California Lovin!

So, we made it back to Southern California for the first time in almost a year. It was so much easier to go home when the kids were young but now that we are in school and all the many activities it seems that my parents end up coming here the majority of the time. We went for 5 days and it flew by... we did not want to overstay our welcome especially with my Dad.

To all who have sent emails, cards, made donations to his "star"... THANK YOU! It is amazing what all of that has done for my dad's spirits and I believe it is all helping! A quick update on Dad: he is doing GREAT! His tumor is hardly able to be felt anymore and the doctor says it has shrunk by over 75%. He just finished his 4th round of chemo. He has handled it pretty well but as you can imagine is pretty worn out. I keep telling him this is the perfect reason to take naps anytime he wants without guilt! :-) He has 2 more rounds and the last one will be at the end of July. He then goes straight into radiation. That will be every day for about 15 minutes a day for about a month... Then we pray we can say he is officially in remission! 5 years later we hope to say he is cured! But, with all of your prayers and thoughts we are hopefully on our way to saying cancer survivor instead of cancer patient.

As I was saying the trip was great and went by very quickly... The kids were SPOILED! Mom was baking up a storm before they arrived and they loved the alligator cake she made! Miss A had a great birthday complete with donuts for breakfast, a pedicure and manicure, dinner out with her family, 2 cakes!, and lots of presents! What a day! We also made the trip to Disney and the kids did great.. even Little One had a blast and went on a few rides. We did the usuals... swimming in the pool, feeding the horses carrots and apples at the stables and playing with all the animals... It was great. THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR A WONDERFUL TRIP!

Attached are some highlights:

Happy 5th Birthday Miss A!

Hannah Montana! :-)

Getting pampered!

DISNEYLAND!

All tuckered out from a big day at Disney!

Little One on her first ride on Peter Pan

End of the day.. waiting for the electrical parade... it was late, we were tired but the parade was GREAT!

Adding to the favorite blogs

Ok... so I have added a few favorites to the favorite blog area... Kind of funny because a couple blogs are of people that technically I have never met... I know them through our non-blood-related family the Tilghman's and Woffinden's. Seriously, I feel like they are family so why not check out the blogs of people that are related to them but that I have never met... Tanner and Avery: our thoughts and prayers are with you and we will be checking in on your little one often. Dave and Doreen: do not know you personally, but sort of feel like we do... check your blog often! So, just had to clear this up as I know the Tilghman, Woffinden and Parrish clans check our blog and I did not want you guys to think I had turned into a cyber stalker! :-)

Happy Friday!

Finally... summer is here!

Happy June.... Our family can finally say summer has arrived. Yes, we have been out of school for 2 weeks now and the nasty bug called the stomach flu has finally left the building. Miss A came down with the bug the night before Miss M's last day of school and it just continued to travel through the house... On top of it all Daddy-O has been in Europe for the last 10 days... I know tough life for him huh! It has been an adventure.

Despite everything, last week was fun... it was the first time in a very long time that I can remember where we had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Kind of nice. Before everyone got sick I was planning all day trips and field trips to keep everyone busy. When health got in the way :-) we had to hang out here... do art projects, watch videos, make Little People villages and I realized that just being at home doing whatever was just as good.

Now, don't get me wrong... we were all ready to be able to leave the house and get back to some activities but it was a nice week. And now we are back in the thick of it.... art class, swimming lessons, science camp, pre-kindergarten camp and movie day keep our mornings busy. The afternoons are spent with some playtime and reading time and then off to the pool. We are excited for Daddy-O to return home on Friday. It will have been just under 2 weeks since the kiddos have seen him. They are very excited...

Hope you are all having an adventure filled summer!

a worthy cause

Such a worth cause.... Posting this on the blog for those who might not have seen emails.... Check it out!

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

Cook? Archuleta?

Ok.... so, here I am watching American Idol even though I cheated and looked on CNN... What can I say... hubby is out of town and all 3 kids were asleep by 7 tonight... What is a girl to do?

While I see the appeal of both guys I am just not sure who should get it... Cook had a mediocre night during the final but has had an amazing season... No one like him that is for sure. Archuleta sang his face off last night but has not really captured the fan base the way Cook has... So, there it is... just had to vent I guess. And no matter what any of the critics say American Idol still rocks. Love this show!

Time to say goodbye.

Yesterday was a very sad day in our home.

Time to say goodbye to First United Methodist Preschool and start preparing for kindergarten in a couple of months. Hard to believe it is over (at least for now)... This school has been a part of our lives since the kids first day in Arizona. I will never forget it... We were driving to Arizona from Orange County on our way to our new home and outside of downtown Phoenix my cell phone rang and it was Mrs Norris saying they had an opening in the preschool and would love to have Miss M join the class... We were over there the very next day signing up. And we have been there every year since. Miss M finished Pre-K there and Miss A had her 3 year class and Pre-K there.

We have loved all of our moments and made so many good friends and memories. We know we will keep in touch with our friends and see them when time allows, but as with all change it is still hard. Yesterday was such an emotional day. Mrs D was just as emotional. We presented her with a beautiful butterfly quilt that Mum made. Miss A's class was known as the Brave Butterflies so it was fitting... and just beautiful ! Thanks Mum for all of your hard work! Another mom also put togeteher a mini yearbook for Mrs D and for all of us who wanted one.. yes, of course I bought one! :-) It was a great day and we are excited for Mrs D as she moved on to retirement with her husband... she deserves it! And we are excited for Miss A as she begins a new chapter in her life... We will always hold warm memories of our time at FUMCG!

The tears are beginning when she sees the first buttterfly on her quilt...

she was blown away by how beautiful it was.. she had to lay it out to see the whole thing.

She wanted to get a group picture with "her kids" and the brave butterfly quilt... She will treasure it always... thanks again Mom!

Time for one final "hug for the road".... Thanks to Mrs Norris, Mrs. Disch, and Mrs. Stadel for a wonderful 3 years!!!!

celebration

Each child gets a turn to wear the birthday hat and bring in goodies for the classroom on their birthday. Because Miss A has a summer birthday we did her day this past Wednesday... yes, the day after McDonalds... It was a busy week! On this day at school they also had water day to celebrate the day before school ending. The kids had sprinklers, water tables, toys, squirt bottles, bubbles... they had a blast!

The fancy hat.. working on an art project

The whole group looking at the Little Pony Cupcake Cake

The cake came with a kalidescope and of course Mrs D used this as a teaching opportunity and showed all the kids how to look through it... They loved it.

Little One came as well and loved being able to sit with the big kids and have a cupcake

Time for water play!