A Reflective Moment

As humans we must be creatures of habit. Every night I have the habit of walking the home, checking doors, turning out lights, adjusting the A/C (yup, still in October - yuck), and making sure the girls are good. Some nights I can just tell they melted in bed the hours before. This was one of those nights. They didn't even move when the flash went off right in their faces! Exhausted! We took them to the Fall Carnival at the school last night and I think that wore them out in conjunction with a full day. You will note the face painting from the Carnival on Neeley's face.

One of my favorite times as a parent is the "quiet time" in their room while they are asleep. I find myself standing over them, proud, nervous for the world they face, wondering if I am doing enough, praying for their success, praying they will be kind to others, and reflecting on our journey as a family. It's truly one of my favorite things in my day. Getting 'em to bed...not so much.

I received a call from Hattie's Vice Principal that she was being recognized as a "good citizen and student." He called me at work and said her teachers nominated her because she is a joy to have in class, a good student (she's gone from reading level 10 - 20 so far this year), a friend to all, and extremely helpful to her teachers. We all know this is due to her outstanding MOTHER. I'm proud of little Hattie. She's a really good kid.

Friday Nite Fun!

We had a campout. We love to camp, but for some reason 2008 has yeilded ZERO camping trips. I'm sure we know why - its been a slightly wild year, but in the end our trips add up to nada! So...upon arriving home on Friday from work we set up the tent in our backyard and set out for a night of adventure. Fortunately, temps are perfect here right now. We enjoyed stars and our firepit. Since it was last minute we lacked marshmallows for roasting, but other than that we were good. The gals were begging to do it the next night. Times like these make being a parent kinda fun.

Random Shots of Our Last Week

A WEEK IN THE LIFE!

Neeley's soccer pictures! She was sad during the game and a little overwhelmed at the choas. But Aubrey and Chloe Worthen were there to help! We love our family and were so glad these two were there to cheer Neeley on.

The Cousins!

Hattie's FINAL (for the rest of her life final) birthday dinner with Grandma & Grandpa Great (aka Grandama/Grandpa Gum). The first picture with all the kids: We pulled out the cupcakes and the kids playing on the playground came over to have one. It was kinda funny - they simply showed up, sat up, and ate up. Yes, there are a couple we know, a couple of cousins, but ultimately we didn't know any of them. Kinda funny.

Hattie and Grandma Great!

Hiking up the mountain behind Grandma and Grandpa's House in California

Gathering Acorns

Ogres that Love Cupcakes: A Love Story

Birthdays. Wow, what a nightmare. Someone send us the the chapter from Proper Parenting textbook...we need help. Does such a book exist? I mean a real textbook, none of these "how to" books in Barnes and Noble where you follow the book but your kids don't? Sigh.

So, it feels like it has been Hattie's birthday all week. From school attention to gifts sent in the mail, dropped off, etc...(and very kind). It has gone on all week. And at the end of the week this sweet six year old has morphed to a large over-sized ogre with jagged teeth and a hankering for cupcakes.

By Saturday night our kids were very burnt out and beyond onry. You know the kind I'm talking about - all over the place, fighting, screaming, beating each other and thus creating very, very angry parents. It was one of those times where you look at your spouse and say "when do we get a vacation?" Sometimes, and I'm not afraid to admit it, kids stink. We are crazy about our kids, but sometimes they make us...well...er...CRAZY!

Yesterday was our first experience with little league. Both Hattie and Neeley are signed up for Soccer. By last night Hattie cried and cried on the field of a bunch of kids smiling and ready to play. I'm sorry, I couldn't even take a picture. I was bugged at the soccer leauge for booking a game for a six-year-old at 5pm but was even more bugged that my daughter that wanted to play was turning to mush on the field and no one knew how to help her. Eventually we scooped her up and took her home. The week long birthday monster had to go home, put on her fuzzy slippers, brush her teeth and go to bed. It was time to end this marathon of a week.

And then some guy, not knowing I was Hattie's Dad, pointed to her meltdown on the field and said, "You know her parents never bring her to practice so she doesn't feel part of the team." In all fury I turned around and said, "I'M HER DAD! She has been to one practice out of the two we held and I don't recall seeing your son at that practice." And then he had the nerve to tell me that she should have shin guards on or she is going to get hurt. We left them in home while taming the beasts. Dude, this guy was about to get a fist...not to mention all the overbearing parents more into this than their kids. Sorry, that's not me and I was already a man on the edge.

So today is Sunday and we still aren't over it. The beasts still rage. When will we learn? I think from this we have come to a couple of conclusions:

• No sleepovers
• Sleep is good
• Husbands and wives should go away together, often
• Birthdays are just that...a day. No more "dinner here, party there, etc..."

What a life. Such novices - we brought this on ourselves. We have no one else to blame. All is well.

Disneyland, Beach & Family

We've had a great trip to Southern California! We were so "nose-to-the-grindstone" for months that it was good to separate ourselves from our routine and head out-of-town. We've had a great time! From early morning trail runs, to hiking, to Disneyland, to the beach we've enjoyed every minute. And then last night we were able to attend a family event too on my side of the family. It was great to be there, good to be in their home and great to see my family too!


The start of the day! Check out the excitement on their faces!!!

I had to put this picture in even though it turned out blurry (I STRONGLY dislike my camera). Hattie's kindergarten teacher was at Disneyland the same day and sent us a text message that she wanted to see Hattie for a quick picture and hug. How cool is that? Seriously, we have the best teacher ever. Hattie thought this was very cool. Thanks Mrs. Willis!!!!

Here are the kids playing at AnneMichelle's and Jeremy's home in San Diego area after the baptism. My kids love playing with Christian and Jack (they are very good boys!) and are very kind to Hattie and Neeley. They played and played on the lawn in blankets. Jack is under the blue blanket at the right. The other kids are the Harris family, friends of the Drews.

Here they are: Christian, Jack, Hattie and Neeley. They didn't want to leave and asked if "they could come back tomorrow." They didn't want to go home.

Fun trip!

Hattie's Class & Taani's Quilt

The quilt is finished - great work Taani! What a cool project...read more below from our local paper today. Can you find Hattie? HINT: She's on the right.

Sierra kids getting creative by Travis Roemhild

This is not the first and probably will not be the last time you hear about the creative efforts by Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary students.
A program has been running for over a month now in which the kids come in on their lunch break to put together items for a different group each month.
Last month, the kids involved with We Power put together over 300 necklaces with a personal note attached for the children of the Crisis Nursery in Phoenix.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, parent Lindsey Worthen comes to the school to help the kids in the creative process. This month they are making Tootsie pop flower bouquets for soldiers in Iraq, who will then pass them out to the children over there.
"The kids love it," Carolyn Payne, kindergarten teacher at Sierra, said. "It is really their first opportunity to give something they made to someone else."
Each day, the students can come in for their whole lunch hour and put together as many items of the month as they can.
"It's great to see that they are showing compassion for other people," Payne said.
There are even more endeavors being undertaken at Sierra to show support for the military in Iraq.
The kids in Michelle Willis' kindergarten class recently put together a quilt (stiched by Taani Secrist) which displays all 21 of their handprints in the shape of a heart. The quilt will be shipped to Willis' nephew Heath Borland, who was recently redeployed to Iraq.
"I just love it," Willis said of the quilt. "It's just great because a lot of people helped to work on it."
Willis said her class will continue to correspond with the soldier. Ever since he was first deployed, Willis has had her class each year write letters and send gifts to the 23-year-old from Mesa.
Borland visits the classroom and speaks about his experiences each time he returns home. He last visited on Aug. 19.

Dads & Doughnuts Day!

Today Dads were invited into the classroom for doughnuts and milk. We had a great time. The invitation below was sent home informing us of the event. To say Hattie has an amazing teacher is an HUGE understatement. We are so thankful for Mrs. Willis and her helpers - what a teacher! She deserves to make millions!