Look At Me - I'm 3!!

Ella's 3rd birthday was April 4th. It's hard to believe my little girl is 3!! The night before her birthday Kaiya, Cirdan and I stayed up late after she went to sleep to decorate the house. We had a bunch of balloons and streamers. When Ella woke up she was excited for her birthday. She has been talking about it for at least the last 2 months. She loves the holidays because she loves getting candy and presents! Ella asked for pancakes with strawberries on top for breakfast. After breakfast, we decided to let her open a present. She could hardly wait! We wanted to have a day of fun. Kaiya was on Spring break so she was able to celebrate with us. One of Ella's favorite things in life is...popcorn. We headed down to Renton where there is a Gourmet popcorn store. Ella was in love! There were a ton of different types of popcorn. I could have stayed there all day! The workers there were so nice and really pushed the samples. Ella picked out Tootie Frootie, Kaiya chose Captain Crunch and we also bought Oreo Blast, Tuxedo, Three Cheese and Chili Con Lemon. I am already looking forward to going back! After popcorn we went home (I wanted Ella to take a nap) and Cirdan went to go pick up Stacey and Brad from the airport. My parents and sister had gone on a cruise the week before. They were supposed to be back on Sunday night (the 3rd) at midnight. They ran into one problem after another with airplanes and weather and didn't make it back until Monday afternoon. Stacey and Brad (my uncle) took a flight out and got home around 3:00. My mom and dad took another flight and got in at 5:00. The party started at 6:00 so Nate picked them up from the airport and came right there. I was excited that they made it and all day I was nervous that none of them would be here for Ella's party. It all worked out in the end. Even though they were all really tired. Ella's party was at Chuck E Cheese. Her favorite place in the whole world. We had friends and family that came which made it even more special for my little 3 year old. Ella had a blast!! The party was from 6-8 but we were there until after 9:00! The kids played and ate pizza until Chuck E Cheese came over and joined the party. He danced with the kids, gave Ella a medallion and a crown with tokens in it and took pictures. Cirdan and Ella also got to go into the ticket blaster. I wasn't sure if it would scare Ella since it was pretty loud and crazy but since Cirdan was with her she had lots of fun. The party wrapped up and we had cake and she opened up her presents. She got some really cute things and loved her Jessie toy from Toy Story. Happy Birthday my little Ella Rosy!

When we got home I told Ella to get her pajamas on. This is how I found her...she was exchausted but had to go through the stuff she won at Chuck E Cheese.

Jett's Voice - Part 2

Jett practices his voice

Jett started this scream thing the end of March. He did it for about 4 days straight and then stopped. It was pretty funny and the girls got a kick out of it.

This is What Happens When I Turn My Back....

She was only trying to give her brother some of her hot chocolate...

Random Pictures from my Phone

This girl can eat!!! She eats all day long. I took her to Costco the other day and she wanted a hot dog. She ate the whole thing! I can't even do that... Not a happy boy...

She put lipstick on herself. I then hid the lipstick before she got it all over the place.

Okay, this was super weird. Cirdan and Kaiya blew up balloons the night before Ella's birthday. This balloon the next day was on the ceiling. It didn't have helium in it. How did that happen?? Cirdan took it down to show me it was static but he couldn't make it do it again. Weeeiiirrrrrddd.

Where's Jett? I see some eyes!

Happy boy!

Cirdan holding Ella's purse at church and Ella holding his scripture bag. I thought the purse went very nicely with his Sunday clothes.

Miss you gram!!

Flowers for Grampee's birthday

When Ava was here we went to Coldstone.

Kaiya's blog

Kaiya has a blog! Check it out...and leave her a comment!! http://kaiyasblabberingblog.blogspot.com

Jett Laughing

Taken 3/13

Things on My Mind...

1. I have been running on the treadmill and LOVE it. It makes me feel really good and if I miss a day I can tell it affects me. It makes me happy. 2. I love the fact that Cirdan is into the latest story line on Days of Our Lives. I would have it on and he started get into a story involving Rafe and Sami (we met both of them in Nov 2009). I now can't watch it without him home. That makes me smile....a big teeth showing smile. 3. I got on a 'coupon' and 'free' stuff kick. I have been collecting coupons and have found some really cool sites that tell you what coupons to use and what store to go to to get a screamin deal!! I also got some free things online that I will blog about later. Everything helps!! 4. In February I made a couple large payments and paid off my car and credit card. The card has been closed for a while but I had maxed it out to pay for attorney costs when I got divorced. I feel so relieved! We also paid off Cirdan's closed credit card in the last 4 months. Still tackling the million hospital bills but we have already paid most of them. Still working on one Swedish Hospital bill that was $4,800!!!! I am proud of what we have done! 5. I am thankful for Health Insurance. 6. I have had a terrible sweet tooth lately! Tomorrow I get back on my no (or hardly any) sweets diet. I have 2 more pounds to lose to get to my goal and then it will time to make a new goal! Small steps. I have lost more weight though and weigh less than what I was before my pregnancy. Again, thank you treadmill. 7. I heard last night that its okay to go on a cruise and miss 2 weeks of church but if I want to go watch my daughter at her dance convention than I am horrible. Her dance things are hardly on Sunday's. Maybe 2 times a year. REALLY?!?!? 8. I am excited for Easter! We will be going to Spokane to see Cirdan's family. That reminds me...I need to send Ava her Easter gifts this week!! 9. I had saved the episode of The Ellen Show that Cirdan and I were on but then something tragic happened. The DVR broke. So I lost it. :( I am sad but all good things come to an end...right? Time to go back!!! 10. Cirdan's Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazine come addressed to me and my US Magazines come addressed to him. I think that is funny.

Kaiya's School Changes

Kaiya won't be going to school next year. She will be going to school but not actually GOING to school. I am putting her in a program called the K12 WAVA program (Washington Virtual Academics). It is a public school but taught at home. She will have a teacher assigned to her for daily check in/attendance, questions and to monitor her school work. The teacher will also put together her school work plan. The school year calendar is also much like it would be if she went to her current school. For example...she will still get a Christmas break and spring break. Why you ask? Well, I don't like the way the school is going. When she was there for Kindergarten it was great! But then 1st grade they opened up some new apartments next to the school. The apartments we thought were really nice but come to find out...they turned out to be low income/section 8 housing. The folks who live there aren't exactly greatest. It seems like the boundaries are mainly made up of low income housing. The dynamic of the school changed. It is definitely not the best crowd. I am sure it would be okay but the policy of the school seems to be if one kid is disruptive then punish the whole class. Plus with all the wasted time spent in school I just really weighed out some options for next year. Also, when I was in school I grew up with the same kids. We had fun and were close! Kaiya doesn't have that. She has some friends but they don't come over and she doesn't go to their house (unless its a birthday party). At dance however she has a lot of friends. I know the parents of the kids since we are always there and so are they. It is a good group of kids and they have fun. They spend a lot of hours a week together and they are forming some special friendships. That is why I don't feel too guilty taking her out of school. Since dance is pretty much everyday she will be able to still have a social life. There are also a bunch of kids at the dance studio that also do WAVA and absolutely love it. Cirdan talked to a mom last week and she told him that if we want Kaiya to excel...then do it. I still am scared. Every day is different. One morning I wake up super excited and feeling like this is the best decision for Kaiya. Then I wake up the next day and doubt myself and wonder if this really is the best decision. It has been a roller coaster. People keep reminding me that if it doesn't work out that she can be enrolled right back into school. Which is true. One thing that scares me is Kaiya almost being 9 years old. She is a sweet girl but becoming quite sassy. I hope that we can get along and not have issues. :) Ella will start preschool next year. She will go 3 days a week and during those times Kaiya and I will do school work. My mom said that she would also help out and take a day a week to work with Kaiya. Cirdan can make time schedule even though he always has sooo much to do managing his company. Kaiya's dad is supportive of her doing this program and can offer any help she needs. With all those factors I think we can do this. So, check for updates! I have already signed her up online and talked to an admin counselor. The next step is faxing over paperwork (immunization record, district release form etc) and we will be ready to go! We will receive all her books and such in August and her first day of class is September 6th!