Zoe's turn for a post

Sigh. A post on Zoe... We went through the terrible two's and now it seems we are going through the trying three's. Her and I just aren't on the same wave length most of the time. It takes us a while to figure each other out. She loves repetition and knowing excatly how the next thing is going to go. She has a really hard time adapting to changes. She freaks out and throws a fit if the things aren't the same. It's really hard for us to do anything extra during the day... We haven't been able to find other SAHM's with kids her age. It seems that most moms work... I was hoping to meet other SAHMs by enrolling Zoe in classes. We are on our 3rd class. Miss Zoe is the annoying kid in class. I hate to say it, but it's true. She whines, cries, throws fits, pouts.... But we keep going... I really wanted to enroll her in gymnastics or ballet like K was in, but the going rate for 4 classes a month is $75!!! That is so much money! Is it worth it? Hmmm. It's the great debate. And daycare?! YIKES. I would have to work full time to pay for part time daycare.

I'm going to buck up and check out a MOPS group. It's not really, how do I say it... my scene, but we will try it.

Sorry if I made Zoe sound horrible. She isn't! She's just Zoe... Loves sugary and salty foods. Doesn't eat dinner (even if she has little to eat during the day and I'm serving pizza for dinner), Loves to help in the kitchen and set the table. Says "oopsie" when something spills or gets dirty (its really cute). She has the best little giggle and gives the best hugs in the whole wide world. Looks up to her big sister. Enjoys coloring (in the lines), drawing stick people, spiders, the sun, her name, and letters H and I.

Sorry Zobug for not writing a glowing blog about ya, I've been trying... and so have you! ha!

Kayleigh Michelle

My little Kayleigh Bear. She truly is amazing. I'm just in love with her. I love how she cares about people and animals and how everything she learns at school is so cool and important. She likes words and she often uses big ones. Aside from people and animals, she also shows interest in the Earth, eating healthy, and being a teenager :/ I also admire how patient she is with her sister and how she tries to teach Zoe the things she learns. When in a good mood, she'll praise her sister's coloring or when Z uses a new word she gets excited. SOMETIMES she'll even pretend to run slow and tell Zoe how fast she is and that she could never catch up.

She is also fortunate to get Dave's sense of humor and his artistic abilities. She says the craziest things. One day, K was trying to pin Dave down to tickle him but Dave prevailed. She responded by saying, "Well played Daddy."

At the end of the day, while Dave is reading Zoe her book, Kayleigh comes to the living room to tell me how much she loves me. She'll say things like: Mommy, I love you. I just think about you all day when I'm at school and wonder what you are doing. You are just so beautiful and I love you.

It only seems fitting that I end this post with this: Kayleigh, I love you. You are beautiful on the inside and out. You are smart and caring. You have the best smile. I love everything about you from your head to your toes. I'm proud to be your Mommy.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

I've been slacking on my blog... We've been doing lots of fun things and the kids amaze me everyday. It just seems so hard to put everything in to a few words. Especially since I don't write about things as they happen. Anyways... I will try and do better next time.

On Saturday morning the girls and I went to the library and hit up family story time while Dave was at the Barrett Jackson Auction. Kayleigh has been really interested in non-fiction lately and had to have a book on Australia. She looked through it 3 times when we got home. As luck would have it a nearby Arboretum had "Australia Days" on Saturday and Sunday. So we loaded up Sunday morning and headed up to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior, AZ in the Tonto National Forest.

This place was awesome! We learned about didgeridoos, eucalyptus trees, succulents, and cacti from all over the world. We saw a dam, sculptures, and amazing views. There were also plenty of things to keep the kids interested year-round; a maze, a cool rain stick, other intruments, and a human sundial.
The special thing we got in on (we could have made our own didge, but it was $50!) was a reading of "Wombat Stew." The kids loved it! After the story all the kids were given worms, flies, or dirt to add to a real stew that they were able to eat. The smiles on girls' faces filled me with joy.

I'm so happy that my kids enjoyed hiking, learning, and exploring. And I must say that I'm pretty darn proud of Kayleigh, but I'll save that for another post!

Making cookies with Zoe

This is the way we make a cookie, make a cookie, make a cookie.
This is the way we make a cookie with princess dreams and magic.

Wow! You can tell so much by a person by the songs that get stuck in their head.

Zoe and I had fun making cookies today.

And eating them for lunch!

my colorful kids

I know, I know. Pictures of the kids are a lot more fun, but I'm proud of their creativity so I want to document it. Kayleigh and Zoe have a "Go Club" and they asked us all if we would join. Of course we couldn't say no! "There are no meetings and it doesn't cost a thing."

"Zoe was the first to join. Now we have hundreds of people in our club." I asked Kayleigh what they did in her club and from what I gather it's pretty much everything from helping families in need to coloring pictures of My Little Pony.

We had a bit of the stomach flu going around our house for about a week so we were comming up with lots of things to do. These signs seemed to be a hit.

Kayleigh does have a love of animlas and Zoe loves her sweets. I wonder what they will really be when they grow-up?

Zoe does love to eat, but at all the wrong times. I guess she likes to graze... Anyways... Tonight, when I went to do my last check on the girls before I go to bed, I kind of woke Zoe. In her sleep she put out her hand and said, "I won't eat it!" Geesh! I thought I was eating dinner with her all over again.

I just love those little girls so much!!!

back to life, back to reality

Yesterday was back to life and back to reality. I'm happy to say our Monday went rather well.
Dave and I commented on how much we enjoyed this past week. A week of playing, watching movies, working out, eating out, and naps.


It was a cold and rainy week, but it didn't matter because we had so many toys and games to play with!

I don't know what the kids are doing in the video, but it sure was funny!



Our Tuesday is turning out rather nicely too. Ahhh

Holiday Treats

I'm not one to make cookies, so this holiday season I went for my favorites: chocolate and liquour! Homemade Limoncello


Chocolate and Nutella Truffles with Toffee Butter Peanuts


Cookies and Cream Cake Pops (for my sister's holiday party)

I also made Brown Sugar Apple Syrup and an apple coffee cake, but have no pictures.