First day of Preschool

Megan on her first day of preschool at Happy Valley

Start of MOPS

Our Charter had it's first MOPS meeting yesterday and it went really well. I was so tired from all the planning and the start of school that after I picked Mitch up from school I just zoned on the couch with the kids. I'm looking forward to a great fall with all the girls and this year I am the DGTL(Discussion Group Team Leader). It's a much bigger job than last year but I really have a heart for MOPS so I think this will be a great fit, at least for the next 2 years while Megan is in preschool. One meeting down, lots more to look forward to!

Was that a weekend?

This weekend went so fast I can hardly believe it was actually a weekend! Remember in my last post that I said the kids were going to bed at 7:30 and it was so wonderful?! Well that means that they get up at 6:30am on the weekends! Guess I forgot about kid's sleep schedules and the weekends when we had gotten used to 7:30 or 8am on the weekends. Whoa is me!

We did have lots of fun Saturday and went out to Megan's new Preschool, Happy Valley. It's a farm setting Preschool so everyday that she is there they have wagon rides, pony rides and they get to pet all the farm animals. She is SO excited. She wanted to take her backpack with us Saturday and stay the entire day! After the trip out to Preschool we went to a birthday party for one of Mitch's friends where mommy got a lesson in "not all parents parent like they should and some of their kids are brats"!! Luckily another good friend of mine was there and she knows I can go from zero to 60 in situations like this (my sister calls it "girl on the boat") but I kept it pretty cool and everyone had a good time. The kids bounced in the bounce house on and off for almost 5 hours and came home looking like dirty little rugrats, always the sign of a good party! : )

Today we are trying to relax, refocus and RELAX before a super busy week. We went to the late service at church today and I just love the liturgy at that service. It always puts my heart in the right place, even when Mitch is asking how much longer and Megan is trying to color a library book.

Now...onward to an amazing week of Kindergarten, the start of MOPS and Megan's first day of Preschool!!

First week of Kindergarten

Mitch had a great first week of Kindergarten. He has come home tired and starving the last 2 days but says he is ready to go back on Monday. Frank and I are enjoying the new 7:30pm bedtime for both kids(Megan has pretty much given up naps as well) so it makes for a nice evening for the both of us. The week has been full of change and the kids are showing signs of exhaustion. Unfortunately, we have a busy weekend ahead and then we are heading into (for me) probably one of the busiest weeks of the month, maybe even the next few months. I hope He allows me a sliver of rest in there somewhere and some time to recharge because I think I am going to be needing it.

First Day of Kindergarten

Megan and Mitch on Mitch's first day of Kindergarten!

Last days of summer vacation fun!

We've had a really good time in the last few days and these are just of few pics from our craziness...

Megan eating corn...isn't this how everyone does it?
Megan riding the Flying Bananas at Heritage Square

Megan and I on the Crazy Coal Miner at Heritage Square

Megan and Mitch grocery shopping at the Children's Museum

Megan painting her house at the Children's Museum

Last day of summer vacation

This is it, the last day of summer vacation. I can't believe it's officially over and tomorrow Mitch will start Kindergarten, full day Kindergarten too. For months I have longed for the day he would go to full day Kindergarten and I could hear myself think again, because for 5 1/2 year it has been non stop chatter(crying in the first months) and now I just want to hit the rewind button. I used to say I would be the parent dancing in the parking lot, but tomorrow I will be the one with the huge sunglasses on, hiding the tears as I watch my oldest make his way to into the world. He is ready, more than ready. Last night he was so excited to go to back to school night, find his cubby, meet his teacher and make some new friends. I am excited for him too, just sad that it went so fast. We've really been living it up these last few days of vacation and I hope he has been enjoying it as much as I have. I know tomorrow morning will be here before we know it and I am looking forward to hearing all about his first day and how much fun he had. My sunglasses are all ready and the Kleenex is in the car, but most importantly, I just want Mitch to know that he is going to do great on this new journey.

A Magical Night

Tonight we went to Zoomily at the Denver Zoo. It was a very magical night and filled with princesses, wizards and other sorts of fairytale creatures. We mostly ventured into the princess area(much to Mitch's dislike) for Megan. She even got to wear her Cinderella gown, crown and slippers to the event AND meet Cinderella and many other princesses! She was so overwhelmed at first but quickly got over it. We met Cinderella first, and you can tell that she just wasn't too sure but by the time we ran into Prince Charming she was ready to be swept off her feet and go home with him. It was really too cute! There were boy things there too and the who East side of the zoo was decked out like Hogwarts Castle. It was a very fun night and we even saw a few animals!!

Megan with Prince Charming

Mitch, Megan and Snow White and her Owl "Snowy"

What a difference a year makes!

Today marks a year after my hysterectomy and I can hardly believe it has been that long. This summer has just flown by which means that this year has also flown by. A year ago, I was trudging along, no energy, just trying to get by with 2 little ones to look after. Now, I have all the energy a 31 year old should (more or less) and live with no regrets that I had such a drastic surgery at such a young age. The year didn't come without it's ups and downs from the surgery, but I feel like I have made it and everyday it is less and less of a daunting decision and last summer seems like less and less of a dark cloud. This summer has been amazing(minus all of the crazy thunderstorms and annoying allergies)! The kids are at a great age and we have had so much fun! Just a week and a half left of summer vacation and we are still rocking and rollin' and trying to fit everything in. Today, to take some time to unwind and get a little break I spent the morning at Oasis Day Spa and it was pure heaven. I don't say it often enough, but I have the best husband because he lets me spoil myself and do amazing things like this. I got a massage, sat in in the sauna and got a pedicure. Pure bliss! Maybe I will do this every August 8th to celebrate good health!

I also want to thank everyone who has been such a great support to me in the past year, when I have whined cried, or freaked out. Thanks to all of my great friends and family!

Swimming Lessons

The kids spent the last 2 weeks taking swimming lessons at Secrest pool and really enjoyed it(much more than I ever did as a kid so they must get that from Frank!!!). Mitch liked it so much that he said he is ready to try out for swim team in the Fall! It was a lot of fun to watch and Mitch really is a little fish in the water.

A word on the hives

We finally have some answers on Megan's hives...Last week at her 3 year check up I had her pediatrician test her for food allergies and, unfortunately, her test came back positive for eggs. We also saw a dermatologist today and he diagnosed her hives as Chronic Urticaria. Both the allergy and the Urticaria and things she will outgrow, hopefully and God willing, but for now I am doing lots of research and working on how and what to restrict from her diet to help her "itchiness". Poor little thing. She's a real trooper though and other than the chronic itching she seems to be doing okay and she hasn't had any major flare ups this week. Keep us all in your prayers!