Lazy days of Summer

I wasn't planning on taking the summer off from blogging, but it happened!  We had an enjoyable summer hanging out with friends and family, going to summer school, catching a wave at our local library and learning how to swim!  It is now time to get back to the grind-well, actually a whole new grind for "are" family!  Miss Evie starts Kindergarten in 3 days!!  Tomorrow we get to meet her new teacher and the kids in her class.  It's amazing how things work out for the best.  Evie got released from the Escondido Union School District.  She got accepted into the San Pasqual Union School District and is now going to the best school possible!!  I got a job teaching 2 year olds at the Lighthouse Preschool (which is just down the street from the "Little School"), during the hours which Evie is in school (8:30-1:30)!!!  I could not be more blessed!  Someone is really watching out for "are" little family!  Thank you Heavenly Father!

Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite pics as of lately...

My sunbathing beauty 4.24.2010

Posing with Shamu!

Clapping and having FUN!

On "Dolly" the Dolphin with the "trainers"

She LOVES corn!  4.30.2010

My beautiful butterfly girl

Taking "Cowboy" for a ride!

Grins and...

...Giggles!

That's a BIG hot dog!

Balloons at Aunt Lissy and Grandmommy's bday party!

Isaac, Grandmommy and Evie!

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Evie went for her Kindergarten check up today.  She is growing up so FAST!  47 pounds/ 3 feet 9 inches/90th % for height, 95th % for weight.  She passed her hearing check.  Good news, always a plus to know that she DOES hear what I am saying to her despite the blatant ignoring and having to repeat myself  20 times!  So now I know.  They did an eye check also, which Evie did not pass.  She was able to read the first 3 lines, but everything after that was a blur.  The nurse tried and tried to get her to read the shapes, but Evie kept saying she couldn't see them and that they looked like fuzzy dots.  It doesn't surprise me, birthmom wore glasses, SO, a referral to the opthomologist at Children's.  We have an appointment in a few weeks.    
I knew going into this appointment that Evie would need shots.  I choose to vaccinate my child because  there are so many who choose not to.  I need to protect her; especially living so close to the border of Mexico.  She had to get 4 pokes.  She needed a finger prick to check for anemia, Polio and DTap (Diptheria Tetanua and Pertussis) vaccines and a TB test.
She was not a happy camper.  This little woman does not like shots.  She cried BIG OL CROCODILE  tears when I told her she needed to get some shots.  After many cuddles and consoling words of courage, shot time arrived.   As I held her tightly in my lap, with sobbs of sadness and tears streaming down her face, she asked if she could say a prayer. (it could have been a stall tactic, but what a tactic!) I asked the nurse, who had the shot in her hand ready to go, if we could take a moment to pray.  She said sure and she put down the needle in the tray.  Evie bowed her head and closed her eyes and with her little weepy voice she said the sweetest prayer to her Heavenly Father for comfort and courage as she got her shots.  After Amen, the shots were given.  Of course, Evie survived, got lots of stickers, a happy meal and some ice cream.  When we were in the car getting ready to leave the doctors office, I told Evie how wonderful it was that she prayed to Heavenly Father for comfort.  She said, "I know mom!  We should thank him for giving me courage to get my shots."  So a sweet prayer of thanks was said.
A trip to the doctors...$15 copay.  A happy meal and ice cream as a reward for bravery for getting shots...$9.  A gospel lesson on the power of prayer taught by my 4 and a half year old...priceless.      

Feeling Sorry

So, I was feeling pretty sorry for "Sparkles" the Goldfish...poor thing...stuck swimming in small circles in that tiny fish bowl.  I was  goldfish funeral nightmares, I knew what we had to do.  We must give this fish a proper home.  All the way to the pet strore I kept thinking, ARE we crazy to do this?  More responsibility, more things to take care of...but once at the pet store and seeing Evie's PURE JOY, picking up things and saying, "Sparkles will just LOVE this!" I no longer had doubts.  I knew she would be responsible, take care of her fish and LOVE every minute of it.  If Evie could be anything, I know she would be a FISH!   Sparkles got a nice BIG 10 gallon tank complete with filter, plants, glittery rocks and even a pineapple house!  (which Evie bought with her very own money!)

Of course, Evie asked the million dollar question, " Where is Sparkle's mom?"  So, we took her little hand and led her over to the HUGE tank full of Goldfish and aksed her, "Which one of these fishies do you think is Sparkles mom?"  She immediately pointed to the white goldfish with two dots on the top of it head.  "That one!" she exclaimed!  "That's her mom, her name is Sunny!"  So, our 0.27 cent answer to the million dollar question was to get another goldfish!  What's one more right?

Welcome Sparkels and Sunny to our home!  With 3 dogs, a cat and 2 Goldfish, we could open up our very own pet store!  Andrew jokes and says that we are going to start giving away animals as birthday presents to people, but I know he loves all of "ARE" crazy critters!  In fact, one night I woke up around 1:30 am and noticed Andrew wasn't in bed.  I went out to the front room, thinking he was having trouble sleeping and maybe wathcing tv.  He wasn't there.  As I walked back to the bedroom, I noticed him sitting on one of Evie's small chairs in front of the glowing and bubbling fish tank, just watching with wonder.  He was SO cute!  Just like a kid in a candy store!

Evie LOVES her fish.  She is fascinated with them!  She is so good at taking care of them  She feeds them twice a day, talks to them, sings to them and just simply adores them!  Hopefully they will live for a long time.  With Evie as their caretaker, I have no doubt they will survive! 

Getting "Sunny" acclamated to her new home before letting her loose!

The new decor!

Gary the snail, the pineapple house and of course, Spongebob, he actually blow bubbles!

If you don't know aything about Spongebob, here is a sampling!

After all is said and done, I am no longer feeling sorry for the one lowly goldfish swimming circles in her tiny bowl. Now I can rest easy at night!

Just for FUN!

My precious Goldfish  She's a keeper!

Our newest addition

Sparkles the Goldfish!

It was given to Evie as a 'thank you' for coming to a friend's bday party.

Tiny Little Dancer

WORK like you don't need the money, LOVE like you've never been hurt and DANCE like nobody's watching.
My sweet girl is taking her first ballet class through the Recreation Dept of the city of Escondido.
She is having a blast!  She may not be the most gracefully little dancer, but her heart is in it, she's got the rhythm and she LOVES to watch herself in the big wall of mirrors!  As parents, we are not permitted to take photos or videos during class because it is distracting to the little dancers, so I only have pics of her dressed up ready to go the ballet.  All 17 little girls in her class are working hard at learning the two routines for their dance recital at the California Center For The Arts http://www.artcenter.org/  in June.  The performance is going to be absolutely precious! 
I can hardly wait until she is old enough to take the "hip hop" dance classes.  I KNOW she has the moves for that!  She will be a natural! 

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Hoppin' down the bunny trail...

Actually, in our case, he was hoppin' on the CA/Mexico Border!  Just as we sat down for Easter dinner, the floor began to shake, rattle and roll!  There was a big earthquake in Mexicali/Calexico.  7.2 to be exact!  Since we are 130 miles north west of the epicenter, we didn't have any damage, just felt some rolling!!  We are all safe!  Gotta love the irony of having an earthquake on Easter; Celebrating Christs' resurrection and then having the earth quake and tremble...it makes you stop and think...The Second Coming...ARE we ready?  It is always good to have a reminder of the important things in life-especially if it shakes you up a bit! 

"ARE" Easter festivites were just lovely.  Had a fantastic fun time at our Christensen family egg dyeing and cookie decorating party on Saturday.  Evie and I also decorated a cookie bunny hutch.  I have always wanted to do a cookie house (Gingerbread) but have never gotten around to it.  This year I found a bunny house kit,  so I bought one!  It was a fun activity to do together as a family and it turned out pretty cute!

The house before the frosting!

I think more frosting unded up inside of Evie's tummy than on our house! 

"ARE" cute bunny bungalo!

"ARE" pretty spring time cookies

Uncle Mike and Papa Larry took Evie for a ride around the yard in a garden cart!

Of course, Andrew, the Grill Masgter! BBQing chicken and hot dogs for dinner!

Starting to dye the eggs!

Miss Personality!  Say What!!??

Easter 'Vogue' Style

My favorite Easter egg!  She's SO colorful!

Granmommy Kathy bought all the grandkiddos Zhu Zhu pets! Evie LOVES hers!

Easter Morning!

This year Princess and the Frog dominated as basket filler!

The DVD!

Beach towel!

Even some new tennies!

Of couse, we always have to remember the real reason for the season,  Jesus Christ!

This beautiful painting is from artist Greg Olsen.  I LOVE his work!

Then we headed outside to hunt for some eggs!

Even our doggy Titan wanted in on the egg huntin' action!

Easter Afternoon, we went over to Andrew's folks house and had another egg hunt and a traditional Easter ham with asparagus! 

Miss Evie chillaxin with a glass of lemonade!

A rare moment of kiddos taking a break to sit still with Grandmommy and Papa

Evie with her cousin Audrey (8 months old)

Evie is so gentle with baby Audrey.  She is a natural nurturer!

Evie and Isaac.  Best cousins!

Showing off their Zhu Zhu pets, Spotty and Nuggett!

Outside hunting eggs! 

Isaac searching in the tall grass!

Look at ALL of those eggs!

I think Lily found the most!

Emily and Audrey enjoying the sunshine!

Look what I found...My WOOGA!

After all of the EGGcitement, the kiddos went wild on sugar.  We kept them outside and let them take out their energies on big balls, trampolines and even the outdoor umbrella!

Daddy Andrew found a quiet spot on the couch...

but wasn't alone for too long!

For dessert, we enjoyed the first juicy pick of strawberries for the season...covered in chocolate!  Yum Yum!

 

It was a wonderful Easter day!