30.

     So recently I turned the big 3-0.  Really not such a big deal in my book.  I know a lot of people who fret or panic when it comes to turning this age, but I just took it in stride like any other birthday.  There was one exception, I wanted to do something special for my birthday.  A few weeks ago I told Mike that I wanted to have a party, but that I didn't necessarily want to plan it.  Well as the weekend approached I was not completely convinced that Mike had planned a party, but he was definitely acting a little strange.  Especially when I decided that I wanted to go to Worlds of Fun on my birthday.  I wanted to do something a little adventurous for the big day and they have this rip-cord ride that I have done before, but had this great desire to do again.  So he was trying to convince me that he had all these things he needed to do and didn't have the time to be out all day.  I said, "well I gave the kids the option of that or the pool and that is what they decided.  What time do you want to be back by?"  His response was simply 3:30.  So now I am really cueing into there something is going on.  We decided to go against the greater plan of Worlds of Fun and instead headed to the pool for a few hours.  The kids had a lot of fun, but Noah was freezing by the end {and extremely exhausted}.  On the way home we stopped and got my present in a little box {an ipod shuffle}.  Then I did what any 30 year old would do on their birthday, I took a nap.  By the time I woke up Mike had taken the kids to the neighbors and had said they invited us over for dinner.  As we walked over I could here Mikayla shouting from the window and the neighbor girl saying "their coming, their coming."  It was not as big as a surprise as they anticipated, but it sure was a good time just being with friends. 

Things They Say Thursday--August 18

     Last Friday we went to the Sneak-a-Peek at Mikayla's school.  It gave us the opportunity to meet her teacher, see her classroom, and drop off all her school supplies.  While we were in her classroom our neighbors stopped by to say hi to the teacher {she was the neighbor girl's teacher last year}.  We happened to be walking to our cars at the same time as the neighbors and the kids were saying good-bye to one another.  When we got to the car Noah said:  "When I get older I'm going to marry Audra {one of the neighbor girls}.  And I'm going to kiss her."  Then he and Mikayla went on to say how Noah had already kissed her once at the neighbor's house.  And just that morning I had seen him go up to her and quickly plant a kiss on her shoulder.  It was cute.  We just might have a little Cassanova on our hands that we will have to keep an extra close eye on.

Mommy-Son Date

     On Saturday I took Noah to his sports clinic class and then we had a mommy-son date at Powell Gardens.  It was such a gorgeous day to spend at the garden.  There happened to be a butterfly festival going on there, but Noah was more interested in finding the dinosaurs.  He kept getting excited each time we would find one and would want me to take his picture with it {he just always wanted to look away or give a cheesy smile}.  By the end of the dinosaur trail he was ready to go home.

Stretching before playing basketball.

Working on jumping jacks.

Examining his basketball.

Digging for dinosaurs.

First Day of First Grade

     Not sure how this day got here so quickly.  It seems like just last week she finished Kindergarten, and now she is starting First Grade.  What they say is true, they grow up too fast.  I have definitely got to get better about capturing a bit of her youth.  In the meantime, here is the list of questions that I will ask her again at the end of the year:


Height: 45"

Weight: not sure {scale still broken}

Hair Color:   dark blond/light brown

Favorite Color:   pink

Favorite Book: Fancy Nancy

Favorite Activity:  Pretending

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Best Friend: Flora

Looking forward to most in First Grade: Junie B. Jones books

Sugarland

     Nuff said.  Okay, maybe I can share a bit more.  A few weekends ago I got to attend a Sugarland concert with some of my friends.  I considered an early present to myself.  And this year I think I did well in choosing my present.  The concert was amazing!  I wasn't too sure about the opening act {Sara Bareilles}, so I check out some of her music online and was awed by her voice.  I so want to check out her whole cd now.  But the main show was Sugarland.  And man can they rock a stage.  I know, I know they are country, but hey rock-n-roll has some great roots in country {or is the other way around?}.  Anyway, I had a lot of fun and who can't help but sing along to their songs?  I have to admit I was thrown a bit off by their remix which included a little Brittney Spears {sadly I sang along to this} and Dolly Parton {and this too, but proudly}.  Such a good show and hope to go see them again. 

Things They Say Thursday--August 11

     The other day Mike was making the kids lunch when I came into the kitchen.  I asked Noah if daddy was making me a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich too and he said, "No, those are just for boys."  Mikayla interjected and said, "What about me?"  {To which he pretty much ignored.}  So I asked him what I could eat to which he replied, "A cheese sandwich."  "But I don't like cheese sandwiches.  Is there anything else I can eat" I said.  His response was, "Chips.  You know those orange ones that you put in your mouth {he was demonstrating this by pretending to shove a handful of chips in his mouth}.  I said, "Okay, but I would like to have something to go with my chips."  Finally he conceded by saying, "Well, then you can have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."  {It was so hard to keep from laughing during this conversation.  His whole demeanor was just to funny.}

     If you enjoy these little postings, you might also enjoy these too.  It is cute little website with stories of how kids can give us hope.

Schlitterbahn

     Over the weekend we went to Schlitterbahn.  Maybe it's because I have a love affair with amusement parks, or at least something like that, but it just seemed strange that not everyone knows what this place is about.  It's supposed to be one of the greatest waterparks around.  I mean doesn't everyone watch those shows about the greatest amusement parks???  Yes, I realize now that it is probably just me.  But ever since watching one of those shows (it's been so long, I don't remember what they are called) I have wanted to visit Schlitterbahn.  When they announced that we were getting one here I was overly excited.  One day I still would like to go to one of the parks in Texas {which is where they got started} but I still really wanted to try the one here out too.  I kept going back and forth on whether this should be somewhere I take the kids or if it should be just Mike and me.  But after looking at their website and seeing the height requirements I decided we should all go.  You see there, Mikayla can ride on everything by herself and Noah just needed to ride with us.  They got to enjoy the WHOLE waterpark.  Mikayla loved the water rollercoaster and Noah really enjoyed the slides.  But both would have been just as happy splashing in the pool.  We had a ton of fun and were completely wiped out by the end of the day.  Hopefully we will make it back there once they have opened the entire park.

Trying to get a picture before going on the slides. 
{Sorry no slide pics, we were having too much fun}

Not sure what a train has to do with the waterpark, but the kids enjoyed it.

Have to try out all the seats.

She really loves to pose for the camera.

A final picture prior to leaving.  {We look really small here}