iPhone update/summer round-up!

 

 

Captivated by storytime at our home-away-from-home, the bookstore.

 

 My tiny artist! Usually I hate coloring books but this was Frozen and kept her busy for days.

 

 Splash pad- Scottsdale Quarter. Peyla loved standing in the middle of "the waterfall".

 

 Not a shocker, this one kept almost completely dry from the sidelines.

 

 Sister pose!

 

 The girls love these binoculars...they call them their "spyglass" (a la Peter Pan). I think Ali looks like WallE the robot! lol.

 Opening the Disney Store at Fashion Square. She's an excellent wizard!

 

 Hilarious Mommy Moment #865...my mom and I were cruising the massive shoe sale and the girls were following us quietly (or so we thought). Noooo...Ali was high jacking all of the "Sale" stickers for herself. Her sticker obsession continues!

 

 I found these two like this after a long day out! I'm assuming/hoping she gave him that blue bear...otherwise he truly is my third child! ;)

 

 And....more stickers...good grief!

 

 "Mommy! We camping wit da care bears".

 

My heart...

 

my soul. 

 Back at the bookstore! Ali is being "the storytime lady".

 

 Ali's audience!

 

 Ronald McDonald the hilarious comedian/magician makes an appearance at the library!

 

 Five adorable mad scientists.

 

 Artists at work! Color dot time.

 

 Lol! Back at the bookstore for superhero day! See...home-away-from-home.

 

 Sunday morning cartoon snuggles in bed. One of my favorite parts of the week!

 

 I remember this day! We had just experienced a monsoon storm and the morning was nice and cool. The girls dashed outside like they've never seen the daylight before! Ahh summer...when it's ending, it feels like we are coming out of hibernation.

 

 We're working on her football skills!

 

 Ali in the early morning light...my angel girl!

 

 Out to lunch with Grandpa after swim class.

 Sharing a "sweet" sister moment with their cookies.

 

 Maybe the sugar makes them sweet? ;)

 

 First sleepover ever! "Campout with Mimi" as the girls called it.

 

 Making playdoh cupcakes!

 

 Helping Mimi water the plants in the morning!

 

 

Oh iPhone updates...how I love you. Thank you for the treasures!

Ali and her cereal...

The way Ali eats cereal cracks me up...such forethought...such planning...such precision. Lol!

 

First, she selects the very best square of Life cereal...

 

Then she dunks it in her milk...don't even think about giving it to her mixed together!

 



Then she gets thisclose to make sure the cereal bite is sufficiently soggy...

Yummm! Perfection! Now...repeat...and yes, it takes her 30 minutes to eat breakfast.

Peyla's First Day of School!

Peyla headed off to her first day of school last week and she was pretty excited to get back to class! Since she started pre-school in the middle of January, I count this as her first "back to school" experience. Both she and Ali were a little hesitant once the realization hit that they would be apart. These two are thick as thieves! But Peyla was so thrilled to see her little friends again and her beloved teachers. My heart is so grateful for them as they make her feel so special. Her lead teacher, Ms. Tina, welcomed Peyla back with a big smile and open arms!

 

 Sister pose! BFFs.

My sweet pre-schooler...

 Ali wanted her own shot too!

 The backback-I'm-heading-off-to-school shot.

From her first day in January 2014...time sure does fly!

Summer Lovin...happened too fast.

Well here we are on the night before Peyla returns to pre-school. Where did the summer go? I remember her last day of the year in May, picking her up and celebrating with an ice cream social at her little school. Ali was so excited to be back together with her best buddy and I was thrilled at the prospect of a long summer with my girls. But where did it all go?? I spent this weekend in a bit of a bittersweet haze...knowing that Peyla would away again during the week. I know it sounds silly...it's not like it's college or boarding school! I still get to keep her in the afternoons and on Fridays. But I know our time at home together is likely drawing to close as Kindergarten looms next year, Ali will be ready for pre-school (heck, she's ready NOW!) and my career outside of the home awaits. So perhaps that is why I'm feeling more nostalgic than usual. I have loved, loved, loved this summer together. Yes, it was/is ridiculously hot outside. But many precious memories were made in these short two months! We camped for the first time and watching my girls interact with nature was incredible. So often we get caught up in the concrete jungle of beige, freeways, and chain malls. We spent two weekends at Grandpa's cabin! Seeing the monsoon rains and familiar pine trees of my youth was comforting and freeing. We tackled swim classes this year! And Ali joined for the first time. We lucked out in finding the girls' swim school and they each flourished after bonding with their "coaches". Ali was in the Level 2 Minnow class that allowed for parent/child interaction in the pool She just wasn't ready to try it on her own yet. What can I say...the girl hates to get her face wet and be away from mommy. Couple them together and you just get flat refusal from Ali. I will always remember her firm, babyish voice telling her coach..."No. I won't do it. No. I don't WANT to." So matter of fact and stubborn. But by the end of the dual sessions, she became more willing to try new things and was so proud of herself! As for Peyla...that girl is a fish. She really hit the ground (pool?) running (swimming?) this year. She started in the Level 3 Frog class and quickly graduated to the Level 4 Seahorse. She's got her sights set on the Barracuda Swim Team! lol. That will take a while. But she's so much more confident in the water (a little TOO confident sometimes) and I think this accomplishment has bolstered her self-esteem. She's my careful girl. Probably a syndrome of being the oldest child and hearing "be careful" about a million times. I'm working on that. I want her to take risks in life and not be afraid to live a little! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I will miss you Summer. Thank you for the lazy mornings with cartoons and cereal. Thank you for the many, many outings with our best friends the Frigard bunch as they also prepare for school. Thank you for the late afternoon swimming, just us three girls in our own backyard. Thank you for the summer storms, as we watched in wonder on the back patio...explaining for the 100th time that thunder cannot actually HURT you. Thank you for the time you knocked out our electricity with a monsoon...it took me back to my own childhood days of candles and flashlights and improvising. Thank you for the ridiculous amount of ice cream, popsicles and cold treats we have consumed this year...for the chance to give the girls their first ice cream cones. The hilarity of taking over the McDonalds with 5 little girls (Dahn/Frigard) and messy cones. For every sweet moment in between. I have loved every long, hot, exhausting day!

2nd Annual Dahn/Frigard Torreon trip

Last summer we spent our first time at Grandpa's cabin in Torreon with our best friends, the Frigards. This year we were fortunate to have the opportunity again...this time for the 4th of July! It's becoming a little tradition, one which we love so much. Kendra and I pack up all five girls in the swagger wagon (i.e. the Frigard minivan) and head up early in the morning, stopping for a picnic lunch and ice cream in Payson. Then the daddies follow after they get off of work!

 

 It was pouring rain upon our arrival (Hallelujah!), just like last year.

 You would think these children have never seen the rain..

 well, it is a rare sight!

 best buddies!

 Watching morning cartoons.

 For the 4th, we hit the town parade...which was a ton of fun and we had the best spot at the beginning of the parade route! (nice photobomb!)

 A rare shot of the mommies!

 Ali was guarding all of the parade loot! It looked like Halloween in the back of our car.

 More candy!

 A memorial "float" for the Hot Shots. :(

 Lame attempt at a picture with my girl. lol

 one, two, three, four, five....yep, they're all there!

 (what Kendra and I find ourselves saying 137 times/day).

This is how they fell asleep the last night we were there. Both girls insisted/cried/screamed/whined that they wanted to sleep with mommy and daddy. It was storming and I think the excitement of the trip wore them down. Imagine Brendon and I scratching our heads...."ummm, where are WE going to sleep??"  Answer: Mommy snuggled on the end and Daddy on the floor. Good man. ;)

1st Annual Dahn-Frigard Camping Excursion

At the end of June, the Dahn-Frigard clans headed out on the road for our first camping trip together! We had been anxious to camp with the girls, but were waiting for the "right time" with the girls (ie past the baby stage). It was an amazing time, complete with football, soccer, scavenger hunts, lakes, S'mores and the minor catastrophe of a tummy bug for Peyla. Aside from the obvious trauma of late-night vomiting in a small tent, it was a success!! We will definitely be going next year.

 

 The Lunch Bunch.

 Sun-screening the precious freckled skin!

 Cutie Adeline!

 Home sweet tent...

 Adventurer Aneka!

 Treasure hunting...

 I think she found a bullet casing...aka "gold".

 My little explorer.

 Sweet Ava girl!

 Off for a nature walk.

 Is it me or does she look like a pint-sized rugby player? Mud and all!

 This picture reminds me of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! lol

 The little ones trying to keep up.

 I love how these girls love and protect each other...truly a family!

 "Uh ohhhhh...YUUUCK!"- Ali after stepping in lake mud.

 Dinner feast

 Working off our dinner with a little football!

My girl the soccer player!