Disney World

We finally decided to break the news to the kids that we will be going to Disney World in a few weeks! They were of course excited, but it was Collin that kind of surprised me. When I told him that I had been waiting for lots of years to take them to Disney World, he said "You mean you were thinking about it a long time ago"? "Wow", he said! He was really amazed by that. We told him that mom and dad had been saving their money for a couple years so that we could go. A while later he came to me and kind of quietly asked, "Mom is it going to use up all our money"? "Not all of it, but a lot", I told him. "Then I will give you my money too". He was really thinking about the whole thing, Ella on the other hand just can't wait to meet the REAL Cinderella!

Collin's 1st school age kiss...

I knew things like this were going to start to happen, but that doesn't make me any more ready for it. And besides that I didn't think it would happen to my kid - especially not my rule follower, Collin.

We were at the park today with a bunch of friends. At one point they all disappeared down behind the playground and behind some weeds and bushes. After awhile of being down there, Collin came back by the moms to get a drink. We asked what they were doing down there and he said, "the girls are trying to kiss us".

Later in the car on the way home. I asked Collin and Ella what they were doing behind the bushes. They both said, "that girl (a neighbor of Xan and Henry - Orian) was trying to kiss us and we were trying to get away". I asked, "so did she kiss you"? Ella says "no, I wouldn't let her". Collin says, "well maybe like 5 or 10 times". I said, "really....where did she kiss you"? "Like behind the bushes and on the park". Collin says. So I asked "but where on the face did she kiss you"? "Mostly on the cheek, but one time on the lips". At this point I'm glad to be in the car where I can avoid eye contact, because I'm trying my best not to be giggling!! "Really", I say, "how did that make you feel"? "Not very good - it made my head hurt", says Collin. Of course with all seriousness, which makes me want to giggle even more.

So we talked a little bit about kissing, and that usually we only kiss people that we love - like mommy and daddy or aunts and uncles, etc. Ella pipes in with, "but I love Cole so it's okay to kiss him"!! Then I was at a loss, what do you say to that - she really does love Cole. "Maybe just on the cheek then!", I said with a giggle, and left it at that!

Lemonade Stand

Our neighbors recently had a garage sale. Jaiden was very excited about selling lemonade. He found quickly that he had lots of helpers. The 3 kids worked together for 3 days straight selling gallons of lemonade. They split up tasks....one collected money one poured lemonade and one gave change. By the end of the weekend they were literally yelling out..."FRESH LEMONADE HERE, GET YOUR FRESH LEMONADE!!". It was pretty cute. I will admit they were hard to resist.

Soccer Clinic

Kicks for Christ Soccer Clinic. Collin and Ella did really good this year. They both went after the ball and played hard. They both had a lot of fun seeing some of their friends from school there too. Collin saw Tyler from his hockey team and Ella was so excited because Logan (from pre-school) was on her "team"! Ella has been begging all summer to play soccer on team - so we might give it a try this fall.

Third Child....

If you have kids, then you have undoubtedly mastered the art of "listening" while not really listening. You know what I mean....when your child is talking your ear off about something and you nod your head and say "yeah" or "oh really" or "wow", and although you may have caught the just of it, you haven't really heard a word they are saying. Well the other day I was sitting at the island doing something on the computer (with my back to the stairs) and Madelyn starts yelling at me, "mommy say BE CAREFUL....mommy say BE CAREFUL". I ignored her for awhile, not really paying attention. But she persisted, "mommy say be careful". So I humored her and without turning around to look I said "Be careful Madelyn". She repeated, so I repeated. After a couple times of this, Collin said "uhm mommy look at Madelyn". This of course got my attention, so I turned around and found Madelyn perched up on the top of the gate at the bottom of the stairs, grinning from ear to ear......"mommy say BE CAREFUL". Apparently I should pay a little more attention!!

Hugo Good Neighbor Days 2010

Hugo Good Neighbor Days. The kids had so much fun. We watched the firemen cut up a car, went to the petting zoo and of course did lots and lots of rides. Collin thought it was so cool to be a big kid with some of his friends from school. They thought they were so cool trying to go off by themselves (little did they know that mom was always close behind). Collin saw Christian, Jaiden, Tyler, Megan, and Lauren. Ella of course tried to keep up with all those boys and Madelyn had a blast going on the helicopters, the trucks, and the big slide with grandma. They literally rode rides until the fair closed down!

Grandma treated Ella to a pony ride!

Collin's Last Week of Kindergarten

Collin has absolutely LOVED kindergarten - I think especially because he loved his teacher, Mrs. St. Martin. The last week of school, Collin got to go on his first field trip. He went to the Como Zoo. He was SO excited to go on this trip. I think especially to ride the bus. He of course got to go with his great friend Connor - I'm not sure what these two are going to do without each other if they are not in the same class next year!

On Collin and Connor's last day of school we decided to have a little "summer is here" party. Cole and Ella worked very hard all afternoon baking cupcakes and decorating the house. Mommy and Kelly took it up a notch and even put ballons on the car and wrote on the windows! Collin and Connor thought they were pretty cool when we picked them up at school. I'm so glad that they will still let us do this ridiculous stuff without being embarrassed....sometimes I really hope that he never changes!

Like I said, Collin has absolutely loved kindergarten. He has come so far...counting to 100, doing math, making friends, reading, becoming so independent. We REALLY are so proud of all that he has learned and accomplished. Mrs. St. Martin only had great things to say to about him. She said he was a great student, a good listener, a hard worker and a considerate friend. He continues to give us so many reasons to be proud of what a great kid he is becoming. When I asked him what he was most excited about for 1st grade he said, "harder math". This is funny because his friend Connor said he was most scared about harder math - so somebody must have tipped them off to what 1st grade is all about. When I asked Collin what he was most scared about he said, "not having Mrs. St. Martin", but he made sure to add in - but only for a few days.