Tay Tay Mae Mae

Here are a list of words that have been used to describe you: Firecracker, stubborn, a pistol, a pill, sassy, moxie, girly.
I have a feeling that if any of my kids get into a bona fide fist fight, it will be you. But rest assured you will be fighting in heels. What a doll you are!

Oh, Brother!

Hey Beck. Beck?! Psst. Over here!

I love you.

You just got Schooled Ellie and Reese!

You know when your children are ready to go to school. They are sick and tired of you suggesting coloring, play-doh, cleaning,watching a movie or any other activity whatsoever. They are sick and tired of their siblings. They are sick and tired of anything you ask they to help you with. They are sick and tired of you. Well, we have been looking forward to school for a long, long time, yet I can't believe it is actually here. My babies, in school? Not possible! They are still newborns. They haven't learned to walk or talk yet. They still look up at me with adoring eyes and drool dribbling down their chins. It's just not possible! How is it that overnight they have grown up enough to go to Pre-School? But, like I said, they were ready. They marched in to Kiddie Korner Pre-School like they owned the joint. They hung up their backpacks, put on their name tags and officially gave Kell and I the cold shoulder. Wait a second, I gave birth to you and now you act like you don't even know me?! It dosen't work that way! Where are the tears and the clinging to my leg and using my body as a shield to hide from the other kids? I guess another sign of them being ready for school...when they don't even look over their shoulder at you, but make a mad dash to the toys and other children. When I went back after the 2 hour class they were less that pleased that I was there and wanted to stay. I asked them their favorite part of pre-school and they told me "Watching Dora the Explorer." Um, you can watch that at home for free, so pick another subject please! They are so excited to go back on Friday, and Ellie told me that if any of their classmates are sad or missing their parents that she was going to be their friend. I am so proud of the little people they are morphing into. They are my muffins, my whole life, my peaches. My big girls.

Dancing Queens

My little muffins started dance today! I was so concerned about them...how shall I put it nicely... acting like monkeys that were just released from their cages like they did in the 2 weeks they were enrolled in gymnastics, but they did AMAZING! They paid attention for the most part and retained what they had learned. They loved showing Grandma, Papa, Aunt Britt, and Grandma Linda all their moves. I am so proud of how they are growing up and showing the world what big girls they are! Love you Prima Ballerinas!

Happy Happy Birthday Daddy Dear...

Happy Birthday to the Love of my life, Father of my children, and Grower of monstrous zucchini. We love you more than you love Diet Coke! Love,The Fam

The Zoo...again.

Can I just say right off the bat that I really don't love the zoo? Does that make me a bad person? My children love the zoo, but if I were carted around in a stroller or baby bjorn I would love the zoo too. Regardless of my love/hate relationship with the zoo, we go every year, and every year the animals are so freaking hot and lethargic that they are never out, but instead are trying to find the one quarter of an inch of shade so they don't keel over and die. One can sympathize. This year was no exception, but we had a very excuse to go. Our good friends the Pauliches had their daughter Claire's second birthday party there. They had a wonderful lunch for us and cupcakes for dessert. We also rode on the train with them, which in my opinion is the best part of the zoo, because you get to sit down. This was Beck's first zoo outing and I am saddened to say that we didn't get a pic of him next to the lion fountain *hanging head in shame* but I just told myself not to be too sad. We'll get one next year. Sigh.

Take me out to the ball game.

We thought it would be fun to have a Mondragon Family Fun Night with all (well, most) of Kell's family, so we went to the Bees game. I haven't been in years, and none of the kiddos had ever been either. They loved it! Well, let me rephrase...they loved being outside, playing with their cousins, riding on the train, eating ice cream and cotton candy and all sorts of other crap, rolling down the hill...but never watched even a second of the game. Confession...neither did I. I did have fun visiting and filling my face full of junk though! Thanks Dragon fam for a great night out!