Of Kindergarten and Turning 30

Well, August 2008 is a memorable month. Lizzy started kindergarten a week and half ago and I am turning 30 on Sunday. Both of these milestones are pretty big in my book. I always thought that getting older didn't really matter. Well it first hit about a month ago when Liz and I were playing charades and I tried to be a frog and well, I can't really leap that well now. It all JIGGLES! And, I run everyday I am in at least decent shape. I sat on the couch and cried while my usually sweet husband called me an old lady. Being logical I know that getting older in inevitable so what does it matter? Well, it's facing the inevitability of things hanging where they use to not and seeing wrinkles on what use to be a youthful face. I guess that's the point. My mom is sending me 30 birthday cards for my 30 years of life. My favorite one says this, "You're 30, you're mature! You're responsible! And to teenagers everywhere, you're OLD!" I have no desire to be younger, I love the experiences I have earned and lived, so I guess with the knowledge and wisdom of getting older also comes the lines of wisdom on your face and saggy boobs from nursing 2 children. Well, I will gladly take the physical ramifications of getting older if it means being wiser and happier.
Now, I also didn't think it would be hard for me to send Lizzy to kindergarten, and I was right, it was EXTREMELY easy. She LOVES it and is excited for all day to start, it is only half day right now. Her teacher has been doing gifted testing on her and told me the other day that she reads at a 3rd grade level. She said they are moving her to 1st grade for her reading lessons. She comes home singing songs about the days of the week, about eating and other funny things. I think her teacher must sing all day long, which must be fun for the kids. Well, I am happy about her being in school. She is so very social (who does that remind you of) and school is just right for her. We think she has a "crush" on a boy named Zach, she is always saying how funny he is and then she tried her first name out with his last name the other day. I'm glad we already had the no kissing talk with her.
Then I heard the song "Slipping through my fingers" from the Mama Mia soundtrack the other day and well, it touched me.
It says,
" Schoolbag in hand
She leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye
With an absent-minded smile
I watch her go
With a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm loosing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time."

My mother-in-law always says that now is the time to enjoy your life, that it will never be more exciting, happy or fun as when your children are growing up. I'm trying to do that, but I have to admit, although I'm not thrilled about looking older, it sure is fun and exciting to watch my kids grow up.

Little Wizzard

Here is a video of our Harry Potter in training...

Breaking Dawn Party --- SPOILER ALERT

Vampires and Werewolves and Edward...Oh my!

A few days ago I hosted a party to discuss Stephenie Meyer's book Breaking Dawn in the Twilight series. It was a lot of fun and nice to talk about the book. After I finished the book I felt like I wanted to talk about it with someone.
I decorated the living room in white Christmas lights, just like Alice likes to decorate. We had bleeding heart cupcakes (hearts with oozing cherry filling), vampire fruit punch, and my friend Allison even brought deviled eggs (Bella craved eggs in her pregnancy.) We did trivia on the first 3 books to see what we remembered. Anyone know the river Bella and Edward cross to get to the Cullen's house? OK, we decided that one was not very important. But some of them were fun anyhow. Like how old is Carisle? Try 362 years old.
After we were finished talking about the book I wanted to re-read the series. I almost e-vited Stephenie Meyer just for fun because, well she lives about 10-15 minutes from my house, but well, then I would just have to admit that I really am a crazed fan.

What's your vote?

We want to hear from you! Do you think Samuel looks more like Becca or Phil? A lot of people say Phil and while he has such a similar sweet personality and even his mannerisms match Phil, we want to know what you think.
Leave a message - also say what the similarities are of each.
Thanks!

A few of Samuel recently...






































These are a few of my favorites of Phil...


















































Here's a few of me...








































I had to add this photo b/c it's one of my favorites - I am 3 years old and I have a black eye that I got from running around way too much...remind you of anyone?

Legoland

We took a trip to California last weekend. First we stopped in Yuma, AZ in the whopping 117 degree heat and we had lunch with some old friends and their 2 beautiful daughters, that was fun but we were glad when we made it over the mountains and into San Diego, the temperature then read 85, we promptly rolled our windows down and enjoyed it (although Lizzy was actually COLD!) When we got into San Diego we spent some time and had dinner with a close friend that I haven't seen in 10 years. We had so much fun we didn't want to leave, her children were so sweet and it was really a lot of fun.

The real FUN started when we went to Lego land for the day. Some of the highlights were Phil and Lizzy building their own lego cars and racing them on a track, Liz and I riding the dragon roller coaster (same one Phil and I rode on our honeymoon 8 1/2 years ago), and Sam LOVING the stuffed animal legoman we bought him (he kept hugging it). We were wiped by dinner time and went back to the hotel to swim (and I read my Breaking Dawn book.) The next day We went through Los Angeles to the American Girl store. Lizzy has been reading the books and is really into the doll Kit. She was able to use allowance that she has been saving for many months and we ate at the cafe there. She giggled and had a HUGE smile on her face the whole time.

We had lots of fun and I was sad it was so short. The kids were GREAT in the car on the way there but on the way home they both had their moments of unhappiness, oh well.

Here's some photo's. We stopped by the beach while we were waiting for Lego land to open and since Sam was asleep in the van Liz and Phil went down and took a few pics and i got to stay in the van and read more of Breaking Dawn (they forbid me to take it in to Lego land- so I just stayed up all night Sat. and read it).

That's it for now.