Kira Turns 6 (April 22, 2007)!

We marked Kira's 6th birthday with a mini-cake and a dinner with Aunt Amber (and of course, a few presents). Now we are gearing up for her big Kim Possible friend party, next week. If I survive it, I'll be sure to give you the blow by blow.

Kira in bloom

We went to Kira's school to do a little celebration of her life in honor of her birthday and these gorgeous sunflowers were there in garden courtyard to greet us!

It made me a little sad, because we will likely put Kira in a new school which is much closer to our home next year. If anyone has experience with "traditional magnet" schools, please share. We have really liked Montessori for Kira, and I think Traditional is quite the opposite in many ways, but the 1 mile commute is much more appealing than our 30 min. drive.

It's a...BABY!

Just wanted to report that I finally went to see the midwife today...and the big round lump in my tummy is infact a baby with a heartbeat and all--not some abnormal tumor or growth. :-)

Everything looks good so far. In fact, for those who have been telling me that I don't look pregnant, I am actually measuring big for 14 wks. I will try and take and post a belly shot soon, but I think things are going to start being obvious, fairly soon now.

Supermodel..Work!

No...Kira's eyesight hasn't degenerated. She is not in glasses now, except for when she is gracing the pages of an eyewear catalog.

We finally got to see the pictures from Kira's first, and only (so far), modeling job. Way back on my birthday, in December, she did this shoot for Marcolin Eye wear. If you will notice, those are real butterflies in these pictures. If you get a chance to look at the catalog, you will see that the grown-ups have butterflies in their pictures, too, but none of them are live like Kira's are. It was a more interesting (and challenging) shoot than any I have ever done. But the photographer, etc. were really great with Kira and seemed to be pleased with her efforts (and mine--I crawled insided the butterfly netting with her to keep her calm and guide the butterflies to her). By the end of the shoot she was very done with having things crawling on her. But all in all, it was not a bad way to start (very professional publication) and she was really excited to have earned some of her own money. Her purchases: roller blades and bubble gum.

Kira turns 6 tomorrow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRA! I am feeling a little bad because we have had to push most of her birthday celebrations off for a while. She was supposed to have her Kim Possible birthday party with her friends today, and a family dinner tomorrow, but Barry is working a gun show this weekend (and there were several other conflicts). Right now we are looking at May 5th for her party and will try and throw together some sort of b-day dinner tomorrow night when Dad's done at the gun show and Aunt Amber can come over for a little bit.

Some of Trenton's favorite people!

Trenton certainly enjoyed getting to spend some time with Aunt Mikelle and Uncle Bobby! They came to our house a few days before Easter so Bobby could go on some job interviews in the Phoenix area--he has been finishing up his degree at BYU.

I had just gotten the children in bed, the night they arrived at our house, but it was only second before a couple of redheads were at the top of the stairs ready to pounce. Trenton nearly fell down the stairs on his way to hug Bobby. The next morning when he prayed, the first thing out of his mouth was, "thank you for my Bobby!" Bobby got beat up on a lot, but Mikelle had her share of dirty diapers and clamoring for lots of attention, and was very patient with the kids and very helpful to me! (She even cleaned my kitchen that I haven't had the stomach to clean for the last several weeks of pregnancy!)

We are really hoping that things work out for them to move down here this summer, and that we can talk them into moving to our side of town!




Of course, Trenton loves his Grandpa, who is so good to read stories to the kids everynight in Prescott--even if Trenton requests the dinosaur book for the 30th time!

April Birthdays and the Chocolate Fountain

While in Prescott we celebrated the April birthdays of Amber (5th), John (Kristin's boyfriend--whose birthday is sometime between Amber's and Kira's), and Kira (22nd).

Grandma thought it would be fun to try a new tradition and celebrate with a chocolate fountain in lew of a typical birthday cake (they are blowing out candles in the marshmallows).
The only difficulty was that none of us had worked with a chocolate fountain before. For future reference, it seems you really do need to use the enormous amount of vegetable oil the machine says you need with your melted chocolate, if you want the fountain to flow instead of sputter and stop (as you see in one of the pictures). We thought since we were following a different recipe, we wouldn't need it. Oops!

Anyhow, it did't slow Kira down much. She wasn't going to stop until we insisted, and she got appropriately messy!


She enjoyed her early birthday presents...some adorable outfits, both from her grandparents and her aunts, the first season of "Little House on the Prairie" (TV show) on DVD from Grandma and Grandpa, and a hard back book with the first two Nancy Drew mysteries, from her Aunts. I LOVED those when I was a kid! I think I will have to read them again with her!

one...two...three...four...ROCKET!

Grandpa got these fun rockets to take outside and shoot around with the kids. Trenton, not quite grasping the concept of a countDOWN, would yell, "one, two, three, four, Rocket!" and then Grandpa would know to launch the rocket--sometimes straight in the air...

...sometimes, straight at the kids.

Kira loved to try and catch them, but usually wasn't too successful.

I do think the big boys enjoyed themselves as much as the little kids.

On the Trampoline

There are lots of fun things to do in Prescott that you can't do at home!

Happy EASTER!

I think I am the last of my family and friends to post some Easter pictures and report. We did have a nice weekend and hope you all did, as well!

We were forced to document many of the lovely Easter eggs in picture so that Kira would allow us to sacrifice a few for devilled eggs for our Easter dinner.

The Quest for a family picture--Easter version

We thought it was a good opportunity to get us in our Easter best. Apparently the children thought the sun was a little too bright.

So we tried again after church...less sun, lots of wind (brrr!), but this was the best we got.

Ah, well! Maybe next holiday.

Easter Sunday for Kira and Trenton

Trenton loved his bunny full of candy he got in nursery.

Kira was a little more willing to pose on her own than she was with the family.

Easter with Grandma & Grandpa

After a time with out too much to share, I am now feeling a little overwhelmed with all I want to post. It didn't help that after eating a little Easter candy Sunday night, I wound up with a headache that didn't go away until this morning. It makes it hard to even do fun stuff, like share my pictures.

We had a great weekend in Prescott doing much more than just Easter. I will try and get the rest posted soon.

Interesting how much better they do when posing with their grandparents than they do with their parents.

Isn't this a nice picture of Barry's parents?

Coloring Easter Eggs with Grandma & Amber

No, Kira! Don't eat it yet!

Rite of Passage!

It has happened! Kira has officially lost her first tooth! It happened without much pain. She was determined to let it fall out on it's own, but it was only hanging on by a thread, so her dad quickly pulled it out last night. She is so proud of herself! I think because some of her older friends have not lost any teeth yet. But I am not terribly surprised. My kids got their teeth early, so it would make sense if they loose them early. We were a little concerned a couple of weeks ago, when a molar started coming in behind her baby teeth, but I believe this is normal and is referred to as a 6-year-molar (she will be 6 next month).

My mother-in-law loaned us this cute retro tooth-fairy pillow case for the occasion, that she used with her girls, and I guess the tooth fairy will come and visit tonight. Anyone know the going rate for a baby tooth these days?

(Notice the little pocket for the tooth?)

I think Trenton was under the impression that he had lost a tooth, as well, showing us his teethy grin!

Ah! My babies are growing up! When did that happen???

Count Downs

If you want to count down with us to the birth of our new little one and other exciting events this year, scroll down to the bottom of the page (yes--all the way--I couldn't come up with a better place to put these) and check out our tickers!

Show Me Night

The following slide show contains some of the pictures I took of Kira at the school "Show Me" night as she demonstrated some of her favorite "works." We are really loving the free Montessori education, but not the drive (through the Phoenix Light Rail project construction) to get there!

Montessori Moments

Shamrock Farms Field Trip

I think I finally got this to work the way I want it to. I always have a hard time narrowing down the pictures I take from a single event and deciding which ones I want to post. I'm hoping this will be a fun way to share more pictures.

Trenton and I went along on this field trip in February. He is really beginning to feel like one of the big kids!

Shamrock Farms Field Trip

Welcome Talia!

My baby sister had her own baby last week! Talia Maren Hickman was born March 8, 2007.
Isn't she sweet? She is tiny, too--5lbs 14oz! I can only imagine since Trenton was twice as big. (Ok. I'm exaggerating, but not by too much!)

Since they had a home birth, and she was born at 12:06 am, everyone was around to celebrate her Birthday! My mother actually catered the whole birth experience, providing homemade pizza for the midwife and assistant, and making a special birthday breakfast after everyone had had a few hours of sleep!

We are very proud of Shanda and so excited to meet Talia!

Trentonisms

I am 8 wks. pregnant now and fighting the nausea a bit. I can't complain though because I was so much worse in my previous pregnancies (especially with Kira).

I thought I should take a moment and write down some of my favorite and the funny things that Trenton has been saying lately. (I keep forgetting to write them elsewhere).

Favorites:

• "It's dewiscious (delicious)!" about what ever food he is eating.
• "OK, Mommy!" (Always music to my ears, but especially sweet the way he says it.)
• "I'm the King of the world!"
• "I love you Mommy! You're my best friend!"
• "I love you Mommy! You're my best Mom!"
• (and just the other day) "You're my best hero!"

Don't worry. He is keeping me humble. I went to pick him up from a friends house the other day and I heard through the door:

(my friend) Rachel: "Oh, I think your Mom is here!"

Trenton: "No! I don't like my mom!"

That's probably not the last time I will hear that one.

Funnies:

Trenton can't wait to have his 3-year-old "truck birthday" (in September), because he is very anxious to grow up. Kira was the same way, but I think they have different motivations. Both of my children have been under the impression at this age, that when they grow up to be big, their parents are going to grow down to be babies. I think this was particularly appealing to Kira, because she wanted to boss us around. Trenton just wants our cars. He wants to drive them and doesn't want to fight anyone for that right. He is such the gear head that he wants to try out any vehicle he sees. I have explained to him that he has to be bigger to drive cars. One day he spotted a small compact car and asked if he could drive that one since it was little like him.

I asked him if he was going to get married when he is grown-up. He said, "Uh-huh" so I asked him who he thought he would marry. "My red car!" he said. (actually he clarifies that it is his daddy's red car but when he grows down to a baby it will be Trenton's car because daddy will never drive).

Trenton has gotten very good at apologizing. He has learned that if he uses his most sincere voice and big words like "apologize" he can get out of all kinds of trouble. The other night he was getting ready to go and play at a new friends house. I asked him if he would be nice, "uh-huh!" If he would share toys with his friend, "uh-huh!" If he would listen to his friend's mommy, "uh-huh!" "And I will apologize, it was an accident!" Not only premeditated mischief but a premeditated apology.

In all fairness, Trenton isn't the only one who makes us laugh. Kira normally talks in a very adult-like voice with fairly large vocabulary words. She makes people laugh because they don't expect a child to express themselves that way, but even Kira forgets words sometimes. She was excited because they were doing a play at school, "...and Mom," she said, "I'm one of the marinators!" (She meant "narrators") I couldn't help imagining a comic book character, "Kira---The MARINATOR" complete with a bottle of worchestershire sauce!