Sunday in Kemp

We went to my mom's house early Sunday morning. We had a nice day relaxing, BBQ'ing, swimming and hanging out. Thanks to Nana & Apa' for a fun day! Reese and Collin already miss you.

Daddy's Helpers

Jeff had 2 little helpers while he mowed the grass Saturday morning!

Playing In the Fountain

This evening (Friday), we had pictures taken of Reese and Collin at a little park in Southlake. They took some really cute shots of them, so I cannot wait to get the proofs, which of course I will share! After they took some pics in clothes, they had them change into their swimsuits and play in the fountain. I got a few shots of them playing after their "session" was over.

Collin isn't big on sprinklers or fountains--he doesn't like the water "squirting" him. This is so crazy to Jeff and me, because he will jump and slide into a swimming pool over, and over, and over. Reese loved it and splashed for a while!

POWERKIDS

Reese and Collin started a "sports" class for the summer. They are taking it at Powerkids in Plano. Their instructor is AWESOME, she was so upbeat and enthusiastic and the kids LOVED her. Her name is Ms. Shanna, but she told them to call her Ms. Shanna-Banana, Collin loved calling her that!

What do you think?

Do you like the BLOG MAKEOVER? I have been wanting to jazz it up a little bit, so I had this wonderful lady named Shauna help me out! I thought she did such a good job. I wanted something that reflected "us"....nothing fancy, just something cute and practical (the cute part being Reese & Collin, okay and Jeff). Anyways, leave me a comment....no one has been commenting so wondering if anyone out their is reading our blog????

My Boys

I was making dinner last night and looked out the window and saw Collin and Jeff sitting on the patio together. The picture is fuzzy because it is thru the window...I wanted to capture the two of them as they were, not have it posed. I thought it was so sweet to see the two of them sharing a little moment.

Random Moments....

This entry is a compilation of things that do not necessarily tie together or go together in any way, but they are all from this week or today.

• Today we weren't sure what we were going to do after church. We had a couple of hours between getting home from church and the kids napping. Jeff did not feel all that well, so we decided to inflate the kiddie pool and let the kids slide into it. This may have been one of the best ideas we have had this summer. Countless hours of entertainment, burning lots of energy, and no fighting!!! It was so much fun to watch them slide.

• I mentioned earlier that Jeff did not feel well. After the kids took their naps today, Jeff was resting on the couch and the kids were playing, Reese brought over her little stuffed "Piggy" to make Jeff feel better. Thought that was so sweet. Just had to capture a little pic.
  

• This picture is from earlier in the week, but thought it was too cute not to post. Collin loves to put on his cowboy boots and cowboy hat, just thought the ensemble was too funny!

Summer MDO

I know it has been a little while since I have posted, but it has been an interesting week. Reese and Collin started a "summer" Mother's Day Out program this week (this is not the program we attend during the school year). They are going on Tues./Thurs. for 7 weeks. I thought this would be good for them and also for me. I have heard great things about this program, so I was expecting great things. Unfortunately, I have been a bit disapppointed.
We didn't really have a great start to our week. I hate that for the kids. Our first day, I walked Reese and Collin to their room, ready for a big, warm, sweet, nurturing welcome and I didn't really get the warm fuzzies. Mrs. "B" their teacher is fine, but not the loving, wonderful teachers we are used to at our regular preschool. I am highly disappointed by this. All I really want from a summer program, is lots of love and lots of fun. Sure, some academic lessons would be a bonus, but all I am really asking for is the kids to get to see their friends, play, and socialize--I definitely think they need structure, rules and to follow directions, but I just mean I am not expecting a full on curriculum with tons of academic progress being made over the next 7 weeks.
The kids don't seem to hate it, but they keep asking me, "When are we going back to our old school"? "When do we get to see Ms. Brandi and Ms. Lori (teachers from this past year)"? I feel so sad that they aren't loving school, because they adore our school we attend during the school year. I do feel they are safe, and taken care of, I just want more than that for Reese and Collin. Unfortunately I have already paid my tuition for the entire summer, so we will be going for the next 6 weeks (that is all we have left).
I just want to add that we have several friends who are also enrolled in this program, and have had the same feelings I have. I don't think I am being overly criticial, but can you really be overly critical when it comes to your kids?
I am crossing my fingers that the kids enjoy this next week and that this week goes better than last. Hopefully some of this is just "first week" issues and will be ironed out this week. For any friends and teachers that read my blog and attend/teach at KIDZWORLD, we love you and now realize how blessed we are to have such an amazing program. I already knew how much we loved our preschool, but this just drives the point home.

Happy Father's Day!

I feel like Reese and Collin are so blessed to have Jeff as their "Daddy". We are fortunate enough for Jeff to be able to spend alot of time with them. He doesn't see them in the mornings (which they miss), but he usually gets home around 4:30 OR 5:00, and they are beyond thrilled to see him. It is like Christmas everyday (when R & C hear the garage door open).

We call him every morning, and Collin always says to Jeff, "Daddy, you want to come home?", they would really like it if he could be home all day EVERY day. While I make dinner, Jeff and the kids usually play in the back yard, water the flowers, and they help Daddy with anything he needs. This is just a special time they have with him everyday.

So, "Happy Father's Day" to Jeff. Thank you for being a father that spends lots of little moments with Reese and Collin every single day. Thank you for being a playful father and a loving daddy. Thank you for trading off tucking the kids in each night and reading to them and singing them songs. We are so blessed to have you.

Recital--she did it!!!

Well, today was the BIG dance recital day! She did it!!!! We were so proud of Reese, she got out there, looked confident and did such a wonderful job. As we sat and waited for our turn, she watched the other dance routines, she told me, "I am excited to do my dance"! I couldn't believe it. I still wasn't sure what she would do, but she danced like such a big girl. She made us all very proud.

*********************Collin did such a good job of cheering on Reesie (as he calls her). He enjoyed watching the dances as well and was a trooper.

Thank you Nana & Apa'

Yesterday (Thursday), we met my mom at James Avery. She let Reese pick out a charm bracelet and a ballet charm as a little "incentive" to dance at her recital on Saturday. She picked it out, they wrapped it up and after the recital she gets to open it! No matter what, she is going to get the bracelet, we just wanted this to serve as a little encouragement.

We must have equality, so my mom let Collin pick out a tent after our trip to James Avery. Collin picked out a "Cars" tent, which included a sleeping bag and backpack. He absolutely loves it. He even napped in his sleeping bag! The kids loved the tent and played in it all day yesterday. Thank you Nana and Apa'!!!! Reese and Collin can't wait to see you on Saturday.

Sunday Fun

Last Sunday we went to my Dad's house (Papa & Cha Cha is what Reese & Collin call them). The kids had alot of fun and enjoyed playing outside most of the day. Papa and Cha Cha had gotten a Slip n' Slide for them to play on, so I thought I would include pics of them having a blast on it.

Sunday evening we had a birthday party at Jack Carter Pool. It you haven't taken your kids there, it is so much fun! It is really inexpensive entertainment and all of the kids seem to love it. I included a few pictures from the party as well.

Disney World Resevations

Not sure if you know or not, but we are going to Disney World in December. Well, yesterday marked the 180th day before we arrive. Do you know how IMPORTANT this day is? I was not aware of its importance before I started "studying" for our trip to Disney. Well, this is the day where you can start to make all of your "character" dining reservations and reserve any of the "hot" things to do while in Disney. So, I knew at 6AM on July 8th, was our big day. The reservations office opens at 7AM on Sunday (6AM our time), so I set my alarm for 5:40AM just to make sure I could snooze once, get a COKE, get my 2 phones (cell and home), and my list of reservations that needed to be made, and I could start dialing a few minutes early.
We are also going to Disney with the Devlin's and Nana & Apa (my mom & Fermin). So, Amy and I had decided on the dinners we wanted to do together, apart, and what times we wanted to eat. We split up the reservations (I had to make 6) and then we agreed to both start dialing like mad at 6AM. Well, I executed my plan perfectly, pathetically enough I couldn't sleep that well b/c I was nervous I would oversleep and not get the reservations we were wanting.
Who knew that it could be so difficult to get a seat at "Cinderella's Royal Table" or "Chef Mickey's"? I didn't realize that when I called starting at 5:55AM that I would still have to sit on hold for 4 minutes, but I got thru and we got all our reservations we wanted!!! After, making our dining reservations, I called to schedule Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (which is hair, nails, make-up with all of the princesses in Cinderella's castle)--I had to wait for 14 minutes on hold and then I finally got thru to make a reservation for Reese. So, moral of the story, if you are ever going to Disney and wanting to reserve some of the "popular" things to do---180 days before your arrival, you will be losing sleep to make these ever so important phone calls!!!! The things we do for our kids!!! I can't wait for our trip, it can't come soon enough!

Tiny Dancers

Today, Reese had dance pictures. All of the girls looked so pretty! I wanted to share a few pics.