I remember feeling this way when I first saw Kayla in her acting class.
That feeling of, "Oh, this is like- your THING"
You're GOOD at this!
Today Collin had his first swimming lesson which he insisted that he NOT go to.
I encouraged him to try it though because he needs to be able to swim here in AZ.
It's not just fun, it's a necessity.
Well as soon as he got in the water with his teacher I was practically standing up cheering the entire time.
I had NO IDEA that he was that comfortable and natural in the water.
The teacher had him diving to the bottom of the pool to get toys, floating on his back by himself and swimming with his face in the water to her (with some assistance)
within 20 minutes.
The best part was that he really really enjoyed it. He wanted to do everything again and again and was laughing and smiling the whole time.
Watch out Michael Phelps! :)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Palm Trees
After a long week, Tim finally arrived yesterday with our moving truck.
What a fantastic day! Everyone worked so hard (and in a 106 degree heat no less)
and our "rental house" turned in to a home.
Some across-the-street neighbors came by to welcome us and it happened to be a kindergarten teacher from Kayla's school and her 4 kids.
One of the girls is a 6 year old who lo and behold, happens to be in Kayla's class!
Kayla and Collin got to go and play with the kids at their house for a while yesterday and Kayla had a new buddy upon arriving at school today.
Since Tim was home this morning and Collin was tired and wanted to lay down, Kayla and I walked to school by ourselves.
After I dropped her off with a cup of coffee in my hand (people here think I'm weird that I still like to drink hot coffee, and not iced coffee... LOL)
I walked home alone.
Wow- you notice so much more around you when you don't have chatty or whiny kids with you. I felt a sudden sense of luck and amazement that I was walking from Kayla's school to my house under palm trees.
Palm Trees!!!! All around me... palm trees and loud tropical-sounding birds.
Whenever I am missing Colorado, or irritated about the heat here, I am just going to look up at the palm trees
What a fantastic day! Everyone worked so hard (and in a 106 degree heat no less)
and our "rental house" turned in to a home.
Some across-the-street neighbors came by to welcome us and it happened to be a kindergarten teacher from Kayla's school and her 4 kids.
One of the girls is a 6 year old who lo and behold, happens to be in Kayla's class!
Kayla and Collin got to go and play with the kids at their house for a while yesterday and Kayla had a new buddy upon arriving at school today.
Since Tim was home this morning and Collin was tired and wanted to lay down, Kayla and I walked to school by ourselves.
After I dropped her off with a cup of coffee in my hand (people here think I'm weird that I still like to drink hot coffee, and not iced coffee... LOL)
I walked home alone.
Wow- you notice so much more around you when you don't have chatty or whiny kids with you. I felt a sudden sense of luck and amazement that I was walking from Kayla's school to my house under palm trees.
Palm Trees!!!! All around me... palm trees and loud tropical-sounding birds.
Whenever I am missing Colorado, or irritated about the heat here, I am just going to look up at the palm trees
Friday, August 8, 2008
Arizona living
Well we are here in Arizona and the weather is great.
No, really it is! If you happen to be out doing errands around 3 in the afternoon it is
pure torture getting in and out of the hot car, but the AM and PM are so beautiful.
It's worth it.
We're enjoying all the family time with Chris and my parents (and Tom and Joann when they return).
Collin and I happened to check out a preschool on a whim and we both fell in love with it.
He wanted to stay that very day. We've enrolled him and he has already gone one full morning.
He'll be there Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 11:00.
It is quite a different concept for a preschool, but one that is right out of Collin's dreams!!! :)
It is one HUGE open room with a spinning outdoor merry-go-round type thing (not the best description) right in the middle of the room. There is a tall loft in the corner that looks like a tree house with a pretend family room with leather couches (kid size) underneath. Then there is a big playhouse on one wall.
The other half of the room is more academic with an arts and crafts area, writing tables, rice and sand table, etc.
And they have a curriculum which I love. But most of the morning is broken up by lots and lots of free play.
It looks like a blast! Yet somehow they are managing to teach them sight words and writing and songs, etc.
Kayla started school on Wed at our neighborhood school. We toured the school and happened to randomly meet a first grade teacher and we LOVED her. So I requested her for Kayla and we got her.
Mrs. Lindon is pretty special.
Unfortunately we're getting pretty mixed reviews of everything else in the school from Kayla.
Some of the kids have not been very nice (most of them actually)
The school work is boring and the only thing she seems to really be loving is going through the hot lunch line.
I met with her teacher before school began and discussed my concerns and she promised me she would get Kayla some different things to read and work on within 2 weeks. She asked me to trust her and bear with her and that she'd get there.
There is some other enriching that Kayla might get as well twice a week.
So I am trying to hold on and be patient and give this a good two weeks.
Kayla wants to go back to school and says she loves it, which I can't quite figure out but I'm going with it. :)
I hope to decide by end of next week or the following if we will keep her there or pull her out and wait for a seat in another program. We shall see.
Right now I am just really proud of both kids for taking this move on with such zest and enthusiasm.
Collin is excited about everything which is so nice to see.
And even when a little boy told Kayla he didn't like her yesterday, she told me it didn't make her sad because she still likes
him and that makes her happy enough.
I have punched the boy in the head in my mind, but outwardly, I'm just smiling.
Kayla just likes experiencing school, regardless of the not-so-great stuff, so we're going with it.
Our house is little but wonderful and we're totally enjoying the pool.
Although Collin took a flying leap to Uncle Chris today and came down, mouth to shoulder blade.
Mouth wounds always look bad but add pool water to it.... and basically Collin was dripping blood all over me and the pool as I carried him out. Poor buddy.
Chris's shoulder is pretty sore too.
We painted Kayla's room light green as she requested and Collin's room is blue and he likes it as is.
Nothing else needs to be done to the house so that is nice. We can just focus on living and enjoying.
We are missing Colorado and I even started crying like a lunatic on the phone today wishing Nicky happy 5th birthday.
But for some reason this move still feels totally right. And hopefully that will keep my mind and heart at ease.
No, really it is! If you happen to be out doing errands around 3 in the afternoon it is
pure torture getting in and out of the hot car, but the AM and PM are so beautiful.
It's worth it.
We're enjoying all the family time with Chris and my parents (and Tom and Joann when they return).
Collin and I happened to check out a preschool on a whim and we both fell in love with it.
He wanted to stay that very day. We've enrolled him and he has already gone one full morning.
He'll be there Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 11:00.
It is quite a different concept for a preschool, but one that is right out of Collin's dreams!!! :)
It is one HUGE open room with a spinning outdoor merry-go-round type thing (not the best description) right in the middle of the room. There is a tall loft in the corner that looks like a tree house with a pretend family room with leather couches (kid size) underneath. Then there is a big playhouse on one wall.
The other half of the room is more academic with an arts and crafts area, writing tables, rice and sand table, etc.
And they have a curriculum which I love. But most of the morning is broken up by lots and lots of free play.
It looks like a blast! Yet somehow they are managing to teach them sight words and writing and songs, etc.
Kayla started school on Wed at our neighborhood school. We toured the school and happened to randomly meet a first grade teacher and we LOVED her. So I requested her for Kayla and we got her.
Mrs. Lindon is pretty special.
Unfortunately we're getting pretty mixed reviews of everything else in the school from Kayla.
Some of the kids have not been very nice (most of them actually)
The school work is boring and the only thing she seems to really be loving is going through the hot lunch line.
I met with her teacher before school began and discussed my concerns and she promised me she would get Kayla some different things to read and work on within 2 weeks. She asked me to trust her and bear with her and that she'd get there.
There is some other enriching that Kayla might get as well twice a week.
So I am trying to hold on and be patient and give this a good two weeks.
Kayla wants to go back to school and says she loves it, which I can't quite figure out but I'm going with it. :)
I hope to decide by end of next week or the following if we will keep her there or pull her out and wait for a seat in another program. We shall see.
Right now I am just really proud of both kids for taking this move on with such zest and enthusiasm.
Collin is excited about everything which is so nice to see.
And even when a little boy told Kayla he didn't like her yesterday, she told me it didn't make her sad because she still likes
him and that makes her happy enough.
I have punched the boy in the head in my mind, but outwardly, I'm just smiling.
Kayla just likes experiencing school, regardless of the not-so-great stuff, so we're going with it.
Our house is little but wonderful and we're totally enjoying the pool.
Although Collin took a flying leap to Uncle Chris today and came down, mouth to shoulder blade.
Mouth wounds always look bad but add pool water to it.... and basically Collin was dripping blood all over me and the pool as I carried him out. Poor buddy.
Chris's shoulder is pretty sore too.
We painted Kayla's room light green as she requested and Collin's room is blue and he likes it as is.
Nothing else needs to be done to the house so that is nice. We can just focus on living and enjoying.
We are missing Colorado and I even started crying like a lunatic on the phone today wishing Nicky happy 5th birthday.
But for some reason this move still feels totally right. And hopefully that will keep my mind and heart at ease.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Goodbye Colorado!
Well it is with heavy hearts that we pack up the last of our belongings this morning and get in the car to head to Arizona. Kayla cried until her poor eyes were swollen last night and woke up still feeling a little sad.
Collin goes back and forth between sadness (especially about cousin Nick) to excitement about being by his grandparents and swimming all the time.
I know that when we get in the car the sadness will be replaced by excitement.
We will begin a new chapter in our lives in about 2 hours.
It feels strange to move to a city where the kids are already in school and people's lives are moving along, as ours sort of floats around, unsettled.
But it is also exciting to know that there is a flooded market of houses for us to consider purchasing and schools already in session for us to observe and choose from.
It's almost as if we are getting ready to hand design our life.
There are so many things that are out of our control, but there are so many things that we have choices about. That is exciting!
I pray that we make the right decisions and that we can make them quickly.
I'd like for Kayla to have some friends right away and for Collin to feel some stability.
Well... we're on our way!
Collin goes back and forth between sadness (especially about cousin Nick) to excitement about being by his grandparents and swimming all the time.
I know that when we get in the car the sadness will be replaced by excitement.
We will begin a new chapter in our lives in about 2 hours.
It feels strange to move to a city where the kids are already in school and people's lives are moving along, as ours sort of floats around, unsettled.
But it is also exciting to know that there is a flooded market of houses for us to consider purchasing and schools already in session for us to observe and choose from.
It's almost as if we are getting ready to hand design our life.
There are so many things that are out of our control, but there are so many things that we have choices about. That is exciting!
I pray that we make the right decisions and that we can make them quickly.
I'd like for Kayla to have some friends right away and for Collin to feel some stability.
Well... we're on our way!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Whirlwind week
We have had a whirlwind week of playdates, dinners and goodbyes.
I find myself exhausted today, but feeling very very loved and very
very fortunate. I am in awe of how wonderful our friends and family are.
Each get together we've had has brought an incredible amount of tears or
laughter or both.
I always ask my kids, "How did I get so lucky to end up with the best little
girl in the whole world, or the best little boy in the whole world?"
And they always say, "Well God decided that Mommy!"
I guess he decided that we should have the best friends in the world too!
Some of the highlights of our week include: fun playdates with the VanHorns, Eikangers and Caspers. Dinners with Jackie and Devyn, Christian and the Browns.
And one of my favorite evenings was having Jack and Nicky over for a sleepover.
The kids were perfectly behaved. Jack and Kayla slept in one room and Nicky and Collin in the other. They had lots to talk about and laugh about.
We made sundaes, watched a movie and told stories before bedtime.
The night was finished off with doughnuts in the morning.
We will miss those boys terribly!
Today is my free day to tie up loose ends, pack a few boxes and run some errands.
Look for a new address and contact info post soon.
I find myself exhausted today, but feeling very very loved and very
very fortunate. I am in awe of how wonderful our friends and family are.
Each get together we've had has brought an incredible amount of tears or
laughter or both.
I always ask my kids, "How did I get so lucky to end up with the best little
girl in the whole world, or the best little boy in the whole world?"
And they always say, "Well God decided that Mommy!"
I guess he decided that we should have the best friends in the world too!
Some of the highlights of our week include: fun playdates with the VanHorns, Eikangers and Caspers. Dinners with Jackie and Devyn, Christian and the Browns.
And one of my favorite evenings was having Jack and Nicky over for a sleepover.
The kids were perfectly behaved. Jack and Kayla slept in one room and Nicky and Collin in the other. They had lots to talk about and laugh about.
We made sundaes, watched a movie and told stories before bedtime.
The night was finished off with doughnuts in the morning.
We will miss those boys terribly!
Today is my free day to tie up loose ends, pack a few boxes and run some errands.
Look for a new address and contact info post soon.
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