HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAILEY ~ almost

We celebrated Cailey's birthday today because she will be going to Girl Scout Camp bright and early tomorrow morning. So today we celebrated by going to see the movie Underdog ~ Amy's voice-over was fabulous, by the way :o) :o) Then, we finished making Cailey's birthday cake...yes, I baked her cake and then Cailey and I decorated it together!!! Then, we had a party at Fat City. It was a very small party ~ we decided that works best for us. We have had BIG parties in the past and they are just too overwhelming for everyone. Cailey had her friends Keelan and Molly there (Jacqueline and Madisyn had to cancel at the last moment) and, of course, cousins Matt and Zach were there ~ and Ben, too! Tonight, we just finished packing for camp and we will probably go to breakfast in the morning and then head up to Bailey. I am going to stay the day with her and then drive home late tomorrow night ~ I can't stay the night because I am taking Scott to the airport Sunday morning ~ boo. Enjoy the pictures ~ there are a ton!

Mommy, Daddy, and the Birthday Girl:

Cailey and our homemade cake :o) ~ designed by Cailey and all. Can't believe there are SEVEN candles on her cake now!:

Celebrating with pizza, cake, and presents:

Arcade fun:

Playing in the Foam Factory:

One last ride on the Twister:

Tip-ity Tap

Cailey's first Tap 2 class was tonight ~ she moved up from Tap 1 and she is very excited about it! She loves the dancin'!

Tomorrow's agenda is to celebrate Cailey's birthday because she will be at Girl Scout Camp on Saturday. As of about an hour ago, I am going to join her for the day at camp ~ one of the troop leaders had to back out and I was able to step in for just the day activities. Cailey will stay the night at camp with her troop! How fun for her! I am excited that I get to spend her birthday with her after all! Daddy has to stay home with Ben :o( But, I think he will be okay with that since he has tomorrow off from work to spend with Cailey. Of course we will have tons of pictures to share!!!

Happy Birthday to me, Cailey's first hip-hop class

Today's my birthday ~ yipee. I had a full day of laundry and not much else :o) I took the kids (plus Matt and Zach ~ Holly and Randy are in Vegas) to Krispy Kreme this morning (Yum). Then, we went to dinner at a new Mexican food place. Sadly, I feel like I am starting to dislike birthdays ~ my birthday to be more specific. It never used to bother me ~ and I don't care about getting older (not yet, at least)...but, there just seems to be such a let down around birthdays. I know it's me ~ I expect too much and I shouldn't. I just think that birthdays should be so much more special but, apparently, I am the only one that thinks that way. I always try to make a big deal over birthdays for the kids...it's the only day they can really claim for themselves so I try to make it really special. All in all I had a nice day and I am now another year older :o) Scott brought home flowers (aaahhhh) and Cailey bought me a digital picture key chain with her own money ~ how sweet is that!!! I also bought myself a new camera lens and a day at the spa (a special offer package that I just couldn't refuse! :o). Next year my birthday will be 08-08-08 and I am already planning something FABULOUS!! Hawaii, Cabo, U.S. Virgin Islands, cruise...something fun with my family and friends.

On another note, Cailey had her first hip-hop dance class tonight. She loved it ~ of course. It's a fantastic class and Cailey did really, really well ~ even Daddy said so. She really loves to dance and this class is so high energy...we couldn't ask for a better class for Cailey. The dance teacher is wonderful and he does really well with the kids. Tomorrow is Tap 2 ~ more pictures to come.

Ben's first haircut

He didn't need much ~ just a little trim in the back and around the ears. Our friend, Beth, has her cosmetology license and cut Ben's hair and Cailey's hair today! He looks so handsome and Cailey loves her hair all trimmed up!

An Apple a day!

I am writing this post using our new computer ~ an Apple MacBook!!! I will have to turn my work PC in when my leave of absence ends at the end of September so, after much research and debate ~ we broke down and bought a new Apple MacBook!!! I love it (so far) by the way ~ it's really great! No more PC headaches for us!! I am really excited to get in and discover what this thing can do. Everyone says they love their Mac ~ let us know if you have one and what you think ~ we would love to hear some testimonials and any gripes...if there are any :o)

Good news! We have successfully transitioned Ben from a Binky to a little stuffed animal named, what else ~ Binky!! He took right to it and has been laying down for bed and naps like a champ!! I really love my little guy ~ Ben is so easy going and he rarely fusses over anything. Another great leap ~ Ben's high chair has been retired! Actually, Ben was ready to get rid of it weeks ago but I was delaying the transition because well, frankly, I didn't want the extra work of picking up the mess around the table :o) Ben's protests to the high chair wore me down and he now sits "like a big boy" at the kitchen table.


Tonight Scott and I went to Jeannine's "I am..." photo exhibit at her art gallery. Tonight was First Friday and the Santa Fe art district was sure hopping!!! Jeannine's work was GREAT and I hope she will expand on the concept!!! Good Luck Jeannine!

Kids say the funniest things...

One of the things I love about being a SAHM is that I don't miss out on some of the most hilarious comments made by my kids. Ben is just starting to talk and put two and three words together, so most of his things are just plain cute because it's the first time we hear a particular phrase come out of him. Cailey's are a little more surprising and...dare I say it...pre-teen...THE HORROR. These are my favorite so far:

Mommy: "Ben, do you want to go out for breakfast?"
Ben: "Uh-huh! Lolly (Cailey), too?"...the "uh-huh" sounds a lot like the little character from the Little Rascals, Henry "Uh-Huh" Rogers
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As we drive into the parking lot of our favorite doughnut shop:
Ben: "NONUTS!!!!! NONUTS!!!! NONUTS!!!"...his way of say "doughnut"

As we walk into our favorite doughnut shop:
Ben: "NONUTS!!! NONUTS!!! NONUTS!!!"...screaming at the top of his lungs and skipping to the doughnut case...I think he likes doughnuts
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Daddy: "Cailey, it's 10 o'clock!"
Cailey, without looking at Scott, waving her hand at him: "Well, goodnight old man."
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Mommy: "Cailey, let's go...we gotta get outta here if we are going to make it on time."
Cailey: "Rock on, chick!"
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Mommy: "Cailey, did you like the movie?"
Cailey: "YES, it was off the hook!"
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Mommy to Cailey: "I love you, sweet pea!"
Cailey: "I love you Mommy ~ you're the best mommy for me."
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Mommy: "How do you like my new dress?"
Cailey: "WHOO-HOO. YOU LOOK HOT IN THAT DRESS!"

...I love having that girl around :o) :o)
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Ben yelling for Cailey: "LOLLY, WHERE A YOU?", turning to Mommy: "Seep?"
Mommy: "Yes, she is asleep in her room."
Ben yelling up the stairs: "LOLLY_GET_UP!"
Mommy: "Ben, don't yell...you'll wake her up and she needs to sleep."
Ben: "Peas (please)?"
Mommy: "No, let's let her sleep."
Ben: "Peas? Lolly_play?"
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Cailey hands Ben a piece of candy and Ben says: "Tank you, Lolly, tank you!"
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Ben, with a tilt in his head: "Elmo, peas?"
Mommy: "No, we aren't going to watch Elmo right now."
Ben: "Cookie, peas?"
Mommy: "No, we aren't going to watch Cookie Monster, either."
Ben grabs the remote and points it at the T.V.: "Elp_me_peas?" (Help me, please)
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Mommy: "Would you like to try a little mascara and a little clear lip gloss for your recital?"
Cailey: "Yes!!! What did you do with my mom?"
Mommy: "Ha, funny girl ~ but it's only for your recital...because you'll be in costume and on stage"
Cailey: "Like I said, what did you do with my mom?"
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Cailey looks out the window and sees Scott, with Ben in the backpack, putting fertilizer on the lawn: "Ah, Ben's in the backpack putting poo on the lawn with Daddy!"
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As Scott removes his suit jacket from the car ~
Cailey: "Wow, Dad! That's a swanky coat!"
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As we walk into the speech therapy room Ben is hopping and running for all the toys ~
Therapist: "Wow, look at all that energy. He's in a good mood!"
Cailey: "Yeah, it's probably from all that beer last night!"
Mommy: "CAILEY!!!" turning to the therapist: "She's kidding, really, she's just kidding!"

...she was only kidding...I swear!!!! We had a "talkn' to" about joking like that around strangers...they may not realize she is kidding!
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Cailey and Zach were playing outside the restaurant with Scott and Ben. Cailey and Zach come in quickly and say that Scott went home (abruptly!) ~
Mommy: "You're back already. Where's Daddy and Ben?"
Zach: "He picked up Ben and left."
Mommy/Auntie: "What? Why?"
Zach: "Ben fell."
Mommy/Auntie: "Was there any blood?"
Zach: "Mmmm, I don't know."
Cailey: "Daddy used his mad voice and said "go inside, NOW""

..."mad voice" is also known as "mad talking" :o) :o) :o) We have also been called out on our "mad face" and "mad walk"...apparently, Cailey is very in tune with our "mad" moods...not that is happens that often :o) :o)
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Walking past anyone, anywhere ~
Ben (yelling and waving frantically): "HI-O, HI-O, HI-O" (hello)
Stranger (usual response): "Well, hello!"
Ben: "How r u?" (not quite that articulate, but clear enough for a stranger to understand what he is saying)
Stranger (usual response): "Oh, my! Well, I am fine how are you? You sure are a friendly little guy!"

...Ben hasn't learned that he needs to respond to the person...he's usually already on to the next stranger :o) :o)

Grandpa's visit

Grandpa Gary came to visit this past weekend ~ Grandma Mer was here for just one night. We got to spend some nice quality time with Grandpa and he got to see how active the kids are...to say the least :o) We hope Grandpa and Grandma make it back out to Colorado soon for another visit!