Goodbye Preschool

Last Wednesday was Kya's last day of preschool.

We've had a fun year!

Finished

I had a tough time getting into Book #3, but the last few chapters I couldn't put it down. I am so mixed about the whole story--you know the whole Jacob/Edward dilema--not to mention the whole vampire/human thing (well I am leaning more to the human side, but when your in love...especially with Edward Cullen). Such an interesting and captivating series! It reminds me about reading Harry Potter...ahhh, the good old days :)

New Additions

I'm not sure if it was because of our tax return or our birthdays or just because we haven't bought anything in a while, but we have recently aquired some new additions.

First, dressers for the kids' room:

I have been searching on Craigslist for months for a new dresser for the girls' clothes. I came close a couple times, but never managed to find what I wanted (and get to it before someone else did). So I finally broke down and bought a cheap set of dressers from K-Mart. They look cute and the girls are so excited to each have their "own" dresser. Hopefully they last until we can afford something "higher quality".

Second, our piano--that's right piano:

This is something we have really wanted for a long time. Neither Mike nor I play the piano (except Mike does fake people out with the ONE song he does know "Right Here Waiting"--by Richard Marx), but we both want to learn. AND we want our kids to learn. So, Mike found a great deal on Craigslist for a digital piano and he brought it home yesterday. We are calling it his "birthday present".

Third, my new cell phone:

Woops, I haven't got that one yet...grrr. A new cell phone was supposed to be my birthday present. The only problem is, the phone I picked out (Blackberry Pearl--cutest phone EVER) can only be used with a data plan--which I don't need (seriously, how would you type an email on that thing anyway??!). So I am not willing to pay and extra $30 a month, just so I can have the cutest phone on the planet. The problem now is, I can't find another phone that I want to settle for....stupid Verizon Wireless.

Milestone

Saturday was the day. We finally moved Tyson into a "big boy bed"--actually it's just a mattress on the floor for now (so he doesn't fall too far). He was very excited about his new Spiderman sheets and his new found freedom. When I put him to bed, I said "goodnight", and then started walking out of the room...Tyson followed right behind me. Once I put him back in bed, he got the idea. Mike checked on him before he went to bed and found him sleeping half on his bed and half on the floor. Jordan said that she woke up to go to the bathroom and he was sleeping over by Kya's bed. All in all, I think it went pretty well--I was expecting to find him splashing in the toilet or drawing on the walls.

Birthday Boy

So Mike turned 35 yesterday!! Unfortunately he had to work all day (he did come home a couple hours early though). When he got home we did cake--the girls helped me decorate cupcakes that we arranged in the shape of a 3 and a 5. The kids thought that was really cool. Then we had our neighbor babysit so we could go out for dinner. Dinner was amazing. We went to this little restaurant in Carmel called The Gem. It was so great because Mike knew the owner, so he treated us to lost of yummy food for free. Here's what we got:

Appetizers:

Ahi Tuna

Crab Raviolli

Prawns

Salads

Entrees:

Filet Mignon

Rack of Lamb

Desserts:

Key Lime Pie

Creme Brule

Pot de Creme

We were stuffed afterwards. We walked around Carmel and looked at a few art galeries and then we came home. We were happy to find a clean house and all our kids in bed. I think Mike had a good birthday (plus he got a Troy Bolton pen that plays "Bet on It"--who could ask for a better present than that?!).

Kya's Back

When Kya wants to see her back, she asks me to take a picture.

Tyson colored on Kya's shirt--somehow without her consent

Kya's suntan

The 17 on Kya's new shirt

Best Buds

Kya and Tyson play SO well together lately. They do fight over toys etc., but they have quite the little bond. Whenever I drop Kya off at preschool, Tyson cries and cries--not because he wants to go with her, but because he doesn't want her to go. I thought it would be my girls that were this close, but for right now, it's Kya and Tys--and it is so CUTE.

They found a snail and were taking care of it together--until Tys squished it.

Finally

After watching Amanda lose to Parvati in the season finale of Survivor, I was ready to kiss reality shows good-bye--my favorite NEVER seems to win. But, after David Cook won American Idol last night, I might give reality tv another chance. I thought Archuleta had it won, but I guess the judges rallied Cook fans when they basically told Archuleta that he was the next American Idol. Yahhh!! I love David Cook!!

Birthday Girl/Old Lady

Me

Me Again

This past Saturday was my 31st birthday! When did I get so old??? Regardless of my age, we had a great day. First Mike took me cell phone shopping and I fell IN LOVE with a new phone (I will keep it a secret for now, but once it is mine, I will post about it). So I am very excited to get that. Then, we took the kids to the beach. It was a little chilly, but Mike and I still managed to sunburn our knees (another sign that I am an old pastey white lady) and the kids had a ton of fun. When we got home, we celebrated with cake and ice cream. For the evening, we got a babysitter and hit the beach boardwalk in Santa Cruz. We went on two rides, before I got sick (yet another sign that I am an old lady), then we played miniture golf. When we got home, I checked on my babies all sound asleep and looking like angels. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family--not bad for 31 years.

Santa Cruz

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Open House and Favorite Words

Last night we got to go to Jordan's 1st grade class for an open house. Jordan had a list of all the things she needed to show us, and she checked them off once we were done. It is always cute to see her interact with her friends and teacher. She sure thrives on the whole school environment. Kya on the other hand...

Kya has been totally freaked out about the whole idea of going to Kindergarten. During the open house we took her to meet some of the Kindergarten teachers and look around their classrooms. Kya got to pet a baby chick and a baby goose. I think it softened her up a little...we'll see.


I just had to add this FUNNY thing Kya said in the car today:

Kya - "Mom, do you want to hear my two favorite words?"

Mom - "Sure"

Kya - "Diarrhea and First is the worst, second is the best"

Hilarious--that's my Kya :)

93 Degrees

It says on my computer that it is 93 degrees outside!! I am not sure I believe it, but it was an amazingly warm day. We had to spend the morning at the beach--too bad Kya is COMPLETELY terrified of the ocean (I can't really blame her since last time we went she got knocked over and taken under by a huge wave).

This is the closest Kya ever got to the water--the whole 3 hours

Tyson braveing the "waves"

It was hard to get a good pic of Tys because he wouldn't stay still (doesn't he look tall??)

My sweet Kya playing in the sand

I know, I'm a loser

So last night I actually VOTED for an American Idol contestant--more than once. After watching last night's show, I just decided I would be so sad if David Cook went home. I think he should win it.

No Sunscreen--No Problem

Living in Marina/Monterey, I never need to worry about getting a sunburn--well almost never. Today was actually 70 degrees and tomorrow is supposed to be 82!! I went to playgroup today and came home with--that's right--a sunburn. I am so excited. So tomorrow, we are off to the beach; I think we will break out the sunscreen for that.

(Please excuse the cleavage)

Happy Mother's Day

This is what it's all about...

Flashback

I went to the store yesterday to pick up some soda for our "ladie's night" and I saw Cherry 7up. When was the last time you had Cherry 7up?? One drink brought me back to my childhood. We would drive across the border (from Canada to USA) to get Cherry 7up because you couldn't get it in Canada. It's funny how back then, going to "the states" was such a novelty. I think the novelty has worn off, but I will always remember our trips to USA: going to sumas for charleston chews and cherry 7up, stopping at the dairy for the best (and cheapest) ice cream cones ever, going shopping in Lyden or strawberry picking with Grandma Winters, or spending the night at our cabin and then stopping for the yummiest ice cream sundaes on the way home. It's amazing how one drink of pop can bring this all back.

Can You Believe It????

Okay, so Jordan came into my room this morning and said "Mom, the tooth fairy never came last night." The NERVE!! How could the tooth fairy forget my sweet little girl? Poor JoJo. She was so proud because this is the first tooth she pulled out "herself" and it happened at school, so she got to put it in this groovy plastic tooth necklace. Too bad the tooth fairy had to go and mess it all up. Who knows, maybe she'll make up for it and leave MORE money :)

Book Review

There's no question I liked this book--heck, I read it in a week and then NEEDED the second book imediately. Of course, like anything else, there were good and bad. Here are a few of my thoughts:

-Edward must be SO HOT. I can't imagine them EVER doing him justice in the movie. I don't think there was a guy created HOT enough for the picture I have painted in my mind of Edward Cullen (except Mike of course).

-I thought the "love story" was a bit cheesy. Bella wanted to give up her entire life (friends, family, hobbies etc.) to be with Edward. I just think it was a bit much--I guess I am NOT reallly a hopeless romantic.

-The whole idea of vampires was very interesting to me. I loved learning all the information about vampires. Mike and I argue about what a "real" vampire is--he really just makes fun of me for reading books about vampires.

Okay, just a few thoughts...now back to reading...

I HATE it when this happens

This is what Tyson looked like 20 min. before we had to go pick Jordan up from school. What do you do? Sweet Boy.