everyday life

She's kind of a big deal

Ava has pretty much had the best week of Kindergarten EVER!  Last week was incredible for lots of reasons and this week is going to be the same.  To fully appreciate this I need to back up and give some history.  In February Ava got really sick and was home from school for 8 long, movie filled, brain relaxing days!  She was excited to go back and see her friends but we quickly realized how far she had fallen behind.  She was getting frustrated and so was I!  She goes to a Charter school that has extremely high expectations and every week she has a 15 word spelling test, 10 phonograms on the same test and 3 weeks ago they started applied spelling (they get 3 sentences they have to write when the teacher reads it) all on the same test.  There is also Math homework every night and a Poem they have to learn and recite to the class on a monthly basis.  I have no doubt she is getting the best education possible and until her sickness she was keeping up just fine.  She is also a very 'young' kindergartner.  I spoke with her Teacher and she suggested a one on one approach with her as the Tutor.  I was soooo on board! 

So last week was the first week where she was receiving Tutoring 2 times in the week.  She came home on Thursday after the practice test with 100% on all three sections (spelling, phonograms & applied spelling!)!!!!!  OH.MY.GOSH!  She was over the moon excited and knew she wouldn't have to take the test on Friday!  When I went to pick her up on Friday (her favorite day beacuse she gets pizza for lunch) she was waving a red piece of paper and she had a huge smile on her face!  This was the best....she was named Kindegarten V.I.P. for this coming week!  As if the spelling test wasn't enough this really had her smiling!  We took some time to celebrate at In-n-Out where she told me exactly what her friends said and how the teacher told the class and what exactly she got to do this week and, and, and!  She wouldn't stop talking.  That night she thanked Heavenly Father for letting her be the V.I.P.!  Our first job was to put together a poster that would be displayed in class for the week.  It was to be a retrospective of her 5 years.  We had fun putting that together yesterday and I thought this would be a nice way for her to share with her friends a little bit more about why she is small and what her 'heart bump' is all about. 

She had a great day at school and was just so happy all morning and this afternoon when I picked her up!  I'm so glad we've started the Tutoring.  She feels so much more confident and the Teacher has said that it is changing how she acts in class too!  Nice!  The V.I.P. enjoys fun activities all week and I just know the Dinner table is going to be my most favorite place all week!  Listening to her stories and watching her face LIGHT up is the best!

Apparently my scrapbook room is still good for something!  I didn't spend a single dime on this poster creation!  ;)

Congratulations to my sweet girl!

{everyday life}

I was thinking the other day how ironic that my Blog title is "everyday life" and lately all I've blogged about are the "events"!  HA!  So here are a few pictures of our everyday, imperfect, lovely life.....

We sit out front and the girls fight over who gets to sit in my chair in between Toyota Cruiser rides.

When all is right in the world and the moons are alligned with the stars, Bailey will let Ava help her eat her mac-n-cheese!  Sometimes.

We LOVE playing in the backyard with Bubbles!  The girls will dance around and pop as many as possible!

And this prize.....well, up until now she couldn't get the caps off the markers so having markers out around an unattended 2 year old really wasn't a problem!  UNTIL NOW!  :)  It only took 2 baths to completely get it off!  I know, I know....stellar parenting!

Spring Break is officially over and now we will be counting down to Summer!  The days are getting warmer and the last month of school will be difficult for me I just know it!  The girls will both be starting swimming lessons again very soon in preparation for our summer activities. 

Life is pretty good around here and although difficult at times and not at all perfect, we love it.

 

Phoenix Zoo

After living here for almost 4 years we finally made a trip to the Zoo!  In Salt Lake we had a pass and the zoo was so easy to get to that we went all the time!  It's been harded here with school, nap & baby schedules.  We took the Mascorro's up on their offer and enjoyed an 80 degree morning watching the animals.  The girls always have fun together even though it was getting hot and sticky by the time we left!  Ken was in California for the weekend so we all came home and enjoyed nice long naps.  A very nice day!

Bailey insisted on carrying around her Jesse, Woddy & Bullseye figurines!  Well, we lost Jesse somewhere along the way and I'm still bugged by it!  :(  I guess I've seen Toy Story too many times. Hahaha! I feel bad for little Jesse!  Not to mention, Bailey keeps asking where she is!  We'll probably be at the Disney store very soon.

How we haven't lost the Dora sunglasses yet is also a mystery to me?!

Telling these 3 to 'say cheese' always turns into a comedy routine.....a very loud one!

 

Ava is on Spring Break this week and we've been enjoying every minute!!!  I didn't realize how trunky I am!  I'm really done with lunches, school pick up, homework, etc.!  :)   A few more months and then we will enjoy lazy mornings, the pool, naps and Sonic Slushies every day!  Aaaaahhhhh.......

una fiesta

We had a little party for Miss B in honor of her second year!  She is still extremely devoted to all things Dora so that was naturally our theme.  I actually didn't do much in the way of hand made party accessories, which I usually love to do, so it was Party City to the rescue!  I took my Sister with me which is probably why most of this stuff was purchased!  ;)  She kept saying "Here....she has to have this" or "This is sooo going up at the party".  She was completely taking advantage of my lack of 'home made' planning and trying to make it one tacky una fiesta!

I didn't make this cake.....a friend of ours gave me her contact so it was "purchased" not homemade!  :)

She was totally cracking us up during the Birthday song.   She got all pouty and wasn't really in to it!  Probably more excited to get back to all of the Dora gifts she received!  I'm not sure if there is anything Dora that we don't own?  She is branching out however and has added Little Mermaid obsessions and Toy Story so we are becoming more versatile!  Funny little girl!

 

 

 

do da do

Well, I feel like February just swallowed me up!  How did this happen?!  I know how I just don't feel like talking about it. (sickness, sickness & sickness) The good news is we are all healthy and back to our normal routine!  PRAISE!  So after everyone started feeling better I got a wicked case of Strep on the same weekend that my Sister, Sister-in-Law and her 4 kids trucked across the desert to come for a visit.  As you can imagine, that visit didn't last long!  Not even 24 hours!  :( boo-  My Sister stuck around and we ended up having a pretty good week despite all of the "catching up" I felt like I was doing!  Honestly, this is why I NEVER get sick.  I just don't have the time for it! 

In the middle of all of this I started a little part time job working from home.  It's kind of exploded and I'm working a little more than I had thought but it will settle down soon.  I will explain more on that later.  I know, I know....like I really needed one more thing to do!  The best part....it all happens when my kids are asleep so they have no idea that I'm working!  :)

Our biggest event this month was definitely Bailey's Birthday!  She turned 2 on the 28th and we had a fun little Dora themed party.  I've been so crazy busy that I haven't even uploaded any pics but I will!  She was spoiled with more Dora and some of her new obsessions including Toy Story & The Little Mermaid.  She has a nice set of figurines that she is now carrying with her wherever she goes.  "Boody" & "Gecky" are her favorite (Woddy & Jessi).  She always has someone with her at nap time and at the gym.  She is just talking like crazy, sleeping so much better and just a funny little girl.  She knows a knock knock joke and has a "scary" face.  Both will make you laugh until you fall down.  We are having complete conversations these days and I'm just amazed at what a fun little girl she is.  She likes to run more than walk and has no idea she might be limited physically!  I know that every single expereince she has had in her short life has made her the happy, content & funny little girl she is today!  I am one lucky Momma!

Ava is back at school and trying to adjust to everything she missed while being sick.  She had the best time on a field trip to the Museum recently and would not stop talking about it!  She loves playing/irritating her Sister and making us laugh while singing Justin Beiber music.  Our conversations right after school pick up are still my favorite.  A few weeks ago she was able to attend a Daddy Daughter dance with Ken.  It was the highlight of her week!  She was so completely giddy walking out the door!  What a fun age!

pics coming soon....