...Second Star to The Right,

Out of the Mouth of Babes:

What was you favorite part about going to Disneyland?
Max- Riding Jet Blue!!
Parents- Wow! Okay Max! What about a ride in Disneyland?
Max- Umm, Buzz Light Year and Pirates
Lizzy- I LOVED California Screaming and Soaring' Over California. DREWY was so cute there, he loved it.
Max- I loved that one, that was my favorite too Lizzy.
Rosie- Holding Baby Drew on Small World (about 5 times), and loosing my tooth by the Matterhorn.
Max- Yea Matterhorn! That was my favorite too Rosie!
Rosie- Max, you didn't loose a tooth, I DID!
Max- Oh yea, I know Rosie.
Rosie- And getting my face painted (thanks Aunt Nancy!) with Emily.
Mom- I loved Small World!
Max- Small World was my favorite ride!
Mom- I also loved going at night (thus the super dark picture) and it was so fun to be there with my entire family, my dear Grandparents, Aunt, and Kelly's brother Kurt, our Sis-in-Law Natalie and our cute cousin Emily (on her birthday nonetheless).
Max- I'm going there for my birthday. Nana is coming.
Rosie- I WANT TO GO ON MY BIRTHDAY! CAN I MOMMY! THAT’S NO FAIR!
And, so goes the conversations about our delightful September trip to Disneyland.

Just the Ticket

Amazing. Inspiring. Breath-taking. Super Fun. ****. However you want to critique it, Lion King is super-fab! It was the perfect show to introduce the girls to BROADWAY. Because we did group ticket sales, we were surrounded by our very own "circle of life" and enjoyed every minute of it. I've been bit by the theater bug once again and am itching to book our next show.

And where were the boys you may ask? Why at home having "guy time" where Drew proved to be the star by rolling over for the first time. He apparently forgot the "Mom must be at every milestone" rule.

Doing The Can Can

Back-To-School Theme 2010-2011 is (Ta-Da): I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Both Kel and I are excited about our theme for our young learners. We sensed this year would be a big one academically for each of our children. Lizzy will be learning cursive and her times tables, Rosie will become a reader and Max, well, Max will learn all about listening to a teacher and playing well with others. To help our students believe in themselves (even when it's hard), we made a "I CAN!"Can for FHE. The "I CAN!"s are full of valuable reward coupons just waiting to be redeemed. When our kiddos accomplish something "hard" they get to pick a coupon from their can and away we go.

We shared stories from the scriptures about people who accomplished hard things as well as personal experiences from our own lives. Needless to say, our theme was well received and each child couldn't wait to tackle something hard. Last weekend we had our first coupon redemption drawing and activity which included a movie night with Dad. I'm starting to think I need my very own I CAN can just for staying caught up on homework for 2 children in school instead of just one!

GONE!

And now Drew, for exactly 45 minutes, twice a week, it's just you and me kid!

Going Three Times...

Lastly was Max, off to his first year of Preschool. He's been waiting for his turn for quite some time. A few notable comments after day one-

"First we Learn-ded, then we played" and "I miss-head you Mommy, and Baby Drewy too" and "Tan I have a snack...ice cream?".

Going Twice...

First Day of Kindergarten:

Mom- WOW Rosie, you have put all of your jewelry on...every last piece.

Rosie- Yea. I KNOW. It's my first day of Kind-ear-gotten, so it's fancy.

Mom- Yes, that is fancy, but Rosie you know you don't have to wear every piece of jewelry to be fancy. In fact, sometimes it's better to just to wear your very very favorite, that way people can focus on that one very fancy piece.

Rosie- Hmmmmmm. Okay. But, I'm wearing my gold sparkle shoes.

Later on the way to school-

Mom- Rosie, maybe we shouldn't have you go this year.....maybe you could stay home with me and your brothers for just one more year. Whatcha think?

Rosie- BUT MOM.....I JUST GOT MY NAILS DONE (thanks Nana) and they won't last until next year so I HAVE TO GO THIS YEAR (in a very exasperated tone, head shaking, while holding up her freshly manicured fingers)!!!!

Mom- okay, when you put it like that, I guess you have to go.

And off she went too. My Rosie. My little companion. There were tears.

Going Once....

And she's off to Third Grade. Just like that. No more summer. No more: "Mommy, I can change Drew if you want" or "I can hold Drew for you while you ------- (fill in the blank, it could be a number of things) or "Can I get Drew dressed and pick his outfit?". None. Zip. Zero. Zilch! We're going to miss her on the home front, but, third grade's a blast, so, away she goes.