Indoor Camp-out

When Naomi had her sleep-over last month, Kaylee was really bummed. She didn't understand why she could not go too. So I decided, we needed to do something to make staying home without Naomi fun. Kaylee and I decided to have a sleep-over in the family room. Kaylee got really in to it and decided that she wanted a camp out. We set up the girls play tent and found Kaylee's sleeping bag. Kaylee wanted to have a fire outside her tent, but I convinced her that having a fire in the middle of the family room was not a very smart idea. I did, however, buy her some yummy strawberry marshmallows. Kaylee and I had a lot of fun. I think she would not mind Naomi being gone again.

Kaylee eating her marshmallows and watching a movie

Kaylee all set up for her camp-out

Friday Night Lights

On a Friday (or Saturday) night from September to December, you can usually find our family sitting in the bleachers watching my high school's football game. Since I teach mostly seniors, the majority of my students are on some varsity sport or other. I enjoy going to the football games every week and seeing my students (football players, cheerleaders, brigade members, band, and drill team) show off their talents. And my students love to know that I am there in the stands supporting them. Every week my students ask if I am going to the game that week. A couple weeks ago, I happened to be sitting two rows back from our bench. It was neat to see the smile on my football players faces when the realized that I had come to watch them play. Here are a few pictures of David and the girls from this season.

Kaylee decided that David needed to wear her ears and she needed to wear his hat

Naomi smiling in the stands

Fact or Fiction

Today on the way home from school, Naomi and I got into a discussion about David and Goliath. Naomi wanted to know if Goliath being a giant was fact or fiction. She asked if Goliath was a real giant or was he just wearing stilts. Boy, this child is always analyzing and pondering the deeper meaning of things.

Naomi's First Sleepover

This past Friday, Naomi had her first birthday/slumber party. I was a little nervous because this was the first time that she would be spending the night with someone other than family. She did really great!! She did have a little trouble getting to sleep and was a little homesick around 11pm that night. Her mom's friend called me so Naomi could talk to me; however, my phone was on vibrate and I left it by Kaylee's bed. Needless to say I did not hear the phone. Oh well, she ended up falling asleep and was glad she stayed the whole time. I sent a disposable camera with her to take pictures but I have not developed them yet. It will be interesting to see what the pictures look like. Here are some pictures her friend's mom took.

Naomi and her best friend
All ready for sleep

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Through our ward, we were given free tickets to see the Astro's play on Sept. 11th. This was Naomi's second time going to a baseball game and Kaylee's first. The girls did pretty well. (They prefer football more.) However, we really enjoyed the time spent as a family.

Naomi and Kaylee sitting on a baseball out in front of Minute Maid

The girls and I

David and the girls

Grandparent's Lunch

Back in beginning of September, Naomi's school had grandparents lunch. Since both sets of Grandparents live out of state, I asked them if they could send letters to Naomi for me to put in her lunchbox. I actually took the day off and went and had lunch with her. She loved reading her letters for lunch. And of course, she loved having her mom come eat lunch with her. Thank you to both sets of grandparents for sending her letters.

Funny Sayings

Kaylee: Her favorite dance move in ballet is the "souffle"

Naomi: On the way home one day, she told us that there are dust "barnacles" floating in the air that can get stuck in our noses

Kaylee: Naomi was getting ready to mail a letter. David went to get some stamps for her. Kaylee did not want to be left out and wanted stamps too. A couple seconds later, Kaylee came back with one of my scrapbooking stamps and said here is my stamp momma.

Kaylee: I came home from work today and Kaylee was in the process of falling asleep on the couch. I picked her up and brought her with me so she could wake up. Kaylee looked at me and told me she was tired and needed her "beauty sleep".

Kaylee: Tonight at dinner, Kaylee commented "looks good baby!" about the lasagna.

Bedtime Miracle

My girls have always had difficulty falling asleep. Some said that I just needed a good routine and eventually they would go to sleep at a decent time. However, we had a good routine and they still could not fall asleep. This truly was not a surprise to me because I have the same problem. I have extreme difficulty falling asleep especially during the school year. I don't necessarily suffer from insomnia. Simply my brain just won't shut off. For example: This week I have been suffering from a really bad cold. One would think that being as sick as I am I should have no problem falling asleep. Nope, I was up till 1 am this morning thinking about who knows what but my brain just would not shut off. This past summer the girls stayed with my parents. After the first few weeks of trying to get my girls to bed, my sister-in-law gave my parents something to try. It is an herbal supplement called Nite MGR. And let me tell you it works miracles. My parents used it all summer and told me how easily the girls were going to bed. Since the girls have been home, David and I give it to the girls every night. And it truly is a miracle. The girls are usually asleep between 8/8:30 every evening. What a blessing!!!!! Thank you Mandi and John for telling Mom and Dad about this!!! (Now I am seriously considering taking some myself.)

Phase Change

The last couple of years, Kaylee has loved the color blue. I don't know if that is because I would put her in blue and Naomi in pink but she loved the color. Over the summer she has changed her preference, she now loves pink. It took me by surprise during one of our phone conversations this summer when I told her I bought something purple for her and pink for Naomi and she started to cry because she wanted the pink one. Everyday this week, she has worn at least one thing pink. Just in case you were wondering, she still loves Little Mermaid!!!

Kids in the Candy Store

Every year as part of my class, my students get to set up and maintain a fish tank. Every year, I get to play the mean parent and reign my students in from their grandiose ideas for their tanks!! This year is no exception. My students are like kids in a candy store. I have lost track of how many times I have had to say NO!! (i.e. No piranhas, No sea horses, No sharks, No octopus, No electric eel, No lionfish). And then I have students that want a bigger tank than what I have to offer and so they want to bring tanks in from home. I even have some students that are buying their own fish tank to bring to class. I had to put a stop to this because pretty soon I will have nothing but fish tanks in my classroom and no place for my students to sit!!! And then you should see all the things they want to decorate their tank with. Updates will definitely be following of how many tanks I finally end up having, fish they end up buying, and of course pics of the tanks. ;o)