Zoo Trip

On September 15, Jason and I took Brooke and Brylee to the zoo for the morning. It was quite a strange feeling being there without Bayleigh, and when she found out about the trip, she was quite disappointed. I think that has been the hardest part of Kindergarten for her...wondering what she is missing out on while she is at school.

The trip was a fun one, and it was nice to spend that one on one time with Brooke and Brylee. They really tried to act the part of "big girls," and Jason and I shared many laughs over their funny quirks.

Brylee giving the Komodo dragon statue a kiss

Brooke checking the statues nose for boogers

Riding the statue while yelling "yee haw!"

Daddy and Brylee at lunch...the highlight of our picnic was the squirrel eating our crumbs at our feet

Looking for a rhino

Me and my beautiful little girls...rhino in the background

Brylee and Jason...just spotted a lion!

Sassy Brooke enjoying a snack

The cute hedgehog we got to see up close

Brylee...can't believe how fast their growing up

Brooke...striking a pose

Looking cool in our shades

No question who these girls look like!

End of Summer Fun

As the nights are finally starting to get cooler here in Arizona, the pool temperatures are starting to drop. Now, if only our daytime temperatures could do a better job of following this cooling trend. Anyway...here at our house, we are trying to get in all our last minute pool time before it becomes too cold to enjoy. So on September 12, we had a playdate with some of Bayleigh's long-time friends, Collin and Carter. I've know these boys since before they were born, and they have always looked out for my girls like little sisters. Now between Carter and Bayleigh there is 2 1/2 years difference in their age, and they have such a special relationship. Although Carter would never own up to playing baby dolls, barbies, or having tea parties, he would do just about anything for Bayleigh. Joanna, his mom, and I have listened in on them having long conversations or playing with each other for hours. When Carter was younger he used to always test the water (situations that might get him in trouble) by sweet talking Bayleigh into doing it first. We were lucky enough to catch a surprise picture of them enjoying one of their private tea parties in the backyard.

Brylee...getting ready to do a cannon ball

Brooke...at the beginning of the summer she was unsure about swimming, and now she is the last one out of the pool

Bayleigh and Carter looking cool in their shades

Group shot...Brooke on the left, Brylee on the right

Bayleigh's School Swim Meet

Thursday, September 9th Bayleigh's school had their annual swim meet. As part of their PE classes they get the opportunity to swim for the first month of school. Considering that the temperatures outside are still over 100 degrees most days, this is a favorite with all the kids. After demonstrating all the water safety skills they learned, the kids got a chance to race across the width of the pool. Although I would have been proud of Bayleigh whatever the outcome...she flew across that water and took 1st place!!! I am convinced that she got her competitive gene from her Daddy. Here is a video of the big race.

Playing Catch Up - Part 3: Girly Girlz Party

On August 21, the girls were invited to a birthday party for one of their good friends, Eva. Her party was at a precious little boutique that catered to kids called Girly Girlz. It was an under-the-sea tea party, where the girls were made up into glamorous mermaids, complete with braids, hair glitter, make-up, manicures, tails, and accessories. Once everyone was as glamorous as they could get, all the mermaids sat down for lunch, cupcakes, and tea. My girls had so much fun, and I just wanted to share a few pics with you.

Bayleigh getting hair glitter.

Brylee getting her mermaid braid.
Brooke getting a mermaid-style manicure.

The fancy little sister mermaids.

Bayleigh and her best friend Sopia

Mermaid Brooke

Mermaid Brylee

Playing Catch Up - Part 2: Brooke and Brylee's Swim Lessons

August was also a big month for Brooke and Brylee. This month they got to take a class each Monday for swimming lessons. I must admit that after their first class, I was a little discouraged about their progress. They seemed distracted and off-task, and I worried that they weren't ready for it, BUT every week after that they continued to WOW me with all the skills they quickly acquired. By the end of their class, the could both swim underwater and flip to their back to rest or get more air. They loved diving in shallow water for rings and jumping off the side. Way to go girls! Mommy is so proud of you.

Hugs before their lesson. Brooke in pink, Brylee in the print

Me and their teacher working with them.
I love my little fishes:)

Sassy Brooke...she loves this Barbie leotard and always wants to swim in it.

Brylee...it took everything in her to wait her turn to get in the water.

Playing Catch Up - Part 1: Bayleigh Starts School

I know that I previously posted how I was going to do better about keeping my blog updated, and I know that I failed miserably. I am constantly thinking about the stories that I should put up on my blog, but finding the time to do it is much more difficult. Although I won't go back too far, I am going to backtrack a little to a VERY important day...August 16, 2010, Bayleigh's first day of Kindergarten.

Now, I must start by sharing with you that this is the FIRST time Bayleigh has ever been away from me. With my teaching degree, as well as the blessing of getting to stay home with my girls, I never saw any reason to put Bayleigh in preschool. That being said, this day was VERY hard on me. Even as we bought her uniforms and school supplies, the reality of it all still hadn't set in, but in that last weekend before school started, I realized that our lives would soon be different forever.

As for Bayleigh's school, we chose to enroll her Thunderbird Christian Elementary School. It is an Adventist school, and since we attend Camelback Seventh Day Adventist Church, a church that helps to support the school, a portion of her tuition is subsidized by the church. We loved the campus from the first time we saw it, and the small, family-like group of faculty is top-notch. An added bonus is that we live only 3 1/2 miles from the school.

Bayleigh had so many questions about how things worked, what she would do each day, and how long she would be there for. She slept well the night before, but woke VERY early. She beamed with pride as I braided her hair and added some special touches of lip gloss and perfume. We were fortunate to have both of our parents come over before school for pictures and to see her off. As I sat beside her on the ride to school, it took everything I had to hold back the tears and act excited for her. I could tell she was a little nervous, but she was more than ready to move on to this next phase in her life.

So as I watched my beautiful daughter walk to class with a fancy pink backpack on, so many memories flooded my mind. I thought of the first time I held her in my arms, and how she kept sticking her tiny pink tongue out between her bright red lips. I also thought about all the times she would get in my closet and put on my high heels, and parade through the house...clip-clopping all the way. I thought of how she would lay beside me, hours at a time, when I was on bedrest while pregnant with the twins. I can still hear her sweet 2 year old voice saying, "Mommy, tell me a tory of when you a little gurl." She would smile at me and gaze into my eyes and heart as I told her all of my stories.

With my eyes glassed over, I helped Bayleigh hang her backpack up, put her supplies in her cubby, snap a picture with her precious teacher, Ms. Gloria, and finally find her spot on the floor. It took everything I had to peel myself away from her, and as I walked out of her class, a few tears finally slipped out. I was lucky enough to share these precious moments with my own mother, who reminded me of the how it seemed like only yesterday that she saw me off to Kindergarten and now she was watching me do the same with my own daughter. Moments like these are reminders of how we have to cherish every second with our children and loved ones...time flies.

Brooke and Brylee give Bayleigh morning snuggles to start her day off.

Showing off her new school clothes.

Our little school girl

My precious daughter making her way to class.

Bayleigh and her teacher, Ms. Gloria

Bayleigh 2009 Recital

Click here to view this photo book larger