Idaho

Madeline, Ellie, Grandma, Grandpa & I went to Idaho for the weekend to celebrate my niece Claire's 2nd Birthday.

Elliot, Claire & Sarah Harwood

they have a cute little house with a nice back yard. They live across the street from Sarah's parents who are rather hospitable, we all stayed there - there yard is a beautiful garden with a pond in the back.

Ellie & momma

Elliot & I have been told we look a lot a like, so they wanted to take pictures & compare. What do you think? I might look good with a goa-T?

Madeline, Claire & on the other side is Ellie (Claire's other cousin) & Ellie. They had a lot of fun!

Claire & Madeline
Claire opening her presents.

It was a LONG drive. hours to CAldwell, ID. going home was close to 9 hrs! stopping for dinner then horrible traffic!.... But it was worth it! I loved seein my little brother, his cute family & where and how they live.

Utah!

Home town/school of David Archuletta!

This one's for you Elizabeth!

Girls SO happy to see Spanky!

Wall (leaf) Flower, again.

You may remember the original ivy, it was pulled out,  this newly sprouted one came back quick and more leaves. I think its rather pretty.

Ellie's 6!

Invitation, we used real sand on the top, and the face and ams are hers.

Under the Sea theme 

Mermaid Cake

Daddy disappeared to take a nap.  I later found out that he took one of my med.'s to relax his nerves, it put him to sleep!  I'm half his size and - they don't knock me out!

Ellie and Jameson got away from the crowed as well to have some alone time too.

POOL TIME!!

(so yes, Christian fixed the pool!)

Schools out for summer!!

Madeline & some friends starting a water fight.

Ellie and her friend Erin, whose moving :(

Ellie with her friend Vincenzo's little brother - who LOVED playing with my shoes!?

I really have been impressed with our school and especially the staff, great kids, great parents - but this year both Madeline and Ellie are loosing close friends - that we had hoped would grow up together!  After school kids met at the park behind our house for a picnic/play date.  

Kindergarden Graduation!

Ceremony

Christian has been leaving late to work this past month or so to get the kids off to school - "cuz of my med.'s I can't get my rear out of bed until at least 10 am.  Luckily the girls know "how" to get ready - they are just not always efficient.  

Ellie had her class graduation this morning and Christian called me with a warning that all the other girls where wearing frilly dresses and that Ellie's hair was a mess.  So I charge on down to the school, pull her out of class, show her the dress and shoes I brought and the plan to fix her hair.  She takes my hand and says "I'm fine mom, I'm fine."  and went back in to her class.  I sighed and assured myself that I was being the better mom by letting her "be(dress)who(how)she wants to.  So I find me a comfy chair anticipating the ceremony.  All went well.  and she looked fabulous sporting her rats nest hair dew. (at least she matches?)

Pool

We started filling up the pool - we ran into some problems, holes.?  They weren't there at the end of summer last year? Anyway, today was is in the three digits!  Christian walked the girls to school just to turn around.  The closed the school!  I never had a school close on me because of a heat wave!  They even sent out a broad cast warning!!

So, here we are, stuck in front of the T.V. trying to stay cool.

Crazy Hair Day!

They had crazy hair day, last week at school.

Ellie has unbrushed hair with three pony tails.

Madeline went for the Dr. Seuss.  We put a cup on top of her 

head and pulled all her hair up around the cup.

Twiners!

Ellie Belle and her best friend Jameson noticed that their shirts "matched"  They were really excited about this, so I had to take a picture.  They are two peas in a pod!

 

I think I'm gonna like it here!

American Doll Anthem.

For some reason I can't get this and "There's no business like show business.." on here - I think they must be to big. When I have time to crop them, I will. To much else going on here to worry about it now!

The Can Can Can!

Madeline's 2nd recital

Madeline's recital was back on the 17th of May. I was waiting to figure out how to add video, So here they are and some pictures too.

Madeline right before, playing the "Can Can" on the piano

Singing "The American Girl Anthem"

Madeline singing "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here".

Get to go home!

Memorial weekend

• Ellie's Owie, parental supervision advised!

Not for the faint of heart!!

BBQ,BBQ, and BBQ.  Memorable? Yes.  We started out by having a wonderful BBQ at the Spencers, conversation and food was perfect until.... Ellie starts crying, Madeline's yelling she has a very high threshold for pain, maybe its because of the brain surgery?  When she cries, she has hurt herself.  So Christian runs into the house and bring Ellie outside, blood on her pants, shirt, hands, face, I might as well say everywhere. Christian removes the moistened paper towel and I forgot to contain my reaction - which of course caused more reaction from everyone, Rebecca saves the day by saying through her teeth "its not the bad."  Anyways, we leave Maddie with our Rebecca and Gary, they make and frost sugar cookies.  We dash off to take Ellie and head to the hospital.  They did 25-30 stitches inside and around 20 on the outside (we have to have removed).  They wrap her arms in a pillow case and then in a blue straight jacket, so we pretended that she was in a cocoon, and she'll come out a butterfly.  I think she fell asleep during the procedure!  They had to do 2 layers of stitches = about 40.  Ouch! 

So, Ellie must be running inside (no witnesses), she must of slipped on the floor matt that is on a well-polished pergo floor - right onto her chin.

• That night we had our 8 (wo)man tent set up on the astroturf, I have to say that was rather cool!  The kids an I decided to surprise daddy, and put the tent up ourselves, I was rather surprised that Christian was anything BUT excited (after 11 years, I always thought he liked camping!) - I guess not.  oops!  Owell the kids had a great time Madeline had her BFF over for the night.  Christian trooped it out but, ironically I was the one ending up in my own bed a t 4 in the morning!  Am I a sissy or what?? 
  

 

Monday, another BBQ, Madeline went swimming - sad for Ellie (can't get her stitches wet), so we took her to Blockbuster and let her pick out a movie.  And she gets a sleepover tonight.

The reason my house looks like this...

Somehow the comments that were made got deleted?  Anyway, I wanted to show you how dirty (this is the cleanest room!) my house has been since I have devoted my self to yard work, mowing, edging, trimming bushes and pruning and planting flowers.  I've really enjoyed this spring.

Some planters on the front porch
Peonies (my fav.!) and another perennial - forgot the name??

Irises, buttercups and peonies.

Really! Girls WANNA have fun!!

We started out with a group of 15 - 20 girls who were planning on going out tonight.  We had a marvelous enrichment activity on emergency preparedness.  We thought it was a perfect night to go because our husbands were already with the kids.  But, unfortunately, the enrichment activities didn't end until 10:30!  So most of the moms were all tuckered out!  These are the few who were still gearing to go!

Mimi bull riding again!  I was rather disappointed, my inner thighs aka "saddle-soar", I was not!  I was really hoping for more inner thigh workout. Especially 'cuz I stayed on alot longer and he rode me a lot harder, go figure? O'Well, I sure we burnt some calories dancing!                      

I know its dark, but you get the idea...I'm ready for the rodeo!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!

As most of you know Christian works for A&E and the History channel.  He works in the studio set where they do exclusive interviews various stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Avril Lavin, Duran Duran, America etc..  Well last week Cindy Lauper came in and I was seriously stoked!  I know I am on this serious rampage for anything 80's - and this just topped the chart!  Madeline was around when I was freaking out talking about some of her various songs, and I mentioned "Time after Time" and she said, "I know that song, isn't it on Napoleon Dynamite."  So Christian was able to use Madeline as her "Big" fan to let her take a picture with Christian (that's for you Julie!).  

She still has her "rainbow" eyebrows & unique lips... but I miss her orange hair!  Other than that, she's aged well!

Spring Break, Day 5!....NY Aquarium

Hurray!  I was feeling rather tired of all the excitment I (we) have had this week.  But we had a rather nice surprise!  Christian took the day off and we headed to Coney Island's New York Aquarium.  It was WONDERFUL having him "tag" along!