Peek-a-Boo

Here is a cute video of Zechariah playing peek-a-boo today during lunch.

Homecoming at Ainsley's School

This week is Homecoming at Ainsley's school. They had a pep rally for Jesus today and were asked to either wear purple and white (Homecoming colors), sports uniforms, cheerleader outfits or "Homecoming Queen" dress. I bet you can imagine what Ainsley chose! Here are some shots of her in her "Homecoming Queen" outfit before she left for school.

My Pretty Pretty Princess! (or Queen!)

Homecoming had three parts: Getting Ready, the Pep Rally for Jesus, and The Big Game.

To Get Ready the kids made pompoms, pennants, megaphones and crowns (since they are part of God's royal family). At the Pep Rally for Jesus the kids took all the things they made in class and went to the Rainforest Rally Room to cheer for Jesus. Then, The Big Game consists of a canned food drive to care for others. The class with the most canned food donated by the end of the week will get the shiny Kids Express Trophy (and if Ainsley's class wins, an ice cream party). I would have loved to see all the kiddos dressed up today and take part in the rally but Z needed a nap since he's been sick lately. I'm sure it was just adorable!

The Biscochitos

Mike and I baked biscochitos on Friday night. We didn't have the traditional fleur de lis cookie cutter so we made hearts. They were quite tasty.

By the time we finished baking, this tin was full!

The biscochito (also spelled bizcochito) is an "anise seed cookie" from Mexico that is actually New Mexico's official cookie (since 1989). You learn something new everyday!

Random Pictures of the Latest Happenings

Zechariah standing in his tool box

I was really bored one night when I was fixing the kids their dinner. This is what Ainsley's dinner ended up looking like! She had pepperoni with tomato halves on top, spaced between cheese cubes and pea pods.
Z and his blankie
Playing one night before bed...Mike is "hiding" and Zechariah are "finding" him.
These might be the last strawberries of the year from our backyard. I didn't know there would even be any at this time of the year but Ainsley and I picked them on Saturday. After I washed them, Ainsley and Zechariah shared them before they took naps.

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Debby

My Aunt Debby was in town all of last week so she stopped by for a visit on Friday afternoon. She was staying with my grandparents so they came too. My mom and her friend Abby also visited. It was great to see them all and Zechariah and Ainsley had a blast playing with everyone.

Grandpa and Zechariah

Zechariah getting ready to give kisses to Gram
Aunt Debby, Zechariah and Ainsley

Ainsley helping Gram out
It was so nice to see my Aunt Debby who I hadn't seen since Ainsley's 2nd birthday. I don't get a chance to see my grandparents as often as I used to because of naps and school and all the things in between. Its always nice to have family filling these walls!

Straight from Ainsley

The other day my mom was over for lunch. We had finished eating and were about to have some dessert. As I took Ainsley's bowl she said, "Don't take my fork, mommy, I will need it eventually." I thought that was so funny coming from a 3 year old and used in the right way!

Today I asked her what she was learning about in BSF and she replied, "John the BADDEST!" I tried really hard not to laugh because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I just said, "John the BAPTIST...what did you learn about him?" I thought that was cute!

She was talking to me from another room the other day and I couldn't hear what she said so I asked, "What did you say?" She came around the corner pointing her finger and replied, "If I have to tell you one more time!" I wonder where she got that from?!

Ainsley and the Pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the nited states of the merica.
and to the republic,
to which it stands, one nation under God,
into miserable,
is this for liberty,
is this for all!"

Some Cute Pics and Stories

Zechariah and Daddy fixing the lawn mower

Fill 'er Up!
I just thought his hair was cute and I love footie pajamas!
Joshua and Ainsley...old friends reunited! Joshua and his parents came for the Fiesta this past weekend so he came to our house Monday morning to play. They were born the same day too!
This is the closest the balloons have gotten to us this year (besides the day I didn't grab the camera). The Fiesta hasn't had good weather this year so many things have either been cancelled or balloons haven't launched like normal. It's still great to see the balloons in the morning, just wish they could get a little closer!

Last Vegas Installment (I Promise!)

Here are Deena's Vegas pictures.

Me and my birthday crown at Rainforest Cafe

Us and the Coca Cola Bear
Mary, Me and Deena waiting for our table at FIX the night of my birthday
The delicious dessert we had, complete with candle!Say Cheese!

More Vegas Pics

Here are some of Mary's pics from our Vegas trip. When I fixed the red-eye and added them back in, it messed up the order. The first 3 pictures are of us our last night in Vegas before we went dancing at JET.

Mary and me on the plane going to Vegas

Me and Deena on the plane
Deena and Me with my crazy birthday hat. Mary and Deena had this made for me when we ate at the Rainforest Cafe the first day there. We walked around trying to find this restaurant that the hotel staff told us we had to try. We got lost and ended up here instead...much better choice. Mike says never to ask the hotel where a good place to eat is. Now I know why! I untwisted the little bald balloon with a face. The guy making the hat said it was his Britney Spears face and it kind of creeped me out.
Me and the Coca Cola Bear at...well, you know where!

The Witch

We were on our way to Target yesterday when we passed by a flag with a witch riding a broomstick. Ainsley asked me what it was picture of but I was caught off guard and didn't quite know how to answer. I told her it was a lady riding on a broom, not wanting to get into the whole witch thing (although I probably should now that Halloween is around the corner). She told me, "No Mommy, she's sweeping! We don't ride on brooms!" I told her she was exactly right, we don't! Sometimes the things she says just crack me up. I just thought that was blog worthy. Have a great day. =0)

Meet Cinco

Here is a picture of Cinco Pena. He lives around the corner from us. This is how we got introduced...

Yesterday I noticed a delivery truck up the street and the two guys were unloading something when Cinco came running toward them. They kept shooing him away and got in their truck. Cinco was very interested in what they were delivering because he didn't want them to leave. He stepped in front of their truck and I cringed as I heard them start it up, thinking they couldn't possibly see him standing there. They waited for Cinco to move but when they stopped at the end of the street to turn, he was right beside them trying to get into the side of the truck (for some reason they left the door open). I came out the front door and as soon as he saw me, he came bolting across the street. I kept the gate to the courtyard closed until I could really make sure he was friendly. It turns out he was so I led him around to the backyard where Jack just kind of stared at him through the backdoor. Thank goodness Bailey happened to be kenneled in our bedroom because he's such a tough guy that he would have gone through the screen door.

Zechariah really liked Cinco, until he started howling (he's part hound and part something else). Oh yeah, I guess I should mention that the name on the tag was Cinco Pena and it had an address and two phone numbers. Unfortunately I didn't notice the phone numbers until a little while later, after I walked him over to his house to find out there was no one home. Terry watched the kiddos for me and then wrote down the numbers when I got back. Ainsley wasn't too keen on Cinco because of his "howlarooing" as she called it. It was pretty loud so I think it scared her. To make a long story short, I got a hold of the owners and they had a neighbor come and get him. Here is a short video of Cinco and his "howlarooing". Of course, it isn't as loud as it would be if you were here but you can at least get an idea!

My Personal Interior Decorator

Ainsley found some stickers that were laying on the table (silly me!) and decided to "decorate" the house with them. Here she is creating a masterpiece on Zechariah's highchair.

Can't forget the bottom part either!
Or the microwave,
the windowsill,
or her bedroom door! This drove Zechariah nuts because they were almost out of reach and he couldn't figure out how to peel them off either. I just noticed how tall he is...he can almost reach the door knob!

Ainsley's Balloon Ride (Revisited)

Most of you have seen these pictures before but since I mentioned it in my last post, I thought I'd add some of the pictures from last year. Two balloons landed in that field around the corner from our house so we took the kids (Z was almost 2 months old!) to see them up close. The My Bank balloon was offering tethered balloon rides so Ainsley and I went up. Mike and Ainsley
Me, Ains and the balloon pilot (I can't remember his name!)
Up, Up and Away
Ainsley and I participated in the blessing of the balloon after we went up. Here, one of the chase crew members is pouring champagne on her hand (since she couldn't drink it) as part of the toast/blessing.

It's That Time of Year Again!

We don't ever go to the Balloon Fiesta but I really look forward to it every year because we have the best view from our house. The Fiesta doesn't actually start until Saturday but the balloons are already up and running every morning now.

Yesterday morning I was getting ready to feed Zechariah some breakfast and I heard this really close SHWOOOSH sound. Mike and I kind of looked at each other and he said, "I think that's a balloon." I went running out the back door and it was right above the backyard. I could even see the people in it and they waved. I called for Ainsley because she loves balloons. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that particular balloon because I wanted Ains to see it before it got away but I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities the next two weeks. We always have at least one balloon land in the empty field around the corner from our house too so that is always neat to take the kids over to see them up close. That is how Ainsley and I got to ride in a balloon last year!

Ainsley and Zechariah playing in the water table yesterday. I can't believe that they can still go out in their bathing suits and play in the water on the last day of September. It was gorgeous outside! By the way, the water is blue and red...Ainsley likes to put food coloring in it and then mix it up. This is a picture of Zechariah wearing his first pair of real shoes. Ainsley always had shoes on, whether they were Robeez or shoes but Zechariah has only worn shoes maybe two or three times since he's been born. It took him a little while to get used to them and reverted back to crawling the first time I put them on him. Then he looked like a sumo wrestler when he tried to walk because he took these huge steps and picked up his feet high in the air. He's getting better at it now.