Quote of the Day by Dylan

A few months ago (like April), Hallie flushed the toilet, and it got stuck, resulting in the flooding of almost our entire downstairs.  To make a long story short, we had to replace the ruined areas,  so we've had guys (Mexicans) working here on and off for a few weeks.

Now, this isn't a racist story, but I love how it illustrates the innocence of  kids.

This morning, there was a knock at the door (which I did not hear because I was upstairs), but I DID hear the front door open and then Dylan yelling to me:

"Mooommmy, the brown guys are here!" 

I was like, "What is he talking about"? Then I came downstairs and understood--Alex and the crew were here.   Sweet child!

Meet the Newest 5 year old!

Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily had a great 5 year old birthday!  Of course the Birthday Fairy came and decorated her room while she was sleeping, then she had homemade pancakes with REAL blueberries for breakfast.  The rest of the day went on as usual because Mike was gone, so today we finished the celebration.

We had cake and presents and we'll go out to dinner tonight.  I gave Emily the choice to have me make whatever she wanted or go out, and she chose our favorite Japanese restaraunt, Temari.  I love that my kids eat different kinds of foods.  They're especially good eaters when we have Japanese.

Yesterday Emily told me that her favorite things are "My Little Ponies" and "Littlest Pet Shops"- "even more than all my superheroes".  Good thing that's basically what she got.  I think her favorite was the "Ponyville" Carnival for her ponies.  It came with a roller coaster, ferris wheel, and restaraunt/play thing that looks like a giant icecream cone building.  She played with it all day.  That, and her new "Littlest pet shops" beach set.

I also somehow sold her on the idea of a plain chocolate bundt cake with chocolate glaze and sprinkles.  She told me a few days ago that she wanted a Halloween dress-up birthday at Chuck E. Cheese.   She wanted to have all her friends wear Halloween costumes and have a giant pumpkin cake with a ghost popping out.  Obviously that didn't happen.  She cracks us up-the ideas that girl has sometimes!

Emily also asked for a "Chloe hairdo" today (braid on the side into a ponytail), and on the way to the gym this morning she told me she wanted to start dance classes.  Maybe my little tomboy is turning into a real girl...Happy Birthday sweet little Emmy, we sure love you!!

Pretty Pony

This pretty little pony was sitting on the piano, and caught my eye while I was walking by.  I paused and turned around to look a second time to see if indeed, I saw what I saw.  I brought her to Emily and said "Oh dear, this pony met an awful fate...do you know what happened to her?"  Emily answered,  "I put make-up on her."

Emily's Graduation

This afternoon Emily "graduated" from preschool.  The ceremony was short and sweet. I have to brag for a minute...she is super smart.  Her teacher at the beginning of the year, Mrs. Tanner,  told us she was amazed by what Emily already knew and how quickly she picked up on things.  Preschool was more of social hour/give Mommy a break from insanity rather than a learning experience, but she sure had a good time.  There were also some kids in her class that were "special needs" and I'm glad she was able to be around them.  I helped in her class and she really has a kind heart when when she wants to.  Next year she'll switch schools and go to "the big kids school" with Hallie for kindergarden.

The mini cap and gowns the graduates wore were really cute.  Of course, Emily was true to her personality...  as soon as they all got their certificates, refreshments were served for those attending.  I gave Emily  and Dylan a plate then turned around to get my camera, and Emily had stripped off her cap and gown and threw them on the floor.  Then she told me "I don't want those clothes anymore, I'm done."  The other kids were gathering to take pictures with the teachers and their friends, and Emmy didn't "feel like it".  I managed to get two pictures of her with friends.

Here's Jack (post-cap and gown strip), who calls her "Enemy".  He's also the same kid who ran to me and said, "Wait! I didn't give you a kiss!",  when I left the classroom one day. Emily talked about him alot.

And here's Emmy and Jake Porter.  The Porters live around the corner from us, and we carpooled all year with them.  Jake is a super sweet, nice boy.  He also loves Star Wars, talks superheroes with Emmy, and a few times wouldn't get out of the car until "Eye of the Tiger" (one of Em's favorite songs) was over....and sang it with her in the back seat.  He is so cute!  We love Jake.

Just for posterity--terrible pictures with Mommy and Daddy!  The lighting in the library was wierd and made them look all hazy.  My arm looks buff, though.

Congratulations, Emmy, our sweet, smart girl!!  You'll do great in "big kid" kindergarden next year!

Backyard Campout by Hallie

Last night, Spencer, Annie, and Me had a campout in 

the backyard. It was a Scout's requirement for Spencer 

and Annie and I wanted to join. So at around 10:00pm, 

Daddy and Spencer set upthe tent. Then we got some 

sleeping bags for Me and Spencer, a blanket for Annie, 

a flashlight, our new yearbooks to look through, and 

Annie brought her stuffed duck, "Aflac", to chew on. 

I'm glad we had Annie to protect us from all the wild 

raccoons and bears and coyotes (just kidding). Annie 

did protect us though. Every once in a while,she went 

out of the tent and looked around the backyard like she was making sure there was nothing that could hurt 

us out there. She's a good girl.

For an hour or so, Spencer and I looked through our 

yearbooks pointing to people and saying who's cute 

or funny and things like that. Then we petted Annie 

while we just talked and told stories and told jokes. 

Then Spencer checked the time on his watch, and it 

was midnight! So we decided to go to sleep.

But then,at about 3:00am Annie started barking like 

crazy.Was there an intruder coming to rob us? Or 

was it the FBI's most wanted? Or was it some insane 

man on roller skates wearing a shoe on his head who 

was planning to just pop up out of nowhere and say,

"Boo!I'm a wizard!"  Turns out she just wanted some 

attention.

After that, things went smoothly....until I got an 

unpleasant wake-up call at 6:00am (remember, I 

went to bed at midnight). First, Annie started 

licking me all over. Then, Dylan came and started 

to jump on me while yelling,"Waaaake Uuuuup 

Haaaaallieee!"  A few minutes later, Emily came 

outside and decided to join in the "fun". So I started 

to get all mad because I only had about 6 hours of 

sleep when I should have about 10.  So I picked 

them up, and took them out of the tent. I least I 

got about 1 more hour of sleep. So it was fun. 

The only thing that could have made it better would 

be a little more sleep, and maybe a campfire with 

marshmallows to roast (hint hint). Maybe next time!

Peace out! Hallie.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Even though it was yesterday, we have to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mike/Daddy.  The big 3-6.  He said, "I don't feel old, but I'm closer to 40 now then 30..remember when 40 seemed SO old?".  Yes.  And it doesn't seem old to me now, either.  Kind of funny.  

We celebrated by going to our favorite restaraunt- Mastro's City Hall in Scottsdale.  The BEST steak place EVER.  Our favorite used to be Flemings, and it still is delicious, but Mastro's is better.  We started off with a warm spinach salad 

and yummy freshly baked bread  (a treat, because we usually skip the bread), then we moved on to tender, juicy steak and lobster, and topped it off with warm Butter cake with a scoop of vanilla icecream and a side of whipped cream and fruit.  So good!  We were totally stuffed!

Since we were across street from the Scottsdale mall, we decided to go to Nordstrom and do a little shopping--GASP--another treat (for me at least because Mike HATES shopping).

  I got some fantastic perfume in a cool bottle shaped like an apple.  The sticker on it says "Be Delicious" and I will, Donna, I will....

Anyway, back to the birthday boy,  Mike got a couple awesome looking shirts and some  jeans.  They look SO good on him!  He put the jeans on and said "Wow, these are the most comfortable jeans I've ever put on in my entire life...wow, I really like these!".  I was loving it.  I wish we could do that more often, but SOMEBODY is kind of picky when it comes to clothing (you would never guess it, I know) so his birthday is about the only time Mike buys himself clothes.  I guess  I'll have to wait for next year.  Sigh.

Spencer and Hallie babysat while we were gone, and they only called like 8 times--

"Dylan wants chocolate milk, can he have some?"

"Did you feed the dog before you left?"

"My tooth fell out, what do I do?"

"Emily peed her pants."

"Are you coming home yet?"

You get the picture.  When we got home, Spencer had to set up a tent and have a "camp out" for Scouts.  Hallie and Annie slept outside with him.  We had our bedroom window open so we could hear them and Annie, if she barked at intruders, and we heard them talking and giggling together until pretty late.  They really love each other.  This morning, Dylan was out there at 6am, jumping on them and wanting to be in the tent with the "big kids".  Then Emily joined in a little after that.  Hallie came in the house all annoyed because she was so tired, and not ready to wake up yet.  Welcome to my world, Hallie.  

We'll have to have  family "campout" in the backyard sometime.  The kids would all love it!

Happy Mother's Day!

Since it's Mother's Day today, I thought I'd post an ode to my mom.  I tried to dig up some pictures of us together, but someone (NOT me) is a little camera shy, so I only have oldies but goodies.  Still fun to look at.  I just want my mom to know how much I love her and appreciate her.  It's more and more the older that I get, and experience raising my own children.  My family thinks I'm super fantastic (and they're right) and I only can say that because I learned to be a so great from the example of my own mom. 

 

A week or so ago, Spencer was doing a school project about family history.  One part of it was to write a story about a relative that you are like.  He chose my mom.  It turned out so good!  

He's a good little writer.  I know my mom would love to read it, so here it is:

I have a lot of relatives, but the one I am most like is my grandma on my mom’s side of the family. I call her Grandma Lovstedt.

You just need to see us together to know that me and my grandma are like two peas in a pod. When my grandma and grandpa come to visit, my grandma tells me stories that nobody else wants to hear. A lot of the time, they’re stories about when she was a kid and the silly things she did. I like those stories the best because  I can relate to them.

My Grandma is also very smart, just like me.  She reads alot, and watches alot of educational t.v shows.  We learn lots of interesting information.  We both love science and know lots of facts, which most people consider useless facts...but if you have a question, one of us probably has the answer.

Me and my Grandma have an identical sense of humor.  She knows that she can tell me jokes and funny stories, that I’ll laugh at and enjoy.  It sort of like we have our own form of humor.

Me and my Grandma love to teach each other new things.  My Grandma is Russian, so sometimes she teaches me silly words and insults in Russian.  I think my Grandma is the best.  I love her and I’m glad we’re just like each other.

From all of us,  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!  We love you!!

Check out that awesome haircut I gave myself!