Charlie lost his first tooth!

That sucker has been wiggly for a looooong time now. So long that his permanent teeth started to come in behind them! Which, I guess isn’t all that uncommon for the lower front teeth.

Yesterday afternoon, while driving to my mom’s he screeched “I pulled my tooth out”. He was so incredibly excited. It was like hitting the jackpot for him. I looked back to see a bloody mouth! Pleasant.

That evening, I went to a meeting at Charlie’s school and when I returned home he was fast asleep. He stayed home sick from school that day and went to sleep pretty early. The next thing I know, we hear Charlie talking. I could not make out what he was saying. When I reached his room, he was saying “What about my tooth fairy thing”. He has this really cute ‘Tooth Fairy Helper’ that we purchased from my friend Koz’ Etsy shop when she was fund raising for a walk. Then he said “DADDY forgot my tooth fairy thing”! I went in and helped him get it all ready. Let me tell you, that made the Tooth Fairy’s job much easier.

Later that night the Tooth Fairy paid him a visit and left him a bottle of Jones Orange & Cream Soda, Orange Tics (Tic Tacs), Fingerboard and a little cash. A few of his favorite things!

Marching in the Parada del Sol

Charlie and Katelyn took part in the Parada del Sol Parade that took place on Saturday. Here are a few pictures that were captured! Charlie had a great time playing cowboy. He was so excited to dress up in his cowboy costume made by Grandma.

Getting sugared up for the 2 mile walk!

Katelyn-Indian Princess & Charlie-Cowboy

Looking the part as one handsome, tough cowboy!

Leading the way!

Waving to on lookers!

Smart girl made grandma carry her . . .

. . . and Papa, too!

Petting a chicken

What can I say…

the girl likes her SHOES. This morning we made a trip to Target. I avoided the shoe section knowing that if she made her way in there that it would be hard to get her out. I just didn’t have 3 hours to look and try on shoes today! I let her browse the dollar bins on the way in. I quickly grabbed what I needed and then started to make my way to the checkout. That’s when it happened. She spotted them. A pair of shoes. Just her size. On a clearance end cap. Before I could even blink she plopped herself down on the aisle floor ripped her sandals off with lightening speed and tried them on. She’s not even TWO! Mark my words. I’m SCREWED. Totally SCREWED.

As for Charlie, he made “Fruit Ke-POPS” with his teacher. Fruit Kebobs as others would call them. He really enjoyed making them with pineapples and strawberries. Don’t even try to correct the Ke-POPS to Kebobs because you are totally WRONG. Trust me, I found out the hard way!

corndog.com

Don’t check, it doesn’t really exsist. Only in the imagination of a 5 year old. You see, Charlie loves corn dogs. I think the mystery meat part of it is DISGUSTING. So, I got this bright idea that I would try to make him some from scratch using the only hot dogs I will eat – Kosher. No, we are not Jewish but they are on to something with the NO mystery meat. Anyway, I was talking to Charlie about making some. Here was our convo:

Charlie: “Do you have a recipe?”

Me: “Nope.”

Charlie: “Just go print one. From corndog.com !”

Me: EXITS, trying to keep a straight face.

As for the corn dogs. They need some tweaking. The batter was good. Hot dogs are kosher. Just need to adjust the cooking times a bit. Reduce temp and cook longer.

Charlie’s 5th Birthday….

was, oh, I don’t know….only SIX MONTHS AGO! I know, I have been seriously slacking on the blog. I finally have the pictures showing up again! So without further ado, here are long over due pictures of Charlie’s party.

Cool presents…

Awesome dinosaur cake…

with Erupting Volcano!

And it’s not a party with out the Pinata. I think that’s a dinosaur limb flying?!

Birthday boy incognito!

Labor Day Weekend

we went to the Phoenix Zoo!

Visiting Harmony Farm

The kids were able to brush the animals

Charlie was able to “drive” the old tractor

Tunnel exploration

Then we played in the tree house! Wouldn’t it be cool to have one of these in your back yard? I don’t think our orange trees will work to create one for our kids. When I was a kid, my sister and I had a tree house of sorts. In our yard there was a cluster of Creosote Bush and it created the perfect hideout for us to play in- right in the middle of them all. Even though it wasn’t up in the high branches of a large tree it was still our tree house. Where we lovingly made mud pies in old pie tins.

Back to school

Charlie started what is considered Kindergarten a few weeks back. In Montessori it’s called Primary. Here is a picture of him on his first day back. He was NOT happy about having his picture taken! I walked him to his new class that morning, which was right next to the one he was in last year. He was NOT happy about that either. He insisted he knew where his class was but I wanted to be sure.

The next morning as we were getting into the car to take him to school he said “Don’t walk me to my class. I know where it is”. Standing at the garage door with Katelyn, Chuck heard that and said “Now make sure you walk him to class”. Charlie did not like that and started up again “Just drop me off! I KNOW where my class is”. He’s hilarious. We’re already embarassing him and he’s only five.

He seems to be having a good time again this year. As long as we don’t walk him to class!

I’m not sure who enjoys this more . . .

the kids or me!

Donna, if you are reading this. You might want to take a deep breath before you scroll down. I know the kids have a lot of toys, but I  just had to have this. :) And, I will take this opportunity to blame it on my mom right now! She called me when she found this on Craigslist for only $60. Then she sweetened the deal by offering to pay for part of it. Deliver it. Help set it up. IT’S ALL HER FAULT!!! Right, Mom?

 

 Look! There is my mom in the blue shirt. All her fault.

If you haven’t had a coronary I will let you jump on it when you come to visit for Halloween. I promise you will like it. Remember the water slide? I know you had fun on that but this is better. You can use it when it’s cold (Halloween) and no swim suit required.

Crayon Roll

My mom and I put together the cutest little crayon rolls to hand out as favors for Charlie’s birthday party. I think they turned out pretty cute. Charlie chose the dinosaur fabric to go with his dinosaur themed party and the orange polka dot fabric since he LOVES orange. I found the instructions for them here.

Do you know CPR?

Learning CPR is easy and can save a life of a loved one. Approximately 80% of all “heart attacks” out of hospital settings happen at home. So the chance of using CPR on someone you know and love is great. We are Desert Heart CPR  desertheartcpr.com and we feel that it is important for everyone to get proper CPR training. Most classes where we live cost less than getting a pizza delivered, and most classes are 2-3 hours, about the time it takes to watch a movie. If you have any questions about CPR or where to get training feel free to contact us at info@desertheartcpr.com   We teach all BLS level classes for the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Safety and Health Institute. Thanks and BE SAFE !

ROAR!

Was that SCARY? Charlie’s 5th Birthday is in just TWO weeks! He’s requested a Dinosaur party so here is the invitation I made in photo-shop for the BIG day.

Five years? Where has the time gone? I can’t believe how much he’s grown. He cracks us up on a daily basis. Which is a good thing because there are times this kid just about drives us to drink. He’s intelligent. Imaginative. Active. All of those things equate to a 35 pound limit testing, death deifying ball of energy. It’s a pretty good balance of cute and ornery!

I’ve been taking him swimming. He loves it. He’s a fish. I took him today actually. For 3 HOURS in the blazing 107 degree heat. Do you think that child was tired after that? HECK NO! Tired is for sissies. He was swimming hard the entire time. There was one time he went under and got a little water. He came right up, coughed and said “I just drowned a little” and went right back for more! When we finally did leave he was so upset. We are cruel parents to only let him swim for 3 hours, you know.

Some Katelyn pics.

She was playing Peek A Boo.

Look ! A shot with no hair in her eyes.

Hair is getting a little longer.

LIttle daredevil.

Kate loves her big brother.

Cute kids

Me and the kiddies.That’s right, Amber hasn’t had much time to post new stuff so she has entrusted me with being able to update and add stuff.

Some recent Charlie pics

 

Another scary face but in the end everything is  A OK

 

Fun In The Sun

Charlie-isms

There have been a few times lately that Charlie has asked me to leave the bathroom while I’m applying my warpaint (make-up) so that he can have privacy. After his bath tonight he was running around nekked (still is) and I told him he should put on some clothes, particularly underwear for his privacy. His stuff is flapping in the breeze as he leaps from the couch, after all. He repeated the word privacy back to me and the way he said it was too cute. So I asked him how to pronounce it. He said “Private SEAT” as he over-enunciated each word. Then while patting the chair I was sitting in he said “like SEAT” saying it in a way as though I am challenged and deaf.

Sometimes that kid kills me with laughter. And sometimes he just kills me!

Gorgeous babies, if I do say so myself.

Check out more of the pictures HERE.

We were very lucky to have a local photographer, Andrea Whittle, take some beautiful pictures of the kids this week. She was awesome! Especially working with Charlie who was less than cooperative that day, to put it VERY nicely. Actually, I was very surprised that she got any shots of him because of his poor behavior. That was a true test of her abilities. Her rates are very affordable so please check her out the next time you need pictures done! You won’t be disappointed.

We knew he loved it

Bacon, that is. Charlie devours bacon. He would live off of that stuff if he could. Last night Chuck was in Charlie’s room with the two kids playing. I walked around the corner just in time to see Chuck taking some bacon away from Katelyn. Charlie had it stashed in the storage compartment of his step stool. It had to of been from last weekend, if not longer. Gross!

Wild West

RAWHIDE

Sharing a snack on the Desert Train.

We’re RICH, we’re RICH. Not really. Turns out those Gold Nuggets Charlie panned for are FAKES!!!

Petting a cute little baby goat. Those things jump like cats!

Katelyn snuggling with the Mini-Horse.

Let’s just get rid of this hair clip right now . . .

Ahh, MUCH better!

Charlie lovin’ on the Mini-Horse, his favorite part.

Charlie waiting for his turn to ride the Donkies, but the cowgirl scared him so he decided not to ride.

Gone fishing

And caught nothing but a glimpse of these ducklings!

A day out with Dad

Easter

It was also our 6th Anniversary and my 29th Birthday. All in ONE day! And to think that if Katelyn were born on her due date it would have been her first Birthday also. I’m glad that she has her own day though!

Going on an EGG hunt!

Katelyn is checking out Charlie’s basket while he spies an egg in his truck!

Ooooh! SHARK gummy candy.

Trying out Charlie’s new JELL-O chapstick.

Katelyn digging into her basket.

Charlie showing Katelyn how her new (old school) play phone works.

And the most memorable part of the day? 

After most everyone left, TT and I were sitting at the dining room table with Charlie. Charlie accidentally knocked over a drink which spilled all over my light colored table cloth.

“Oh, NO . . . I better go hide!”

 Spoken like a four year old who’s been in his fair share of mischief.

All for Good

Back in November I posted about my friend Koz working to participate in The Overnight in June. It’s a 20 mile walk through NYC from 8 p.m. till 5 a.m. If you missed that post check it out here. There are still great items for sale in their Etsy shop but everything is on SALE. Who doesn’t love a good deal? Besides getting a great deal on some beautiful handmade items donated by loving family and friends, your purchase will support great people and a great cause.

I am the proud owner of several items from their shop and it’s very unique stuff. If you’re a parent, you must check out the Tooth Fairy Helpers! We have a couple of sets of the STIPSTERS (stippled coasters) and they have many designs to chose from. So go check it out.

And last but not least. Today is her 29th Birthday. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KOZ!!!

Good Friday

 

Aren’t these flowers beautiful? They were a nice surprise from Chuck, wishing me a Happy Anniversary and Birthday. Very unexpected since it’s a few days early. THANK YOU!!! xoxo

Charlie was busy dying Easter Eggs tonight.

He decorated some for himself with CARS stickers on them . . .

 

. . . and some for Katelyn with PRINCESS stickers, of course!