Last Day of School

Kathryn had her last day of second grade Thursday. I cannot believe that I now have a third grader. It was just yesterday that she was a little bitty thing learning to walk in the snow when we lived in Colorado. Just yesterday that she learned to swim and get on the school bus in San Antonio with her best friend Alyssa. Things change quickly and I don't know if I like all of these changes. Kathryn is now almost as tall as me and wearing the same size shoe. She is incredibly artistic and creative- big-time drama queen. She is also a very helpful big sister,but loves to go to the spa and get pedicures.

We hosted an end of year party for the second grade girls at our house. We had a bounce house, made tie dye t-shirts, fluffy flip flops, foam hula girls, and tons of food. We also painted toes and went swimming in the pool across the street. I was completely exhausted after they all (10 of them!) left. I think that they all had a good time and my two little ones LOVED having so many people at our house. They stayed in the bounce house for a long time and thought that they were just as big as the other kids.

some of the bathing beauties

The five of us got in the bounce house after everyone left and the kids were so cute jumping around and tackling Ronnie. Camryn's new word is "HAP-PEEEEE". Every time she says "happy" she brings a smile to my face. She is truly a happy child who laughs constantly.

Our first week of summer has gone okay. We are already out of any routine I tried to keep and the kids are sleeping a little later each morning. Oh well. It has been nice getting up and having a cup of coffee before they are all up. I have been to the gym twice, but certainly not everyday. Kathryn has been to swim practice twice and art class once. Next week we will get back in gear. This week it is nice just staying in pajamas all day long, eating doritos, and doing lots of artwork and computer time with the kids. We'll see how it goes next week...

Update

Camryn has fallen in love with the computer. Kathryn and Logan are both pretty proficient in using the laptop to do educational games, webkinz, etc, but Cam is only 18 months! She has watched Logan so much that she actually knows what to do. In this picture my dad must have been teaching her to trade on the stock market...

She is also wanting to potty-train and refuses to wear diapers. However, she is insisting on wearing these red boots a lot. She has such a funny personality.

Yesterday was pretty hot (a high of 86) and the kids had ice cream after dinner. Camryn ate hers while sitting in the cozy coupe completely nude. Thank goodness we have a tall fence in the backyard!

Logan (unfortunately) found a pair of scissors over the weekend and decided to cut off a huge chunk of hair. He denied it (of course, the long strand was on the laundry room floor and it was quite obvious that he was the one missing a section of hair) and then asked if he could get a balloon if he cuts his hair like they do at the salon. Great. Ronnie had to take him for a haircut (I couldn't bear to watch) and they had to get it pretty short all over. I do not like it and I am praying that it will grow out quickly...

Kathryn's last day of school is tomorrow and we are hosting an end of year party for the girls in her class. I decided to rent a palm tree bouncehouse and we are having a luau theme with leis, fresh fruit, tie dye t-shirt making, fluffy flip flop making, and a swim at the pool. Hopefully I can enjoy a mai tai or two after they all leave! I always have these great ideas, but when it is time for all of the actual work to begin, I always wonder why I volunteer to do these kind of things. They are a lot of work, time consuming, and expensive. I hope that Kathryn will one day look back and appreciate all of the special things that we try to do for them. My mom and dad always did special things for me and my sister, but it has taken 30+ years and 3 children of my own to realize just how wonderful my parents are. I do appreciate them for everything that they have done and continue to do- and hope that they will visit again soon!

This Crazy Life

We have been crazy busy with STUFF!

My parents have actually been in town twice in the last month and left last night. I wish that they could stay forever- 2 extra sets of hands are very helpful. Mom helps cook, clean, take Kathryn to swim practice, etc. Dad is great keeping the little ones occupied and walking Kathryn to and from school. It has been so nice having them here for a week at a time. The weather in California has been so nice- a high of about 76 and lows around 56. Mom and Dad are getting quite spoiled and really dreaded getting back to the Houston heat and humidity- maybe they will come back really soon!

Kathryn had her awards assembly last week and received an academic excellence award and the teacher also noted how she is incredibly creative and dramatic. She was surprised to receive this award (it has been a strange year with a crazy teacher) and we are proud of how well she has adjusted to California and made so many new friends.Kathryn also had her end of year Brownie Girl Scout party at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. We all went to Build-a-Bear and had a great lunch at Red Robin.

She also had her end of year second grade swim party at the beach lagoon down the street. The weather was great and the kids had a really good time playing in the pool, sun, and lake all day instead of being in the classroom. Kathryn was all smiles when they delivered the pizzas and I caught her laying out with her friends talking.

Kathryn has her first swim meet this afternoon and her last day of school is next Thursday. She has been a busy girl lately!

Logan and Camryn have really enjoyed having my mom and dad here and are still as crazy as ever. They are truly partners in crime and keep me very busy. On top of everything else, we have been leasing a home in California because we thought that we would only be here a year. Well, we have been here a year and Ronnie's company doesn't seem to be in any hurry to move us. SO, our landlord has decided to sell the house (yes, this market is horrible and it will never sell) and I am trying to keep it clean for open houses and showings with 3 kids! What a nightmare. We will stay until it sells or we get transferred, but it is a real pain. I have never leased a house (and hope to never do so again), but the prices in Orange County are out of control and pitiful compared to what you can buy in San Antonio for the same amount. This house is currently listed for $1,375,000. Here is an outside shot. It is a big box with a garage, siding, and stucco. Ridiculous. I have tons of interior pictures too, but can send those of you that I know a link to see the virtual tours and stuff. Not really wanting to post my address on here...

Well, I need to get clothes out of the washer and into the dryer and go to the grocery store before Kathryn gets home from school. Logan and Camryn have been quietly watching Dora, but I think the show is over and they are looking for a snack...