Back to School Breakfast

Back to School Crowns
waiting for them when they woke up this morning.

Jake sang the ABC song when he saw his "J" pancake.

I loved that Isabel appreciated the special breakfast.

We all love pancakes with whipped cream
& sprinkled chocolate chips.....

especially me. :)

Fresh fruit and vanilla glazed cinnamon muffins
with sprinkled powdered sugar.

After breakfast, Jake picked up his swords (he sleeps
with them). Notice Dad that he's already broken the top off
one of them. No matter. He's the type of kid who learns how to
make do--notice his bottoms serve as a holster.

Then the prince & princess engaged in a sword fight.

Okay, so Nie Nie inspires me.....though my back to school celebration is on a lighter scale and recognizably less cooler. Still, I'm okay with copying a person like her. Imitation is the highest form of flattery is it not? The kids left those crowns on for hours. We are all so excited for the new school year. Jake did so well at his orientation. Made me happy. And Isabel lucked out with an awesome teacher. Holy crap! Off subject...my desk is next to a huge window looking out into our backyard and I just saw the most amazing bird on our tree. I mean, it was bright yellow, with a little bit of red, and a bit of blue---totally tropical. So beautiful and yet confusing since I live in the desert. Alright, had to get that out. Anyway, we send our best to the family for a happy start of the fall semester. Special shout outs to Caity in her last semester of nursing school--woo hoo! Patti teaching seminary again--woo hoo! And all of our super smart kiddos heading to school--woo hoo! Ya, I know, that was one too many woo-hoos.

"Hoarders" was brought to my attention this week (thank you Entertainment Weekly). This my friends is why I studied psychology. Absolutely fascinates me. Check it out on A&E.

Threw this one in there for fun.
If you look closely (or maybe enlarge the photo),
you can see Darth Vader's eyes staring right back at you.

*Snapshots of Isabel*

I don't have any pictures of her piano & dance recitals.
Isabel did get some professional pictures done in her dance costume (80's Madonna style) but I haven't gotten them
back yet. She & I are both excited for the summer--
but before we know it, she'll be headed into the 2nd grade.

It wouldn't be Jake if he didn't have some kind of
scratch/bump/bruise on his face.

He has started smiling for the camera though,
squinted eyes and all.

Sitting still for but a moment while watching TV.

Sporting his 'Superman' cape....

while climbing on my furniture.

And Jake had absolutely no problem sticking out his butt
so I could take a picture of my FAVORITE underwear.

New haircut.

Saying "cheese".

Matthew's old t-shirt.

Jake, the rascal.

Sponge-curls.

Dalmation-print ribbon.

Gymboree ensemble.

Isabel, the first grader.

He's Two!

Jake is showing a little attitude right after
blowing out his two candles. He was happy once
he stuck his whole face in the cupcake.
He also loves to give hugs and kisses.
He is wild as ever;we officially have a leash
for him now. Still, life is good.

The Latest...

Isabel on June 3rd, the day of her
end-of-kindergarten celebration.
The next day (which was the actual last day of school)
she lost her two front teeth. She was as happy as could be.
She is SO ready for 1st grade. We are both excited.

So on her first day of summer break, she wanted to do
something special, like get her haircut. She had been
begging me for a while. Her best friend Kaitlyn has short hair.
Well, I figured, hair grows back, so why not?

The girl loves to play will play with Jake's toys.
Jake just got a really cool tool bench for his birthday
and she said to me, 'Mom, when Jake goes down for a nap,
I'm going to play with it, so DON'T put it in his room'.

Fun at the Springs Preserve

In May, when the weather was nicer, we all went to the
Springs Preserve (www.springspreserve.org).

There was a lot to see---and next year they will even add to it all with the NV State Museum and some other building devoted to everything about water. I can't remember the name because it was a month ago--and I've noticed I'm starting to have trouble with my memory these days.

There was a cool play area for the kids
with desert-type animal creatures.

Then they had a little concert in an amphitheater
and the kids gladly joined in.

We watched the show.

And Alexa watched Jake.
She is really great at helping us chase after him.

Getting there.....

I'm not completely back to where I was before I got sick last year, but I'm working on it. Last year Miss posted a picture of her running the half-marathon, the one I was supposed to run as well but had my fourth surgery just days before. So here's mine of this year's half-marathon when I was crossing the finish line--or basically when I thought my legs might fall off.

But somehow I managed to do it, just like Missa said I could. I ran (and quite slowly I might add-especially towards the end) 13.1 miles without stopping. So, what do I have to say about it? I LOVE aerobics. I just got back tonight from my 'Extreme Knockout' Kickboxing Aerobic class with weights and ab training---and I LOVE it. I missed all last week because we had a terrible stomach virus and strep-throat here in my house, so I'm SO happy to be back. Aerobics is definitely the right exercise for me. Running, not so much--but I do like it. And I'm going to keep doing it. I don't however think that I'll ever be as fast as Garett, Melissa & Kelly. You guys ROCK! Thanks for an awesome experience. And maybe I'll even do the half-marathon again next year. I heard a rumor that Caity might be in. Yahoo!

Jake is actually cooperating in this picture--for once.

The shade makes this picture a little dark but the shot shows a full view of their new t-shirts from Mini-Boden. Have you ever ordered anything from Boden? I love the look of their clothes.
He was doing this on purpose. The little stinker.

Isabel was trying to help by holding him back from running in the street. We have a similar picture of Alexa holding Isabel back. He's at the impossible picture-taking phase.

Managed to get this ONE shot of his Easter outfit.


Jake again on Sunday (with a new haircut) wearing a Polo shirt Papa & Grandma bought him last year that gratefully still fits. I wish I had some updated pictures of Lexa but she's been traveling all month. We will see her again in May---but then she's off again for the month of June for her World Championships. Hopefully I will get some up of her soon.