Much Love

My Kindhearted Girl

Ever since our dear Georgie died last year, Alexa and I have had many conversations about heaven, death and the afterlife.  Alexa is pretty philosophical and asks me things like "Do people take on their human form in heaven?" "Is there gravity in heaven?" "Do people stay together as families in heaven?" etc...  So when a friend of hers in school lost his grandma it was no surprise to me that she told me that they had many conversations about the death of this boy's grandmother.  She relayed some to me and it sounded like she was counseling him.  She wrote him this card and put it in his cubby at school.  His mother actually contacted me and thanked me as it meant something to her as well and was meaningful to her son.  I love the heart of my daughter.  I hope as she gets older, she never loses that sensitivity towards others.  I teach her to help others when they need it, be kind and think about how other's are feeling but her sense of compassion is not something that is taught by me.  She is intrinsically kind and I love that about her.  I hope she grows up to help one day remind the world that our pain is all the same and we need to love one another.  She amazes me. : )

Spring Hoedown

 Alexa's school had a Hoedown Fundraiser.  The cotton candy was a BIG treat.  She went straight for it.  I cringed every time I looked at her eating it.  I'm not big on giving Alexa junk like that but once in awhile I give in.  We made her throw it out after she ate half of it, she started getting whacky and way too sticky!!

 She had fun playing the carnival games.

She is quite good on the monkey bars.  : )

Easter Day

 Easter 2011

 Decorating cupcakes a few days before Easter.  Alexa loves to help in the kitchen and I always appreciate it.

 My mom made her that apron.  I think she looks like a little lady in it. : )

 Alexa has an interest in cooking and we finally let her make something on the stove.  Of course I was standing right there to supervise.  She says when she is nine she is going to start cooking dinners for us.  Both my mom and I love to cook so I'm happy to see her following in our footsteps! 

 Easter morning just getting out of bed.

 Love the smile on her face!

 This photo cracks me up...sort of sums up our life....whacky and nothing near perfect, just as we like it!

 Ready to go over to my parent's house for breakfast and the Easter Egg Hunt.

 Looking so grown up....

 Having fun collecting the eggs.  My dad aka Easter Bunny made it quite the challenge this year.

Easter Dinner

This is The Chief's family on Easter evening.  He's taking the photo and his youngest sister and her family is not present but I thought this was a good shot of us all laughing. : )

Swim Lessons

 Alexa started swim lessons for the summer.  She is at a swim school near us and in a group class of 4.  Previously she has taken private lessons here at the house but even though she learned some skills, she has not been swimming independently.  This session is only 8 classes ( 2x week) but she has really learned a lot.  She is diving off the side of the pool and really enjoying it. 

 We really don't start swimming here at our house until late June because our pool is so cold which is hard to believe for AZ, but we live at a higher elevation and the water just does not warm up quickly.  Once it is warm, we swim about every day.  I'm more of a "floater" and love to get a tan ( yes, I wear sunscreen!) so we really do enjoy our pool days.  I hope that this is the summer that Alexa really becomes a fish in the water.  I even told her that I would get some goggles too and swim under water with her like mermaids.



A Special Weekend Guest

 Alexa brought home a special friend from school on Friday.  Corduroy was going to spend the weekend with us and she was to journal their activities together.  The first night he got to sleep in a fancy American Girl bed.

 The second day Corduroy spent the day at the Grandparent's house.  Boy, was he tired from all that playing!

On the Sunday we had a special treat for him and we went to the Desert Botanical Gardens.  Here they are in the Butterfly Exhibit.  It was fun to have the little guy over for the weekend. : )

Zoo Day

 Off to the zoo for the day.  Alexa was on Spring Break two weeks ago and we filled it with lots of fun activities.

 My favorite photo of the day.  This lovely fellow came over and sat on the other side of the window and kept stealing a peek at Alexa when she wasn't looking.  Just a fyi...no there is not soda in that cup. ; )  My girl has never even tried a soda and I'd like to keep it that way.  She gets a half water- half lemonade...I know, I'm no fun.

 Off on her ( and my ) first paddle boat ride.  The Chief took us around the lake and she thought it was pretty cool.

 The Chief and Alexa at the Petting Zoo area.  Phoenix zoo is actually a pretty good zoo for kids.  It's been voted in the top 5 zoo for kids.  I'm not a big zoo lover but I know Alexa really loves animals and enjoys it so we take her.  It pains me to see the animals pacing or just plain bored in their enclosures. 

 She loved the Reptile House and seeing some familiar faces that we encounter here at home.  I'd much rather see them in a zoo than at my house!!

Alexa's favorite was the Komodo Dragon.  There were two of them, each in a separate area. Alexa thought it fascinating that they would kill each other if together and that they eat the "occasional human" as the sign stated.  She loves facts about animals and thought was the coolest one of the day.

Itty Bitty Update

 Here is Alexa on St. Patrick's Day.  It was a busy day.  First it started out with me going to school with her to present her science experiment with her.  She was the "Scientist of the Week" and had to apply the scientific method with an experiment.  She chose to do it on "How Sunscreen works".  It was fun because we prepared two skits to do in front of the class along with explaining her experiment.  The kids were so funny.  After we were done they said "Do it again, do it again!"  I love seeing Alexa in her classroom. It was fun for me too.  I taught school for 15 years and really miss being with the kids.  I love the energy in a class full of Kindergartners!

 After school it was time for 3rd quarter conferences.  This was our first one since we started at this school  in February. They are student led which was interesting.  The kids practiced and prepared and were in charge of their own conference. She presented her portfolio to us, shared her accomplishments and goals for the remainder of the year.  Then she showed us around her classroom and the different areas that she works at during the day.  Afterwards we got her report card and talked a bit with her teacher.  We are very proud of Alexa and her achievements at school. We recently got some good news regarding her abilities and what the future will hold for her in the coming years.

 Here are some photos from last month's Father/Daughter dance.  Alexa was so excited to have a special night with her daddy. Don't they look sweet? : )

 My two loves!!!

Picture Day

Today was picture day at school.  I cannot even believe how old Alexa looks in these photos.  She is my blossoming flower.  Sometimes I look into the future and try to imagine what she will be like when she is 9, 12, 15, etc..  She is just an amazing kid and I love spending every minute with her.  I hope we will always cuddle, pinky swear, share secrets, and hold hands as we get older.  She is my lovebug, partner in crime and right-hand girl!

FCC-AZ Chinese New Year

~Be Mine~

Happy Valentine's Day!