The older they get, the harder to gift on Christmas

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I am falling apart, this is becoming a hard year to buy for Christmas, Cassie is now 11 and in 6th grade, and not a kid anymore so is not like I can get her a Barbie and is going to be super thankful, don't get me wrong I have amazing kids, and they would never complain because they didn't receive something, but not only the older they get, the harder to gift, but also the older they are, the expensive the presents become. From a Barbie to a Tablet is a huge difference of price, and what? now the presents also become more clothes, but in there is no wow factor, unless our kids are in to fashion.....now....If we would be talking about Hallie it would be excitement, but Cassie is more a farm girl kid that Fashionista.

Also, there is no blame it to Santa cause you didn't get what you want it, is more like sorry that mom and dad didn't have enough budget for Christmas, or, mom got a horrible outfit for you. I really don't enjoy much Holidays, Birthdays or any celebration that involves presents, I kinda forget them very often, including mine ( who wants to remember that I'm getting old).  I cant wait to finish Christmas shopping and stop stressing on what to get.

The Sugar Rush is Over

In Halloween me and my husband have already mark for 3 years were to take the kids for Candy, we still have the cuteness factor with Hallie and Cole, we pretty much have to empty their bags several times that way they can put more candy in.

They had an amazing night, but, like many parent is hard to control all that candy, we even have to divide it, separating the chocolate (to be put in the fridge), suckers, and the rest of hard candy. We decide to give them 3 pieces each per day, and we can say that until tonight, I can officially say they done. Is been crazy and not a very healthy October, but like aways...we cant wait for next year.

Renaissance Fair 2011

For the last 3 years I been taking my kids to the Renaissance Fair, every year knights, Wenches, Maids, Kings and Queens come out to have a 3 day Fair that takes you back in time. To be honest is pretty much the same shows of every year, sword fights, etc but is just fun taking out the kids, Cole just loves it.

First week of school: what a nightmare!

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After spending 3 days on overdue back to school shopping, and start my two girls in two different new schools, two different schedules, the only thing I can say is "What a Nightmare". Kids came back from grandparents three days before school start, this means that they were sleeping late, so waking up at 6:30 AM in the morning haven't been the most popular thing with them, then the traffic outside both schools was awful, I understand its the first day school but even with less people on Friday still I have to arrive 35 mins early to pick them up with a 100+ degree temperatures, this is because someone very smart decide to put to elementary schools on one side of each other, not to mention that middle school is right about the corner.

The first day my 11 yr old, who just started 6th grade, got a schedule from 7th grader, she didn't even realize this until the second period, and when she told the science teacher, he/she told her to wait until the end of the class, why????? she should it been send to the counselor asap, she didn't belong in that class! By the end of the day I went to talk to the counselor and she told me they fix the problem.

Also at my 6 yr old elementary school already start Fundraising by doing a meet and greet at Chuck E. Cheese, I had to explain Hallie that is not free you have to buy your stuff, but for some reason she believes that the teacher pays of it.

Overall the girls had a fair week, learning names, schedules, meeting people and all that good stuff, but we are just feeling so hangover hahaha, I will be sleeping all weekend.

My girl is becoming a Tween.

Image by Ava Lowery via FlickrI knew this day was coming, but I didn't know that sending her to 6th grade will get me closer to my girl turning into a tween.

It all started last year, suddenly my kid has boobs and other non mentioning new items in her body, but it hit me yesterday when I decided going to Walmart to get her Liners and Pads (just in case) and some anti-Acne items appropriate to her age that I in denial, I felt embarrassed have to ask a 17 yr old Walmart customer what she recommend it for her skin, since Cassie is to young I didn't want to put something to strong in her young face, but since she started school on Monday some pimples appear in her forehead. The pads I decided to buy them, not anybody business but for the just in case, this because I start having conversations with her about the menstrual cycle, about not letting one touch her inappropriately, and all that juicy stuff we as parents don't honestly feel comfortable talking to them.

For those reading that are in my same situation, I found out that Neutrogena has items not to strong for our little girls face, also that Kotex has a brand call "U" for tween pads, liners and tampons, I will let you know later on how they work on her.

I don't think I am overreacting since I was an early bloomer too, I guess at this point I will take it slow and I probably doing something right since I don't remember my mom having conversations and help like this, bless her heart.

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They're Back!

My kids are back, after a few weeks gone with grandma and grandpa, I went to pick them up; it takes 5 hours to get there and 5 back, on a 116 degree weather you start to be thankful of the wonderful invention call Air Conditioning.

I must confess that 48 hour having them back, make you rethink that 3 weeks is a short time to be visiting, they came back acting wild, so they going to need a couple of weeks to be decompress from grandma and grandpa.

Nobody had anytime to rest cause next we wake up early to go and do late back to school shopping (they start school on Monday). As much as I enjoy time alone, I learn it, that I am nobody with out my kids around me. Love those kids.

Take me out to the ball game.

Now that I drop the kids to their grandparents to spend the week, I check the photo we took this past weekend at a minors leagues baseball game, me and my 3 kids went to see play the Las Vegas 51's (hint: the name has a connection with Area 51, get it?). Is been sometime that I had take them to a game, so I was pleasantly surprise that they enjoy the 7th innings we stay (what you expect, I have a 4 year old).

At arrival it was backpack night so the kids were psych about it. Kids had diner before we left so the snacks I got for them was popcorn and drinks, later the girls got a photo with Cosmo...yes Cosmo the Mascot and Cole learn he love sunflowers seed.

 

Tourist in my own city.

Yesterday the kids and I decide to go out and be tourist in town, and since we are in one of the biggest entertainment capitals in the world, we decided to take advantage of that and the plan was, this....since the being lazy and not walking lately, I park at Caesar Palace, and we were going to walk to the Bellagio to peek at the Conservatory and see one of the Fountains shows.

Now, for those that have visiting Las Vegas might remember that hop from one hotel t other (even when they are side by side) is a longggg walk, in this case I think was a mile or two. So as plan we half of Ceasar Palace (thank God the Forum Shops were not between, cause it would it take longer to get to the other hotel), stop at the Conservatory, the theme right now is call "2011 Summer Garden" and as always very impressive, love the flowers.

After that we walk to the side walk of the Hotel, passing so many electric escalators to the destination. The only down side, is that still was early and we had to wait 30 minutes for the first show of the day at 3 PM. My kids were troopers and wait patiently. As soon they show start with the American Anthem the kids got excited and stare with amaze, after that they did another song and everything was done, and have to walk all the way back, tip take water with you to drink, you going to need it.

Anyways, got in the care and they still keep talking about it, the just had a lot of fun.

Photo: Sam's Town

Took the kids out to do some walking time.

Our Splashing Weekend

This Saturday we plan to go to the park and we found a nice park were the kids cool down from the 100 degree temperatures, kids had a blast, but after that we had all a sunburn after that lol. Not so funny was that me personally fell like I had a little sun stroke, feeling better, but I will make sure this doesn't happen again.

Surrounded by Rocks

The path

In the Ocean

Smile in the Ocean

Exploring the town

Is just great go out with the kids and explore the town

Time in the Park

 

Bubbles in the Air

Tae Kwon Do Classes

 So Far it looks like Cole and Cassie had enjoy the Tae Kwon Do classes, on Hallie's case it look she enjoy it at first but she is not so happy with the classes anymore. Later on probably we will try to sign Hallie on dance classes or something else, we will see.

Driving thru Utah