Apple Picking

I suppose 110 degree days aren't exactly what you might imagine for apple picking, but Yuma weather makes growing stuff a little different. Since it's Yuma, the apples are hit and miss. Last year they were pretty mealy and we just threw them away. This year I thought that's what we'd do again, but my mom picked a few and and made an apple crisp with them and it was pretty good, so I thought I would attempt to use them.

Molly was sad that we had picked them without her, so Jonny put her on his shoulders and let her get the ones up high.

Then Maggie was sad, so I had to put her on my shoulders and let her pick a few more.

They got new matching nightgowns and were pretty pleased.

We spent some time in Carlsbad last weekend. They HAD to go on the train at the mall-then they just sat there stone faced the whole time. I guess it was disappointing.

The Ruby's car was WAY more fun. Even if it didn't go anywhere.

We hung out with my cousin Allison and her family at the aquatic center there. 

Happy baby Remi, Gael, and the girls. They had a lot of fun playing together! Thanks to Allison and Pablo for a good time and a great dinner!

M&M's melt in your mouth, not in your hands! Hershey bars just melt in your hands. Children are filthy slobs.

We also went on an unplanned walk to the beach. I didn't remember to take any pictures because as I get older and as my children get more adventurous-I think I hate the ocean and I'd say all natural bodies of water even more. Honestly even pools freak me out, although I do feel a little more in control of that.Maybe when  they're better swimmers I'll feel better about it. 

Dance Party USA

We'll start here and go backwards.  Molly and Maggie had their dance recital last weekend. Every year I wonder what I was thinking signing up for this nonsense-it's a lot of hours to put in with little kids (some of which are later than we're used to). There's also just air of stress that seems to linger around backstage. Then every year I see her do her performance and she looks like she's enjoying herself and is totally adorable and I soften. This year with Maggie in the mix I softened even more. I didn't know if Maggie was going to make it to the recital. She loves to talk about dance class, but she always  does her whole separation anxiety thing when it's actually time for class. So I've signed her up and pulled her out and signed her up and pulled her out over and over again. She made it to the end this year! She even let me leave her in the chaos of backstage so I could watch from the audience. We'll probably be back for more punishment next year.

Madeline says: "such a little pro" hahaha. 

This was the best picture I got of the girls together. Our little beauties!

It may look like she's giving me a pre show fist bump, but really this is her "I'm just going to hold my breath because I'm freaking out that you're going to leave me with a bunch of crazy people" face.

We had Lydia, Allysia, and Ramsey over for a crazy Bel Air Estates neighborhood reunion with all but 1 of our kids. They all had a blast running around and whooping it up.  Can't wait to do it again!

Can't believe they're all mostly looking at the camera.

Club life is hard.

Maggie bubbing it up Aunt Cassie's going away party.  Jonny's family is abandoning us! We're going to miss them! We're also kind of happy we have a nice cool place to visit in the summer.

The saddest day of my life! I totally cried for so many reasons. 1) My baby is a first grader (I know that's not that old, but still...)2) We love Molly's teacher and we're going to miss her so much (I couldn't even make eye contact with her) 3) We're going to miss Alice Byrne so much! I know I have serious sentimentality issues with Alice Byrne, but we had a good year there and it's sad to leave.

Hopefully we're making a good decision! If not, I'm blaming Holly (good thing she doesn't read this!).

Kate and Molly big old first graders!

Where we left off last time: Diamondbacks game! We survived! There were a few "I'm boreds" but they loved the rhythmic clapping,  ice cream and cotton candy. 

Summer is in full swing. We don't have any big plans, but I'm sure we'll have fun!

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At school, Maggie did some painting with toilet paper rolls. She was very precise! 

Little baby yogi fell asleep in supta baddha konasana.

The motivation provided by candy is crazy. Maggie dragged our fairly heavy stools over so she could find some pez that she remembered I had hidden in the cabinet.

Why even bother. 

Baby baby baby! She told me a story about how this was her cheese grater when she was a baby. She used it to help me grate cheese.

Driving around BRB before school.

Photography by Maggie.

We went to a Mother's Day brunch at the country club. They sat pretty nicely for me. Maggie's looking a little wild with her crazy cute hair.

Field trip fun! They walked to the park from her school. She was pretty excited to go. It was one of the few days where she didn't throw a complete fit when I dropped her off. I know that I wasn't into going to school either, but I have a vivid memory of throwing an even bigger fit than usual when we went on a preschool field trip to the territorial prison. My poor mother.

We had an awesome day with Ms. Colbie. Maggie and Colbie are totally partners in crime. They spent the whole day systematically destroying the house. I would have been irritated except the fun they had was correspondingly monumental. There was only one disagreement the entire day and it lasted less than a minute.

Everyone who has seen this picture cracks up because Maggie is my mini and Colbie is Ramsey's.

Both of them were thrilled that we got this cart at Target. I'm usually a mean mom and refuse to use them-they are obnoxiously large. Apparently Ramsey is mean too since Colbie also thought it was a special treat.

Foreshadowing?

Vader's special little lady. Purists should take note that Molly made sure to tell me that Leia had a gun, not a lightsaber-also the red sabers are for the bad guys. Molly's school had a movie star hair day that happened to correspond with May the fourth be with you day. We couldn't resist. What really saved the day was Target having this Leiaish dress to complete the look.

Molly had her Hollywood ending awards ceremony at school so she had to get dressed up. Maggie wanted to dress up too.

We're going to a baseball game tomorrow and we stopped to help Jonny with work!

Hanging out on the roof of Daddy's truck.

Teaching Molly and Maggie how to drive around a melon field. 

Eyes on the road! 

Achiever

Molly had award day at school.  She cleaned up, getting a math, reading, and the highly coveted principal's award for being an all around special kid.  Proud of our little achiever!

Maggie came and cheered for her sis. Maggie is kind of obsessed with Molly's class. All of the kids and even the parents are celebrities to her. We'll be walking in to pick up Molly and she be whispering to me "that's _____'s mom!" "Molly said (s)he...(insert crazy kid story here)".

Walking to dinner the other night, Molly was pointing out the stained glass at church.

We went to J.I.'s Star Wars birthday party last week so we were inspired to dust off the DVDs and see if Molly would like them.  She loves them. She even likes episodes 4-6 better-just like you're supposed to. She did watch 1-3 too just to round out the story-but she loves Leia.  I wish I had a video of when she found out that Vader is Luke's father as well as when she found out Leia and Luke we're siblings. It was hilariously perfect.

After watching her first movie she had to go a draw a picture of Leia. 

Papa had some painting to do, so he enlisted his little helpers. They were a catastrophe afterwards.

We went to Bryn's birthday this past weekend. The girls had a blast running around acting crazy. Molly got to see her future roommate Grayson.  She told me the other day that she wishes she could just move into a house with Grayson so they could do whatever they want without anyone telling them what to do.  It's just like that Beach Boys song except instead of holding "each other close the whole night through" She's envisioning eating junk food and not having to pick up after herself or brush her teeth or go to bed. 

baby frito bandito?

...or maybe, The most interesting baby in the world.

She can be such a stubborn little punk, but she cracks us up daily with her antics. 

Here's a sampling of conversations you might have with her: 

Me to Maggie: "Pluto is not a planet"

Maggie: "Oh-yeah. Pluto is a dog on Mickey Mouse"

Or how she can't play Monopoly nicely. She freaks out when she has to pay for anything. "I WANT MY MONEY BACK!"

It gets kind of scary.

Catching some rays. It's basically summer already here.

Happy Easter!

Spring Break is wrapping up, so I thought I should post some of our spring activities.

Jonny is the best sport and frequently takes the girls golfing while I stay at home. I did join them the other day. The whole process does seem to be more tolerable than the last time I went with them. I may join them more often.

Helping daddy find his golf balls.

Molly was supposed to go with her class to see a local ballet production of Hansel and Gretel. There was a mix up and they didn't get to go-she burst into tears when I told her. I luckily was able to take the gilrs myself. It was really a fun show so I was glad I was able to go too. Don't worry, Maggie did wear shoes when we were inside. We're not that hillbilly.

We went to a birthday party beforehand and Maggie just couldn't make it through the whole thing. I felt bad because the Hansel and Gretel part was after intermission and she had been looking forward to it. After the show she woke up and thought it was intermission and was bummed it was over. Poor thing.

They worked hard at Maggie's school to get her to at least attempt a smile. 

Over spring break we went to Sea World again. They love getting their faces painted.

Blue Steel.

Molly was sad she didn't get to go to the fair this year. She's been sick for half the week. I thought we might be able to drag her there today, but it just wasn't going to happen.  Maggie and I did get to go and hang out with Molly's friend Bryn. 

 Of course Maggie wouldn't go on rides so she probably wasn't a very fun fair friend for Bryn. 

More face painting fun.

Happy Easter! We survived another holiday! 

Checking out their country club haul.

Here we are trying to take a nice picture of all of us while Maggie protests. Thanks to Mere for capturing this precious moment.

Maggie cooperating on her own terms.

Taking this picture was their idea, so I don't know why they look like I'm making them do it.

Run, run away!