Lesson Learned: Don't be cheap and buy the REAL thing!!

Today I was trying to be creative and cheap (some may say), I got out a tarp from the shed for the kids to slip and slide on. Well it doesn't work!! When the kids would land they would stop with no sliding involved and yell "Ouch!" I even tried to pour a whole bottle of dish soap on the tarp, but still no sliding was taking place. My poor kids have a cheap mom. My sister was here with her kids and she kept telling me "Slip and slides are only $7.99 at Wal-mart." I guess I will have to add it to my list for my next trip to Wal-mart, but it was good for a few laughs!!

"Mom please turn around!"

The other day we were driving home from the movies and we drove past Chick-fil-A, McKenzie starts begging, "Mom please turn around!!" I couldn't figure out why she wanted me to turn around. She said, "I want a picture with that cow!" I had to turn around to see what she was talking about. She saw the Chick-fil-A cow on the side of the road and was determined to get a picture with him!! She is so funny.

Swimming, Swimming, Swimming, and more Swimming!

My kids have been on summer break for a month now and I don't think there has been one day that we haven't gone swimming!! I start each morning out with the same question to my kids, "What do you guys want to do today?" The answer is always, "GO SWIMMING!" At least its nice and cheap, right!! We have been rotating between 6 pools to keep it exciting. So if you ever want to come hang out bring your suits! I really can't complain, it doesn't get much easier...... mom gets to work on my tan while the kids enjoy friends and cousins while SWIMMING!

Ready to Cruise!

24 days until we set sail!! Can not wait! (in one hour and 15 min. it will be only 23 days!)

When the BOYS are away the GIRLS will play!

Tonight is our Fathers and Sons camp out, so us girls played! We have made it a tradition (second year now) to get our nails done and eat at Texas Roadhouse when the boys are away on this camp out. Well this year I did things a little different, I called every nail salon around to find the cheapest deal for little girl pedicures. The cheapest I could find was at a beauty school for 16 bucks a pop! Well, with three girls and myself, I wasn't do'n it, I talk the girls into letting me take them to Wal-mart and each of the could pick out their own nail polish color, and I would even buy some nail stickers and rhinestones! They bought it! Way cheaper! So we started our night out with a trip to Wal-mart, and then we hit the new Goodwill store... just because I have never been there. I have to say McKenzie found the "find" of the night!! Our next stop was Texas Roadhouse (YUM!! a family favorite, the boys are gonna be so jealous)! Our dinner was relaxing because the 2 year old slept the WHOLE time! After dinner we headed home to paint their nails and feed the 2 year old our leftovers. We then went and spent daddy's gift card at Cold Stone (don't tell)....I was feeling guilty for eating the girls ice cream leftovers when I'm trying to lose weight for our cruise, so we then went on a bike ride. Our night ended with mom taking a hot bath while the girls fell asleep watching Flicka on my bed. I'm starting to think Fathers and Sons should be more than once a year, we had a BLAST!

Enjoying themselves at Texas Roadhouse!

I enjoyed myself too, because of this!!

Showing off the professional job mom did!

I told you McKenzie made the "find"of the night; on hooker...I mean dress up shoes for $1.99!

Cold Stone!!

I love these girls!

**** I know, I am terrible with run-on sentences.

Carnival...Fun for All. All for Fun.

I booked our first cruise! July 8th will be our 10 year Anniversary, so we wanted to do something we have never done before. We are so excited! I just hope my stomach can handle the sea, any suggestions? We are doing Carnival Cruise Lines and our ship is the Splendor, I heard this one is really fun. We went all out and booked a 7 night with a balcony room! Now it's time to get these last 15 stubborn pounds to come off...wish me luck! (To only put them back on with the ALL YOU CAN EAT food on the ship)

Memorial Weekend....great for making memories!

We had such a FUN Memorial weekend! We started it out with a trip to Saguaro Lake for some jet skiing. My friend Becky and her two kids came with us, and I'm so glad they did! The kids played ALL day without any fights or crying. O.K. there was a little crying going on....when Becky tried to put her youngest in a life jacket to take her for a ride. (She wasn't going for it!)

Makayla and Elly playing like best buds!

The whole gang!

***Becky, lets be sure to read the rules of the lake before we go again, so next time we won't get any hand gestures thrown our way!!

On Sunday, (I know.. shame, shame) we had a block party/moving party for one of our great neighbors. We have done this twice before but this was one party that will be hard to beat. The food was delish, the games were fun, and the company was out of this world! We are SO blessed to live on a street such as ours....there are kids EVERYWHERE and they are all friends. (the moms are too!) So fun! We are sad to see one of own leave, Donna you will be missed. John who the heck am I going to have water fights with now? It's okay like I told you, "You'll be back...I give you six months and you'll be back." (Mark my words!)

On Monday we tried to go to the lake again, but it was CLOSED!! I have never heard of such a thing, they said too many people were there and they couldn't let any more people go. We tried to be sneaky and find another way in....all three ways were blocked with cops. So we ended up going to Fountain Hills and having a picnic and letting the kids play in the water at the park. We then went to Basha High School for more swimming. If you haven't been there, it's a must! My kids thought it was a mini SunSplash, they loved it. Best part is costs $0.50 to get in, we will be spending lots of time there this summer, for sure!

So mad I forgot to take pictures!

Clayton took the day off on Tuesday, so the fun continued. We took the kids to a movie and lunch and of coarse we ended up at the pool afterward, I swear my kids are part fish.

I wish every weekend could be a long weekend, we had a blast!

Cheap Entertainment!

What do your children do to entertain themselves? Makayla has quite the imagination (I wish they all did) she can pick up just about anything and find some way to entertain herself.

Dressed in Styrofoam and leading music with a window washer thingy.

And of course, she has to make a silly face for the camera! LOVE her!

Out with Kindergarten and in with 1st Grade!!

Cody did it! He passed Kindergarten. We had an awesome year, but we were all ready for it to come to an end. No more lunch making, water bottle filling, homework signing, hair curling, and schedule keeping!! (at least for 3 months) Cody and Callie were blessed to both have GREAT teachers, Cody had Mrs. Cruz whom we just LOVE!! I told her over and over she better request McKenzie for next year.

Cody was lucky to have his cousin London in his class!

Mommy Time!

I love when I get to sneak in a little MOMMY only time! I love it more when I get to spend it with good friends. My good friend Becky came into town and we were able to hang out and go get pampered! I love when Becky comes into town, we just pick up right where we left off like now time has passed. We can lay around on the couch and do nothing and it's completely fine with us. Becky you are welcome to come anytime!!