Sunday . . .

Today was a lazy day at our house. Both Chris and the girls seem to have colds and after spending money at Walmart, (which seems to be an everyday occurrence around here) we came home and did nothing. The girls and I watched Meet the Robinson while Chris took a nap.

Then the girls and I made chocolate chip cookies (don't worry we washed our hands first). Jessica was having so much fun rolling them out that she was a little upset when I put them in the oven.

All in all it was a great day. With lots of smiles all around.

Now it’s off to clean the kitchen from dinner, straighten up the loft, get lunches together, and all of the other things that need to be done before the beginning of a busy work week.

It’s a Parade

Yesterday Kristin had the unique opportunity to join her about 500 of her closest Brownie Sisters on the warning track of Chase Field. There they walked from one side of the field to the other showing their troop and Girl Scout pride.

After the parade Kristin, her sisters, and their parents stayed to enjoy the game and each others company. Although the Diamondbacks lost in the 10th inning (we left at the middle of the 8th, when we were winning 2-1) a good time was had by all. Kristin and the members of her troop, who were able to come, got to know each other a little better and they socialized with members of other troops too.

Jessica even had a good time. She made many new friends (from Kristin’s troop). For not being into baseball and being in a relatively small area in which to move around and play, she did a really good job.

Daddy even got to come. He had a good time too and he was a big help.

Chris is off . . . YEAH!!

Yep, Chris has started his weekends off and after a very long week at work (seven day’s straight) we enjoyed our first of many weekends together as a family. We weren’t alone though. We escaped the heat and headed north. Chris wanted to be able to see his high school (Coconino) get trampled, mowed over and just plain beat (oh did I say that? I’m an Eagles gal all the way) by the opposing Phoenix team. The next morning we headed to mom and dad’s in Rim Rock where he spent his hard earned money on a new rifle.

Chris and the girls also had a chance to visit with Grandma and Grandpa. Kristin loves to play school with Grandma. She is so patient with both of the girls. Kristin and Jessica just adore their Grandma and Grandpa.

Kristin and Jessica had a great time with Nana and Papa too. Papa took Kristin on the “mini hummer” to get ice for Nana, while Jessica played ball with Cosmo or did puzzles with Nana. Kristin and Nana played games and did crafts together. Kristin just loves playing and spending time with her Nana and Papa.

With Chris off we will be spending more time with both sets of grandparents. Chris has already made plans for several visits. But they both get a break this weekend.

The last dog day of summer

Why do they call them the dog days of summer anyway?

Well, today is the last day of summer, Labor Day, although here in the desert it seems to last until November, where it is cool for about 3 days. In honor of this so called last day of summer the girls and I went swimming.

I loaded Kristin and Jessica into the car and drove to my parents condo in Scottsdale were we spent time playing and swimming in the warm waters of the community pool. The girls had such a great time. Jessica jumped in the pool and Kristin went diving for diving sticks. We had an all around good time even though Daddy couldn’t join us and we missed him.

The next time we go Daddy will get to join us since he starts his weekends off this week. YEAH!!!

Jessica (thinking of Daddy)

I can get the diving sticks

I'll save you Jessica

Look at me

Aren't we cute

What Cute Kids I have

Company

On Monday my mom’s cousin Dick came into town from San Francisco. Why he would come to the desert in August is beyond me. Actually he says he likes the heat (he wants to move here) and he wanted to cook us dinner, which he did on Thursday. He cooked a scrumptious meal of steak, potatoes, chicken and corn on the cob. It was wonderful. Really Dick, how was the potato? For desert he brought a Gilbert/Mizer/Poland favorite . . . brownies. Boy, were they good.

We all had a wonderful time visiting and I am hoping he will come out for Christmas this year.

I’ll keep looking for a house in the neighborhood for you.

What a week!!

It all started on Monday, after school, at dismissal time. It started with a raindrop and turned into a torrential downpour. By the time all the kids were in their respective cars the staff was not just wet but drenched. It rained so hard and so much that if I had shampoo I literally could have taken a shower. I think my shoes are still wet. That was just the beginning of the fun. Turned out the wind and rain were so strong it flooded the gym of the school and several classrooms. We spent the next hour sweeping water out of the gym. Once I got home and was able to dry out and watch the news it turned out the winds at the airport topped 70 mph, even flipping airplanes over.

Flash forward to Thursday, again another monsoon storm, this one hitting in the evening hours. This storm was estimated to be 45 miles wide and 100 miles long. Well, you can guess what happened at school . . . flood. What a mess!!

For an hour there was a continually rumble from thunder and the sky was brightly lit by the continual cloud to cloud and cloud to ground lightening. Even though Thursday storm raised havoc, it was fun to watch and listen to.

Something new . . .

In our house. Our youngest, Jessica, will soon be turning 2, which means she is getting to be a BIG GIRL. For the past two months or so she has been coming to Chris or me to tell us that she is wet. So that started a half hearted attempt to potty train. Well today we took a serious step toward diaper independence . . . a potty all her own.

Today, Kristin and I took Jessica to pick out her very own potty. She was torn between two of them but with a little encouragement from her big sister (come on Jesse pick this one) Jessica picked out a Pooh Bear Potty.


After dinner Kristin and I took it out of the box and set it up for Jessica. She’s not so sure what to do with it. As you can see she thinks it is something to play in. Eventually I was able to get her to sit on it. Although nothing happened she seems to be excited (for the time being) to have her own little potty. And I am happy to be on the road to no more diaper changes, although to tell you the truth, it is a little sad to think she is getting so big.

What happened to my babies?

Kristin 6 months

Jessica 1 month

Just as I finish putting the pictures in . . . Jessica brought her potty into the living room and went potty. YEAH!!!! What a BIG GIRL