Happy Birthday Emme!

Emmry is growing up despite all my efforts to keep her little.  Glasses, orthodontist visits, and a love for the mall are constant reminders that my efforts are fruitless.  This year she has decided she wants to be called Emme (with the e sound at the end).  With the fresh start that a new school and ward provide, it was the perfect time.  Change is the perfect time for a fresh start, I should know!  Arizona was mine.

So, happy birthday Emme!  I'm glad it only took you only nine years to make your fresh start. It took me (CeCe, also known as Cyndee) 34!

Happy 6th Birthday Girls!

 According to Chloe the worst part of being a twin is sharing a birthday.  All the choices that come with celebrating that long awaited, once a year celebration, where everything is all about you, must include another person.  Like, what you want for breakfast.  What special treat to bring to school.  Where to go for dinner.  What kind of cake.  All of these privileged decisions require compromise when you're a twin.

It does seem a bit unfair.

But it's hard to feel too sorry for them.   They are in fact the very luckiest.  They received the greatest gift of all.  One that few other people do.  A best friend forever and always.  24/7.

It looks pretty good to me!

New Year, New Schools

When we decided to move, perhaps we didn't take into consideration all the changes that our kids would have to face.  A new neighborhood, new friends, new schools...  

The middle school bus comes at 7 a.m., there's no study hall so homework has to be done at home, and the school is old and under construction.  Parking is terrible! The receptionist is all smiles and cheeriness as she refuses every request I've made.  She's put me in tears twice.  Hopefully Braden finds it a bit more friendly, but friends are hard to make when you're in 8th grade.  People come and go now days though and being the new kid doesn't have the stigma it used to.

As for the elementary school, our last one was new and beautiful.  We traded it in for an older one with an outdoor campus, which I imagine will be fun when it's not 110 degrees outside.  Everyone seems wonderful though and the girls thankfully have each other. Last year I was running between two different elementary schools, this year the girls all get on the bus together... a nice change!  I think we'll all enjoy it!

Have fun kiddos!

Summertime Fun

Oh what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?

Do you board in a lake?

Or in the sun bake?

Race as the clouds go by?

Is that what you do?

So do I!

Passing the Torch

Growing up I was called "my little ballerina" too many times to count.  I am so glad to pass on the title!  You were amazing my little ballerina!

Closing Day

In each home we've lived there is always an area where we tend to congregate to play around.  It is where we rough house with the children: swing them, throw them, and play airplane with them up on our feet.  It is where my best memories are and the place that is the hardest to leave each time we move.  Thankfully though the places are left behind, the memories and the kids come with us!

40???

What better way to spend your birthday than on a Father and Son's Campout!  When you're turning 40, there's got to be no better way than sleeping on the hard ground to remind you how old you are!  And if that doesn't do it, just take a quick look at your teenager!

You could be brothers!

Happy 40th Ryan!