With all that said- we're busy. When the kids wake me up at 6:30 in the morning, the first thing they ask me is, "Where are we going today?" After I mumble for them to shut their pie hole until 7:00 and finish "Octonauts" while mommy sleeps, I wake from my grumpy slumber a half hour later to lay out the day's agenda. It normally involves friends and fun, and the kids know it.
Behold, some of the highlights of summer 2012 so far, in no particular order.
Videos first!
The cousins loved playing at their great grandparent's house.
This is the Corinne I know and love. It's hard for me to explain to people sometimes that Corinne is NOT shy. Not at all, in fact, when she's in her element. This is proof. "It's My Party" is her favorite song. How very appropriate.
The kids LOVE the water pad at Magic Mountain, and it's perfect for those days when it's too hot to wait in line and sitting on a ride means getting a third degree burn on your arse. I have to tune out the OCD at things like this and Hurricane Harbor. I try very hard to ignore the children who announce to mommy that they have to pee, only to stand still and urinate on themselves as it gets washed down into the drain that recycles it back up another spout, and into a happy child's face. I just have to tune it out.
Tae Kwon Do makes me laugh every time I watch. I have to constantly stifle my laughter so the Master doesn't see.
Corinne probably went down this slide at Hurricane Harbor a million times.
LOVE her
Again, with the laughter.
If I had a million dollars, I'd keep Taylor in Tae Kwon Do. She thrives off the praise and discipline, and is so focused. Sadly, it's too expensive and we only have three more weeks left. I think she'll miss it much more than Corinne who gets very confused by her teacher's Korean accent. When she doesn't understand him he says, "I sorry. I no speak good Spanish." Which makes me want to stay enrolled all the more.
Taylor and our friend, Noah, were chosen to be in this show at Magic Mountain. They were excited. Magic Mountain performers are a sad breed, though. They're like the ugly step children of Disneyland. No. Not even Disneyland. Knott's Berry Farm.
FINALLY! Taylor can swim, and she gets better and better every time we go. Corinne, however, learned nothing in six weeks of lessons at the Y, freakin', MCA! She decided to jump in Nana's pool the other day, and jumped in a little too deep. I thought her survival instincts would have kicked in, but instead she just bobbed under the water like a booey (spelling?) until i jumped in and got her. One might think she'd remember to 'pull the water' or kick her feet, but nope. Ugh. Private lessons are happening this week so I can breathe a little easier.
20 years of friendship is something to celebrate
"Strangers are exciting, their mystery never ends. But there's nothin' like looking at your own history on the faces of your friends."
I've been friends with the girls above for 20 years. It's crazy. It doesn't feel like it could possibly be that long. We got together last week and let the kids run around.
Independence Day 5k
I ran a 5k with the lovely ladies above on the morning of the 4th. We tie dyed shirts red, white and blue, and surprisingly we were the only ones at the race that showed our patriotism in such a way. I predict next year there will be loads of people running with tie dyed shirts on. We're just trend setters that way. We did it the night before the race, and played a little Michael Jackson dance off on the Kinect. My years of dance training were rendered useless in this game. Rachel's mad cheerleading moves gave her the upper hand. Who says cheerleaders are just dancers gone retarded? Not me!
I ran along side Becky in the 5k. She kept me going and probably could have knocked 5 to 10 minutes off her own time if she had ditched me like she should have. Instead, we kept pace with a 5 year old who liked to show off. Seriously? Who runs a 5k when you're 5? Every once in a while he'd pass us up, so we'd have to kick it into gear to show the little pip squeak how grown ups do it.
The best part of the whole race was seeing Wes with the kids at the finish line. I just love them so much. Get a little weepy thinking about it.
Chillaxin'
These are my girls. =) I think I've enjoyed the down time most of all during the last three weeks. I've gotten on the play room floor and played more than I have in a while. These pictures are from Jamba Juice, where they love to just chill after bowling.
These are my girls. =) I think I've enjoyed the down time most of all during the last three weeks. I've gotten on the play room floor and played more than I have in a while. These pictures are from Jamba Juice, where they love to just chill after bowling.
Twinsy Day
2 of my girls on a Sunday when we showed up at church dressed in the same color. Great minds think alike.
This is baby Samantha. My dear friend Stephanie let me use her baby as a guinea pig, and we got loads of adorable shots of this cutie. She was SO good for me. Baby's intimidate me when it comes to photography. They run the show and they seem to know it. But Sam took pity on me and her mommy and hammed it up for the camera.
My lovely cousin, Laura, is newly engaged and asked if I would take some shots of her and her fiance. It was a no brainer. But just like babies, adults intimidate me too. However, they were also very patient with me, as I tried to come up with creative poses. They were probably tired of me saying, "Um...just kiss her again." That was sort of our "go to" pose. But there were so many awesome shots at the end of the day, that I was giddy editing them.
And of course, these are my favorite faces to take pictures of.
More 4th of July
(I'd try to move them up with the other 4th of July pictures, but Blogger is being a pain.)
We spent the evening at Todd Longshore Park. At first, it was perfect. The kids played, the adults put down our picnic blankets...and then everyone showed up once the fireworks started.
These girls are just spoiled.
Darn Disney, and the people who run that place!
This is Becky on the playground. She seriously pushed Taylor out of the way, then jumped on the zip line to show off. Geesh. Then, in the picture next to it, she challenged her to a race. Notice how she doesn't even pretend to let them win. She leaves Corinne in the dust.
We had some friends over one morning, and I decided they were behaved enough that I could go dry my hair for a few minutes. I came out to this.
I've solidified my title as cheapest woman alive this summer, and made a group on facebook for all my mommy friends. I notify them about free library performances, which I'm a huge fan of. We've been to a great magic show and animal show, and it's all FREE!!! Our kids always get picked too, which is sort of funny.
We spent the evening at Todd Longshore Park. At first, it was perfect. The kids played, the adults put down our picnic blankets...and then everyone showed up once the fireworks started.
Trampoline
We gave in and bought a trampoline. I love it, even though I'm still a little nervous about neck injuries. The kids have been jumping up a storm and I think it's great exercise. Hopefully it won't land us in urgent care.
$5 Fridays and Chuck E. Cheese
$5 Fridays and Chuck E. Cheese
These girls are just spoiled.
Toothy Tina the Tooth Fairy
Taylor lost another tooth. Her third to date. She wrote the cutest note and left it by her pillow. It says, "I love you, Tooth Faery. Have a good day. Are you so happy? Because I am. My thard tooth came out." I'll be so sad when her mean teachers force her to actually spell correctly. I love phonetically correct spelling.
Taylor lost another tooth. Her third to date. She wrote the cutest note and left it by her pillow. It says, "I love you, Tooth Faery. Have a good day. Are you so happy? Because I am. My thard tooth came out." I'll be so sad when her mean teachers force her to actually spell correctly. I love phonetically correct spelling.
Both kids draw at least twenty pictures a day. One morning, Taylor presented me with the drawing above and told me she wrote a song. .....GENIUS! lol. I will keep this one forever.
Corinne drew the one next to it. She told me it was me, Taylor, and the little one was her. It's funny to get an idea of how she sees herself.
Hurricane Harbor
"I wanna be on TV!"
Darn Disney, and the people who run that place!
Taylor has been begging me for "acting class," although I'm not sure where she got that idea or if she really understands what it means. Then she saw a commercial on the Disney channel about printing out a craft from their website, and sending it in to get on TV. Ugh. So she begged for two weeks, before I gave in and printed out the darn craft and took her picture. She seriously watched me to make sure I sent it in, which I did, but I tried desperatley to explain that MANY children will be doing the same thing and her chances were slim. Poor thing watches the Disney channel every day, in the hopes to see her picture. So if you have an uncle or second cousin whose neighbor works for Disney, throw a mother a bone, would ya!
The Worthlin Mansion
A very nice family has opened up their home to everyone in our ward for swimming on Tuesdays. But when I say 'home,' what I really mean is the kind of house you pictured when you played the game M.A.S.H. This house is the M, for mansion.
So we go and swim, then play around in their park-sized yard, and I imagine in my head that it's mine.
This is Becky on the playground. She seriously pushed Taylor out of the way, then jumped on the zip line to show off. Geesh. Then, in the picture next to it, she challenged her to a race. Notice how she doesn't even pretend to let them win. She leaves Corinne in the dust.
Family Home Evening
Our goal has always been to have Family Home Evening every Monday. We've failed miserably at this. We go in spurts of having it enthusiastically, and then not having it at all. But lately we've been meeting at the park with friends, and enjoying snacks on Monday nights. No, we haven't exactly had a spiritual lesson along with the snacks, but we will next time! Baby steps!
Kids Bowl Free
Kids can actually bowl free once a week in Santa Clarita. I love it. I signed up a month ago, and it was the best idea yet. I'd post a video of Corinne bowling, but it would take you a good five minutes to watch it. Really. She throws the ball at an alarmingly slow speed.
Kids can actually bowl free once a week in Santa Clarita. I love it. I signed up a month ago, and it was the best idea yet. I'd post a video of Corinne bowling, but it would take you a good five minutes to watch it. Really. She throws the ball at an alarmingly slow speed.
Friends
We had some friends over one morning, and I decided they were behaved enough that I could go dry my hair for a few minutes. I came out to this.
They had taken every stuffed animal out of the bedroom, and made themselves an audience. I wasn't upset at all, obviously. I was more frightened...
The Library
I've solidified my title as cheapest woman alive this summer, and made a group on facebook for all my mommy friends. I notify them about free library performances, which I'm a huge fan of. We've been to a great magic show and animal show, and it's all FREE!!! Our kids always get picked too, which is sort of funny.
Cobra Ki! NEVER DIE!
(Pretty sure I spelled that wrong, but I'm too lazy to Google.)
