Polar Express 2011

It has been FOREVER since I posted anything, but at least I am posting now. We took our annual Polar Express trip with Grammy and were greeted by harsh winter conditions on the drive up, but the snow covered mountains were absolutely breath-taking!
It was really cold, I think the temperature gauge in my car read 9 degrees at one point, but the kids had a blast.









Enjoying our hot chocolate on the train!

Madee making her snow angel

Belle loved making hers too

As we approached the North Pole, the kids were "glued" to the window.

Spring Break

At the beginning of Spring Break, Grandma Vicki had a great surprise for us! She took us to the lot where Disney's Sunny with a Chance is filmed. After watching an actual show being taped, the girls had the chance to meet a couple of the stars! They were so happy to meet Tiffany, Tawny of SWAC! It was a fantastic day!

A Kindergarten Poet

Kindergarten has brought so many new experiences for all of us. Today on Valentine's Day, all the kindergarteners read the poems they wrote to a room full of parents!

Isabelle and her teacher showing us the pictures she drew to accompany her poem.

Isabelle reading her poem book.

Getting a little help from Ms. Wozencraft, most amazing kindergarten teacher EVER!

Better Late than Never

We took our annual Guy Family trip to Williams, AZ for the Polar Express. This is the first year that all the families went and it was a blast!

Santa just entered the train and we were the first to see him!

Isabelle in her pajamas and hat from Grammy

Madee in her Polar Express attire

Getting their bells from the Ole Saint Nick!

As always, it was a great trip. A tradition we all love! Hopefully Grammy makes the reservations for next year now!

New Year's Resolution

So one of my many New Year's Resolutions is to TRY to post more on this blog. I feel successful already as January is one of my busiest month and I am posting now! My goal is once a month, but we'll see. Below is a picture of me and the family in Flagstaff. I graduated December 17th with a Masters of Education in School Counseling. It was hard work and I am glad I am done. Hopefully, there will be jobs open for me to apply for. Love you all and Happy New Year!

Robot Parade

One of the fun events Isabelle gets to participate in as a Kindergartner is the Robot Parade. Auntie Barbara was still here and was super excited to make the costume for her. She was determined that Belle would have the best, cutest, pinkest robot costume of all the kids. Auntie Barbara did a fantastic job as you can see!!! During the parade, she walked around like some kid I have never met before. She was waving to parents and other kids, smiling, and just having a great time. Kindergarten has really helped her come out of her shell.

Now She is a Comet....a Westar Comet

On August 4th 2010, Isabelle officially became a kindergartner. She goes to the school right by where I teach so she is close! So far, she has been having a lot of fun. She loves her teacher and has made so many new friends. They have lots of events planned throughout the year for us all to help her grow! She has homework every night and is excelling in all she does, well, except gain weight. She is still pretty tiny and I hope she will weigh 30 pounds by the time she graduates!

It's Been a While.....

Since the last time that I posted something. A lot has happened to the family since June. I will spend the next few days trying to update the blog with the many events we have experienced. This summer the girls took a ballet/jazz class and absolutely loved it. One of my friends was their teacher at the studio and they had a blast!

And my little girl turned 5!!!!!

We celebrated her birthday Hello Kitty style, complete with pink and white chocolate cupcakes.

Move over Edible Arrangements, my designs could put you out of business! Well, maybe not, but Isabelle wanted me to try to make them so I did

Here is a video of Isabelle trying out her water slide

Meet your local heroes

Peter Piper Pizza sponsored a "Meet Your Local Heroes" day through their summer program. Mom finally had a day off and decided it would be fun to take the girls to meet some of Buckeye's finest, a few members of the police and fire departments


Madee loved her new fire hat and badge

Isabelle wasn't too sure???

Isabelle petting the Buckeye is petting one of the K9 dogs "Ivan" while listening to what the officers were saying

The girls looking on while the firefighters were talking about summer and water saftey..."Don't forget to stay hydrated!"

Muscles!!!

Auntie Barbara, Daddy, AND EVEN MOMMY have started working out lately. Most of the time, when we work out at home, they want to try with us. They love showing off their muscles any chance they get! We are all hoping to get more fit...soon

AHHHH Summer

Okay, so I haven't been so great at this blog stuff lately. With working this summer, life has been hectic to say the least. With that being said, I am still trying to find time to do some fun stuff with the girls when I can. I want to try to cherish every moment I can. This is Isabelle's last summer before she starts school. Below are some memories of the last couple weeks, enjoy!

Madee hard at work for her Uncle Rich's memorial day present. I can't show the final products because he hasn't gotten them yet!

Isabelle crafting her gift. Earlier this week we, Auntie Barbara and I, were talking to the girls about Uncle Rich being in Afghanistan and what he is doing there. When we told the girls Uncle Rich is there protecting all of America and people who need him Isabelle asked, is he protecting Santa Claus too? I sure hope so...Thank you Uncle Rich for protecting Santa too!


Enjoying a hot day at the Westgate Splash Pad

Isabelle and her new "ballerina" swim suit

Isabelle...swimming...by herself!!!!

Love you all and thanks for stopping by!

Suddenly I have been bite by the craft bug

So I am always competing with my sisters-in-law at being crafty, well really just in my own mind. I want to be crafty like the two of them, but feel like I never have time to do it. So, at the sacrafice of grading students papers, I have taken on the things I wanted to make a few things at a time. The first is the pillow I sewed for my hubby. He has been begging me since Christmas and I finally did it. He was happy!

For my next trick, I took average looking headbands and added cute little pink flowers for the girls.

With two girls, we never have a shortage of hair stuff. We do, however: have a shortage of where to put it all. That is where the ribbon board comes in, not quite done yet but close.

The girls love it!

And my latest project were dresses for the girls. I finished Isabelle's but Madee was taking a nap so hers will have to wait for another time

I love crafting, it is such a destressor. Now I only need more time and money...

In Heaven

Over the last year, my girls have experienced quite a bit of death for young children. It ranges from loved ones to pets to random animals we see from time to time. We talk about death and heaven and God bringing people to heaven when they are no longer with us.
Tonight I was talking about the food that I am making for tomorrow's Easter lunch, green bean casserole and deviled eggs. There are Jarett's favorite and I made a comment that "Daddy will be in heaven since I am making these foods!" Isabelle got a worried look on her face and started crying asking me not to make those foods because she didn't want Daddy to go to heaven.
Try explaining that pun...
I love that she knows and has a relationship with God and that she trusts in the process of life and death, but she is only 4 and a half,why does she have to know about it so much?

Fun times in the way east valley

Finally after a weekend of a REALLY sick girl and a week of practically nothing, we made our way to the Renaissance Festival held very east of the valley. Madee talked for a week about getting her face painted and today, she finally had the chance. Mom, Dad, Isabelle, Madee, and Grandma Vicki made the hour and a half trek out there and enjoyed a fantastic Arizona spring day. We saw shows, enjoyed great food, and just took in the weather.

Isabelle after the face painting, she chose a unicorn
Madee went with the butterfly

The greatest ride for kids at the fair...free butterfly rides for the shorter kids. Finally, mine had a ride designed for them.

They definitely loved it!

Christmas 2009!

The girls were good this year so Santa brought them the one thing they asked for! Madee wanted an Ariel Barbie and Isabelle wanted a Tiana Barbie. Both girls were so happy when they came downstairs Christmas morning to find Santa had left them. We had a great end to 2009 and are very excited with what 2010 will bring.