Derek's Birthday

Cassidy was the birthday planner this year for her Daddy's Birthday...she insisted Daddy had to have a Spider Man cake. Then she asked me if I could take her shopping for a gift for her Daddy. I took Cassidy to the Dollar Store and let her pick whatever she wanted to get for a birthday gift. She didn't take long, she was thrilled with her choice......An Air Horn, that LOUD horn they use at Sport events. I hadn't even told her that I was thinking about getting tickets to the Air Force Football game as my gift for Derek, it was perfect! She was definitely inspired! :) She even picked out a birthday card all by herself (which was actually a Halloween card) close enough right?

Then we went home and I started cooking one of Derek's favorite meals for dinner...Chicken Parmesan. Cassidy helped me make the cake batter and she frosted the cake all by herself, and put the decorations on the cake. I think she did a pretty good job!

The Halloween Card that read: "To a Boy Who's Fun"

Gotta Love that Air Horn!

Our first attempt for going to the game was cold and snowy so we decided to postpone for the next weekend. We couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day to spend outside watching football! The Air Force Academy was playing Wyoming. We won 10-0. Lousy score but it was still exciting and Cassidy was enjoying her first football game. It was cute to watch Derek explain to his little girl all about the game of football. We had great seats in the front rows and had plenty of room for Cassidy to climb. The Cadets would come down from their seats onto the field and do push-ups for each touchdown. It was cool. It was a fun to do together and I'm so glad it brought a smile to my birthday boy! And of course that horn was well used for those good plays!

See all the Cadets!

Our little Cheerleader with Pom Poms

Happy Halloween!

Cassidy talked about wanting to be a Dragon WEEKS before Halloween! I thought it was quite cute, and different than other girls her age. But I wasn't sure how I was going to get her dragon costume without paying more than I wanted. Especially since I already had some other costumes we could wear. But how could I let our little girl down? Her heart was so into being a dragon!

Then I remembered my sister-in-law Sara had designed a cool dragon costume for my nephew Michael. She was willing to ship the costume. But my friend Camille found a lady selling a dragon costume on Craigs-list. I had to get in touch with the lady and hope for the best. Three dollars and finding some pants at the ARC later, it all worked out! Then I found Derek a Knight costume. Derek was our Knight, Cassidy our dragon, and I was the Princess.

Cassidy was the cutest, friendliest, dragon ever! Fortunately, because that picture below could have been ugly if the dragon decided to keep blowing fire on my Handsome Knight in Shining Armor.



We hope you had a wonderful Halloween too!


HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES:

Montessori Preschool Halloween Party
Miss Shanda using toilet paper to turn Cassidy into a Mummy

Cassidy's Turn to do it to Miss Shanda

Halloween Craft-Decorating Ghosts and Witches Hats

Decorating Halloween Cookies and eating them

Miss Shanda handing out home-made playdoh that smells like Pumpkins to the kids

It was my turn to teach Joy School-We had a Halloween Party and did some school work
Aren't they soooo cute!

Painting our Jack-O-Laterns/Coloring & Cutting Pumpkin worksheets

Dancing to Monster Mash
I think Cassidy REALLY liked the Microphone

After a busy day of Joy School, Cassidy and I got comfortable on Mom's bed to watch a movie and to relax

Family time at the Park on Halloween Day

Primary/Nursery Halloween Carnival at the Church
(Friends-Leanna, & Callie)

Cassidy beating up on the Giant using Marshmallows

Ready for Trunk or Treat at the Church

Eating Candy with Friends
(Friends-Logan, Annelise, & Brooklyn)

Trick or Treating time with Daddy
Mommy and Oakley stayed home to hand out candy

Aren't they the perfect match!

SEPTEMBER (Beware looong post)

Donuts for a yummy breakfast...a reward for hard work!



Our garage was a huge mess and to walk around the garage it was like an obstacle course. We decided to tackle the project of cleaning our garage during Labor Day weekend. We hired someone to hang our drywall and then some friends of ours helped us paint it. As you can see, Cassidy had a BLAST painting her part of the wall too. She quickly realized it was more fun to paint with her hands than with a brush.







Derek designed and made some storage shelves to put against the walls. We are now organizing our "junk" and labeling everything in bins. This project has been overdue and we're so excited to be so close to finishing. I know it's just a garage, but I have to take care of my sweet hubby who has a workshop in the garage and uses his hands to create hobbies like making wooden jigsaw puzzles. Now he has a warmer garage to work in and a much cleaner garage too! Pictures of completed garage to come!


CASSIDY'S DAY!



Each September we celebrate "Cassidy's Day" which marks our anniversary of when Cassidy joined our family! Our lives changed forever when this sweet little girl entered our lives and softened our hearts. She is our spunk for life!

So this year we asked Cassidy what she wanted to do for our special day together. This is what she asked for:

• A Bike Ride
• Play at one of her favorite stores: Dick's Sporting Store (a huge playground for all of us)
  
• Go Swimming
  

So Derek and I came up with this plan. We would ride our bikes from our house to Dick's Sporting Store, and play until our hearts content. At Dick's we had Noodle wars (the girls against Daddy), played with bouncy balls, rode up and down the escalators, Cassidy and I hid from Daddy and he snuck up behind us and scared us, played catch with baseball gloves, sat inside tents, pretended we were at the lake sitting in paddle boats, and more. It's always fun!

Next, we went outside right next door to the movie theater where they turn on the water fountains where the kids can run through the water and play. That was our swimming idea. :) So Cassidy got all wet and loved it! She even talked Daddy into running through the water with her, even without his bathing suit. Then we rode our bikes home. It was such a FUN family date. We look forward to our next "Cassidy's Day!"





Preschool's Back!!!!

Preschool is back in Session...September thru May.

Us moms are taking turns teaching again. Our preschool group has changed, we split up our group from last time since there has been more moms interested in joining. So now I only teach 5 kids and by myself, no team teaching. We'll see how it goes...but both Cassidy and I are excited!



GYMNASTICS!!!!



If you know Cassidy...you know she LOVES BEING ACTIVE!!! Over the last several months she would tell me, "Mom, I'm a Gymnst!" We have only talked about gymnastics a couple of times and been to a gym maybe twice. But she has the confidence, desire, and the strength to hang, swing, climb, on everything and anything. So Derek and I looked into enrolling her into a gymnastics class. We thought with her energy it could maybe help her out with her concentration and focus.

We looked into different gyms around town but was recommended to this place: Stars Gymnastics. It was funny actually how we heard about this place. We went out to eat at an Italian Restaurant and learned that our waitress was a gymnst. She was actually an alternate for the 1996 Gymnastic Olympic Team. She coached at Stars Gymnastics too. We were happy with what we heard and decided to give it a go. Cassidy loves it! It was a 6 week program, every Thursday for one hour. She learned so much about her body and it has helped increase her confidence even more. Her favorite thing was the uneven bars and trampolines. Terri her coach was just wonderful with Cassidy and all the kids. Each week they followed a theme and tried new floor obstacles too. Right now we're slowing down a bit and taking a break, but sooner than later we hope Cassidy can continue with gymnastics.

The other day I caught her doing back hand stands off her bed. :) :) :)

Floor Stretching

Handstand

Look at that Strength!

Uneven Bars

FRIENDS VISITING

Our friends Mario and Lisa with their two adorable kids Hannah and Isaac visiting from New Mexico.

Cassidy and Hannah

Our friends Matt and Nicole and their cute girls Jocelyn, Rachel, and Madelyn visiting from Virginia. Jaime and Tyler our friends from Colorado. :)

Jaime and Nicole

Can you tell we go to Chick Fila ALOT!!! :)