Six Years Old!

Why does six seem so old to me? I can't believe how fast these years have flown by. I know that sounds so cliche, but they really do!

Hayden had a delicious birthday breakfast before school this morning!

Stay tuned for Interview With a Six Year Old!

We had a lot of fun in July

Waiting for fireworks to start Because sleeping in the same room isn't close enough
Tay has now adopted the old Hayden smile. Big cheese with closed eyes. Kaitlin is back from Europe & came to visit and bring treats Dress Up!
There weren't too many days that we didn't hit the pool.Hangin' with the Tuttle's

Preschool

On Monday, Tay started preschool. She went for two months in the Spring, but this is her first time from the get-go! She's known that she was going to a new school with new teachers, but I think she chose to ignore the fact that it was school and I was leaving her there, until we dropped Hayden off.

(Tay's school starts 5 mins prior to Hayden's and is 4 miles away. So we drop Hayden off first, early, and then make it to Tay's school about 15 minutes late)

The car ride from Sanborn to Erie was a whimpery, finger sucking one. However, to my surprise, as soon as we got out of the car she perked up!

She was a happy camper until I opened the classroom door. Taylor's not the meltdown and throw a fit kind of girl. She just quietly sucked her fingers and whimpered until one of the aides...Ms. Wecantrememberhername came and picked her up and held her. I signed her in and left. And when I returned to pick her up, they said she only did that for about 5 minutes and then was a happy student! Today, the 2nd day of school...was the same as the first! At least I warned them at Meet the Teacher what she would be like :)

Kindergarten

I snuck into her room, quietly, to watch her angelic little face rest so peacefully minutes before I intended on waking her up.

I decided I couldn't do it just quite yet. So I left the room and returned in five. As I gently kissed her on the forehead and whispered quietly that is was time to get up....her eyes popped open, she sat straight up and shouted "SCHOOL"!!!!

And there it was.

Yesterday was the first and only time Hayden will have her first day of Kindergarten. A first that you anticipate for so long, and then it comes and goes so quickly.

This little girl was ready for school. She's been ready for months. And as I anticipated a rushed, chaotic, anxious morning....it was not. She woke up and ate her breakfast. Brushed her teeth and dressed herself. Asked me to make her hair "really pretty with the big pink flower".

I versed her *again* in lunch room manners and bodily etiquette! lol Handed her the lunch bag, backpack, took some pictures and loaded her into the car.

The rules were that you could not walk the children up to the classroom, or play yard for that matter. You must use the drop off lane, have them sitting on the right hand side of the car and throw them out as you pass! Well, not quite, but that's what I felt like! I broke the rules, along with many, MANY other first timers! We parked a block away and walked to school. Hayden was thrilled enough to get to walk across the street with the crossing guard!

As we approached the big gated Kindergarten area, I swear the butterflies in my stomach were flittering double-time. I was so nervous. She wouldn't give me a hug. I had to beg for a picture..with the response of "Mommmmmm" (even though there were lots of huggers, many photographers and a plethora of criers). Not this girl. She was like a horse at the starting gate! I told her to have a great day, looked her in the eye and just like that, she turned and walked off. Did not turn around. Not once.

Couture Contemplation

The night before school started, I went into the girls' room and told them to pick out their outfit for the first day of school. They were THRILLED! My girls, albeit both girly, are so totally different!

Hayden loves pinks along with bright colors, but is very simple. Taylor cannot seem to find enough frill in layers of lace! I thoroughly enjoy witnessing their individuality blossom from their personalities.

They both have new clothes in their closet. Hayden picked out a shirt that I surprised her with over the weekend, and Taylor picked out a hand-me-down dress (from Hayden). Out of all her new clothes, she picked out this dress! It made me laugh because it was a hand-me-down. It fit her well, although it was a bit long. She loves dresses...to twirl...and curtsie. Hayden was stylin' in her new shirt, shorts and Nike sneakers. I just love their choices and think that it suited them both perfectly for their first day of school!

Taylor-fish

This was Tay's first Summer of swim lessons. Although she did everything Miss Jaimee asked her to do during her lessons, she cried her way through it for the first 3 weeks! All of a sudden, one day, she stopped crying and really started swimming.

She now belly flops, ahem...dives off the side and is wanting to go off the diving board, really bad. However, she's too small for the one at Mesquite Groves.

She loves to go down the slides by herself and can float/kick across the pool on her back, and swim/float/swim across the short length of a pool.

She's quite the little fish, and has no fear. Which is a bit worrisome...although a little comforting knowing that if she did get in and get into trouble, she could get herself out!

Super Slider

It took alllll Summer long. Many trips of walking to the top and turning around to walk back down. But FINALLY, last Thursday, Hayden decided it was time to go down the big slide!

And NOW, it's an addiction!

Her first couple of times, she wanted to go after me. And then after Conal. Then before him. And at last, by herself! Now...she's all over the place. On the diving board, down the slides, and even swimming freestyle across the 25 yard pool! She can also do backstroke across it! She's swimming well. She did lessons for six weeks this Summer and it really helped with her confidence. At the end of lessons, she wasn't quite side breathing, but NOW, she's doing a great job with it!

Shoe Shopping

After Meet the Teacher's on Thursday, we took the girls shoe shopping. and for the record...No, Taylor did not get the red hooker high heels. Although, she put up quite a battle ;)

Meet Your Teacher, Taylor!

On the same night, at the same time, we had Tay's meet the teacher at her new school. With budget cuts, the Chandler district has combined their PPS sites into four, instead of eight. This being said, Tay is transferring to a new school this Fall. After we finished up at Hayden's Meet the Teacher, we drove over to meet Tay's.
She was very exciting walking into the classroom. She had many evaluations, meeting and tests at this particular school, and in this particular classroom, so I think it kind of helped with the anticipation. At least for that night. We met her new teacher, Mrs. Pollack. And her new aides, Ms. Linda and Ms.....umm, can't remember?!
Mrs. Pollack and I know each other from somewhere, we just can't figure out where, yet. She seems great and told us how excited she is for this year. She said she has a great class! I'm excited to see what this year holds for Tay!

Meet Your Teacher, Hayden!

On Thursday night, July 23rd, we had Meet the Teacher at Hayden's school. From 4:00 to 5:00, kids weren't invited, and the parents went into the kids assigned classrooms for an Orientation. Talk about orgazination and preparation! I love having expectations laid out in front of me from the get-go!
We also got Hayden's teacher assignment that day. She is in Mrs. DeHart's class in room K2. I don't know much about the kindergarten teachers there, except that last Spring, while I spent Wednesday mornings in the Office waiting for Hayden to finish up her Speech therapy sessions, I'd talk to this teacher while her students were at PE, Library, etc. She seemed nice, and an office staff member mentioned that we'd be lucky to get her!
And we did!
My mom brought the girls to us at the school at 5:00 (as that was when children were welcomed into the classroom). Hayden met her teacher and was really thrilled to explore her classroom. She checked out her workspace, her backpack peg, the computers and games and all the good things that come along in a Kindergarten classroom!
Hayden has been very excited to start Kindergarten for quite some time. And now the reality is here. She cannot wait for Monday. I can.

Buggin' Out

This is what a monsoon storm brought to our front porch last weekend. Ewwww!Paloverde Root Borer

As the summer monsoon season approaches in late June and early July, the evenings here in Phoenix, Arizona feel more tropical, with warmer, more humid air. On these languid summer evenings, Paloverde Root Borers (Derobrachus geminatus) can be seen flying around trees looking for mates. These giant, black beetles can be up to 3 1/2 inches (8.9 cm) long.
This particular Paloverde Root Borer was about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long, not including the impressive antennae.

Paloverde Root Borers, as evidenced by their unusually long antennae, are members of the Longhorn Beetle Family (Cerambycidae), and like many other longhorn beetles, they are quite destructive. Their plump, white, 5 inch (12.7 cm) long larvae (commonly called grubs) eat tree roots, especially those of paloverde trees, such as the Mexican Paloverde (Parkinsonia aculeata). Paloverde Root Borer grubs will also feed on the roots of other trees besides paloverdes, and the damage these voracious grubs can cause to a tree's root system can prove fatal.
If it had been earlier in the day, I would have given this Paloverde Root Borer to the semi-tame Roadrunner that visits my yard (he loves them, even though they're hard to kill because of their tough shells), but he was already roosting for the night, so instead I searched around for an owl to give it to. Not finding one of the usual Western Screech-owls, I instead left the beetle on a wall underneath a family of smaller Elf Owls roosting in a pepper tree. The Elf Owls were awakening and they definitely saw the beetle, so I hope that they'll get rid of it for me, if it's not too large for them to handle.
Not only are Paloverde Root Borers hazardous to trees, they are also hazardous to motorcyclists. You definitely wouldn't want to get hit in the face with one of these giant, hard-shelled beetles when traveling at a high speeds!

http://www.fireflyforest.net/

Again....Ewwww!

Swingin' In the Rain

Daddy/Tay Date!

After turning Tay down on a $30 Belle dress up dress, Conal ended spending $35 on a Minnie Mouse (everyday) dress, Belle dress up shoes and a flowered tiara! Boy...this girl knows how to break it down!

Conal took her on a date last Saturday. After the Disney store, he took her to get a manicure. I sent him out the door with my camera, and he said all of the ladies; customers and employees; were in love with her. Duh...look at her ;-)

These girls are so lucky. They've got an amazing Daddy! A Daddy that doesn't brush their femininity aside, but encourages them to embrace it!

AZ Science Center

What an amazing way to spend a hot Summer day. It was 114 that day, to be exact!

Happy Birthday Kadie!

Yesterday was Kadie's 3rd birthday party. Jenna hosted a swim party at Val Vista Lakes beach pool, and the kids (and mom's) had a great time! It was an early start so we were done by noon. Pizza and fruit, ice cream bars and popsicles! The perfect Summer combination!!

I'm not kidding, I totally think we're on to something this year with the birthday parties! The early weekday morning party *venues* are less crowded...and the kids are all in great moods! Thanks for including us Kadie, happy three!!