Rainy Day Fun

Today was a rainy and terrific day. It started with me waking up at 9:30 AM, going to Curves... wait, did I mention that the kids were at Grammy's and Jeremy is just now heading home from Denver? Yep - I had almost 24 hours to myself! My mom was nice enough to have us over for lunch and play yesterday and then to keep the kids overnight. I didn't pick them up until Morgan's schooltime today. Yesterday I went shopping, watched a movie, attended an HOA mtg (darn that civic duty for sucking an hour and a half out of my time! (LOL)) and caught up on some TV shows. It was incredibly relaxing. I stayed up late and then (gasp) was able to sleep through the night uninterrupted. It was sooooo amazing (thank you, thank you, thank you Mom!). The kids had fun too. They love going to Grammy & Grampy's where there is dessert every night, fun and games and they are the stars.

Yesterday cousin Sydney also came over to play at Grammy's. My mom presented us each with a water gun. She had bought them figuring our 110 degree weather was here to stay, but thankfully it hasn't. Here are a few pictures of our water fight before the rain began.

Filling the weapons.

Stick 'em up!

Today after school the kids and I made brownies for our new next door neighbors and played outside in the rain.

First step - add the ingredients.

Next think Dora and "Bate, Bate, Chocolate (choc-o-latte). Mix that chocolate, chocolate (choc-o-latte)."

Most importantly, test the batter.

Brrrrr.... it's cold out here!

Listening to the drip, drop, drip, drip, drop.

Life is fantastic.

Swimming Fun

This afternoon our friends Mary, Anthony & Emily came over for pizza and to swim. All of the kids had a great time. We were out there for almost 2 hours and still had to drag them inside. Adam was already more confident today than yesterday. With his floaties on, he can kick himself across the pool. It was good for Morgan to have Anthony over. She was still a bit nervous yesterday about going under the water (though she could do it last year), but seeing him do it inspired her. I am glad my kids are cautious around water, but I do want them to be confident swimmers. It will be neat to see them grow in their skills over the long, hot summer.

Morgan with her Minnie Mouse kickboard.

Adam swimming laps.

Anthony is a great swimmer!

Emily getting ready for a post-swim snack.

Swim Season Has Begun!

It was 110 degrees out today so I relented and agreed to test the pool water with the kids. There were cold spots and hot spots, but overall the temperature was great! Morgan and Adam were SOOOOO happy. It was hard to get them out. They even started planning a swim party to have with their friends - including what kind of cake we should make. LOL

Standing in the shallow end.

I love my floaties!

Look Mom! I remember how to swim!

MOMS Club Family Picnic

Jeremy, the kids & I joined other families from our MOMS Club for a Family Day Out Picnic at Laveen Village Park. It was hot, but fortunately, the park had a splash pad so the kids could keep cool. Adam for some reason decided to wake up at 3:30 AM this morning and refused to go back to bed or nap that morning. So... needless to say, he crashed in the car at 3:45 PM during the 5 minute drive to the park. He took a nap in the shade for about an hour then joined in the festivities.

Snoozing in the shade.

All I really want to eat are the chips... and maybe that cookie.

Morgan after the splash pad.

Silliness with Dylan.

Connor the Chocolate Monster.

Friends & Fun

Today was another eventful day. We started off the morning with our last MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting of the year. MOPS meets 2x a month during the school year. It is a nice change from MOMS Club because the kids are taken care of by volunteers from the church while the moms get together for a guest speaker, food and rejuvenation. I am not sure if I will go often next year because Morgan will be in Kindergarten and Adam will be in preschool on Thursday mornings. As much as I enjoy the fellowship of MOPS, I am pretty sure I am going to relish my alone time two mornings a week starting in the fall.

After MOPS we headed straight over to Chandler Mall to meet Gina, Mason & Madeline. We hung out at the play area for a while then grabbed a bite at California Pizza Kitchen. We decided to just get a grown-up sized pizza for us to share with the kids and a salad to split. That backfired. There wasn't enough pizza for the kids let alone Gina and me. Note to reader: CPK pizzas are actually pretty small! But, we had fun. The kids were wild. They really get nutty when they see each other. The four of them have been friends forever and they are so themselves and so crazy it is exhausting and yet fun to watch. After lunch, we hit a couple stores then the kids wanted to go to "the playplace with the kitchen stuff". They meant Pottery Barn Kids. We had to ask them to refrain from calling it the playplace in the store. LOL

The 3 M's posing by the fountain at Chandler Mall.

The kids enjoyed getting wet by the fountain.

After PBK, we played for a few more minutes at the play area then said our goodbyes and headed home. Of course, it was about 3:45 so Adam decided to nap. Fortunately, Kimberly called on our way home and invited us over to play. We got to her house after Adam had been out for about a half hour and I woke him up to see Dylan and Connor. I don't think he would have awoken so easily at home - nor so happily. He was groggy for a few minutes, then got straight into playing. I am hoping he burned a lot of energy so he won't be impossible to put to bed tonight. Kimberly and I were both husbandless tonight so she invited us to stay for dinner. It was really nice to catch up with her since she just returned from almost 2 weeks out of town.

Life is good. We have wonderful friends. And I have a terrific hubby who I am looking forward to coming home tomorrow!

Playdates

It is only Tuesday and we've already have several friends over for playdates. Yesterday morning, Paige came over to play while Laura went to the doctor. Then in the afternoon, our friends Spencer & Pierce and their au pair, Maja, came over between preschool and karate. It was nice - Maja ended up staying here with Adam and Pierce so I could workout at Curves after dropping off Morgan and Spencer at karate. My friend Ellen (Spencer & Pierce's mom) had a date with hubby Steve last night so I invited Maja and the kids to stay for dinner. It actually makes my life a lot easier when Jeremy is out of town to have friends over to entertain the kids.

Playing puppet show with Paige.

Cars with Pierce.

Goofing around with Spencer.

This morning, Laura, Mary & I met over at Cindy's house to talk about our upcoming Rocky Point trip. Afterwards, Mary, Anthony, Emily, Morgan, Adam and I headed over to Taco del Mar for lunch then the kids and I brought Anthony home with us for the afternoon. It was a little more stressful than usual because lately it has just been Adam and Anthony so it was a little hard on Adam to have to 'share' his best buddy with his sister. Overall, they did well though. We made space robots and 'phones' (yes, those phones do look an awful lot like birth control pill holders....).

Calling all robots, come in all robots.

Our creations.

Only 3 more sleeps until Jeremy comes home! But who is counting.... (ME!)

Happy Mother's Day & Sydney's Birthday Party

Happy Mother's Day! I didn't get any pictures from today, but let me just say how wonderful it was. The kids and Jeremy got me several new pairs of jammies, Jeremy cleaned the house and we took my mom out to dinner at Macaroni Grill. It was a lovely day.

Below is a picture of Morgan at her preschool Mother's Day presentation. As a group, the kids sang a beautiful song to the moms. Then each child presented his or her mom with a gift they made in class. I received a pretty photo album Morgan decorated and a cd of her being interviewed about me. It was funny and touching to hear what Morgan had to say. She is a gem!

Yesterday we helped Sydney celebrate turning 4 with her friends and family at Tolmachoff Farm. Everyone had a great time! The kids loved petting the animals, playing in the "3 Little Pigs" houses, riding the tractor-pulled train and just playing with their cousin and the other kids.

Little Pigs, Little Pigs... Let me in!

Cousin Callie and the birthday girl.

Grammy, Adam & me keeping cool in the shade.
Morgan and a super soft bunny.

Adam showing me a pig.

Sydney leading the ladybug train.

The ladybug express.

Jeremy and Grampy T racing ducks.

Jeremy showing Grandpa Vern his tricycle moves.

The birthday princess.