Mya's Special Day

Mya goes to Miss Ginger's Small Wonders Preschool (and loves it). They have set aside a day to honor each child and tell them how special they are. Today was Mya's day!

We have been looking forward to this for a long time! Unfortunately, we haven't been preparing for quite as long. I know, I'm a slacker. Preschool starts at 11:45, and at 11:50 this morning we walked out the door, finally finished with her poster. Luckily, Miss Ginger lives just across the street!

She had a great day at school! She got to look inside the secret box and pick a toy (an army set with a tank, a helicopter and a hummer, in case you wondered what she picked), show off her poster full of pictures and information about herself, and share a treat (Transformer fruit snacks) with all of her classmates. In her honor, we had hot dogs and fruit salad for dinner. It doesn't get any better than that!

I thought today would be a good day to spotlight Mya on our blog. She will be so excited to see this! Sorry there are two posts. Apparently there is a limit to how many pictures you can put on one post, so keep going on to the next one.

WE LOVE YOU MYA!!

Mya and her poster this morning. She picked her outfit and her hair-do. I love that kid!!

In front of the door at school.

Miss Marci, Mya and Miss Ginger. She LOVES these guys!

We love Grandma Bette!

And Grandma House!

Mya and mommy. Could we be related?

Hollywood!

Dreaming!

Riding her Dora bike.

With cousins at Disneyland.

Chief Mya.

This picture was taken at midnight. I put her in her bed and this is her on the floor.

Mya loves Izzy!

Taking a cat nap on the chair. They are both totally zonked!

Teaching great-grandpa Barraclough the ways of the Jedi.

Mya's Special Day Continued

Teaching Chandler to ride.

This is the definition of addiction. No time for dressing or cleaning! I have to save Batman!

Reading to Chandler. "And it came to pass..."

Teaching Darth Vader a lesson.

With Daddy at LegoLand.

First dip in the ocean.

Easter picnic.

Putting herself in Noelle's shoes.

Look at that baby face!

Driving lessons at LegoLand. She's apparently very concerned about the driver behind her. Not so much about the one in front of her. This is why we never let her drive.

Sassy!

Soooo tired!

Her first bike. Within a few weeks she parked it directly behind my car in my blind spot and I backed right over it. We had to re-live that moment again today.

She seems so girly! Very deceiving!

Minnie Mouse!

Cousins

Maggie, Ani and Mya

Our California cousins are here for a visit and this morning we fixed their hair the same and we decided we needed a picture. Aren't they cute!?! Noelle also has this same hairdo, but she was at school long before I had everyone ready. I thought 4 heads of hair was a lot. 6 is more. Lots more.

Identify Yourselves!

I'm kind of creeped out. I got a comment on one of my posts that had pictures of my kids from someone I don't recognize. So....if you are foodstr2, please identify yoursef so I don't have to go private! I find lots of people I haven't seen in a long time and I want to keep my blog open for that reason, but when a stranger tells me I have *beautiful* kids (stars and everything) I get a little uneasy. Thanks!

My Eyes Are Bleeding!

One day I will learn. It is easier to stay caught up than to spend 4 hours making 7 posts all at once.

Who am I kidding. I will never learn.

If you're interested, scroll down. A lot.

Christmas

My mom would not only not be proud, she would be downright disgusted with my picture taking on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, since it is Ryan's birthday (I told you! Craziness!), we always have family over for a soup dinner. (He turned 36!! His mid-life crisis should hit any day!) You'll just have to take my word for it, because I didn't take a single picture! Anyone care to send me any? Cara (my sister) and Dustin (her husband) spent the night at our house since their lives are empty and child-less. We share ours. Aren't we nice?

Here are some of the pictures that I did manage to take:

The Christmas tree.

Jade's gifts from Santa. Damn Santa. We don't want a cat!! Although if we did decide to want a cat, a really mild mannered and adorable persian named Isabelle would be a good one.

Noelle's gifts from Santa.

Mya's gifts from Santa.

The aftermath.

Other stuff happened that day. I just didn't document any of it. We got TONS of snow and spent the entire day on Christmas at my mom and dad's house. We got sickening amounts of gifts and ate sickening amounts of really good food. It was awesome.

Noelle's 9th Birthday/Barraclough Family Christmas Party

Noelle turned 9 on the 20th (have I ever told you how crazy this week is at my house?!?). The Barraclough family had their party on her birthday this year, so she got to share her birthday. She got tons of presents! She may have been a little excited as you can see!

Jana, knowing of her ballet obession, made her a tutu.

Zoey and Lucy gave her Hannah Montana undies and bras. How embarrassing!

Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Don know exactly what they want! Cash!

Mya got a medical kit and a tool kit (and apparently some chocolate cake). I told you Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Don know exactly what they want! Does she look happy or what!

My mom might not be as proud of my picture taking at this party. I'm still getting the hang of it. Be patient. I was a little shaken. On our way there we barely (and by barely I mean miraculously) missed being involved in the 31 car pile-up in Willard that afternoon. Ryan has been preparing for that moment his whole life! It was like a scene from Mario Kart. We were sliding on and off the road, dodging cars left and right, never once stopping. If I hadn't been there myself I wouldn't have believed it. I think my mom prayed for us before we left. It's the only explaination I can come up with.