Vala's Pumpkin Patch WITH Cousins/Grandma/Grandpa

Vala's Pumpkins Patch is so much fun. It was even more fun being with family this year!


Yearly measuring post. How big are we this year?


New corn pit. Fun for everyone, just make sure you brush it off before you leave...and get it out of your shoes!



Everyone enjoyed the bouncy jumping things. Small and large kids alike!

Kaitlin's Birthday at Kids Body Shop (kind of gymnastics gym)

Kaitlin just had a birthday. My little girl has turned 8. I am so proud of you, sweetie. I love you.

Kaitlin's Song/"Sisters"

Kaitlin made up this song. Some of the words are:

Sisters can't come apart
Cuz' together we make a heart
We keep each other safe
And work together

School Starts Early

School starts early here in Omaha. Here is Kaitlin in the middle during one of the last days of school last spring.

Thunderstorm and Rainpour

Kaitlin went to school today for picture day in a thunderstorm and downpour. It figures that it would be raining hard as she left! She looked so pretty.

Carmen and I went out in the rain in raingear and she loved it. Splashing in puddles and upon seeing the rain going into the sewer that was brown from construction she said, "It's a peanut butter river!" I laughed it was so cute. Plus, she was afraid of a praying mantis and figured out how to not be afraid by herself. I was so proud. She told me a story where she was a praying mantis.

Carmen and Sara were the cutest little friends. They were together almost ALL the time.



Kaitlin singing at the 4th of July Breakfast in Utah. She is singing a song from High School
Musical.


Carmen is singing the same song. "Feels so right, to be here with you, Oh oh. And now looking in your eyes, I feel the start of something new."


The waterfall we all hiked to in Aspen Grove (past Sundance). You can see a person in the right bottom corner (to give perspective).


Our little family on the hike. Carmen was a trooper and hiked most of the way (2 miles both ways). However, we were a little behind because of this. :)


Our whole reunion group. We all made it to the falls, even the little ones (who were helped by the teenagers quite a lot--yay for teenagers). Grandma and Grandpa weren't able to come, however, due to Grandma having eye surgery and not supposed to do aerobic exercise.

We had so much fun it was hard coming home. We also saw the Gilmore family and had such a good time with them. I forgot my camera though.

Summer Vacation/Family Reunion

We just got back from our summer vacation. I'll post pictures later. We had a grand time seeing friends and family in Utah. I have to say one thing Kaitlin did was put ice cubes on a straw and said, "Look, Mommie, an Ice Kabob!" I laughed and thought it was so cute. Kaitlin was a gem most of the time and a little lady and everyone commented on it. Carmen and her cousin Sara were like two peas in a pod. Carmen isn't used to having a little girl to play with so much and enjoyed it immensely.

Kaitlin and Carmen at the Relay for Life

Relay for Life

Beautiful Girls

My girls were cuddling and hugging each other so sweetly thing morning that I had to take pictures. They pulled their pillows and blankets on the floor and were being so cute! Kaitlin is kissing Carmen here.


Carmen is kissing Kaitlin.


Smiles and hugs and cuddles all around. Aren't they just precious and adorable. Okay, okay, I am a biased mom.



Kaitlin is my poser. I was checking out something on my camera because Carmen got a hold of it and changed settings. Kaitlin "posed" for my checking it out. She's so beautiful.

I have been so busy lately but I cannot complete tell you why. I helped a friend with a garage sale and did some food canning at the cannery but that's about it that I can remember.

Wicked

Archie and I saw "Wicked" this week. It was totally amazing. I loved it and wanted to see it again. It was funny and poignant and everything.

Updates in tweeter style.

Carmen and I have been doing puzzles today (after I worked out to High School Musical music and after I mowed the front lawn). It's fun. She's so good at them.

Kaitlin was reading the book, "A Boy, A Frog and A Dog". It is a story without words (It is an adorable book and is understandable without words). It is cute the stories Carmen and Kaitlin make up to the pictures. Yesterday, when the end came, Kaitlin added the phrase, "and it doesn't get any better than that." I laughed. It was a cute ending to the book's pictures.

A Little Late Easter Photos

We had a great Easter hunt with the neighbor kids. Next year we are going to step it up and have a breakfast.

The next few photos are of the fun church egg hunt. My girls enjoyed it a lot.




Here is the girls coloring Easter eggs.


Here is the back yard Easter egg hunt with the neighbor kids. I cannot believe I didn't get good photographs of my girls.






All-in-all a good time was had by the little ones. It is always fun to do things with our great neighbors as well.

High School Musical - The Ice Tour

Kaitlin and I went to see this on Saturday. She was starting to get stomach flu and didn't seem to be enjoying it or moving well. She said she liked it a lot, but I knew something was wrong and couldn't figure out what it was-until later. She wouldn't tell me she felt sick because she thought I would tell her she couldn't go. I thought it was great. In some ways, you never grow up! The lady next to me said, "It's fun to have something kid friendly that I can enjoy too." They did the first two videos and had lots of dancing, turns, jumps, even lifts. I would recommend it. I was skeptical about it being that good, but it was.

Kaitlin got sick on the way home. I probably wouldn't have kept her home because I would not have realized how sick she felt until that point anyway. She really was looking forward to seeing it with me alone.

Carmen was doing a twirling thing in the bath and wanted me to go get aunt Alix to see it (she was staying with us for awhile before she went to Peru). I said I couldn't and she said "because she's in Peru?" I said yes and she said (like why hadn't I thought of this - it's so obvious). "Well, we will have to go get her tomorrow." It cracked me up!

Something I have noticed is that Kaitlin is now caring about and protecting my feelings. She tries to say things that won't hurt me in ways that are careful. This is something new in the whole growing up process--awareness of another's feelings. I am impressed. Before, she seemed unaware of my feelings. It is interesting to see it happening.

Aren't They Sweet

My sweet little Kaitlin has been sick with a fever for seven days now. We finally got her on antibiotics on Saturday and she hasn't felt good until this evening. I got some food into her today also. She has not wanted to eat.

She has a boy that she "likes" who likes her at school. I cannot believe this goes on in first grade! She is still a super good reader and is pretty good at math. She would like to be better. Her favorite thing while she was sick (when she felt good enough) was to make recipes on Webkinz.

Carmen is doing well and really likes to be scratched under her arms (armpit). Who likes that? It cracks me up every time she does it. She loves preschool and knows all upper and lower case letters as well as the letter sounds. She also knows how to spell her name now.

Losing Teeth

Kaitlin was late in losing her first tooth but she has made up time fast. She now has three missing teeth in the front. She is fascinated by her teeth. It is so funny -- like a little scientist -- asking what about this and that, etc.

Relay for Life Speech

I was asked to be the guest speaker for the Relay for Life Kickoff. It was a lot of fun. Kaitlin was able to add one or two lines and she really liked that. I got a standing ovation but I think that was more for our "story" of having a 3 year old with cancer and then me having it within a few years than for the quality of my speaking!

Photos promised earlier and "Kids say the Funniest Things"! Moment

I was taking Kaitlin and our neighbor boys to school this morning. Because of the snow, one bus was late and was making all the cars that were dropping off kids back up. We finally got in sight of the school and I asked them if they wanted to walk. I said they would probably get there faster and Kaitlin said, "Yes, and besides I was reading the Cheerios box this morning and it said that you should park your car further away from work and walk to lower your cholesterol and I'm going to lower mine!" I seriously laughed all the way home.

On another note, I am a speaker at the Relay for Life launch tomorrow night! AAAhhh, I am excited AND scared!!!


This is at the church Christmas Party. We had Mr. AND Mrs. Santa Clause this year.

Here are the girls on Christmas Day. Kaitlin is holding her new Webkinz Eagle. I have to say, though, that Miguel and Dori came through again this year with some of the favorite presents. They got Kaitlin a new game called "Scene It" with a Disney theme that the family has played over and over and Carmen got a Leapfrog First Computer that really gets played with a lot. I do not know how they do it! Good job, Miguel and Dori!

Here is a picture of Carmen with a large puzzle that she is really good at and loves to do.