The Busy Summer so far......

This summer has started off just right with lots of busy fun. The second week in June I signed the girls up for princess camp at the place where they take dancing during the school year. They learn new steps/tricks, do crafts and snacks, and dress up as their favorite princesses. They have tons of fun. Last year Taryn was too young to go and cried everyday as I dropped off Princess Camilla. This year she was so excited every day that I didn't think she could contain herself. On the last day of camp the girls do a princess parade (and wave princess style) and then show us a princess dance they have practiced all week. Both girls had great waves and dances. Grandma and Papa Weight were able to come and watch and the girls were really excited to have them there.

Princesses by their castle...Cami is Tinker Bell and Taryn is Cinderella

Both girls mid princess dance.

That same week we had "The Flood." At 2 am on Monday night/Tuesday morning I heard what I thought was the bathtub running and splashing. Well in my groggy state I assumed (unjustly in a really bad mommy moment) that Taryn had gotten out of bed and decided to play in the bathtub at 2 am. I was really mad and got up to go spank her and send her back to bed. When I stepped out into the hall I splashed onto the hard wood floor...I thought oh crap this is A LOT of water. I flipped on the hall light and could see it flooding down the hall from the kitchen. I ran to the kitchen and water was spraying from under the sink and hitting the fridge and cabinets on the other side (if you have seen the width of the kitchen you can appreciate this). The spray was about the size of the bathtub flow at full force. I slide and slipped back to the bedroom and rallied Brent to turn off the water somehow. I got towels to start building a dam to keep the water off the hardwood floors and carpets as much as possible (the other floors are tile). After every towel in the house was soaked and the water sucker on the steam cleaner was full after sucking water up for two seconds we decided to get serious. We hurried and carried all our furniture out to the back patio/sidewalk and Brent decided to call emergency flood people so the floors could be saved. There was probably a couple of inches of standing water from our closet (one end of the house) clear to the pantry (other far end of the house). So they came (after making us call the landlord to make sure they would pay for it) and were there until sometime after 5 am sucking all the water out and pulling up carpet and putting in hurricane fans (which are incredibly loud even if you aren't 5 with insanely sensitive hearing). In the mean time being pregnant and having two little girls who pee frequently made camping out at grandma's a necessity for several days while the plumbing was resolved. We were really lucky to have such a comfortable place to hang out while the plumber came (having to saw apart the kitchen cabinet to get to the hole in the pipe) and while everything dried. Then Grandma Rice and I cleaned everything and brought back in the furniture and replaced stuff in the closets. Luckily we acted fast and while you can see some damage I don't think anything is ruined beyond use. Brent kept saying the whole time how happy he was that we were renting...(I groaned for the millionth time :) )

The next week we had the girls and 7 of the cousins signed up for swimming lessons and hip hop camp. Four of the middle aged kids were in one swimming class together, the four youngest were in mommy tot class together, and the oldest was in a class so we gave all the teachers a good taste of our family. Cami has been saying she wants to take hip hop dancing next year but I didn't really think she knew what that was so when I saw their dance studio was offering a one week class I thought it would be great to give it a noncommital try and see if she really liked it and also fun for all the cousins. When they weren't swimming or hip hopping they were playing together at parks or where ever just having a blast. We all went camping on Father's Day weekend and the kids loved the s'mores and stream and trails...I think this coming week will be very sad and quiet for my kids after so much fun.

The hip hop gangsters...

Cami Rachel and Luke looking "buck"
The video of the routine...I hope this works....I had some issues

ok it didn't work because I have no idea what enclosures are but I can try to email it to the siblings...

Both girls really did great with swimming. Cami can swim a little underwater now and jumped off the diving board for the first time despite being scared enough to cry about it before (I bribed her with ice cream if she was brave and it went a long way). I love that she over came her fears and in the end DID enjoy it and have fun.

Practicing "safe swimming" on safety day

Taryn was successful in that she didn't drowned. She is full force and passionate about everything she does so I wasn't surprised that she would just run and jump right in and clear across the pool trusting me to catch her. She will let me totally dunk her now too if I warn her to plug her nose first. I love my little spirited girl.

Taryn kicking so hard she is splashing all the babies and tots but boy is she loving it!

Anyway, this has been our busy summer so far and the next couple of weeks are scheduled to be slow and easy going....I have a feeling we'll bust out the slip-n-slide more and play with the neighbors a lot. I love summer and having the girls around all the time.

ps-If any of you have pictures of the past two weeks email them to me..I didn't manage to get very many taken...

Loyal Follower?

So Brent said this was a good way to see who reads our blog....And a good way to reward our loyal followers.....Today we took a sneak peek and it is a girl!!!!

Follow up to funnyisms....

So last Sunday in church the kids started to practice a new song. Taryn who had been wild and oblivious through church suddenly stopped and said "OH NO! It's the lalalalalala song on my cd player! I hate this song!" And sure enough it was the lalala song....too bad the song has a great message....

Preschool graduation, slip and slide, and Dance Recital

The last few weeks have been busy. Cami officially graduated from preschool. It was an exciting day for her but a little sad for us. When did she get so big. She had a really great year and a really great teacher whom she will really miss. Good thing Taryn will have her this fall time.

After her graduation we bought a slip n slide and she went CRAZY! She totally loved the thing and spent like 2 1/2 hours playing on it in the heat of the day. That night she insisted doing it again for 45 minutes for family night. It has been a better summer toy than the usual blow up pool because it doesn't require the blowing up or the cleaning and the girls still love it.

The girls also had their dance recital and it went great! Cami for the first time was REALLY nervous to perform (scared to mess up-she is turning out to be her Daddy's perfectionist child). For this reason I think we need to keep up with it so she gets over it. Taryn pleasantly surprised us by actually dancing the right steps for most of it. YEA! and she said she had a good time even doing the steps so I think she is really learning. It was fun to watch. You know all those things about parenthood that no one tells you about and that your not really prepared for? I was REALLY unprepared to feel so intensely proud of my dancer girls-Cami for doing great in spite of fear and Taryn for finally following directions. I don't think I would ever in a zillion years have predicted myself feeling so happy and proud at a dance recital. Funny how that works... Anyway here's pictures of the latest event.

Cami saying the pledge of allegiance and singing patriotic songs...

Cami getting her diploma/scrapbook and special king sized candy bar for being able to count to 100 by the end of the year

Cami and Miss Megan. She really loved her and she will be hard to replace with a kindergarten teacher!

Post graduation party!

Taryn before the dance ready to go.

Cami before the dance checking on Taryn.-She really looks out for Taryn and is a great sister.

Taryn happy afterwards with her very own flower (a first)!

Cami after with her very own first flower.-She was REALLY psyched about the flower...

Funnyisms...if that's a word....

Cami-getting dressed for the dance recital and getting nervous-"Mom! THIS IS JUST WAY TOO MUCH PINK FOR ONE GIRL!!!"-it's a good sign....

Taryn-after the recital while she is still insanely hopped up on adrenalin or sugar or whatever and wouldn't stop-
Daddy totally exasperated..."Taryn! You are SERIOUSLY pushing my buttons little girl!"
Taryn very sweetly and "knowing better"..."Daddy, you don't have buttons!"