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And She Dances

Reegan had her first dance class yesterday. She was so excited...she has been asking about taking dance for a little while and loves to dress up with Cora in her ballerina outfit and has been practicing dance moves that Reeva and Rylee have shown her. Her favorite is practicing Pique Pas de bourree - the girls laugh at her when she tries to say that one but it is completely adorable. :) She did a very good job for her first class though she had a little trouble keeping up in a few areas and her coordination was very cute to watch - sometimes she would drift from what the teacher was doing and just dance to her own little tune. She was just dancing away and loving every minute of it! She also got to do some tap and jazz. And, of course, I have a few pictures to share...hope you all have a great day - be sure to dance to your own music! ;)

Right as she jumped out the car - her outfit was a tad big but she didn't care in the least :)

I couldn't resist this shot of her walking to class - she loved getting to use Rylee's pink ballet bag (and will use Reeva's purple bag for the next class -lots of choices with two older sisters:)

Picking out some new ballet shoes!

Another School Year Begins

I can't believe that another summer has passed and the kids began another first day of school. Of course, they were up bright and early and ready to go. Rylee kept trying to drag me out of bed to get product for her hair. She wanted to braid it last night so she would have wavy hair for two high ponytails (which she switched this morning to low ponytails). Reeva wanted her hair down with wavy curls like Aunt Becca's. We couldn't find the big curling iron so it took a little while to try to get it curled with the tiny curling iron I had. But, she's not picky and was happy to go eat breakfast. :) Reece, on the other hand, could have cared less if we combed his hair at all but he did let me help him fix it. (though I had to drag him away from his legos to do it;)


We finally got outside to snap a few pictures.

There they go - off to another first day of school. Two fourth graders and a first grader. I know it is very cliche' but, seriously, where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday Rylee and Reeva were heading down for their first day of kindergarten. I'm not sure that this was their first day, but I think it was one of their first days. How sweet it is to look back and think of this incredible journey that has got them from that day to this one.

Ok, time to get my day started. Lots to do - it's the beginning of my final year at home with Reegan - not to mention...a house that needs some major attention. :( And Rylee reminded me last night that I need to bake some cookies because I always have cold milk and cookies fresh from the oven when they get off the bus from the first day of school ("well, except for last year" she said, "because Reece was sick and came home and so we had Oreos."). Sounds like I'd better get busy.

Rock Stars

Randy and the kids thought this video was the greatest...they just crack up every time they watch it. This is definitely their dad coming out in them. Reegan cracks me up laying on the floor jamming with her raquet guitar. You have to pause my blog music and turn the volume all the way up on the computer to hear the music they are rockin' to...even then it is a little fuzzy...although it's not too bad for a cell phone, I guess!

Sink or Swim?!

Or, in Reegan's case, maybe neither. :) I couldn't resist grabbing my cell phone today and taking this picture so I can remember this summer and how our swimming escapades went. Reegan always wants to go swimming but does not care for the water - especially in her face. She never has liked getting her hair washed - water in her eyes or ears - bathtime is no fun with her! The pool we usually goes to has steps that she usually parks herself on and spends her time in shallow water with no fear of getting her face wet. The other day was the first time she let me take her hands and pull her around the pool - with floaties, of course - and she held her nose and put her face in the water!! She was so proud. :)

Today, Nikki asked if we wanted to go with her to Kirk's parents house and swim. The kids thought it sounded fun - only one problem - it's an above ground pool which means there is only one depth and no steps to sit on. So, I made sure we had plenty of floatation devices and, as you can see, I think Reegan used every single one! But she was in - even though it took a little while to get her to this point she had a lot of fun. We're thinking we may have to go back a time or two before school starts next week.

Kids Day 2009

Today we celebrated our second annual Kid's Day. "Kid's Day," you ask? For our house it started last year when the kids approached me and asked, "Mom, why is it that there is a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, but no Kid's Day?" Hmmm, good question...which led me back to when I was a kid and it seems that me and my siblings had thoughts along the same lines and approached my mom and dad...to which they invented a Kid's Day for us...my, didn't we think that was a wonderful thing!! :) A whole day just for us...breakfast in bed, no chores, fun activities and maybe a little gift. So, why not Kid's Day? Of course, I like to think I celebrate my kids every day - after all they are special to me every day...yes, even on the days that they are "this close" to causing me to lose what sanity I have left! ;) But, why not have a day to let them know? So, what do we need...a date, right? Thinking back, I remembered Kid's Day being in July and that seemed to be a pretty good month for us...Randy's farming has settled down and it's not yet time for school. I'm not sure the exact date we chose last year and for this year I just chose a day that looked like it would work...I have to say I did plan a little better last year but, no matter, the kids loved it just the same.

Randy got up and started making "Dad's Special Chocolate Chip Pancakes" and I quickly started hanging streamers and drew up a sign that read, "Happy Kid's Day!" Autumn came upstairs and I put her to work helping me. I heard Reeva get up and rushed to the stairs and told her that she could read a little if she wanted...that I was making up the chore list for the day. I had told them yesterday that we had lots of work to do today. I knew telling them I was making "my list" would keep them up there a while. :) Once we got the decorations up, Autumn went upstairs to check on the kids. They were pretty bummed about all the chores they were going to have to do...Rylee and Reeva tried to talk Aunt Audie into taking them to work with her...she said she would ask but my list looked pretty big. While Autumn was talking to them she said Rylee walked over to her dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled out a card. She looked at the card and then said, "Oh man, we missed Kid's Day." I think she looked at the date from last year...not sure why she pulled the card out and thought about it then...but, anyway, about that time Randy called for them to come to breakfast.

And so our day started. Everyone ate pancakes (and didn't have to clean up their dishes afterward!) and then got dressed for the day. We decided to make it a back-to-school Kid's Day so we headed to Eville for everyone to get a few new clothes for school and to pick out school supplies. We also took them to see G Force in 3D at the IMAX Theater. They had a blast. I snapped this photo as we sat outside eating ice cream at GD Ritzies. Yummy!

It was then time to head for home so they popped in a movie that their dad bought them while we were picking out school supplies and settled in for the ride. It was a long, but happy day.

Happy Kid's Day, kiddos...thanks for being such awesome kids! We love you...xoxo ~Mom&Dad

How Mom Used To Do Dishes...

As I was cleaning up the kitchen after supper this evening I was in the process of leaving some of the dishes and one large pan in the sink since the dishwasher was already full and running - I figured I'd just put them in the dishwasher in the morning with the breakfast dishes. Anyway, I got to thinking about all the dishes I used to wash growing up in a family of 9 and how I didn't have a dishwasher after I got married either. The dishwasher I have now is actually the first one I've had - we got it when we built and moved into this house - and, boy, do I appreciate it! It made me think how my kids have never really known life without a dishwasher so I decided it would be a good idea for Rylee and Reeva to help me wash the dishes...so I filled up one sink with suds for washing and the other with water for rinsing and told the girls they could help me do the dishes and explained the whole "walked five miles to school..." bit to them (you know how us mothers do ;) I told them that they never knew - they may go to college one day and not have a dishwasher so it would be a good idea to know how to get their dishes clean - "Good point." was Reeva's thoughtful comment to this scenerio. :) So, they took turns washing and rinsing while I dried. I almost laughed when Reece had come into the kitchen and the girls hollered over to him, "Hey look Reece, this is how mom used to do dishes!" And when I had him come over to help put the dishes away he looked at it like, "Is it clean?" - like the only way dishes get clean are in a dishwasher. Oh my...

They actually had a lot of fun and thought it wouldn't be so bad to wash dishes like this more often....wonder how long that would last?! :)

Of course, I couldn't resist snapping a few photos to share....

Well, I promised the kids we would go for a walk this evening so I'd better get going. I really need to get back soon. Last week was Rylee and Reeva's first year to be in 4-H at the fair so I've got lots to share about it. ;)

Double Digits

It's hard to believe that Rylee and Reeva turned 10 years old today. As I look at this photo of them, I am truly at a loss for words. It seems like just yesterday that I was struggling with two of everything and wondering how in the world I could ever do it all. The truth is that they were amazing babies and we fell into a routine quite well. Even at ten years old they rarely give me a bit of trouble...I tell people that I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've seen them argue and I'm telling the truth. They say that they have their moments but I have not seen many of them. Their dad and I have always told them what a special thing it is to be a twin - it doesn't mean that they are the same person because they most definitely are not! - but what a neat thing to have another person that you came into this world with. They still like to dress alike some of the time but in the past year they have began to each find a little of their own personal style and are dressing alike less and less.

On this day, they wanted to eat at Chuck E Cheese with their brother and sister so dad took the day off and, after their traditional pancake birthday breakfast and opening of gifts, we all loaded up for a trip to Eville...by the time we got there it was time for lunch so first stop was Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games. Next stop was the mall where Rylee and Reeva got their ears pierced for their 10th Bday. :) Reeva went first and then it was Rylee's turn. Good thing there were two girls at the store and they did both ears at the same time - otherwise, I think Rylee would have come home with only one ear pierced! The whole way into the mall she kept saying to herself, "I hope I don't chicken out..." But it wasn't long before they were ready to pose in their new sunglasses to show off their new bling. :) We finished off the day with Shyler's and a trip to Barnes and Noble where we spent at least two hours and then still had trouble getting the kids to leave!

This past year for...

Rylee...has included

• An amazing year in third grade - especially her reading - almost 400 AR points!
• New glasses
• Lost her last baby tooth
• A Spring Break trip to Disney World!
• Made sugar cookies by herself along with other baking adventures - loves helping me in the kitchen - has even made a few dinners for everyone :)
• Basketball - played AAU, can dribble two balls at one time (she's awesome at this!), working on her jump shot, has great shooting form
• Softball - got her first hit (and loved it!) - after that she was never afraid to swing and has a good eye for the pitches coming in, switched to third base toward end of season - played an awesome trny game at third base - starting to figure out third base rules, caught a pop fly during last game! woo, hoo!!

Reeva...has included...

• Braces for a year - got them off in February...but will most likely have to have them again when she gets a little older
• Got glasses
• 300+ AR points in school!
• A Spring Break trip to Disney World!
• Basketball - played AAU, scored her first basket in one game and then scored six points in the game after that!
• Softball - Played first base this year (did an awesome job!), made quite a few plays at first, caught several pop flies!

Ten years ago today the life Randy and I had known as a married couple was dramatically altered when our sweet girls entered this world and made us a family. Weighing in at 4 lbs 10 oz and 4 lbs 8 oz, Rylee Carlin and Reeva Mae changed our lives in more ways than I could have ever imagined. When I was a little girl I always wished I had a twin and am so thankful that God chose to bless me with these two amazing girls. I look at them and am so very proud of the beautiful young ladies they are becoming. Happy Birthday, my sweet girls....xoxo ~ mom

Summer Time

Me Again (!)

Another busy day has come and is almost gone...lots of running around today getting some errands done, sneaking in a movie (The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds - loved it!) with mom and dad, and then watching Rylee and Reeva's ballgame. The girls had a great game. Randy is finally in the fields again so he wasn't able to go but Reece and I and Aunt Libb, Uncle Shaun and family were there to cheer the girls on. Reegan decided to stay in the air-conditioning at Aunt Nikki's and play with Caleb. :) Reeva played first base and did a great job - she has been improving with every game and got several girls out at first tonight. Rylee has been playing right field and helping back Reeva up but got moved to second base tonight. I think she was a little nervous about the move but she did a great job at second. They both got two at-bats. Reeva is batting second in the line-up and got a single and a walk. She also had her first slide into home tonight and looked like a pro...I was so proud of her! She would have been out if she hadn't of slid. It was great! Rylee got bumped up to third batter at the last game! She has improved so much this year in her batting...she wants to hit that ball rather than hope to walk. I love watching her bat, she is so good at reading the pitches. Tonight she struggled a little and struck out the first time but got a hit the second time. :) I was so glad to see her go up to bat the second time determined to get a hit.

CJ - if you happen to read this - Bethany did a great job pitching tonight and then hit a grand slam to finish the game! It was great. :) I'm so glad she stayed with our team this year...the girls have really needed her and she is helping them so much.

Ball Games

So, I keep telling myself that I am going to get back in the habit of journaling some of our everyday moments now that I am finished with school and the kids are home for the summer but it seems we are constantly on the go and, before I know it, a day passes and then another and another...how does time pass by so quickly? I'm just going to have to make myself take a little time to remember right now...so I figure I had better get started. We had ball games tonight - Reegan's last for the season - Reece still has tourneys - and the girls play every night this week and then tourneys in another week or so. I feel bad that I haven't gotten many pictures of them this year, but I guess it is not entirely my fault...there is has been so much rain that a lot of their games were rained out. Not to mention the fact that my 18-135 mm lens got broken when it dropped out of the camera bag that someone (Randy - not that I'm naming names or anything ;) left unzipped (how could he?!?!) so I have been w/o my camera for weeks now...sniff, sniff...the good news is that the store called today and said that it was covered under the warranty so it is getting fixed and I will hopefully have it in the next couple of weeks - keep your fingers crossed for me! So, for tonight I took Rylee and Reeva's camera with me to try to get a couple of snapshots from this year so I thought I would share them.

Here is Reegan after her first hit. This girl loves to play ball! She is usually covered with dirt and dust at the end of every game but she loves her purple helmet and pink socks - she insisted on wearing these socks this year because she noticed the girls and Reece all wearing the long baseball socks. I told her they didn't make her size and she informed me that she already had a pair. I had forgotten about these socks that Aunt Becca had given her for her bday but they worked out perfectly and she wore them for every game. :) I wish I had a picture from her first practice because she was so excited to go and went to get dressed herself and came out with a black shirt and tights with a pink tu-tu and her cleats. She's so funny...she loves the girly stuff but isn't afraid to get dirty either. I didn't get to watch all of her game because I had to go back to Rylee and Reeva's game (they were at the same time and Randy was in the fields) so that I could bring them back to this park for Reece's game after Reegan's. (It was a crazy night!) but when I got back Reegan came running up to me and was so excited to tell me that her coach had pitched to her on her last bat and she had hit the ball! She said, "I missed the first one, Mommy, but then he threw it again and I hit it!"

Here is Reece warming up before his pitching machine game. He was lead-off batter tonight and got a triple on his first bat! I was so proud of him. :) He has been working so hard to hit off the machine and he has really started to get the hang of it the last couple of games. He got a single off his second hit and did well in the outfield too. It has been so fun watching him improve over this summer and I'm looking forward to his tourney games this weekend. :)

And, of course, I had to have them all pose for one picture. The only one of them together this season :( and they are a mess...dirt everywhere after hard played games...blue mouths from after game Ring Pops...but that is ok....I love 'em this way and want to always remember moments just like this.

My Plate May Be Full But My Cup Runneth Over

I saw this quote the other day in my Guideposts magazine. It was submitted by another reader and just wanted to share it. Sometimes I think I focus so much on what all I have to do...the places I need to be...at home...at school...the list is never-ending...and I forget to take the time to focus on the many blessings I have in my life. I've just been thinking about those words the last couple of days and remembering it when it feels like I have so much to do. My plate may be full right now but, honestly, I am also very fulfilled and, at the end of each day, I have no doubt that 'my cup runneth over.'

Remember Me?

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! I keep telling myself that I need to be better about keeping up but there just never seem to be enough hours in the day. I have FINALLY began student teaching!! And actually have 8 weeks out of the way...8 more to go and I will graduate. Boy, this has been a loooong time coming. :) But, student teaching is definitely taking its toll on me. Not so much the work involved, but juggling the rest of my life with it...the kids, the house, basketball and everything else...it has been something. I don't like having to leave Reegan every day. I just keep telling myself it is 16 weeks and then I'll be able to spend next year with her before she starts kindergarten.

Ok, enough about me and school! Everyone else is doing good...Randy and I finished coaching the 6th grade girls a couple of weeks ago and are now coaching Rylee and Reeva's IBA basketball team. This is pretty much their first experience and they are sooo little out there! They played in a tourney last weekend and did ok. Their team placed 2nd. They are on the fourth grade team since there is a third grade team so they don't get to play a lot but they did improve with each game. They are working hard at practice and seem to be having a pretty good time.

Well, I hope any of you that read this (Cj, Lacy, Jamie) and have been wondering where I've been are doing ok. I miss seeing you girls this semester and hope your student teaching is going good. Libb said you are going to be at the CPR recertification next week so I guess I will see you then!

Hopefully, my next entry will be fairly soon...but, seriously, who knows.....