(Future) Neighborhood Party

Our new neighborhood had a party. I love that they are having community events before anyone has even moved in. We had fun meeting new neighbors, eating yummy food and ice cream, participating in the games, getting faces painted, and playing on the bounce houses.  We're going to love living in the Mulberry neighborhood, only three more months!

Swim lessons

The kids have started swim lessons. Maizy screamed the whole time the first day. Today (second day) she was in the pool a few moments without tears and screaming. I feel bad because it makes me laugh a little. She's just so dramatic! Croix does great until he has to put his face in the water, then he freaks out. In their defense the water is cold since it hasn't been hot and has rained.

In related news I've been doing swim lessons for about a month. The city of Mesa is offering free adult swim lessons, so I'm taking advantage. I can flop around but if Croix or Maizy fell in they would drown before I could get to them. So I'm learning how to swim. It helps that I can say...My swim teacher tells me the same thing, or I'm learning that too it's hard isn't it. So there ya go, the advantage to not learning to swim as a child, increased empathy for your children when they are learning at the same time as you.
In the Phoenix area there were more adult drownings last year then children, most of them were an adult trying to save a child.

Kindergarten

Well I fell of the blogging wagon.  I think I needed a little bit of a break, or maybe I was just lazy, or depressed and overwhelmed.  Whatever the reason I'm sad of all that I missed documenting over the past year.  I'll try and play a little catch up here and there but I think I'm mostly just going to stay current!

Croix started kindergarten a couple weeks ago.  We decided to do half day kindergarten.  They still learn everything full day kindergarten does they just don't get all the extras (art, PE, music, library,etc)  Which is fine with me.  We do those things at home.  I thought it would be an easier transition.  He was still only 4 when he started.  And full day is a long day, even for a 5 year old.







Brent went into work late that morning so he could be there for the big moment. I love that he is able to take time off when he needs/wants to and it's not difficult.  Croix was beyond excited to start school.  He's had wonderful preschool experiences that past two years so he loves learning and school.  We had a good breakfast and then drove, parked and walked him up.  I had to grab him to make sure I got a hug and kiss before he ran off onto the playground to play.  I have to every morning!  He is just an independent soul.  He's had a few challenges with his ADHD but overall he is doing well.  He is trying hard, that's what his teacher tells me :)






Croix has a few kids from his primary class in his school class.  This is Sawyer, his best friend :)




 There were no tears.  He was ready!  I did get a little misty eyed a few days in.  I dropped him off and he was running down the sidewalk.  He has a backpack with wheels so normally he pulls it behind him.  That day I put it on his back.  He looked so little running with his big backpack thumping around on his back. 

I think Maizy is having the hardest time with Croix starting kindergarten.  Every morning when we drop him off she asks "Mommy I go Croix's kindergarten too?"  She misses him, a lot. 






It's been nice for us to have one on one time.  She is so fun.  We did "Maizy School" this morning and worked on letters and numbers.  She had fun with that.  I thought I'd be able to get a little more done during Croix's school but he's not here to entertain Maizy so I'm not really get much more done. We're moving on to a new stage, school!

Pinetop

We took a quick weekend trip up to Pinetop to get away from the heat.  I had never been there, driving up there I thought, are we in Arizona still?  It's so beautiful!  We thoroughly enjoyed the drive up there!

We left at 10 (Maizy's naptime) with hopes that she would sleep at least part of the way up there.  But per the standard with my children all we got was silliness and crying.

It was our first time to this area and we found an awesome community with rental cabins.  Our cabin was perfect! Full kitchen (fully equipped), two bedrooms and bathrooms, a front and back deck, a fireplace, and best of all access to all the community amenities.

First order of business was a nap for Maizy.  But after that we had to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather!  We found a perfect little hiking trail.




It had this amazing little creek that you could hear gurgling along.

It had beautiful views.

And some beautiful flowers!

Maizy got tired of the Eurgo after a while so Daddy was very kind and carried her.

There were fun signs to read along the way. Croix wanted to read each of them and thought all the info about the area was amazing!

Croix climbed a tree

We went to the park where Croix was frozen on the cargo net because there was small spiderweb way up on the top corner.

Brent and Croix enjoyed a game of tether ball....

Until Croix fell flat on his face after spinning around the pole too many times. He hit the exact same spot he had a goose egg on already! Poor boy!

Croix enjoyed driving from the community area to our cabin.

Maizy figured out how to have a finger up her nose while still sucking her thumb.

We made smores in our fireplace

And enjoyed every gooey bite!

Until we were all messy.

We spent a lot of time hanging out on the porches.

Such a nice view

A good book was always near by.

And we enjoyed a few meals in the great outdoors and perfect weather.

Croix decided to try his hand at photography

He had lots of fun taking these pictures.

I was impressed!

Croix and Brent went fishing early one morning. So Maizy and I had a girls breakfast.

They stopped and got some breakfast

And then hit up the golf course

We had a grassy "front yard" It was fun to lay out there and watch the bugs.

And find castles and animals and ice cream cones in the clouds

The family center was loads of fun. There were arcade games and air hockey, a preschool age play place with duplos so Croix was instantly in heaven. The had a movie room with sofas and recliners and a big screen tv.

Croix, Maizy and Mommy racing motercycles.

Our last morning there we were lucky enough to enjoy breakfast with the Campas.  The provided yummy Krispy Kream doughnuts and we contributed some juicy fruit.  It was fun to see them and a scrumptious (albeit unhealthy) breakfast!

We loved every minute up there. Made us want to move and question why we live in an oven. We read books. Walked and hiked all around. Made brownies.  Relaxed.  Enjoyed the quiet.  Breathed in some fresh air.  Watch very little tv.  Our cell phones main purposes were to be cameras, not a distraction.  Oh it was a heavenly weekend!