Zaynzley's First Needlepoint

I had, had a great idea to take all the kids to the craft store and pick out a simple kit for them to do.  Creativity and crafting has so many good benefits, and I felt like we spend so much time and effort on various sports that maybe this craft project would help balance things out.  All the kids (except Quinton who was with the team) each picked a kid-friendly craft kit out.  It wasn't to long after we started the kits that I realized I had in reality bought myself 4 kits to accomplish.  All of them need such help it was really like I was doing them.  Zaynzley was the most interested in doing her kit which was a simple needlepoint and so we worked on off for the last year or so. Eddy also pitched in and would help from time to time. Today we finally finished it! We of course lost the instructions so I just filled in the face as best I could remember.  So it isn't perfect but in crafting that is not the win--the win is in finishing something!  Zaynzley is pretty happy about it now that we can finally hang it in her room.

Zaynzley and her kitty 

(FYI thats a kitty)

Eddy has been press-ganged into crafting and he is delighted to be helping!

Eddy working on Archer's needlepoint

Now I have just 3 more projects to go for the win!

McCoy's Scout Outing: Cluff Ponds

McCoy is part of a Boy Scout Troop for 11 year olds.  They meet once a week and work on merit badges.  His troop was working on the Water Safety/Water Rescue and so they took an outing to the nearby Cluff Ponds.  McCoy is an excellent swimmer thanks to swim team so that aspect of the rescue came easy for him but maneuvering canoes and small boats was a little trickier. McCoy learned the 5 ways to rescue someone when drowning.  McCoy much preferred the swimming to the boating.  He had fun jumping off the dock as well although the very best was all the snacks his leader brought!

 McCoy in all black on the shores of the pond

Admiring the crawdads from afar

I'm sure McCoy isn't about to bop a kid in the head, right?

This pedal boat wasn't working to well so they had to get oars and row.

McCoy facing camera in black

McCoy had a great time and is one step closer to getting his Eagle rank for Boy Scouts of America.

$25.00 Ice Cream Sundae

Where can you find a $25.00 ice cream Sundae? No, not Italy, where once my sister was bamboozled into buying a much more expensive gelato than she expected.  We knew what we were buying-- a baseball helmet full of Cold-stone Creamery ice cream!  The whole family had gone to a Diamondbacks baseball game. Eddy likes to sit at the very top in front of an air conditioning vent.  It is quite a steep hike-like going straight up to get to our seats.  Once you're up there you have to be pretty motivated to leave your seat and head down ten flights of stairs to the bathrooms or food vendors.  Luckily for us, Eddy was willing to make the trek.

Eddy's triumphant return

Eddy holding the helmet of ice cream, waffle cone pieces and 

two brownies with seven spoons!

Moments after arriving everyone digs into the ice cream

 The ice cream lasted quite a while and most of us had had plenty and there was still some left.  Of course a few valiant ones were willing to finish off every last bite.

Archer holding the nearly empty helmet

Quinton savors the last of it

(Just down from him were a group of shirtless boys--Archer decided to join them)

Not only did we get $25.00 of ice cream but Eddy also got a souvenir helmet for his office!  

What a bargain!!

Zaynzley: our first grader

Zaynzley is now 6 years old and is full of sass and spunk.  Having four older brothers tease her has made her one tough little girl.  Her biggest brother Quinton loves to tease her mercilessly which has made Zaynzley a good slapper.  She loves friends and going to school.  She also loves to go shopping.  She has been working on not whining when she goes shopping and that has been much appreciated.  Zaynzley has lost four teeth so far all on the bottom.  

Her favorite food from Taco Bell: Nacho Fries and Doritos Taco (no lettuce)

Zany loves all thing princess and puzzles

Today, Saturday, the whole family was doing yard work--pulling weeds, picking up trash, raking pine needles.  After we had been working for a couple hours Zany flopped down in the outdoor chair and said,"I'm exhausted I need a fiesta." I found it so funny! What she meant to say is I need a siesta (nap) not I need a fiesta (party). 

Zany in need of a fiesta

Here is a little Q and A with Zaynzley:

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Z: I want to be a doctor or work at Wal-mart or a nurse actually a veterinarian

Q:  What is your favorite color?

Z: Pink

Q: What is your favorite snack?

Z: Strawberries (she can eat an entire basket of them)

Q: What is your first memory?

Z:  I remember escaping out of my crib and I don't even remember how I gotted out.

Q:  What is your favorite thing to do with your brother?

 With Quinton: play pony on the loose (Quinton is the pony and zany is on his back at the pool and he jumps around while Zany tries to stay on)

With Declan: play board games (Sofia the First)

With McCoy: play with my Calico Critters 

With Archer: playing cops and robbers, also lava and water monsters

Zany has long brown hair that is a bit curly and she gets crazy tangles

Zaynzley also loves to color and draw and help her Mama bake and even make meatballs.  Zany is excellent at rolling meatballs.  She also helps her Mama make her bed.  She is wonderful at entertaining herself and loves to play in her room which being the only girl she doesn't have roommate. 

Zany visiting her Aunt Ashlee at the Library

Zany is a delightful girl and such a joy in our family!

Summer Pool Time

 We know it's truly summer when our pool opens.  About 32 families form our pool co-operative so most of the time when we go we are by ourselves or maybe with one other family.  It's the best part of summer getting out of the 105+ degree weather and into a cool pool.  When we finally got the giant popsicle Hollister pool float in the mail I don't know who was more excited Quinton or Zaynzley.  As soon as it was aired up Quinton claimed it of course.

Flipping an unexpected floater into the pool has to be one of the top 5 five fun pool things to do.  But Quinton might disagree.  Of course Quinton was quick to retaliate!  This summer Zaynzley joined the swimmers without any floaties.  She has gotten to be quite a good swimmer.  She loves going down the slide too.  All the boys did swim team this summer so there were also many races held in our pool.

Quinton on pool float with Archer and McCoy with my pool chair.  

I like to read magazines in my pool chair which usually get thrown away when I am done reading them because they inevitably get drenched.  Sometimes on purpose by punky kids.  One of these days I'm going to go to the pool by myself and read a paperback in my pool chair.

Beware Quinton!

Ha--Quinton got flipped.

 From left to right: Archer, Declan, Quinton, McCoy and Zaynzley

Cool Kids!

Even though school is back in session we will keep going to the pool for a few more weeks.  It's still plenty hot and I have a goal to meet--read a book in the pool.

First Day of School 2018!

 Summer flew by faster than ever before! Besides various weeks spent at camps, the kids were home with me all summer.  Suddenly the summer was over and it was time to go back to school.  The kids were so excited to get back to school.  New clothes, new shoes, new backpacks and of course new school supplies! School supplies shopping is the best.  It was always my favorite when I was a kid. Especially picking out the pencil box with your favorite characters.  After a breakfast of carrot muffins and smoothies it was time for before school pictures.

Zaynzley-1st grade

Archer-3rd grade

McCoy-6th grade

Declan-9th grade-freshman

 

Quinton-12th grade-Senior

All the Seniors had this shirt and wore them to the first day of school.

Group shot

I told all the kids to put their hands on each others shoulders.  Quinton decided he had a very tall bigger brother.  Funny guy!

Wonder what the biggest brothers name is?

Quinton decided it was time to beat up the fresh meat as freshmen are sometimes called.

Poor Declan!

Luckily Freshman Declan wasn't beat up at school although he did take a volleyball to the head during an assembly but that was an accident, we think.  All in all everyone had a great first day! And I had a quiet house for the first time in months. 

Thanksgiving with a kindergartner

                        Zaynzley and Eddy

We have had a long standing tradition of going to school and eating the Thanksgiving feast put on by the school Cafeteria with our kindergartener. The years there isn’t a kindergarten kid we take turns going with the other kiddos. Most years I would go by myself as it was hard for Eddy to get away from the classroom. Now that he is a principal he has an easier time getting away unless there is a fight amongst his students or something else that he has to handle. 

The food is actually pretty good and the turkey is cooked in a pit, yum! Eating school lunch as a parent makes you something of a celebrity or at least a little of what celebrities feel like going out in public. Lots of surprised looks and whispers and a few brave students will ask you questions. Zaynzley was delighted that we both came, but let’s be honest Eddy is the real prize. Both Zany and Archer were vying to have Eddy attend lunch with them. No one clammored for me to be there special guest, sigh. What can I say everybody loves Eddy (me included)!  

After eating turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, roll and a piece of pumpkin pie. It was time to say goodbye our sweet kindergartener. 

This was our last Thanksgiving with a kindergartener, so sad. I guess next year Eddy will available to eat with any of the kiddos. They would start fighting over him now if they realized it. We’ll see who gets the honor of his company next year, check back to see!