PTO and Dad's Club

Getting involved with the PTO at Hayden's school has been a lot of fun. I'm a true believer in parental involvement. I believe that having our hands in their education and activities, 'makes' the experience. I'd be involved with the girls' schools regardless, but with Hayden having learning challenges, it's even that more important to me to make my presence known. I feel my familiarity with the teachers and staff, and theirs with me, will just benefit her education immensely. Conal didn't quite understand this for awhile. As he said, he "knew I'd be involved, but had no idea at what lengths". We had some long and arduous talks about the girls futures and our place in them. I've always known that I wanted to give back to my kids what my parents gave to me. Love, attention, guidance, strength, confidence and good will. And my girls are at the ages that those calculated maneuvers come into play.
After about 3 days of questions, and solutions, frustration and understanding, we both came to an agreement that we were 100% comfortable with. I was going to opt in for the PTO board in the Vice President position, and he was going to attend a Dad's Club meeting to see if it was something he was interested in getting involved with. The Dad's Club came solely from the other school dads that he's become friends with, peer pressuring him! After his first Dad's Club meeting, he thought he'd go to one more and then take it from there. Well, after 2 meetings, beginning in February, he's gone every month. He's helped with set up and break down of a couple of events, and even managed the kids play station and the Spring bazaar!

We are conscientious about burn out...so, even as involved as I will be, the new President and I have already met and formed new committees and are delegating! We don't want to burn out our second year in school...but as I see it, and I think he is too, we are delighting in the fact that Hayden is having a ball getting to participate in so much, and she loves it that we're around! Gotta take it while we can! Apparently, we've decided to go big or go home! lol.

Patience of Job

He has it.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

Mother's Day Tea(s)

Both of the girls' schools had really sweet Mother's Day Teas. This was the first and only program Hayden's class had all year long. So it was really special for all the Mommies that have been waiting all year to see their kids on stage!

The music director did an awesome job at putting their show together. They sang some very cute songs and raps, and finished in the dark with glow sticks singing in rounds "This Little Light of Mine". I've got to admit, I was in tears! It was beautiful! Hayden participated, and sang and smiled...she had a lot of fun and really enjoyed performing.

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Taylor's Mothers Day tea was adorable, and hilarious! This was the first time Taylor has ever been in front of an audience. And she was literally in front...and center. And, not shy! She was loud, and animated and had A LOT of fun!

There's no doubt about it...this was, by far...THE BEST MOTHER'S DAY EVER!!!.

Pirate Day at St. Tims

Taylor really didn't want to dress up for pirate day because "Pirates are for boys". I told her we could make her into a girl pirate, but she wasn't up for that either! Needless to say, after a quick trip to Party City, I got her to wear a skull cap and an eye patch. And she actually liked had fun at school that day, all dressed up!

Salty Rainbow Sherbet

Pedi's

Hayden and I were needing to spend some uninterrupted time together. What better way to do that than to go get pedi's together?! She loves indulging in girly-ness from time to time..when I can get her to slow down for a second!

The Six Year Old Dog Whisperer

Hayden has taken quite an interest in 'training' Holly. Hayden is very patient, yet firm with her. It's the only 'person' in the household that Hayden can boss around and doesn't spout back at her or throw tantrums...so they're quite good friends ;)

One night while Conal and I were making dinner Hayden was preparing a "dog show" for us. We really had no idea what she was up to, as she closed the curtains so we couldn't see the backyard. Once she was ready, and called us out...we were surprised to see that she had made an obstacle course (and had been practicing) with Holly.

Holly minds Hayden very well, most of the time. Hayden coerced her through each of her obstacles with doggie treats. When Holly didn't perform properly, Hayden sent her back to start over. It was hilarious...and very, very cute!

Sanborn Golf Tournament, Dinner and Auction

Way before Hayden ever even entered school, I knew I'd be an involved parent. I knew I'd be a member of the PTA...or PTO, as it is at our school. So when Kindergarten rolled around, I went to the first PTO mtg last August. I signed up to help with day-of set up on a few committees that night, but as the year rolled around, I changed my involvement a bit, and ended up on the planning committees. I helped in the execution of the first ever Holiday bazaar, which led me to help plan the Spring bazaar, and I helped with the final planning stages of the 4th annual golf tournament, dinner and auction, as I didn't push my way in until January! It was all a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I love planning, staging, executing events. It was fun to see how others manage them, but also hard not taking control!

Becky and MeConal, Paul (Brian's brother) and Brian

Still Celebrating

Tay's birthday celebrations spanned a weeks time! Memaw and Papa are now carrying on the traditions that both sets of our grandparents did. Shopping and dinner! I think sleepovers may come when they're older?!

So, in true birthday spirit, they let the birthday kid pick a restaurant and anything they want within their price range (although I'm not sure they've set one yet...that's sure to come when they hear Hayden's b'day list!), and they get to it!

Tay picked out a bunch of pink stuff..and chose ribs for dinner. DUH!...what else is new?!?!!

We also had a fun-tastic birthday party! Taylor invited all of her little friends...Cash and Cooper, Kadie and Carter, Kady, Courtney, Jax and Bella, Morgan and Melissa over for some good play time. They made cool necklaces and went home with takeout containers of CANDY!! Lots and lots of yummy candy!

Special birthDAY at Schnepf

On the morning of Taylor's birthday, Pam, Cash and Paisley met us at Schnepf Farms for a little playdate. I couldn't let a celebration on her actual birthday pass us by, especially since her birthday party was being held a whole week later!

We ate lunch at the cafe at Schnepf and let the kids play! They played on the sand toys, and the wooden train. They threw rocks into the koi pond, let me take a ton of pictures...Cash scouting photo ops for me! We went on a train ride around the orchard, and just really enjoyed the day.

A day without the older two commanding the show! Cash and Taylor just played and got to enjoy each other without interruption!

Taylor turns 4!

It is really hard to believe that my baby is four years old. As the cliche goes...I can't figure out where time has gone.

To think of all that's gone on in the last four years is just amazing to me. And exhausting! It's hard to imagine what life was like before Taylor came into our world. Well, hard for me...Conal swears it was ten octaves quieter!

Interview with my four year old pixie:

T- "Mommy, why we doing an interview, why"?

B- "Because Tay, I want to write down all the things that make you YOU"!

T- "Like my belly button"?

B- "Sure."

Stats: On April 9th, Taylor weighed 29.5 lbs.

She is 39 inches tall. Not quite tall enough to ride Space Mountain yet!

She wears a size 2t shorts and size 4 in dresses and shirts.

She prefers sparkly shoes...in an 8!

Favorite TV show: "My episodes?....Glee, Wizards"

Favorite Cartoon: "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Not Spongebob. It's for boys

cuz they say naughty words".

Favorite Book: "Pink delicious (Pinkalicious), and Horton Hears a Who and Tea with Ruby"

Favorite Color: "Mommeeeeeee.....PINK!"

Favorite Dinner: "Ribs and pasta"

Favorite Dessert: "Ice cream. Chocolate with green" (mint w/carob chips)

Favorite Place to Go: "Disneyland!"

Favorite Movie: "Tinkerbell movies, and High School Musical"

Favorite Song: "Don't Stop Believin' (Glee...Journey), Single Ladies (Beyonce)"

Taylor likes to play outside on the swings for a little while, but is more of a couch potato. She likes to roll on the carpet in her 'spot' and sing songs or watch movies. She can count to 30 and knows the ABC's orally and by sight. She likes to ride her scooter, but is not too fond of her bike. She plays with Barbies and purses and loves to dress up. She has a lot of dress up clothes and shoes, and preferes to wears dresses in real life too! Taylor loves to draw pictures with chalk, markers or ink pens, and her favorite game in Memory.

She's outgrowing her food challenges which has been a nice bonus at meal time! She has a dairy allergy, and is still intolerant of peanuts and tree nuts. But we've started allowing foods with egg and she's tolerating it well! She likes to eat out for lunch with Mommy, but not really for dinner. She's a mommy's girl, and doesn't like it when Hayden and/or Daddy crowd her territory! She completed her developmental preschool on March 13th and is now attending St. Tims, in the 3-4 year old class! Her best friends are Cash, Kadie, Kady and Jaxson, Cooper and her sister Hayden, too!

Taylor has a silly personality, is quite the actress and pretends to act shy when she wants to, or is being stubborn. Quite honestly, she doesn't have a shy bone in her body. She loves to be the center of attention and command an audience with anyone who will give her 1/2 a second! Our lives our complete with Taylor, we are so lucky to get to spend each day with her.

Happy 4th birthday Tay, we love you!

Mini golf with mini people

Conal's vacation overlapped Hayden's Spring break by one day. We wanted to do something fun with the girls, so we decided to try miniature golfing at Golfland. We hadn't been since Hayden was under 3 and Taylor was a newborn. This time was much, much more fun!
We are learning that neither of our girls have a competitive bone in their body. It's a bit sad to me! Conal, well, he doesn't get it...why it makes me sad! lol. He's not competitive, not really driven by the need to win. He doesn't care to put stakes on a game (unless it's for a head rub), and me....it's KILLING ME!!! I don't like to play for fun!

PS..... I WON!! heehee

NieNie Day

My sister and I don't get together too often. We both work from home, have kids that go in different directions, plus she has an infant. That being said, we wanted to try to get the kids together over Spring Break once, as they miss each other and often ask for playdates. With some calculated manipulation of the calendar, we marked in a date. Not to be changed unless someone was puking!

We wanted to take the kids...yah, the kids to Smeeks! Smeeks is a candy and novelty toy store located in central Phoenix. We've both read about it on the NieNie Dialogues, and have been awaiting the opportunity to get there! We planned our field trip about two weeks in advanced and hashed up a game plan. We knew the kids would want some treats at Smeeks, so we gave them a list of chores to complete, to earn money for their purchases. Her boys each earned $9, Hayden earned $10 and Taylor earned $2.

They picked us up and we trekked into "the City", as my girls so affectionately call Phoenix.

This is a big deal. It's like we're going on a trip, going to the City! We had a great time at the candy store, Hayden purchased some candy, Taylor purchased a lipstick lollipop, and I revelled in the photo booth pics I took with my girls!

On our way in, we decided to make it an entire NieNie Day and eat at one of NieNie's favorite lunch spots in Mesa...Sweetcakes. It was a beautiful day out, so we ate on the patio, and finished our lunch with some delicious cookies. A trip to the Glitter Box rack rounded out a completely successful, utterly fun NieNie day with my sister and all our kiddos! Sadly, we don't do that stuff too often, but I have to say I think it makes me appreciate the time so much more!

Kindergarten Spring Party

While Conal was on vacation, Hayden's class had their Spring (Easter) party. He helped in the classroom that day! Actually, the whole family did. Tay kinda thinks she's the class mascot, as she's in there a lot with me, and Hayden was THRILLED that her daddy came. It was also worldwide Austism Awareness day, so notice the blue we're sportin'!

Cathy's 75th Birthday!

My mother-in-law turned 75 years old in March. Meghan flew in for the celebration. Or, celebrations, maybe I should say! I think Nana had fun, but was a bit burned out from party, after party for a whole weekend! Needless to say, it was a fun few days!

A Marquette4 Update!

I'm grateful to have a job, and one I love at that. However, work is really cramping my personal life!
I'd have to say that I'm working full time these days. It's very rare that I work less than 40 hours in a week. Gotta get while the gettin's good in this industry, and in a couple of months it will quiet down. So even though I'm missing out on some fun stuff, not home at night too often, and can't keep my blog updated, I really can't complain!

Sooooo, what have we been up to, you wonder? Take a peak below :)

Zoo time!

We haven't been to the zoo since last Fall. That's a little unusual for us, considering we used to have a membership and would go at least twice a month! I let my membership lapse this year though. Now that Hayden's in school full time, and Tay is in preschool, I figured I wouldn't use it as much.

So last Thursday, on a whim, we hitched up with Becky, Kady, Faith and their grandma and went to the zoo. We enjoyed a picnic, soaked up some sun and let the girls overload on cotton candy and snow cones. I came home and had to go to work, so I let Conal deal with the repercussions of the sugar high! ;)