Girly Girls

On the first day of summer vacation, Berkeley and I sat outside and painted each other's nails and toes.  When Finley saw them she kept pointing at our nails and then pointing to her nails so Berk asked if she could paint Fin's.  I said sure.  So, Fin wiggled & Berk tried her best to paint her nails and toes so she could be "pretty" too.  About half way through it Berkeley was a little exasperated and said "Oh, my, it's NOT easy painting a baby's nails."  I said "Yes, you're right, now you know why I have never attempted to paint her nails and toes."  It was cute though, after she was done, Finley very proudly held her hands up and showed me her pretty nails.  They are so girly.  They'll disappear into Berkeley's dress up closet for a long time and come down stairs with princess dresses, necklaces, crowns and "high heels."  Finley will even insist on wearing a princess dress, heels and sunglasses to her class at church.  It's pretty funny.  Berkeley can't seem to stop herself from helping herself to my shoes.  She tries them on and prances around the house or yard with huge heels and her incredibly long, thin, deer like legs.  Wish I still looked like that!

"I'm Hexy & I Know It"

                                                              Showing off his muscles

Ok, I think I wrote about how Oliver prefers to wear his underwear backwards so that he can see the super hero, because if he wears them the right way, he won't be able to see Spiderman in the back.  I have to admit that sometimes I need a break from show tunes and nursery songs in the car and turn on some rump shaker music.  I didn't really know how much the kids paid attention to it, but apprentaly they do.  There is a song on the radio where a guy with a pretty deep voice says "I'm sexy and I know it."  There have been a few times where Oliver will walk around the house in his (backward) undies singing "I'm HEXY and I know it."  It makes me die laughing.  Tom told me the other day he was putting his life vest on to go swimming and as he was buckling it up he started singing "I'm hexy and I know it." 

He keeps asking me when he will get "fur" all over his body and face like dad.  After the 4th of July I put him to bed and he lifted up his arm and showed me his arm pit.  He said "Mom, when am I gonna get hair under here?"  I think he noticed Malacai had hair there and now he is anxious to get it too.  Lord, have mercy this kid cracks us up.  He obviously inherited his mother's fantastic sense of humor :)

Oliver's Last Day of School

                                                                    Miss Dana & Oliver

Miss Vicki & Oliver

Oliver's last day of school would have been during the week  that we were in Arizona, so his last day was a week early.  He did so well in his 3's class with Miss Dana & Miss Vicki.  I have to admit, I was a little worried.  He can be a little pill for me sometimes and I kind of thought there was a slight possibility that he might get kicked out of preschool.  I shouldn't have worried.  I never really asked the teachers how he was doing and behaving in class because part of me didn't really want  to know. 

About halfway through the year, Miss Dana came up to me and whispered that he is the "kindest, most thoughtful kid in the class.  He always says please and thank you and he has the sweetest spirit."  She said if he did something that she asked him not to do he would say "Oh, I'm so sorry, I won't do it again."  And he wouldn't do it again.  She said "I would take him home with me if I could."  I was a little stunned.  She told me that when some of the younger kids would cry and want their mom, he would go up to them and say "It'll be ok, do you want to come and play with me?"  She said sometimes it would almost make her cry because he had this softness about him. 

One of the moms of a little boy who has spatial issues & is developing a little bit slowly in certain areas came to me one day and asked if I was Oliver's mom.  My heart kind of stopped for a second and my stomach dropped cause I thought something bad happened between her boy and Oliver.  When I cautiously told her I was his mom, she said "My son has some developmental issues and HATES school.  But, lately the only name I hear is Oliver, Oliver, Oliver.  He even asked if I could get Oliver's phone number so he could play with him and he has never asked that about anyone, ever."  After I recovered my wits and picked my jaw up off the floor I gave her my phone number and we set up a play date. 

Oliver has an incredibly sweet spirit and a tender heart.  He is the "prayer" of the family and really shocks us sometimes when he prays.  I should not have worried.  He had a great year and is excited to go to PreK in the fall.  I am so proud of him and love him so much!

Arizona 2012

 Rolling down the hill

                                                 The kids took lots of picture of Uncle!

May 12-18  we went to Scottsdale Arizona for my birthday/Mother's Day, but mostly because we all felt like we were half dead and in desperate need of some warmth and sun.  This was the closest to summer that we have ever gone and it was toasty warm.  I think the highest it got while we were there was 108.  It felt so good.  I must say, if all I had to do was play in the pool and sit under the patio I would do just fine there.  If I had to dig ditches or do any kind of physical labor, however, I'd probably wither a little :) 

The kids had a blast.  We literally lived in the pool.  The kids practiced swimming in the hot tub without their life jackets and did great.  Finley was crazy...what a dare devil.  She'd ask to go up on the edge of the pool and jump into our arms without the slightest hesitation.  She had no fear whatsoever and tried to keep up with the big kids.  She wanted to do everything they do and more!  The blazing hot concrete was a great deterrent for her not getting close to the pool when it wasn't time to swim.  We would leave her shoes off and if she stepped onto the patio where the shade was not covering it, her feet would burn so it was super easy to keep her away from the pool during "off hours."  Kind of mean, but effective :) 

The boys got to golf almost every day and we brought Miss Emily along so she could help me with the kids while they were gone.  I even got to go have lunch with the boys after they finished golf while she stayed back with the kids.  We even got to go out for dinner by ourselves like normal adults and it was awesome!!!  Emily was a life saver and we loved having her.  I told Tom this was going to spoil me and I'm going to want to take her everywhere we go from now on!

The kids had their very first ride in a limo.  Curits and Michelle, the people whose house we stayed at, recommened a car service instead of messing with a cab/shuttle.  It was fun to see the kids' eyes light up when they got in the limo and discovered free drinks and lights that changed colors on the ceilings.  That was a kick!  On the ride home Oliver said "Thanks for letting us go to Arizona."  So sweet.  I asked them what their favorite part was and Berkeley said "the pool" and Oliver said "everything."  Anyway, it was a lovely trip and the kids are ready to live there.  Aren't we all during our 9 months of rain, sleet & snow?  Sign me up!