Happy Birthday Kendal!!!

Here's Kendal's Halloween Birthday cupcakes! She saw these pictured in a magazine and had to have them. Making them was so much fun, I definitely want to do this again!
Here's the mummy made from a marshmallow and mini and regular M&M's.

The skull was made by tucking a marshmallow at the bottom of the cupcake, the eyes are Jr. Mints and the teeth are made from candycorns. The mag said to use sliced almonds for the teeth, but I don't know too many kids who like nuts! The bat is obviously made from Reese's mini and regular peanut butter cups. So fun!!!!

This spider was fun too. Made with M&M's.

Here's our beverage of the hour! Witch's Brew! This was a blast to make, but it was even more fun to see the kids eyes when the liquids were added to the sherbet and dry ice. It even bubbled like witch's brew! We made this by mixing lemonade mix, seltzer, sprite, sherbet, and food coloring.

As you can see, the kids were in awe! The loved trying to "catch" the dry ice as it swirled over the sides.

Musical tombstones! This was a great Halloween twist on a party favorite.

Spooky Twister! Some of the little ones had trouble with their lefts and rights, but we had fun anyway!

And what party would be complete without the pinata? Here's Kendal taking a whack at hers. Of course the bigger girls were the ones that finally cracked that sucker open!

It's present time! Kendal's favorite part! Thank you to everyone for the cute gifts. Kendal had so much fun for the rest of the day playing with them.

It's a birthday necessity, blowing out the candles! Thank heavens Karsen didn't blow 'em out for her like she did last time. Happy 4th Birthday darling, we love you and can't believe how big you are getting (sniff sniff).

Keaton: Bendin' it Like Beckam

Keaton's first soccer game! Her team is called Pink Thunder!
Number 10, reporting for duty! We thought 10 was fitting b/c her Papa had that number in the NBA.

Get that ball Keaton! In the midst of the huddle.

Although Pink Thunder lost, we were so proud of all of them. Keaton did a great job. She was aggressive and stayed focused the entire game. Fantastic job Keaton!

Brian Rules! Our Romantic Weekend Getaway

So here we are! Sans children. (Note the cheesey grin).
This is the entrance to where it all began! Afterall, we were married here!

The front entrance. Isn't it beautiful? Just wait!

The lobby and bar area at Firesky.

The exit to the pool.

The pool! We had such a nice, relaxing morning/afternoon here! But, beware the body tatoos.

Here's a view of the other pool from the gate, good thing Brian is so tall!

So it all started on August 4, 1998. Who was I? I was a recent SUU grad with a glimmer in my eye and a bounce in my step. Who was he? He was tall, dark, and handsome. Even ask my mother, who, upon seeing him prompty thought to herself: It is all over for Penny! What can I say? She was right. Brian and I met at an after-school program at an elementary school where my mother worked. I needed some gas money while student teaching at Arcadia HS, where I went to school. We started out as friends and on Halloween of that same year, we started officially dating. We were married in November of the next year, here, at Firesky. (Back then, it was called Sunburst.) After a grueling day of trying to figure out just where the heck we were going to be married, we finally arrived here and we both just loved it! And just last weekend, as a surprise, Brian reserved us a room here for a nice weekend getaway. We had so much fun sleeping in, shopping, going to the movies, and just not being around children in general! Thanks Brian, you're the best.

Kendal: Ballerina Extraordinaire

Sorry these pics are so blurry but. . . anyhoo. Here's some pictures of Kendal's first day of her new ballet class! She's taking them at Artistic Motion Dance in the Higley Village shopping center. Her teacher's name is Ms. Katy, and Kendal thinks she's the greatest! Kendal has always seemed to enjoy dance, as anyone who witnesses her prancing around on her tippy toes will attest! Kendal's also excited because there's a boy in her class this year!!! Whooooo, will sparks fly? You'll have to stay tuned to find out!
I believe I can fllllllyyy!

This is Kendal's Bella Dancerella Barre. She's been in love with it since the moment she busted it out of the package Christmas morn. It comes with a cute DVD, I highly reccommend.

Kendal attempting a plie? She's trying, the little squirt!

Okay, this is one of the reasons why I love having kids!!

You find treasures in the silliest of places. I found this little surprise neslted in my drawer one morning. For some reason, it just put a smile on my face.

Kendal's First Day of Preschool!

Here's Kendal, so excited for her very first day of preschool!

Kendal: throwing up gang signs?

Kendal's first backpack! Grandma bought it for her. She insisted Kendal have her own backpack and not a hand-me-down from Keaton. : )

Kendal getting a helping hand from Ms. Carrie.

Kendal already working diligently! Good work baby!

I can't believe I have a second child in school. Okay, so it's not really school, but you know what I mean! I didn't know what to do with myself for 2 hours with only one kid at home! But don't worry, I eventually figured it out. Kendal goes to preschool in the afternoon, so all day from 7:30 in the morning she's asking me, "Is it time yet? When are you taking me to preschool?" The time finally arrived and she was so beside herself. She donned her Ariel backpack that Grandma got her and away we went! She learned how to place her backpack on the hooks and put her water bottle by the sink. Then it was time for seatwork. (Shown just above). Her teacher is Ms. Carrie and I think she's going to be a very good teacher for Kendal. Kendal said that they colored, sat in a circle, danced, and put their hand prints on paper. When I came to pick her up she whisked me over to the wall where her folder was and showed me the work she'd done for that day. She said she likes her teacher and thinks that preschool is going to be loads of fun.

Why I Quit Potty Training

The limp and lifeless casualties of the Potty War.
I thought perhaps some light reading would summon the Pee-in-the-Potty Fairy? No such luck.

So I thought I'd try to potty train Karsen this week. We talked about peeing in the potty, we read books about it, even witnessed some good girls going pee pee in the potty. But when the day finally came(and I was armed with delicious drinks and pet stain remover) it just seemed like a no-go. Karsen carelessly wet pair after pair of panties with no apparent discomfort to herself, begging me to ask the question: Is Karsen ready for potty training right now? My theory is, if you don't care that you pee all over the place and it's not uncomfortable for you, you're not going to be motivated to pee in the potty! So the answer to my question for right now is a resounding: No!