe it's time for a new one!

2. My Dress: Well, my wedding dress has been stored up at my parents house since the wedding. I finally pulled it out and what do you know, it's too small--what?! JK, there's no surprise there. Maybe it's time for a new one!

3. My Toaster: I've heard it said that a woman needs a new bridal shower after 10 years of marriage. Well, I am ready for mine. My toaster, mixer, glasses, silverware...are on their last leg. Maybe it's time for new ones!

4. Me and Mike: I can't talk about "getting older" without adding us to the list. Between Mike's parially dislocated shoulder, my wrinkles, and all our "wisdom" we have definately aged the most these past ~almost~ ten years.

So, our anniversary isn't until December and I have lots of work to do before then. I need to fix my ring, fit into my wedding dress again, buy a new toaster and....well, reverse the aging process:)

Who WAS that girl?!

Last night Mike brought a bunch of boxes in from the garage to sort through. It didn't take long before we were in a major flashback!! We found old cards, letters, lists, ward directories, wedding announcements...Holy Cow. I read a few letters that I had written to Mike (when we were dating and first married), a few journal entries, a few letters to and from old roommates, friends and ex-boyfriends. I couldn't even remember feeling the way I did back then!! It's funny how life changes and you change along with it! I honestly didn't realize how much I had changed. I am a completely different person...mostly better, but in some ways not so much:) I wonder how different I would live my life back then, if I was the girl I am today. One thing I know for sure...I would NOT have thought I was fat (oh, and I would have used a little better judgement in SOME of my dating choices)!! Oh well, live and learn, right?!

He Forced Me to Do It!!

I wanted to post about the girls riding their bikes without training wheels and I wanted to post about swimming lessons BUT I couldn't...any guesses why??? Tyson threw my memory stick down the heating vent. Don't worry though, that is just at the top of the long list of naughty things he's been up to lately. Seriously, he forced me to write about him, that cute little stinker.

1. Threw my memory stick down the heating vent.

2. Messed up my bathroom with...a tube of toothpaste, a pollypocket swimming pool, and a roll of toilet paper.

3. Sprayed an entire spray bottle of water all over the tv.

4. Emptied my chili powder, garlic powder and seasoning salt into a bowl full of water (that was a weird smell to wake up to).

5. Threw his shorts and underwear over the fence into the neighbors yard.

6. Ripped Kya's Hello Kitty poster:(

7. Sprayed Windex all over my pillows, blanket and mattress.

and then at Grandma and Grandpas house...

8. Cut up Mom's mouse pad into tiny peices.

9. Put an entire cube of butter in Mom's meat grinder (not sure if I told you about that one mom)

10. Took apart the alarm clock Jordan was borrowing from my parents.

11. Threw Kya's new piggy keychain down the toilet...while it was flushing.

I'm sure there is a bunch more I could add, but I'll leave it there. My boy is adorable, but he is definately naughty too.

Wrong Day to go to the Beach

We decided to go to the beach today...
...and this is what it looked like (seriously, this is an actual picture from Manhattan beach TODAY). We had no idea there was a huge volleyball tournament going on. Needless to say, we drove a little further south before finding a beach that actually had parking available.