Under the big top!

We had a blast last night with the Frye family and went to the circus! Thanks again. I grew up in Southern California where the circus was outside in tents with animal cages outside. I think the last time I went to the circus I was 15 and was sad I couldn't talk to Damon all night on the phone but ended up having a blast with my sisters! Well, that was forever ago and a lot has changed in the circus world! Now the circus is more like a show with a story line, beautiful costumes, a live band, and great dancers! It was so exciting for all!

Trevor loved every second of the circus. He loves animals loved watching the elephants. Many of the elephants happened to poo on stage and Trevor says ewww they poo! All throughout the night Trevor kept pointing to the stage saying, "look" and "cool."

We were spoiled and had box seats with food and everything for us. It was so nice with Trevor because he could move around and we didn't have to worry about him. The other advantage we were up so we "couldn't go down" to buy all the treats and prizes for a small fortune. The cotton candy was $12 EACH times 7 kids equals TOO MUCH MONEY!!!

This picture doesn't do it justice but here is everything during one of the dances.

Shane went crazy during the songs and dances. He was rocking out to his own beat and having a blast. He loves to make little girls laugh and the Frye's have 4 girls so he is in heaven when they think he is funny. He would do this preschool too and then couldn't understand why the girls always said, " Oh, Shane you are sooo funny!"

When I was little the roller pod was my favorite thing! Do you remember it? A few guys would ride around in motorcycles? Well, last night 6 guys went it and I seriously don't understand how they don't crash! It's too crazy.

You can tell by the boy on their faces that they had a great time! Seriously, my boys NEVER cooperate and I'm so happy to have a picture of BOTH of them together!

To top things off they had to be silly like the clowns! If you haven't been to the circus in awhile...GO!

Sweet and not so sweet moments...

SwEeT MOmEnT

Today walking into the grocery store. Shane grabs my hand and holds it while we are walking into the store now hand in hand.

Shane: I missed you last night Mom.

Mom: You did, why did you miss me I was home all night?

Shane: I missed you last night while I was sleeping.

NoT sO sWeeT MoMeNT

Today while driving home in the car after we played at Gabes house. He has to scream LOuD in the car because he now insists on sitting in the VERY back all by himself. With the AC on full blast and today some Jack Johnson playing he had to loud to be heard!

Shane: Hey Mom, I'm going to set a boobie trap for Gabe.

Mom: Cool Shaners.

Shane: Why is it call BOOBIE trap?

Mom: I'm not really sure about that.

Shane: 'Cuz Gabe will turn into a girl and grow BIG boobies!

I laugh in shock at my 4 year olds knowledge of girls. Shane laughs at how smart and silly he is. Trevor just laughs because he's Trevor and loves to laugh at EvERyThiNG!

Little Pack Rat!

You would think I was cleaning out a room or setting up for a garage sale, but no ALL this was in Trevor's crib for sleeping! He is one crazy 2 year old! If I take one little thing out he will notice and find it or something else usually larger to replace it! Last week I took out the little green plastic piece to the pirate ship and the helicopter pad to the train set and before he got into bed he went around his room finding them!

The good news, his room never and I mean NEVER has anything on the floor. If he can see it he tosses it into his bed for safe keeping. The bad news is, he can have NOTHING in sight in his room. I had some books and toys on his shelf and they are long gone. You can see he sleeps with an empty picture frame that was on the shelf too but he has taken the picture out of the "baby."Sometimes I worry he won't sleep but he always does. You would think and I would hope this would mean he would play a long time in the morning so I wouldn't have to get up so early but the playing only lasts a few minutes then he is screaming, " MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" He really doesn't play with them before he goes to bed either. Some nights I will hear some of the toys make some noise but I think that is more because he hit them in his sleep! I stopped cleaning them up each night because this is Trevor. This is what he likes right now even though it's a little silly. Besides, when I did clean it up it would take way too long to put him in bed because he was busy collecting!
See how happy he is with all of his junk! Besides all the toys he usually has at least 4-6 blankets! He is comfortable between all his boys and blankets. This picture was taken last week when Buzz and Nemo were in the bed. Since then they have been moved into the car along with an instruction booklet for the train table! Ever since Trevor was born he has been determined. Whatever he wants he works so hard to get. If he doesn't get it the entire neighborhood hears about it with his loud screeches!! I wonder what this hard work and determination will bring him in the years to come.

My Dad Rocks!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful me in my life! I have the best husband, dad, father in law, and grandpa EVER! We love you so much and am so blessed to have each of you in our lives. YOU ROCK! As part of Damon's Father's Day gift I took these pictures of the boys for an urban feel for his office. Julie and Kerry came over and we made these super darling little paper wallets to put pictures and notes in. It was way fun with about a million kids at my house between the 3 or us!

Poor Damon didn't have the greatest Father's Day. He went to bed with the worst headache and woke up with it too. He tried to get ready for church since Shane was so excited to sing for him at church but Damon didn't make it. He's had the flu all day and is finally feeling better and even wanted some tri tip dinner!! Shane did such a good job singing and came home to give Daddy a concert of "I'm so Glad When Daddy Comes Home!" while Damon was resting in bed. We did presents in bed and he even got the Piggies and Paws I printed of boys for LAST YEARS Father's Day and never got around to making! I'll post some pictures tomorrow of Damon's other fun gift from the boys.
So in Vegas there is a lot of graffiti to choose from. However, when you are wanting to bring 8 kids from the ages of 2-13 you don't want to risk being shot! I needed a partner in crime so Julie came and we took pictures together. You should have seen us crazy mom's trying to get some cute pictures for Father's Day! I tried taking some pictures of us in action but I can't seem to find them on my memory card! We were just in Henderson by Seven Hills so a nice part of town and hoped a huge brick wall and passed each other kids over. Hiked down a hill with rocks and yuck to a storage drain with graffiti!!! It was quite comical seeing us with all the kids. I scraped my arm and knee and Julie twisted her ankel but it was well worth it. The kids thought it was so fun and loved the adventure until the camera came out! Oh well, I got a few good pictures.

I'm hoping next time there will be a little more graffiti on the walls!

Poor Trevor has had a yuck nose and extra grump so I was happy to get one smile picture!
Finally, a picture of both my boys together! This picture makes me laugh with Shane screaming in the background.

We hope you all had a perfect Father's Day. You ROCK!

Everyone Was Kung Fu Fighting!

For the past week we have had endless kung fu fights at our house! Shane opens the cabinet doors and then runs around kicking them closed and screaming, "HEI-YAH!!" Trevor of course follows his big bro saying, "YAH! YAH!!" The boys practice there moves on each other and I even get in on the action and do a little kung fu in the kitchen too! Mr. Hangler my high school self defense teacher would be so proud that I still remember some of those moves! We can thank Kung Fu Panda for our recent excitement with Kung Fu in our house! Last Friday was my first day of summer and being done with school for at least a year! I have been living up the phat life going to movies, lunch dates with friends, shopping, and even a trip to CA by myself (well, I was doing a Piggies and Paws training but all the Piggies girls are so nice I had a great time!). I had quite the day. I met up with Julie and we got pedi's then took the kids to opening day of Kung Fu Panda! The kids had a blast. Here are the boys showing us their moves!

I had to include them all because look how cute their faces are!
Poor Trevor, you can't see him but he was having a blast being with the big boys.
The 2 big kids opted out of the pictures. I hurried and took them before they came so I wouldn't embarrass them! The little kids were ecstatic to get Kung Fu Panda posters!
Trevor LOVES the excitement the Frye kids bring to our lives! He thought he was pretty cool having a poster even though it didn't make it out of the movies theatre.
What's a movie without popcorn. I think there was almost $50 spent on snacks for 8 kids and 2 adults. Julie and I even bought the candy at Walgreen's BEFORE the movie. Us mom's needed our Caffeine fix and well the kids, we'll just say we are nice moms!!

The movie was super cute. Kung Fu is still going on at our house. Shane screams, "I love Kung Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" as he "fights" with Trevor and Trevor says, "Kung Fu Pana, hei-yah!" I love seeing the boys plays together. I love hearing Shane helping Trevor and Trevor giggling as they play Speedracer AKA cars or whatever made up game together.

After the movies we went to the favorite Jason's Deli and had some lunch. The kids needed a break from each other because they would be together all week-end and I had to pack after lunch to go to CA for my Piggies and Paws training. Damon was home but Julie watched the boys over night because we didn't want to wake everyone up at 4:30 in the morning when Damon got up to go to work so Julie could watch them then. For those who are counting, I know, Julie has watched my boys TWICE overnight and I have NOT once watched her kids. Mike, take your wife for a romantic week-end away. Shane is dying to have a sleepover with so many good friends!

Retirement

Retirement is such a joy! We have been blessed by having my father in law, Larry, retire this past year. He is free from work and can come play! He has driven out many times this year to watch the boys when I have had to work and Damon's schedule changed. He loves being with his little grandsons and playing with them all day!

I had to work Wednesday and Damon has switched to day shift (yippee, we are a "normal" family!) so he told us he would fly out to watch the boys! I came home from work on Wednesday with a quiet and CLEAN house! The boys were sleeping because Grandpa tired them out from blanket rides and baseball.
Shane had so much fun having Grandpa teach him how to play baseball. The cone is the base and Shane is getting pretty good with his form and hitting the ball!

WHEN Trevor hits the ball he does good too! He loved the new ball I brought home from school. When it's the end of the year so much stuff gets tossed out and the boys loved the prizes I kept bringing home!
Look at his crazy face! Silly Trevor he's starting to show off.
Concentration is the name of the game! When Shane hit the ball hard he said "I don't want to be a police officer anymore, I want to be a BASEBALL GUY!!!!"

Grandap went home yesterday and the boys were so tired they didn't react much until he was GONE! On the drive home from the airport as I got off the exit to get home Shane started to cry. When I say cry I mean cry super hard! Through his sobbs he tells me he wants Grandpa. He wanted to call him and ask to bring candybars next time. Trevor then says "Grandpa back. Grandpa blanket ride, play."
Now to my retirement! Most people retire after 30 years of working but me I'm retired after 30 years of LIFE! Here is my sad classroom with all our pirate stuff taken down and empty. I didn't cry because I'm so happy to be home with MY babies! We are going to have so much fun together and I can enjoy life a little more. I miss the wonderful teachers I get to work with and most importantly picking a theme and creating my bulletin boards! I know not what you think I would say but I love the beginning of the year and all the organization and new things on the wall and in the desks! Don't worry, Nicole my job share partner said I can help her. She is doing a circus theme and I love it! I already thought of having a popcorn machine at Meet Your Teacher and hand out popcorn.
I better get going. I'm off to enjoy a pedi and then to see a movie with the boys and some friends! I like this staying at home business. Happy Retirement to me! It may be short lived but I'll enjoy being home full time while I can.

School's Out for Summer!

Last Thursday was Shane's last day of pre-school until next school year. He is so excited for summer even though he doesn't really understand what it means! The kids had a program for the parents on last day and sang us some songs. Shane was rocking out and being so funny. I'm trying to post a video but am having problems and it's too late to call Lanae or any one for that matter!




Shane has had a great first year. I don't have a picture with him on the FIRST day of pre-school with Ms. Dolores because he was too scared. Now he loves pre-school and all the fun. About a month ago he started to say the Pledge and I couldn't believe he knew all those big words. It is so fun seeing him learn.

There are 3 boys and 3 girls in his class. On his progress report it said, " he is definitely much more comfortable interacting with the boys and is still a little uneasy and reluctant to have the girls join in." Oh my, we need more girls around here. I'm sure Damon isn't helping him when he teases about girls either!
It was so cute, Trevor layed on the floor and watched the big kids perform the entire time!
When the program was over the pre-school kids served us parents muffins, fruit, and water. Shane was so excited to bring us our food at HIS school.
Trevor just cannot wait until he gets to go to pre-school. He wants to be a big boy so bad and enjoy all the exciting things Ms. Dolores does. Each week when we drop Shane off Trevor leaves kicking and screaming! Two of the girls in Shane's class have brother's Trevor's age so I'm sure they will all be together in the same class before we know it!

Me and by big boy! He actually cooperated for a pictures, it helps having his teacher around whom he just adores. Julie and I made these flowers and it says "Thanks a bunch!" on the cup. Sorry it's blurry I guess I was having some camera issues. It was so fun to make and the kids were so excited to give it to their teacher. We attached some gift cards to it so she can have a little happier summer. Once Ms. Dolores got the gift there were finger prints all over the cup and half the lemon heads were gone! As Gabe and Shane walked to the door they have a few candies in their mouth. Funny thing is, as Shane was leaving he had a few in his mouth too!