Are we embarrassing already?

Ryan and I both took the kids to the bus stop today. Ryan had just finished running so he was in some athletic shorts and a t-shirt. We had made plans to each lunch with the kids today. So while we were at the bus stop Aidan came up to Ryan and said, "Are you going to wear that to lunch today?" Ryan could tell Aidan was implying something so he said, "Uh, probably not, I guess. Why?" Aidan then looked relieved and said, "Because you look like you are wearing pajamas." So Ryan is going to lunch in a suit.

Thumbs Down!

To premise this story, when Aidan leaves on the bus he usually gives me the I love you sign as the bus pulls away. It has been our standing tradition for the last two years.

Today Lacey really wanted Aidan to sit by her on the bus. It is day 4 of school and he has yet to sit with her. She kind of teared up when she asked for him to sit with her. So I told Aidan he had to sit with her. He was supposed to the first day and didn't. He was also suppose to walk her to her classroom the first day and didn't. So I figured he owed and I told him that. He was so mad. He stomped off and then kind of cried as he complained about sitting with her. I didn't back down though and I threatened him with a week of sitting next to her.

The kids got on the bus. I could see from the window that indeed Aidan was sitting next to Lacey. Then I saw the standard I love you sign from his right hand and thought oh good things are okay, until I saw that his left hand was raised up for me to see with a big thumbs down sign. I guess he figured out in sign language how to say "I don't love you today!"

Another one off to kindergarten!

I have TWO kids in school! I can't believe it. The morning turned out great. There wasn't much protest from Lacey and she seemed hesitantly excited. Aidan was up before the alarm went off with a HUGE smile on his face. He was SO ready to go.

You know how you know your kids "looks" and what they mean. Well, as we walked to the bus stop Lacey gave me this look like "mom I'm excited but nervous. Can I do this?" This picture just captured that! I made sure I was upbeat and strong, meaning not breaking down into convulsing sobs, so she would continue to be excited.

The neighborhood group. One boy is actually in Lacey's class.

Waiting for the bus!

Here it comes!

The last look. Am I ready mom?

Aidan, as excited as ever!

The top of Lacey's head and her hand waving goodbye!

Off to kindergarten and second grade!

Lacey did great. She was brave and showed no hesitancy getting on the bus. I'm so proud of her. She kept checking to see if I was crying yet. She even said, "You aren't crying mom." I told her I was waiting till she was gone to cry. I actually didn't tear up on the way home. I was just so thrilled for them. I wish I could sneak a peek at their day. I will miss them!

She's armed and dangerous!

She's armed!



She's dangerous!

And she is ruthless! Look at that sinister laugh!

Ready for Church

We somehow were ready for church early so we decided to take some pics. What really inspired the photo shoot was that Aidan did his hair differently. He looks different and so grown up. He was excited about it especially when mousse got involved. Aren't we a cute bunch?

Fireworks!

We found a firework show on Saturday night instead of Sunday at a park just north of us. Ryan was late getting home from work so we jumped in the car the second he got home. The fireworks were to start at 9:30 and we left at 9:15. We saw the show start from the freeway but were only a couple miles from the park. We had no idea how long it would last so we just hoped for the best. We jumped out of the car and expected just minutes left in the show. Every firework we declared was the last one. We actually got to see about 15minutes which is more than we could ask.

So actually on the 4th I let the kids go out to do sparklers and pop its.

While they were out surrounding neighbors were lighting off their fireworks which actually turned out to be a great show. The kids were jumping up and down so excited that they were so close.

Cassidy and Ryan stayed inside for a bit because DD was scared.

Ryan finally got her to come outside. Ryan and I pulled out camping chairs out into the middle of the culdasac so we could see better. It was so fun to just sit right outside my house and watch some great fireworks. Seriously I felt like going to the person's house and telling them thank you for the awesome show. It was a peaceful, beautiful night. Happy Birthday America!

"I quit this parade!"

We went to our traditional ward 4th of July breakfast. The kids were to decorate their bikes for a little parade. They were very excited and I spent last night making sure their bikes were well decked out for today. I decided to decorate a baby stroller for Cassidy since she isn't much of a bicyclist yet. Didn't it turn out cute?

I was very excited for her and thought the idea of the stroller was perfect. We gathered down with all the kids for the parade to begin. I was going to walk by Cassidy just to make sure she would be okay. Before the parade even started I heard a screaming cry and realized it was Lacey. I looked over at her and she was in hysterics. I ran over to her to see what happened. I thought she had already fallen off her bike and was bleeding. Well, she just couldn't get her bike started up the hill. I got her going and ran back to DD. She in turn was beginning to tear up because I just left her to go check on Lacey. So now, the parade begins and I think all will be well. Cassidy decides she doesn't want to push the stroller. So she just pushes it away and pouts a little. I walk with her and push the stroller myself. Again I hear profuse screaming and realize once again Lacey has lost it. She had run off the road and was wildly heading down the grass hill towards a tree. She obviously doesn't hit the breaks at anytime but thankfully doesn't hit the tree. She just sits on her bike in front of the tree, screaming her lungs out.

This is her out of control going down the hill. Photo captured by my friend.

I was far enough away from her that it took me sometime to get to her. In the meantime, my friends and another sister in the ward run over to her in hopes to help her and get her to stop screaming. No use. She just sits there almost stunned but never stopping from screaming. I finally get to her thinking again she is bleeding and hurt. Nope. She just says "I quit this parade!" I take her and walk back toward Cassidy who now is screaming and crying her head off. So I have both girls screaming and crying and I am trying to push a stroller and walk a bike while I am trying to calm them down.

I walked over to the car and decided I quit this parade too!

Me calling it quits

Cassidy never recovered and would not even let me take a picture of her with her stroller. Hence the pout. Lacey did recover but I was done. I stayed a few more minutes and then we bailed.

This is the one cute picture that my friend captured of Cassidy by tricking her to play peekaboo with her baby.

I left mad and frustrated. What a bummer of a parade!