All Caught Up!

Believe it or not, but I am all caught up on this blog.  What a great feeling.  I was pretty far behind, but I know how important it is for myself and my family to have a record of our wonderful activities, accomplishments and memories.
Now, I have a whirlwind couple of weeks ahead with Kylie's birthday, her party, Lanie's birthday and Mother's day, family coming into town to visit, Sadie's dance recital and Kylie's baptism.
I hope to stay on top of this record keeping now, so that I can make all of these memories into blog books for my girls (and any visitors) to sit and enjoy here at our home.

Wear Gray for Jay- May 5, 2012

 Our good friends the Rasbands (Ariana, Jay, Caprice, Katrina and Alexis).  Jay was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 9 months ago.  He has had two surgeries to try to remove the cancer, and will be starting radiation this next week.  His family sponsored a Wear Gray for Jay day on May 5th, since May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month.  They asked everyone to wear gray (the official color for brain cancer awareness) and to have pizza and pazookie for dinner.

We pulled out our gray shirts in honor of Jay.  Unfortunately, we don't have any gray clothes for Lanie.  We were also lucky enough to actually have them visit us on this special day.  They brought pizza and Katrina made the pazookie.  We set up the water slide and the kids ran around, jumped and played in the water. 

They are always such wonderful company.  We appreciate their friendship and wonderful examples.  They are in our prayers and we are cheering you on Jay!  We know you can beat this because you can do anything and have such a wonderful family to fight with you.

Kylie's Soccer Team- Spring 2012

Kylie is loving her soccer team and games this year.  They are the Red Ants in the AYSO program here.  The coach is great, positive and fun, and pushes the girls just enough.  He took all of these pictures and emailed them out to us. 

 Kylie is #7.  I love the shots he got of her running and so intent on the ball.  She is a pretty fabulous defender.  She has also made 2 goals this season and would like to be up there making more.  But really, she is a great defender!

   

  She says that she wants to play soccer for her entire life.  I hope that she keeps loving it because we love watching her.

Kylie's Field Trip to the Zoo- April 28, 2012

 The 2nd graders got to take a field trip to the Zoo.  I volunteered to help chaperon.  There were so many parents that volunteered that I was only responsible for these two crazy kids and their shenanigans.  This is Kylie and her classmate and friend Jenna.

 

 We walked around the zoo for about an hour and then met up with the rest of her class at the sea lion show.  We sat there and waited for about 45 minutes, just so that we would have good seats.  The show ended up not being worth the wait.  Pretty boring and I checked out when they opened with a lady singing and dancing to "I'm Sexy and I Know It."  What?  I thought this was a crowd of 7 and 8 year olds.  I wouldn't call that appropriate.

 We then ate lunch and had to go to the snack shack because Jenna insisted on buying something, anything there.  Jenna and I got soft serve ice cream and Kylie got popcorn.  When we ran into her teacher, Mrs. Richards, she swiped most of Kylie's popcorn.  Kylie was a good sport about it.  She LOVES her teacher and will miss her so much next year.

Natalie- April 21, 2012

 Natalie came to El Paso about 9 months ago, and we will always be so grateful for her.  She has become part of our family and always will be.  Love you Natalie!

Natalie helped by watching our kids when we went on a date or two.  She sat with me at church when Miki was at work and it is always stressful trying to keep my three kids quiet and reverent.  She watched Kylie play soccer while I was at Sadie's soccer game (yet again Miki was working) and she did this a couple of times.  She wrestled, danced, played, read, fed and bathed my kids.  And all with a smile on her face.  She helped me celebrate my birthday and we had some fun on her special day too.  She ate dinner with us, my aweful cooking and eating out at some ok restaurants.  She told me her relationship drama and listened patiently as I acted like her big sister, dishing out the advice.  And to top it all off, she is lending Sadie her keyboard so she can learn to play the piano and is also coming out to visit for Kylie's baptism.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Natalie!  The Cain family loves you and we all miss you!

Sadie's School Program- April 19, 2012

 The Kindergarten put on a musical Spring program.  Sadie's class dressed as grass with nests and a bird and egg in the nest to represent the song "The Green Grass Grows All Around."
They had six songs memorized and were so cute up there singing at the top of their lungs.  She said that she was nervous, but she did it!

 Here she is with some of her classmates and her teacher, Mrs. Garcia.

We love you Sadie, and we are all so proud of you!

I will always be amazed at the parents that attend these programs here.  I haven't seen this anywhere else, but what a madhouse!  People stand up in front of everyone else for the entire program.  Parents allow kids to stand on the table and chairs in front of other people, blocking their view.  The principal specifically asked that the front remain clear for the teachers and for safety reasons and that parents keep their little children with them.  Within 2 minutes of this announcement, parents are telling their kids to go right up to the front exactly where the principal asked for it to remain clear.  What?  I just don't get it!  I just grit my teeth and try to catch a glimpse of my little cutie between the cameras of a dozen people, a 10 year old standing on a chair right in front of me, and a number of balding heads and fancy up dos.

Kylie Horseback Riding- April 7, 2012

 Kylie's good friend, Alyssa, takes horseback riding lessons.  It was Alyssa's birthday and she decided to invite a couple of friends to ride with her.  Kylie was feeling lucky and excited that she got to go.  This was her first time to ever be on a horse.  I took these pictures with my phone, so unfortunately they aren't as good as they could have been.  She had such a good time and now wants to take lessons herself.
I stood off to the side watching her and chomping at the bit (ha ha! like that?) because I wanted to be up on a horse with her.  It has been too long since I have ridden and she reminded me of how much I have always loved it myself.

Easter 2012

 On the day before Easter, our Church put on a big Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.  It started off at 8:00 in the morning with a potluck breakfast.  Then, at 8:20 they let the kids loose to hunt for eggs.  The little babies and toddlers looked for eggs in the swing set sand pit.  It was very easy for them and self contained.  Then they let the kids 3-6 start looking and the older kids had to wait a couple of minutes.  I was torn!  Lanie was in the age group in the sand pit, Sadie would be with the younger kids and Kylie would wait to hunt with the older kids.  But how do I take pictures of all of them at the same time?  I had a plan!  I decided to stand halfway between all of the areas and get some use out of my zoom.  Miki stayed with Lanie while I tried to take pictures.  I got one of Lanie and then Sadie started throwing a tantrum because she wanted me to go with her.  I said "no" because that would ruin my picture taking plan!  Sadie just sobbed and sobbed.  I ended up having her just sit and watch all of the kids and I felt betrayed because I couldn't get the pictures I wanted.

 I did get these two of Kylie after she got her eggs and of her pushing Lanie on a swing.  But only after Miki stepped in.

 He walked over to Sadie, picked her up and took her out to the eggs.  She immediately calmed down and found more than her fair share and had a great time.  What is my problem!  Why was it so difficult for me to put down the camera and save the 5 year old in need?  After Miki walked off with her and I was left standing there watching the miracle of his gentle ways with her, I remembered that this is my sensitive child that has a hard time trying anything new, let alone racing every other kid to try and grab the most eggs filled with candy AND she is only 5!

 It is a good lesson to learn that each child is different and that we can find the perfect way to help and nurture and teach each child.  I am grateful that Miki could see what I couldn't in that moment and come to Sadie's rescue.

 I apologized to Sadie for my insensitivity to her needs and then the rest of the day was a blast!  The girls are showing off their eggs here.

 The next day, Miki had to work and he wanted to participate in the egg basket hunt and egg hunt at home.  So, we decided to do it on Saturday evening.  I actually really enjoyed this because it left Easter Sunday as a day that we talked about our Savior and his atonement and resurrection, went to church and sang songs about Jesus Christ, and learned more about how He has done everything to save us.  We spent time together making crafts and decorating eggs.  And we felt no pressure to keep up with all the fancy Easter traditions.  It was a peaceful and appropriate way to spend this important holiday.

The girls looked for their Easter baskets and here they are showing off what they found.

 Lanie got a Dora coloring book, crayons, an Elmo book and a Pez dispenser.

 Kylie got some stickers, a huge Reese's egg, a Pez dispenser, a couple of Easter crafts and some bunny ears (that were broken... oops!)

 Sadie got some bunny glasses, a Superhero coloring book, a Pez dispenser, a Reese's egg and an Easter craft.

 Then on to the Easter egg hunt.  The eggs were just hidden around downstairs.  We usually have this part outside, but it was too dark by this time.

 Lanie would find an egg, open it, yell out "Yummy!", take out the candy and drop the two halves of the egg and run off to find another "Yummy!" 
We have a candy bowl that has a little chick as the lid.  This little chick "cheep, cheep, cheeps" when you lift the lid.  It has always come in handy so we know when someone is trying to sneak some candy.  But this year, it brought trouble.  It didn't take Lanie very long to realize what was hidden under the chick lid and to associate the cheep cheep sound with candy.  Anytime she would hear the chick cheeping, Lanie would yell out "gummy!" (Her word for jelly beans) and come running.  She could hear that little chick from anywhere in the house.  I think she has super hearing and was just waiting all day long for someone to try sneak some candy so that she would get her break and they would cave and give her some too.  Miki got to the point where he would yell really loud as he was opening up the candy jar to try and mask the cheep, cheeping. 

I always love the looks of excitement on my girls' faces during the holidays.  Everything is so much fun and such a big deal.  It is a great lesson to learn from our kids.  We need to appreciate the little things.

More Pictures of Lanie- April 2, 2012

 Lanie's favorite past-time is drawing on the dry erase board.  She can sit here drawing for up to an hour!  That's right, an hour!  She is pretty good at not drawing anywhere else.  OK, maybe not, but we are working on it.  I pretty much only have to tell her once and then she knows that the wall is off limits, but then I have to tell her once that the computer desk is off limits, and on and on.  But how can you stop such a budding artist?  She has ink on her hands and arms and clothes almost every day.

 Unfortunately, she doesn't remember to put the caps back on the markers.   I try to remember and check them often, but I guess it isn't often enough because it is time to buy some more for her.

 She often brings someone else a marker and will get mad at us if we don't go and draw with her.  We will draw something, she will guess what it is and then erase it and say "goodbye" to it.

Some Cute Pictures- March 17, 2012

The girls are playing "Shop Owners."

Kylie's shop is a dress-up clothing store.  She has signs all over with the prices and what is for sell and what is just for her "daughter" to use and play with while at the store.

 Sadie's store has a variety of items, stories, toys, books, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. Pretty much everything she sells is $1.00.  But when you go to pay for it (with their play money) she ends up just giving everything away for free.  Sadie has a big heart.

 They have Lanie dressed up as their "daughter".  Notice that she has her binkie... the rule (most of the time or when I can be strong enough to enforce it) is that she can only have her binkie in her bed, or the car, or church.  Ok, maybe we need to start weaning her... ha ha!

 But, she has it here because she was dealing with a bad case of Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease.  Poor thing couldn't sleep very well at night and wouldn't eat anything.  The only thing I could get her to drink was those Yakult yogurt drinks.  Notice the smile.  Even when she is sick, she is such a ray of sunshine.

Tovi's 34th Birthday- March 10, 2012

I think that maybe I am finally growing up.  Maybe not, I still feel too young to be in my 30s.  It's not so bad though, especially since I get to enjoy this wonderful cake that Miki made for me.  Angel Food Cake, my favorite!  It has always been my favorite, but this is the first year that my family has made it for me.  This was actually Miki's first time ever making angel food cake.  He did good!

 The girls wanted to take pictures of me with all of my gifts.  And I wanted some pictures with them in the shot with me.  My family is my very best gift!  Thank you for a wonderful birthday and making me feel so special.

 I got a Barbie movie and Transformers movie (hmmm, were these really for me?).  I got beautiful cards made by the girls, some candy, The Sound of Music, The Help, Wii Zumba (my favorite gift... so fun!) some money from my in-laws that I used on clothes, this new shirt I am wearing that Miki and the girls picked out and the soundtrack from Wicked from Martin and Christine (ok, maybe this was my favorite gift!)

 My mom also made me this wonderful journal that has a picture of my family on the front.  I hadn't written in a journal for a long time, but this has spurred me to begin writing again.  Mom, you will be proud to know that I haven't missed a day of writing since you gave me this thoughtful gift.  Thank you.

Thank you to my wonderful family and friends for thinking of me, for the wonderful gifts, and for making my life so happy and complete.  I love you all!