Special Day with Paige

I read this silly article the other day about things your kids really want.  One was to spend time with me without my siblings.  It hit me that we usually do things together with Paige because she's always at school.  (Can you tell I really resent she is there so long?)  Plus, I don't have siblings, so have no idea about this desire.  Hailey's Spring break was only one week, so I sent her to school on her normal days and made a special day out with Paige.  I asked her what she wanted to do.  She said she wanted a new toy and new clothes.  Sounded like a trip to the mall to me!  She was incredibly sweet in that everything she picked, Hailey had to have the same.  So we bought double of everything!  I had such a nice time with my first born.  I love her so. 

Lunch at CA Pizza Kitchen

A sundae of course.

When we were leaving the restaurant, she said she wanted to go look at all the
beautiful pots with trees and flowers in them.  Then she saw the splash pad!

We tried on hats.  Found one that perfectly matched her dress.

She remembered another time that we had gone to the mall that she liked the cream cheese and bagel.  So we got it!

St Patrick's Day 2015

I love that they believe the Leprechauns come into our house to create mischief the night before St. Patrick's Day. 

Treats left by the Leprechauns

So much mischief!

All dressed for tennis and the day.  No pinches here!

Hailey's craft at school.  She sewed the button on the shamrock.  I will treasure it always.

Day 6 spring break

Just  a few moments I caught of them playing so nicely. 

Hailey is getting to be a person that always has a book in her hand. 

Playing separately, but in the same room. 

First Tennis Lesson

I signed the girls up for Tennis Camp for the second week of Spring Break.  I had no expectations at all.  They have never had a racket in their hand.  Well, as I watching, I saw BIG Dreams for Mama.  Oh, a fabulous doubles team indeed.  HaHa!  I asked them how they liked it when it was over and they said they LOVED it.  THAT made me even more excited.  I have no idea if it will last, but I relished in it for a few moments, because truly they were not every good and absolutely need practice.  I was able to sign them up for the next session and starting in a couple weeks they will go each Saturday.  We'll see....this may be their sport!  Keep Calm Mama. 

Bear. Big Bear.

Hailey asked for a large stuff bear for her birthday.  I was a Homegoods the other day and found one.  It's gigantic and she loves it.  She named it Teddy Violet. 

Wildflower trail

On Day 4 of Spring Break I took the girls to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum which is east of us just before one gets to Superior, AZ.  They were giving a Wildflower hike and I thought it would be fun to participate and see all the beautiful desert Spring flowers.  The hike was great once we left the tour!  Ha!  The tour guide was not so dynamic, so we hiked ahead and had a wonderful time looking at all the mountain views and of course the flowers.  It's a really cool place and one that I would definitely return too.  We even saw a family with an Airedale on the hike! 

Crops

I grew up in a big agricultural town on the central coast of California.  I was so excited to learn that when we moved to Chandler, it too was full of agriculture.  In the 8 years that we have been here, we've seen slow & steady progress and construction, making the crops disappear.  It's nice because the city has planed it very well and laid out great.  But it makes my heart a bit sad too because I love to see crops as I drive around town and breathe in the air around them, so fresh and homey to me.  This crop is just on the next block from our house.  It has been zoned for something commercial to be built there and will probably be developed sooner than we know.  As you can see there is a huge business building going up behind them on even the next block down.  I had to get pictures of them in the field before it goes away for nostalgia sakes. 

Price and Queen Creek Rd behind them.  The huge building will be a large Wells Fargo office in the Price Corridor.

Dobson and Queen Creek Rd behind them.  That is our neighborhood in the distance.

Corner of Dobson and Queen Creek Rd South behind them.  Fresh and Easy and other shopping across the street.

Spring Break Day 2

Leisurely morning of waking up slowly and then coloring.  We go Hailey's birthday pictures done too.  She's chosen a butterfly theme for her big day, hence the butterfly shirts and skirts.  On the way home, The General Lee passed us...I had to snap pic...very unsafe!  :) 

Alfresco

Our weather is warming up so nicely.  We an eat dinner outside.  Love it!

Spring Break Day 1

The first week of Spring Break had no plans.  Just lots of stay at home days for playing, dreaming and imagination.  I'm sure there were a few sister arguments mixed in, but overall, it was fantastic. 

Ears pierced

Paige has a very attention distracting habit of changing her clothes multiple times in the day.  She desperately wanted to get her ears pierced.  So we set up a calendar and if she was able to go a full month without changing her clothes in the day she would earn the privilege to get her ears pierced.  Me, oh my, she did it!  So both went yesterday to get them done.  (I thought the timing was perfect, it would give them time to heal while on Spring Break.) I choose a place that was clean and sanitary and do the ears simultaneously.  They even got a certificate after.  Neither cried or said it hurt that bad.  Both actually had smiles after it was done.  I was prepared for disaster, but there was none.  They are really happy.  Now the challenge of them not taking the earrings out before the right time.  Wish luck in these 6 weeks! 

Paige getting it done. 

Smile after

Hailey getting it done

Smile after

Posing with their certificates

Jog-a-thon

Along with read Across America, Paige's school had a huge fundraiser based on health with a Jog-A-Thon to end it.  Paige ran 3/4 mile (she RAN the whole thing) and then stopped to get Hailey and they ran the last lap together.  I was so proud of her to stop and get her sister.  They are so thoughtful with each other.  At the end, because Hailey blends in so well, each got ribbons for jogging.  Hooray!

Reading

It really amazing the progress Hailey is making in her reading.  She's reading books focusing on long vowels with a silent /e/ now.  It comes very naturally to her.  It makes my heart very happy to watch her succeed. 

Spirit week

Last week at school was Read Across America.  They had a different dress up theme and event each day.  Parents were even invited into the classrooms to read books.  I was really impressed with the organization.  Paige and I read "Stone Soup" to her class and she acted out the story by putting all the ingredients into a pot as I read.  Here's some of her costumes for the week.  There was also Western day and Fitness Day. 

Dress as your favorite book character:  Laura Ingalls Wilder

Dress as a Rock Star:  Material Girl (Help me!)

Tea Party

The girls hosted a small tea party with friends last weekend.  My mom totally helped to coordinate and get everything together.  She's really good at this kind of stuff.  She even went to the second hand store and got real china tea cups for each guest.  Each girl was able to invite 5 friends.  We got 6 to attend plus one friend's cousin!  It was quite the party.  It included craft of making crowns, tea, games and socializing with friends in the back yard.  I hope all had fun. 

My great grandmother's tea set. 

Excited for their friends to arrive.

Ready to Tea Paaarty!

Making crowns

Drinking tea and eating snacks

Pin the flower on the cupcake

Racing with sugar cubes on a spoon