Sassing around with my FFE

Today my FFE (aka Friend ForEver) Jenn and I went to the mall to find her an outfit to wear to her brother's wedding in a few weeks. Of course as nutty as we are, had to let ourselves get sidetracked by the display of all MANGO ORANGE accessories in the store... hair accessories got us and so on they went and out came the camera.

I just love hanging with Jenn... we have so much more in common that just having MS and always have a great time together, look out for and encourage one another... she is such a blessing in my life.. I am grateful for MS just because it gave us our friendship!

Bike To School

Well finally we are .. the last week of school. the end of 1st grade for Nyla and 4th grade for Azul. Azul did however correct me this morning and said "there is not one more week of school, only 4 day", he is sooooo literal! Hahahaha

As promised I am letting the kids ride their bikes to school. Now we live wayyyyy to far away for them to actually ride all the way to school, so I removed a car seat in the van and put their bikes into the back. Drove 3/4 of the way then let them ride the 1/4 but not after parking, getting them safely to a crosswalk and going over for the 100th time all the rules of the road and cyclists. I drove behind them off to the side of the road at some points and since they were doing well with safety rules, drove a little ahead of them and watched as they caught up. Made it safe and sound and with BIG SMILES on their faces. They loved using their new bike locks (found cool ones at Target that use a word code vs numerals). I showed them how to set it once and so of course they have each changed their passwords multiple times and are planning to change them again today! Nutty!!!

Mill thought I was crazy, but I am a stickler for keeping my word to my children at all costs -never want them to feel they cannot depend on me to do what I say now or in the future so despite any circumstances (time, money, illness, etc) if I tell them something I am going to see it through. Besides I LOVE BEING THEIR MOM and SEEING THEM SMILE!

Backyard Bliss

Sometimes it is just nice to sit and enjoy the family with no schedule, no rushing, awww wish there were more days like this. Really do. My babies are growing up too fast and I am not ready to let them go at all, want to enjoying being MOM and MOMMY as much as possible. Something as simple as making Smore's just made us all feel so happy this night.

Meeting the Horses

Yesterday was the end of the at home pioneer experience I created for Azul in lieu of the trip his class took to the mountains. He was shocked at the experience I chose... meeting horses for the first time. His 2 favorites were a male horse named Pippin who is dubbed "Escape Artist" by his caretakers that kept trying to eat Azul's ate and a sweetie named "Morgan" who was quite taken with Azul and kept following him from place to place.

It was a great learning about the horses for both of us. Did you know that horses only sleep 4 to 5 hours a day and DO NOT sleep standing up rather only nap standing but sleep laying down in beds of hay. Also horses have such varied personalities from playful, to curious, to snotty, to hyper too! LOL They feel so smooth and love being rubbed and tickled. Az left smiling big. To make the day even more memorable guess what???? I locked my keys in the car and we had to wait for AAA to help us out. Neither of us were upset - we just played around and enjoyed the Mom and Son time together! Love my Zulie Bear.

Karate Girl

Okay I wanted some type exercising cardio fun for Nyla this Spring and Summer and youth karate classes at the Park and Rec fit the bill. She just started this week and tonight is her second session. Hoping it proves to be a great fit and she gets alot of out it physically and mentally. It is supposed to help shape self confidence and mental stamina. She is the ONLY girl in her class of 10. WOW! In these photos she was just caught doing her crawling moves.. wonder what tonight will entail.

Pioneer Days at Home

Azul's 4th grade class took a trip to the mountains in Nevada City this week but we decided it was best for him not to go due to weather and chaperone issues so kept him out of school this week and have been doing a pioneer experience at home. Started yesterday with a trip to Sutters Fort and Old Sacramento Schoolhouse, both of which are based on the 1850s timeframe the class trip was about. I made it a cousin brother day by taking him cousins Xav and Max and baby brother Emil along too. It was great! They learned so much on all the interactive and informative tours we went on. For food, Az and I made biscuits from scratch and scrambled eggs in cast iron pots, last night for supper (not called dinner in pioneer times) made up a vegetable soup from scratch with cornbread to serve he family then closed out the night making smores over the outdoor fire pit and watching the stars come out - it was so peaceful and amazing to connect with God's world in this way as a family. Today it was all about building things... a mini log cabin and a bird feeder - it took us forever to get the bird feeder done but we were giving one another high 5s and smiling when it was finished. Great feelings of accomplishment. I also showed him how to hand wash clothes in a bucket and hang the items in the sun to dry because there were no washers and dryers in pioneer times of course! For tomorrow as a surprise I am taking him to a horse equestrian stable center to meet horses and tour stables. He has never seen a horse in person, let alone touched one - hoping he will love it.

Baker 3 Clubhouse

Okay I have been begging for a clubhouse for the kids for years! Mill finally consented and had our friend Scott who is a contractor build one just this past week. It is a definite hit. All that is left to do is add the colored stain and finish all the inside decoration details. It is looking so nice I think it might have to be MOMMY's clubhouse instead.

And to think I wanted to just get one from Costco to have him assemble. This is going to be here for years to come and our babies are going to make some great memories playing in here! I am so happy for them.