Golf Buddies 2011

 A few weeks ago, we had our golf buddies over for our annual homemade Italian made meal {the one where we cook for them and they come to eat after they finish up a long, hot round of golf for the day} and I think that it is safe to say that this one was the BEST yet!  The boys came over and were hungry, so we ate Auntie Jan' secret recipe {that's not so secret anymore, you can find it here} that we whipped up the night before and then took a dip in the pool!  Kyan was in heaven and got in on a few games of PIG with the boys!  He even had a few trick shots up his sleeve and was making the big boys jump off the rocks!  It was hilarious!  Lola got in on the action with them as well and tried to steal some of Kyan's thunder.  She thinks they are now her golf buddies as well!

Thanks boys for spending the evening with us!  We love our time with you!

Meeeeeee-haaaaawww!

Those were the exact words that continously came out of Lola's mouth the second her cowboy hat went on her head.  

Over

and over

and over

and over

and over.....

okay, you get the picture!

 Thank you Dollar Store, for existing! 

I had to run to Staples yesterday to grab cd's and dvd's and decided to sneak into the Dollar Store to see if they had anything that I couldn't refuse buying {and that is one place where I don't feel bad splurging, everything is a dollar...duh}!  Well, they had all of their Halloween decor and costumes out and I first spotted the hats and thought that the kids would have fun with them!  Then, I noticed the knives, so I grabbed two {Kyan is obsessed with them and if I got one for him, I had better get one for Lola too, so they could "hunt" together}!  Then, the mustaches!  They came in a packet of six and they were a hit!  I need to go back and buy more!  The kids LOVED wearing them and they were so cute to boot!  Best $5 I have spent in a long time!

Kyan even decided that he wanted to be a cowboy for Halloween this year!  We are on the hunt for some new boots, as one of the boots that grandma got for him a few months ago broke!  And maybe some chaps?!  As for Lola, she does NOT have a choice, she will be wearing her dance costume {you know, that one that I spent over $40 on and then she quit dance the week before the recital?!}.  Yeah, she is gong to be Cinderella.  No cowgirl costume for her.  Maybe next year she can choose.  Maybe.

 

Love my little mustache wearing babies, BIG!

Remembering.

I can remember exactly where I was 10 years ago.  My mom called me frantic that morning and urged me to turn on the news (I had just woken up and was getting ready to go to class at ASU).  I told her that I really didn't have time for news, that I had to get going...I said this as I turned on the television and saw what she was seeing.  I felt numb, I thought it was a joke, it couldn't be real.  I quietly told her that I loved her and then hung up the phone, glued to the TV.  How was I supposed to go to my classes today with what I was witnessing on the TV?  I went to class and the teachers couldn't teach, for those that showed up, we sat together and watched the news.  I didn't know anymore who worked in the Towers, nor did I know anyone in New York City, but my heart broke for everyone who was there.  And for those who weren't there, but lost someone they loved.

This past week in my classroom, we spent remembering those on September 11th.  With each year, my students get younger and younger (and don't really remember where they were, this year they were between the ages of 3 & 4) and it really got me thinking about the children of 9/11/01, those that were left without a parent after that tragic day.

I ran across an issue of People and I thought about them even more when they interviewed parents and the children born to heroes that year, after it happened.  The kids never were able to meet their fathers, but in the article it talks about how they know them and how they are doing today, at 9 and 10 years old.  When I was finished reading, I had a big knot in my throat.

Then, this morning, as I was on my way home from my normal Sunday grocery shopping trip, this song came on and I cried my eyes out.

My heart breaks for anyone that lost a loved one that day.
For the heroes, thank you.

Ummmmm....?!

It's like I don't even know where to start!  To say that I have been beyond busy is an understatement, I hate that I haven't posted in over a week, but the truth is, I haven't found any time to do anything but grade papers (for three hours after I get home from working)!  Mid-terms were already due this week!  Can't believe that!  I am already getting observed this week too!  Crazy!  Time is very much flying already this school year and the countdown is on for fourth quarter and Romeo and Juliet (wink, wink)!

The kids are LOVING school!  Homework started this month for Kyan and he continues to bring a long sleeve shirt every single day to school even though it is 115 degrees outside.  His teacher's classroom is freezing!    And there isn't a day (almost) that goes by that I don't receive some word from Lola's teachers about something silly and sassy that she is doing at school!  Recently, she broke up with one boyfriend who stuck his tongue out at her (probably got sick of her bossiness), while another boy swooped in about 10 minutes later to steal her heart!  She just giggles when she talks or is asked about it!  She did do PE last week, but there was a substitute, go figure!

LOVING the three day weekend and while I took ZERO pictures, I do feel like I have a lot to say about it!  Lemme break it down for you:  Friday night we went to meet my parents at the club at Estrella.  Chad's mom and dad went too!  It was so much fun, just visiting and catching up!  Something about that place is so peaceful.  We were having a blast, until Lola stood in a red ant pile and had her feet tore up by them!  She was so scared and it hurt so bad.  I stood in them for all of 2.5 seconds and they bit me good too!  Kids came home with us that night, since they had spent the night the night before with Grandpa Jerry (they didn't have school on Friday) so they could run to Grandma Julie when they picked her up at the airport that morning!  Saturday was a dream come true for me.  My parents picked me (love spending time with just them) up about 8 am and we just drove and stopped at every garage sale we spotted!  I scored some deals for sure (OLD glass baby food jars, an entire box for $2, a huge mason jar for $1.50, air fresheners for $3 a pop {the ones that cost like $5 at the store}, a vintage camera & lunch pail, and a very old scale!  After we finished up at a major estate sale, we headed to sun city, where I scored lots of fabric and some pinking shears (which I have wanted for a long time)!  Something about old scissors makes me happy, they just work better!  I could have shopped garage/estate sales the rest of the day, but my mom was getting cranking and hungry, so we headed to the mall, where she is the most happy!  I scored two new pairs of shoes and a pretty new dress!  I had so much fun just getting to be with them!  But all good things must end and when my dad's car was finished at the shop (it had been there for almost a week), our time had to end too!  I was dumped at home, only to turn around and get ready for my date with my mother in law!  I was cashing in on my birthday present, movie and dinner!  We had talked about going to see "The Help" as soon as we knew it was being made into a movie!  I had read the book as soon as it came out, but that is a book that sticks to your guts during and after you read it and I knew that I needed to see how the book was made into a movie.  It was beautifully done and one that will make you laugh out loud and cry like a baby.  Bring tissues, for real.  After the movie ended, we ate dinner at a little sandwich shop called Which Wich?  We talked about the movie and what we thought, but more than that, we talked about life.  I think it was one of my most favorite talks I have ever had with Donna (did I mention how much I love my in-laws yet, because I do, I love them all).  I can't even really explain how the conversation went, just that it touched on the phrase, "if you really knew me".  Like, we see people every day, just living, but do we really know them and know what is behind closed doors?!  No.  Not like secrets, but their struggles.  I thought about my students, what they come to school with each day that I have no idea about, I thought about my friends that I don't always find the time to talk to each of them every day to see how they really are, and I thought about myself and the fronts sometimes even I put up (professional and personal) to guard how I really feel.  Sometimes people have no idea what is going on, but it makes a difference in understanding someone.  We don't need to know details, but just need to be sensitive and aware that we aren't perfect.  Did that even make sense?  Hope so, it made sense to me on Saturday with Donna :) I brought Chad home some dinner and we enjoyed an episode of True Blood, while the kids were sleeping away at grandma and grandpa Nebraska's house (where they would rather be anyway)!  Sunday I met my parents for church and breakfast and then we slaved away on the single car garage!  It was a disaster and a place where we store a lot of things, but it was getting to the point where we couldn't walk through it!  My dad is bananas and while my mom and I thought we were pulling only the stuff off of the shelves and the ground and going through it, my dad pulled out all of the toys too!  We have a jet ski and quad that take up way to much space, but with the help of my pops, he figured out a way for them to take up less!  He went and picked up even more shelves and hooks (so much stuff got hung, praise the Lord) while everything was out in the blistering sun!  Six hours later, the garages (we cleaned out the garage where our cars sleep too) look stunning and is now walk through-able!  THANK YOU MOM AND DAD!!!  Chad had a draft out in the east valley, so I spent the evening with the kids and my parents out at their place!  It was a fun way to end the evening!  Monday (today) we spent the day again up at Estrella, bbqing with family and friends before we headed to the waterpark for one last round this summer!  Fun times as always were had!  Kyan pretty much slid down the slide the entire time, although this time he did manage to play on the Big Dipper for quite awhile!  He is finally not afraid of the water bucket dumping on him!  Lola went down both little slides, but spent most of her time swimming without her floaties in the little pool!  Her confidence in the water is awesome to see!  After saying a very sad goodbye to grandpa and grandma Nebraska, we headed down the mountain.  Lola has been asleep ever since (4:30ish), I think the four day weekend has caught up with her, poor girl!  We sure are going to miss them BIG!

I am off to have sweet dreams of another weekend like this very soon!   I promise to not let almost a week and a half go by without posting again!  You know how life goes sometimes....just kinda gets in the way!


 PS-so excited.  Not sure if you remember me mentioning in my last birthday post, but I hired my sis-in-law to clean my house and this week is cleaning week!  So happy a clean house makes me!

Thirty-One

It's no secret.  I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!  I try to celebrate it the entire month, but it doesn't always work that way and I have to settle for, you know, a birthday week!  HA!  This year, I have happily turned it into my birthday weekend and it started off on the perfect note this morning with my kids running into the bathroom when they woke up, while I was getting ready for the day, with the Lisa Leonard necklace that I have been wanting forever!  Then, spoiled by the girls at school at school with breakfast and lunch!  A visit from a few former students and then home for dinner at my favorite place in the entire world to eat, Ah-So, with the fam!  Today was a great day!  Hoping to spend time chillaxin' by the pool this weekend in between cooking the golf buddies favorite dinner {a tradition that we do once or twice a year for my dad and his friends that come down to golf!  You can read more about it here}!

In honor of turning 31, I thought I would share 31 fun facts about me!

1.  I am obsessed with spray tanning!  I am a Jersey Shore girl at heart?!  I stop my membership for the summer, but September is coming soon and it will be time to get my spray on!

2.  I am a hoarder of old, gold picture frames.  The gaudier the better!  Some I paint, some I leave alone!

3.  I drink way too much unsweetened ice tea.  I usually go through the McDonald's drive thru and order two or three at a time.  They do sit well in the fridge overnight, that is if I don't drink them first!

4.  I just hired my sis-in-law to be my house cleaner.  It took her three days to give my big ol' house a good deep cleaning and holy cow is it sparkling!  I am sure she is hoping that she won't ever have to do that again and she probably won't, because she is coming in every two weeks to do the basics from here on out!  It is so nice to be able to come home and not have to clean, just pick up!  Best decision ever!

5.  I have been watching All My Children {the soap opera} since my mom birthed me, no joke, and this September it is going off the air!  I don't know what I am going to do when I can't watch these people's lives unfold right before my eyes each and every day!  Sad times for sure.

6.  I teach 8th grade reading.  My first year of 8th graders are graduating from high school this year!  So proud of them!  Before I taught 8th grade, I taught Kindergarten, and those Kindergartners are graduating 8th grade this year!  So crazy to think {and see} them now!

7.  When I first moved to Arizona, I got a job at a restaurant called Bobby McGees.  The waiters and waitresses had to dress up as characters and sing songs and play jokes on customers that came to dine!  It was so much fun!  Wanna know who I played?  Give up?  I'll tell you, the one and only Tinkerbell!  I had the lost boys in the bar mixing up magic potions {drinks} for people and Peter Pan on the grill!  

8.  My foot grew a whole shoe size when I became pregnant with Kyan.  I went from a size 7 to a size 8, which I now where!

9.  I hate doing the laundry and am lucky enough that the hubs does it 98% of the time.

10.  I started my own photography business a few years ago, Rosie J. Photography, and each year it just keeps getting busier and busier!  I am thankful.

11.  I go to bed almost each and every night reading on the iPad.  It relaxes me and lets me escape into another world, everything else goes away when I read.  I am currently reading the YA novel, Some Girls Are.

12.  My word of the year:  patience.  I don't always have it.  I want to though.

13.  I have been married for almost 8 years.  Chad and I tied the knot in Hawaii on the island of Oahu!  It was magical.

14.  I can make a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies, thanks to my aunt Heidi of course!

15.  I am a copy cat crafter.  If I see something out in blogland that has a tutorial {sometimes it doesn't even have to} I try to make it myself!  I get a sense of pride knowing that I did it!

16.  I like to be told that I am doing a good job at ______________.  Fill in the blank.  It doesn't matter what it is, just tell me I am doing it right!

17.  I try to avoid confrontation at all costs.  I don't just mean physical fighting {although I hate that kind of fighting too - and have never been in a fight btw, I would get rocked}.  I try to make everyone happy and don't like when feelings are hurt.

18.  Number 17 being said, I have developed quite the backbone as of late and won't stand to be pushed around, by anyone.  This has helped me both personally and professionally.

19.  I have bad eyes.  I wear both contacts and glasses.  I remember the first time that I told my mom I was having issues seeing, it was a stop sign on the way back from shopping {imagine that, my mom shopping?!}.  What I wouldn't give for lasik eye surgery.

20.  If I could afford to quit my job and just craft all day long, I would.  I am envious of those that get to do just that.

21.  Ten more things to write?  Seriously?  Ummmm....my favorite color is pink!  Although turquoise isn't too far behind!

22.  I am obsessed with all things leopard print.  I know, what am I, like 10?  I can't help it, I have a leopard phone cover, the back cover of my calender is leopard scrapbook paper, even my notebook that I made for all of my team meeting notes has leopard pennants on the front cover!  No leopard print in the house though, the hubs happens to not be a fan, however, I am going to try to find a way to sneak it in there!

23.  My favorite cereal of all time - Lucky Charms.  Oh, okay...healthy cereal, Post Brand Raisin Bran!

24.  I wish I had longer hair, just a little bit longer, but it won't grow.  Ok, truth.  I have an obsession with cutting my hair.  The second it even starts growing, I cut it!  Ugh.  I need to stop, but don't know how.  

25.  I happen to win a lot of things via blog giveaways.  I am lucky like that!  Whenever I tell my husband about my winnings he rolls his eyes and asks me how much it really cost me!?

26.  I have acrylic nails and the best nail lady in the valley.  I get them filled once every month to six weeks.  Bad I know, but she does such a good job and they don't lift at all, so I try to stretch it as long as I can between back fills!

27.  If I had to pick one clothing store to shop in for a new wardrobe, I would pick Ann Taylor Loft.  Love all of their clothes.

28.  Speaking of shopping, I shop mannequins!  Meaning, it looks good on the form, I want to try it on!  I am not very good at putting together outfits, so if I see it already done, I am sold!  If I don't have the opportunity to shop the mannequins, I like the employees to bring me clothes they think will look good on me {why I love The Buckle so much}!

29.  I would rather find something old, refinish it, and make it new again.

30.  I watch too many ridiculous shows on TV.  One Tree Hill, 90210, Teen Mom, Awkward, Jersey Shore, Bachelor Pad.  Thank God for DVR!  

31.  I love tattoos and would love more on my body, just have no clue what I would permanently want!  My four little birds took me forever to decide!  

That is it, 31 things you may or may not have known about me! 

Happy 31st Birthday to me!

Did I leave anything out?  

Have a question for me?  Ask away...

Lola: The Preschooler

Lola is quite the character, if you know her, you know exactly what I am talking about!

She has had two amazing weeks in preschool thus far - even went to school without her big brother to watch her back today {he was at home sick} with a big smile on her face! 

 Along the way I have received quite a few emails telling me about Little Miss Thing, each and every one of them have either made me laugh out loud or put a huge smile on my face and I just think to myself, 'Yep!  That is my girl'!
Ms. Extended Day told me she is an adult trapped in a 3 year old's body!  She hit the nail on the head with that one for sure.  Lola knows what she wants, when she wants it, and has a plan or an excuse to get it that very second or there is going to be hell to pay!

 On the first day of school she refused to participate in PE.  She folded her little arms across her chest and said, "I'm NOT doing THAT!"  Even with a little bit of coaxing, she refused, so she sat on the sideline and watched.  The following Monday, with fingers crossed, new tennis shoes on her feet, and a long talk on our way to school, she still refused to play.  I am hoping that she will adjust to PE {think it has a lot to do with the fact that it is a male teacher, because her other specials classes she does just fine} in the next few weeks!

 She had an accident this week during nap time {something very out of the ordinary for her}, I noticed the second that I picked her up at extended day that her clothes were different.  I had a 5-10 minute conversation with her and she almost had me convinced that she DID NOT have an accident, but was, in fact, just really sweaty and that was why her clothes were wet!  I promise we went back and forth for what seemed like forever before she finally gave in and said she did have one, but then followed it with up quickly with, "MOM!  I am NOT a baby.  Only babies have accidents and I am NOT a baby!"  Alrighty then little girl, gotcha!

I think she must spend a lot of time playing in the play kitchen area ,at school.  Mrs. A, her teacher must have told her that she couldn't play in the kitchen center the next day and Lola told her, "I'm not your friend anymore!" {seems like this is something that comes out of her mouth as soon as she doesn't get something that she wants}, but then told Mrs. A during lunchtime that they were friends again!  Her teachers deserve an award {or a really good Christmas present} for putting up with her feisty little attitude!

But, I mean...just look at her!  How can you not love her?

So proud of our preschool girl!

Love you BIG, Lola!

PS-You likey Lola's shirt?  Every Friday is school spirit day and the kids are encouraged to dress in the school's colors!   Well, I went to buy her a new t-shirt at the beginning of the year and they had NO extra smalls?!  She is pretty tiny, so I cut up one of her brother's old t-shirts from school that doesn't fit him anymore and made it into a tank dress!  Add a little zebra print around the collar and sleeves, a little lace along the bottom {but don't look to close, or you will see its 24,987 flaws} and wah-lah!  It is much more girly and based on the amount of times we got asked about it from the car to extended day this morning, I would say it was a hit!  Chad told me later, after he picked her up, that she paraded around the school and went into different classes to show off her shirt!  She even had little poses down with each stop!  I am so mad at myself that I  didn't take any pictures along the way of me making the t-shirt {to be honest, I really didn't know it would turn out so cute...I was just crossing my fingers I didn't screw it up}, so no tutorial, but her teacher asked if I would make one for her daughter, so hoping to finish that this weekend, along with pictures, so that if you have an old t-shirt laying around, you can make it into a cute little tank dress for your girl too! 

Hard on a mama's heart.

Today was hard.  Like, the hardest one yet.

I drop my kiddos off at school between 7-7:15 every morning at extended day.  Just one of those things a working mama's gotta do.  I start school a half hour later than my kids, but need to be at my school for morning duty/meeting stuff.  Anywho, it  normally takes a little bit of coaxing to get Lola into the arms/care of one of the extended day workers, but today was easy breezy, and she went right in!  The one who I don't ever worry about was the one in tears.

Kyan has been a little ehhhh going into extended day in the morning {only the mornings, he always tells me I pick him up too early after school, which isn't early btw}.  There has been another kid who has kinda been teasing him a little {he is older}.  When I talked to the extended day workers, they knew exactly who I was talking about and promised to nip it right away, and they did.  So what was he so upset about?!  Like upset like, trying not to cry but boogers dripping out of his nose kind of upset.  I took him to the bathroom, he got himself together and then we talked before we went in.  One of the extended day workers always calls Kyan "doughnut boy", like for the past year!  It is a term of endearment and Kyan always giggles when he hears it!  In fact, after 7 days of being at extended day, Lola has earned the name "doughnut girl" by him as well!  They always bring in white powder doughnuts for breakfast {mom of the year award, I know...it is easy and convenient}.  Today, it must have bothered him.  Other kids were starting to call him that too {Mr. Extended Day is cool and they hear him and want to be like him}!  That is what ended up bothering Kyan, I found this out all during our talk.

***I feel like I have to say this.  Mr. Extended Day is so good to Kyan.  They have a secret handshake and he always plays with him in the morning and afternoons.  Kyan adores him and the other Mr. Extended Day!

We went back in from the restroom and I talked with Mr. Extended Day, who felt horrible and said he'd talk to him.  I told him that Kyan might not talk, but he said he would still try.  When I was walking out, I watched him sit next to Kyan and put his arm around him.  I watched Kyan resist for a red hot second, and then lean on him and just start crying.  It was like he released the weight of the world that was carrying on his shoulders.  I wanted to run in and hug him and tell him that everything was going to be okay, but I knew that he was in good hands.  It broke my heart to leave him that way, but I knew I had to leave.  I got in my car and cried.
Before school started, I called extended day and asked if he got better before he went to class.  Ms. Extended Day told me that she talked to him about when she got teased when she was little and how it made her feel and she thought he felt better.  Which made me feel better.

I wasn't myself all day and felt like I was on auto pilot.  Around 2:50 {when Kyan and Lola get out of school} I got an email from Ms. Extended Day that basically stated that Kyan came in, put his head down, and wouldn't talk.  He would go with his sister's group either.  Nothing from him and that she was very concerned.  I called as soon as I got it.  He refused to talk to me. 
Heart aching.

As soon as school was over I went to get him.  Ms. Extended Day told me he was feeling better.  She said that him and Mr. Extended Day talked again about the doughnut boy situation and worked it all out.  When Kyan walked out, he was smiling.  

Thank God.  

We talked about everything in the car and about how he can't just NOT talk to people.  

Hoping tomorrow will be better.  No mama should have to watch her baby cry before, during, or after school.

I am so thankful to the extended care workers for their sweetness with my kids, especially this week.  Lola with her adjusting to life in school and with this situation with Kyan.  They take care of them when I can not.  

PS-I got a call from the nurse this morning {it is Thursday now}, Kyan has been complaining of having a belly ache pretty much all week {I didn't blog about that part, he has been in and out of that office all week, no fever, no puking or pooping, so I had him sent back to class}, but I just thought he was avoiding school or something.  Well, he had a fever this morning, so I needed to go get him.  We went straight to the doctor's office, where he tested positive for strep.  Strep is not a stranger to Kyan, but he has NEVER shown the symptoms that he has currently for it, ever, so I had no clue.  I can usually tell the second he gets it, like I said, he does get it a lot, so when they said strep, I was shocked!  I am hoping that this is why he has truly been off this week.  Time will tell.