The sweetest thing

Little J has a big heart.  Always has and I hope he always will.  He's a little rough and tumble around the edges, but deep down he has a pretty big sensitive side.

Lately Miss C's friends at school have been talking about American Girl Dolls.  Miss C doesn't have one and I've resisted getting her one because she is just really not that into dolls.  She has had dolls over the years, but usually they are played with once maybe twice and then banished to the dark depths of her closet under a mountain of clothes.  With the steep price tag, we just haven't had any interest in getting one for her.  Since her friends have been talking about it, she's really put on the hard core press to get one.  Of course I've tried distracting her, but ultimately she's decided that she is going to save her money to buy one.

After counting what she has in her piggy bank, we calculated she's about $20 short.  Over the past couple of weeks we've had several discussions about an allowance and ways she can earn money.  Of course none of that is fast enough for her and she is not afraid to express her opinion to me on that one. Never-the-less, we haven't caved and are really trying to impress the value of working hard, earning your own money, and buying the things you really want with it.  We've even talked about the value of saving money and using some of what you saved to help others.  She doesn't really love that part right now because she realizes she needs to have more than what it costs to buy the doll because there has to be money left over in savings.  But at least it's been a good lesson.

Over the past several weeks, she has also started this system of passing notes back and forth.  She taped envelopes on all of our doors (the mailboxes) and at night we slip little notes back and forth to each other.  Even Little J gets in on the fun.  A couple of nights ago, she came to me and said there was $3 in her mailbox and wanted to know if I put it there.  I didn't and thought that maybe J had done it.  Well, the next night, there was another couple of dollars.  Finally I asked J if he was the one stuffing money in her mailbox.  He wasn't either.  Then it dawned on me that sweet Little J had been taking money out of his own piggy bank and giving it to her so that she could get that American Girl Doll.  How sweet is he?!  I hope he never grows out of that.  Of all the things with him, that just made my heart burst.  I'm so proud of the little guy he's become :)

MLK and the Bobcats

Today was MLK day and the kids had off of school.  We decided to make the most of it and head uptown to the Bobcats game.  We've been a few times in the past and with the game starting at 2 p.m. it was a perfect opportunity to actually stay for the whole thing.  The game was great and the kids really had a good time.  I swear though half the time they want to go to these games is for the concession fare.  They think it's a license to raid the snack bar and eat just about every piece of junk imaginable.  Of course with it being a special occasion we allow it within reason.

Here are my little monkeys doing what they do best.....eating cotton candy and popcorn.

Oh yeah, there was a game going on too :)

High tea with a princess

Miss C was invited to a tea party over the weekend.  Here are just a few pictures of the party guest princess.

 Here she is with her "BFF".  These girls have been in school together since Kindergarten :)

Lunch date

A little lunch date with friends after a hard day at soccer camp :)

We have a few new friends

Can you see what we see?  We have a couple of new friends that like to hang out in our backyard.  Usually they stay tucked in the woods, but today they decided to come right up to the grassline.  From what we can tell, we've seen a mama and two of her babies.  So cute!

First Pool trip for the summer

Happy almost summer!  We visited the pool today after school and I can't believe they actually went in!  The water (and air temperature) in my opinion was FREEZING!  But seriously after 2 full weeks of begging from Miss C, I finally gave in.  I did make them wait until the temperature outside was at least in the 80's (and not raining).  I think today's high was a chilly 81, well chilly for some swimming.  I told them I would take them, but under no circumstances would I actually get in.  

They actually swam for a little bit and then I made them get out when they started turning purple.  It was a successful first pool visit if I say so myself!  At least now they will get off my back :)

Swing batter batter....

Another great evening at the ball field!  We took a family trip to see our local minor league team play.  These games are so fun!  The field is really nice and it's not that crowded at all.  The best part?  Cheap eats!  We eat like kings during these games and don't really have to spend a lot.  I think the kids now like to go to the games just for the food.  Last night we managed to consume hot dogs, peanuts, cotton candy, funnel cakes and an adult beverage or two :).  Who wants the over/under on how many of us have belly aches in the morning?!