Looking back....Summer 2011

 The summer started off with my birthday.  I turned 43 this year which I am really okay with, really truly, I love aging. ; )  My forties thus far have been good.  I feel like I have come into my own and know myself a lot better now.  When I hit 45 though, I am officially going to have the breakdown.

 Next was dance recital weekend.  Alexa took Ballet and Jazz last year and had two performances. 

 I think her favorite part of it all is wearing makeup.

 My favorite photo of daddy and daughter...love!

 We had a big first in June.....the lost tooth!  Very exciting stuff.  The Tooth Fairy came and left $3.00 and it even had her fairy glitter on it. 

 Look at the cute smile!!  Must bust out a ballet move to celebrate!

 This is what happens when the mama is not looking.  Daddy loves to take Alexa up the narrow winding road up to the top of the mountain.  She loves it!

 We did lots of swimming.  The summer started out with Alexa being a bit hesitant in the water.  I kept waiting for that "moment" when it just clicked and she gained her confidence and dove right in.  Well, it didn't happen until late July but boy is she a fish now....she will swim for HOURS nonstop!  We're so happy that it finally happened!

 This is what real life looks like around here.  When it's 112 degrees out and you've been up since 5 a.m and the clock only says 12:00 noon, you just want to lay your head down and take a nap.

 So, what do you do when you want to beat the summer heat?  Head up North about two hours and rent a boat on a cool lake.  We did this twice this summer and it was really fun. 

 Are we not two of the goofiest looking sailors you ever saw?  So cheesy!

 Alexa is a good fishergirl.  She can really cast but will not touch the bait.  I caught her talking to the worms in their little styrofoam cup and telling them that she would set them free.  That's my girl.  The next trip she just wanted to use rubber worms!  No bites though. ; (

 The girls liked to drive while Daddy fished.  It was all good until I ran us into some rocks and nearly broke the motor.  I lost my driving job after that . ; (

 Our last big outing of the summer was to head to Flagstaff ( hence the greenery!) and go to the Grand Canyon.  This was the one thing that Alexa really wanted to do this summer.  I have never been so was really excited too.   Alexa loves to run in the grass.  Because we live in the desert this is a rare opportunity.  Ever since she was just walking, if we would pass grass anywhere she would take off running in it.

 At the hotel pool.  This was where she discovered that she was a fish!

 Checking out the grounds.  The smell of the pine forest is so nice and we love the cooler air!  Please note how darn big my girl is getting...scary.

 Heading into Grand Canyon National Park.  I have to say it really blew me away.  It is enormous. Check out Alexa with the map.  She held on to that thing all day long.  It had pictures of the animals that live in the park and she was on the lookout.

 No sooner did we arrive when this buck literally came right up to Alexa.  Notice her identifying it on the map.  What a hoot!  It was really surreal and reminded me of those moving statue things at Disney.  It was a cool beginning to the day!

 It's very interesting at the Canyon.  At some lookouts they have these railings and others nothing, just off you could go.  Needless to say I had the "deathgrip" on Alexa every single moment!

 What a fun day of exploring and seeing an amazing wonder of the world!  We also went to the IMAX movie that National Geographic puts on at the visitor center.  It was really awesome!

 We caught this amazing storm out in the canyon.

Looking back it was a great summer.  We made some great family memories and hope to top them next summer!!!

First Grade

 First day of First Grade. 

 Looking so grown up...guess she is ready.

 She was so excited, I love her enthusiasm!

 Every year we take a photo sitting right here on the first day of school.  It's fun to look back at how we have changed.

 Love that smile!

 With her teacher and buddy!  It's going to be a great year!

 Mama was excited too!

Heading off...so much to look forward to and learn......

End of Kindergarten

 Today was Alexa's last day of Kindergarten.  I just cannot believe that she is going to be a first grader in August.  Truth be told, I have not been handling this well.  On Wednesday they held this celebration and it was so emotional.  They showed a video of the kids from the year with some song about staying 5 years old and never growing up...gads, there was not a dry eye in the room.  Her teacher was crying, the kids were crying, the moms were crying and even some dads were crying.  So, I guess I'm not the only one who is having a hard time!

 Receiving her trophy for completing Kindergarten and doing so well.

 With her teacher, Mrs. C.  You can tell she by how red her eyes are that she'd been crying all morning.  Check out the little girl in the back...she's crying too!!

 So proud of our girl.  She is a hard worker and always does her best.  She really loves school.

Now on to the big time....first grade. 

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.