Ella's Prek graduation in action!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wtscb5k1wq3ci6c/9OGmPx1Hwh?n=76634966#f:trim.eikj9e.MOV

I didnt know Betsy captured Ella's prek graduation "MOMENT" hehe. So stinkin cute. I especially love that you can hear Sofia giggling in the background. :)

Pics of the Girls- Summer 2013

Ill say it again, I LOVE Betsy. She is such a wonderful addition to our family and we just adore her.
I asked if she would take a few pics of the girls for Father's Day and she completely outdid herself. Here are a few of my faves!!

Where there is wind

The other day we had a few microbursts come through and I have never in my life seen Sofia so terrified. She and Ella were at a friends house 2 houses down and when the sky started to get dark, I had a feeling that something was coming. So I went outside to call them in and my yell was compeletely LOST in the wind. Crazy. So the next thing I see is Sofia RUNNING down the sidewalk, screaming and Ella at her heels. Sofia thought it was a tornado and could NOT be consoled. I could understand why! Branches were being RIPPED off trees, things were flying through the air, it was pretty scary... She had to call Artyom to make sure he was ok as well...it was quite the ordeal.

So last night the wind was not as violent and we decided to fly kites at a friends house we were visiting...the kites broke within 5 minutes..less effective.

It didnt stop the fun though and these threee cuties had a BLAST just running around the wide open field..in the wind...

Ella, Sofia and Emily, were BFF's from "hello" and even put on a fashion show for us later on that night. I was with Artyom, Eddie, from Brazil and myself...It was great. I love accents. And since mine was the only boring one out of the bunch, I found myself just listening to the two of them talk. Good times...

When we left Sofia had made a picture of her two new partners in crime and Emily was able to take it to her Mom's house. We have a Brazillian BBQ planned for a few weeks from now where Eddie says we will be in steak heaven. I can't wait!!

I love it when the girls find friends they (and Artyom and I!) like...

 

Papa home from vaca= presents from Baba!!

It was not easy to have Artyom gone for 2 weeks as he visited his family in Russia. We made it through however, and the girls were teased a few times over Skype with small gifts that Baba had in store for them.

Well last night Artyom unveiled the presents that Baba got the girls and the highlight above all else were the Kooklas (Dolls). I gotta admit. Even I was a bit jeaolous over these dolls. They are beautiful and even speak in Russian!

The girls were OVER THE MOON excited and I am thinking Baba deserves some huge kudos for spoiling our little ones. Thank you Baba! We love you and miss you! We don't have names so far for the Russian beauties, but I am sure we will come up with some very soon!

 

 

The A-Line is BACK!

I should have learned my lesson by now that these two girlies of mine could not be more different from one another. Brown hair, blonde hair, brown eyes, blue eyes, outgoing, shy...So when it comes to their hair, I probably have spent WAY more time than really needed debating to myself while Betsy has listened to me about Ella's hair. I have wanted to see how it will look long, but that girl just does not have the hair that Sofia does. Ella just ROCKS short hair. So it was back to Cookie Cutters to chop it! Even I was a little surprised at how long it had gotten and how many inches we took off.

Funny thing was when the hairdresser was cutting it, Ella said with a giggle- "When my Dad see's my hair, he is going to CRY and CRY" hehe. And of course he did no such thing. He told his little girl she was beautiful...I tend to agree with him!

Staycation

I must admit that I have never been on a staycation with the girls, but I think we have found a new tradition! My cousins have told me stories of staycations they went on as kids, and I thought it was a super fun idea if you could find a hotel cheap enough.

Well it was the last few days of our 2 week stint without Artyom and the girls did really well all things considered. Our schedules were turned upside down, and with school ending, Summer beginning and life as a single parent for a few weeks, I thought we deserved something extra special. Our plan to go camping with some friends fell through and the girls were REALLY sad about it.  I figured they needed a break. I found a super cheap deal on a hotel a few hours before hand and decided that it was a sign! hehe. So off we went. We only had 2 requirements: A pool (this was a MUST) and that there was free breakfast (who wants to worry about breakfast on staycation?!).

We scored on both for under $50!

So what did we do? Funny you ask! As I was about to show you! Warning: there are ALOT of pics...Enjoy!

So in a nutshell we spent the majority of our time here:

 

We got to the hotel and the girls "approved" it. They figured we would have fun..and we SO did.

We spent some time at the pool and then went to get dinner. We got a little silly waiting for our pizza...

  One of the perks of having two little cuties for kids? FREE DESSERT! Thanks NY Pizza Patrol. Our Zeppoles were DE-LISH!

Then it was movies on the Kindle Fire (thank goodness we brought it. We had 1 kids channel, and even then, it was mostly Sponge Bob...not acceptable.

And shortly thereafter the girls CRASHED.

The next day we were BACK at the pool for some fun before checkout. From 7:45 on the girls were asking me every 5 minutes (literally) if the pool was open yet. And what is a staycation without meeting new friends?! It took many, many tries, but we finally got Sofia's cannonball action shot as well as one with her new friend Nick whom she met.

NICE FORM MAKA!! And here is Sofia and her little friend Nick

I enjoyed my self as well...As did Ella!

We already have another "staycation" place booked (I found another hot "KSL Deal" in Park City- SQUEE) and have made some rules and regulations for ourselves to not only keep us on budget, but make sure we get what we want.

So do as we did and take a Staycation. Your kids will love it and the memories we made were WELL worth it. 

 



 

Half way

Ella has thouroughly been enjoying the great weather were having as Summer is hitting us and spends most of her time outside on Betsy's trampoline. Well. Today I got a sad little pic with a sad little face that told a sad little story of Ella's attempt of doing a front flip....

Oh sweet Ella...were just not quite there yet...

Sofia...and Sophia

While at our friends, The Flamm's house we were able to meet the newest member of their family. Beautiful Sophia Kimberly. Our Sofia, Sofia Hope was SO excited to hold her and get a picture of the little one who shares her name. Sophia was a bitty when born, just like our Sof, and it was cute to see how far Sofia has grown...she asked again when we would have our baby. It breaks my heart to hear and yet, I try to be as positive as possible and tell her hopefully soon sweets!

 

So there they are. The 2 girls- Sofia Hope and Sophia Kimberly both absolutely ADORABLE.

Ella is a preschool graduate!

I cant believe an entire year has passed. Here is Ella on her first and last day of pre-school

 I cannot believe how much bigger she looks and so grown up!! It was a super fun afternoon, she introduced me to the boy she is going to marry. The infamous "Seth" I even got a pic of the two of them together. His mom (aka my future inlaw hehe) actually came up and asked if she could get a picture of the two of them together. So cute!!

Ella, Papa wishes he could have been here, but he cannot wait to get the pictures we took so he can show Baba and Deda. We love you sweets and could not be more proud of the person you are destined to be and the great things you will accomplish! Happy Preschool graduation Day Ella Diane!

She was pretty excited for the program to start. They did the Parade of Colors song and she was White. When Sofia graduated, she was yellow. And they sang a new song this year- going on a Bear Hunt. So stinking adorable.

 

 There she is rocking her first diploma! Had to get a picture with her Betsy

The pic on the left is the infamous "Seth" who opens the door for Ella, pulls her chair out and calls her princess. And that one day? They will get married. Hmmm. Well see little one...Well see! ;)

I'm a daisies kind of girl

There are people that come into your life that you just KNOW that you have known before. Those that when you meet them, its not meeting them for the first time, but re-connecting with them after some time. At least that is what it feels like to me. Not to say this has happened a ton of times in my life, but it has happened. Those of you know who you are... And one of those people that it has happened with is Jacki.

I can count the number of times on one hand that i have had flowers delivered to me at work, and for someone who doesnt remember when I DIDNT work, this was a big deal...

When I got the call from the 4th floor saying I had a "delivery" my first thought was- I didnt order lunch today. HAHAHA. It takes me a second sometimes. It was a wonderful surprise and I am extremely grateful for being not only thought of, but the extra mile Jacki went to make me feel so special. Daisies are my favorite and she knows this...cause she knows ME.

These people...

These are a few more of "my people". Wanting to serve a mission put us all in the same place and made us meet, but it has been our job to keep the friendship going since 1997. I don't lose friends easily. It's just not something I can accept. I should come with a warning label...Once you become friends with me...I don't let you go!
So when Guymon (Matt Guymon- but we all called each other by our last names) was in town we got a get together planned in a matter of hours. That's just what you do when one of your people is in town.

Here we are! Brittney (a mission comp, roommate and fellow travel companion!, Me, Matt Guymon and Bryan Flamm.

This pic basically sums up the jist of the way Guymon and I are when together! LOL. 

  And what event would be complete with out, a yes...FASHION SHOW! Yep. My eldest did not disappoint and convinced the kids to put one on for us...

Guymon gave each of the girls a small present before we went home and I let them open them. CUTE little boxes that say "San Antonio, TX" to know Guymon is to know that he is a TEXAN. He even had his whole family dress in Texas T-shirts when they came over. hehe. He always let EVERYONE know that he was a Texan, and proud of it!