a day to say yes

Today I took Madison to the Children's Music and Art Festival.

Where are Austin and Zac?
They didn't want to come.
I guess I don't blame them.

I decided to make today a day to be completely checked in with Madison.
no cell phone, computer, TV, book, or any other distraction.
And since it was one price for the bracelet,
it was a day to say yes.
No excuses.

saying yes to all natural strawberry slushy 

saying yes to hula hooping
a bunch

saying yes to letting you play with all the toys scattered
across the park
as much and as long as you wanted
no rush



saying yes to adorable butterfly wings
not even trying to talk you into something smaller
and easier to clean off

saying yes to painting
whatever you want
no input
and I don't care that you had paint on your hands
 and in your hair
you had fun

saying yes to the piano

saying yes to the guitar

saying yes to the cute little drums

saying yes to the accordion
you loved this

oh yes,
and saying yes to the washboard

yes to jumping
lots and lots of jumping

yes to sliding
even head first

saying yes to petting
and feeding

and saying yes to playing
and prizes
over and over
until you got tired and hungry
and you were ready to move on

and finally saying yes to putting the camera away and staying to play in the rain. We had such a good day. It felt good to say yes, over and over...

New challenge for myself: Say yes to the kids more. Stop being disconnected. Remember they are only kids for such a short time and really enjoy that time with them.

2nd grade = swings

In 1st grade Madison could almost always be found at recess on the monkey bars. 2nd grade she still likes the monkey bars sometimes, but so far this year she can be found flying high on the swings.

(i love that some of our mornings are already requiring a sweatshirt, fall is already in the air.)

Even though I know Austin is laughing at some completely inappropriate youtube comedy video, I still love this picture. I love seeing him smile or even better laugh.

I love this kid with everything in me.

So much if the time I feel like I am failing him in so many ways. He has always been and, will always be such an amazing kid.

I am making sure Austin and I spend time together everyday talking, about anything/everything, playing cards, or even watch his ofter inappropriate youtube videos. He is growing up way too fast for me. I'm trying to hold on to the few (kid) years I have left.

Less then one minute
(and a ringing bell that starts the school day)
between these pictures

Madison is not too sure about 2nd grade yet.

10 and 2

...or 10th and 2nd.

Today the kids started their new school year.

Austin and Zachary are now in 10th grade

Madison is in 2nd grade

I'm so excited for a really good school year this year

Austin is striving for straight A's - hope he sticks to this (he is so smart)

I am working at Madison's school as PTO president.

And so far I love it.

So handsome
I love that he dropped the shaggy hair, skater look this year
I am really looking forward to an awesome year with Austin
I think he did a lot of growing this summer and is ready
to buckle down to
get the grades he needs to head of to college in a few years

also dropped the long hair this year - a much better look
I hope this year Zachary takes advantage of the fresh start
(last year was rough)
I am hoping for better grades and that Zac stays out
of trouble this year 

My Bug (lovebug)
I can not believe she is already in 2nd grade
She is incredibly smart and a really good student.
She scored in the top 98% in all of her testing last year.
I hope she keeps up the amazing work.
I hope Madison has a great year.

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

The day before school starts...

What's something totally fun we can do with the kids?

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

We have been waiting all summer for the boys to get back home to go as a family

It was so worth the wait.

The kids had a blast.

Now don't bash me to hard.

But again (and as always) most of the pics are of Madison.

I can explain.

Madison had to have a parent with her at all times (of course) and I was that parent since some of Jason's coworkers and their kids came with us, and Jason and his mom went with the boys (and the coworkers) who also had to have a parent with them at all times.

I had the camera for Madison's first time thru her course then Jason took the camera to get pictures of the boys.

But they were on their last zipline finishing the last course they were able to complete.

So we are planning to go again soon and Jason can stay with Madison and I will go with the boys so we will have lots of cool pictures of them too.

So now that I've made my excuses on to the pictures



The kids has so much fun. If you are in the area it is so worth a visit. Madison went right to bed and even stayed in her own bed all night. She was worn out. And the boys loved it. Next time we will have to pretend they are 18 so they can try to complete all 4 courses.

Home Depot Kids Club Cork Board

The first Saturday of each month Home Depot does a Kids Club. Madison looks forward to this every month.

For August Madison made a pink and black mini cork board. I love that she can, for the most part, do the entire project herself. I may have to hold a nail or hold 2 pieces of wood together but she mostly does it herself.

Next month... Football Goal Post Game.

crazybeautifulgirl

CrazyBeautifulGirl

My baby sister started an esty shop called CrazyBeautifulGirl to sell her adorable hair clips. Madison loves them. They are alligator clips that Madison can put in herself and she looks so cute.

She just opened her shop and only has a couple clips right now but check back soon and she will have more clips and maybe a few headbands.

If anyone is interested and has a special request just let me know and I will forward the request to her.

Don't mind my off centered photos
you can see how totally cute these hair clips are

First Day of 1st grade
with her stylish hair clip

doesn't she look beautiful
I love that these hair clips keep her hair out of her eyes

stylish girl

so gorgeous

super model
these hair clips go with eveything

So please stop by her shop and if you see something you like order from her. These are amazingly cute. I can not say it enough.

I admit I read these. I had no idea what these were about, my sister and a friend recommended them. I read the first one thinking what the heck, but of course I couldn't put them down. They get better through each book. The third being the best (and less graphic). 

from the E L James website :

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

Home Depot Kids Workshop 8am - 12pm. First Saturday of every month. (I can't believe we didn't know about this before. We have missed out.)

I thought this would be a 4 hour workshop and these little kids would be building a #20 Home Depot Race Car from a block of wood (with a lot of help from the parents).

8am on a Saturday? Yuck. My weekend where I can sleep til 10am is sadly cancelled.

A 4 hour workshop for kids ages 5 - 12? There is no way these kids will have the attention span or ability to stick with this class. Except Madison of course, she is a mini genius :)

I was totally wrong.

The 8am - 12pm workshop actually started at 9am, and was just a 30min - 1hour project that Madison was able to complete all by herself. Literally by herself. I sat across from her and took pictures while she worked away. She had a blast. She loves using tools. She has had her own toolbox ... I think she was born with it. If J is fixing something she is right beside him with her toolbox ready to work.

This workshop was perfect for her. She got an apron with a pin that shows she completed the Race Car workshop. I can not wait to add many more pins to it. Next month, Window Bird Feeder.