Kaira is 2

Today Kai is 2. We had a great day spending it with friends with a fish fry.  She still doesn't grasp the concept of a "birthday" but she loved opening presents, playing in the water, blowing bubbles and jumping on the trampoline with some friends.  What a great way to spend a birthday! 

Phil

~Phil~
The date has changed for Phil to be home. He is due back around August 4th. He will be changing locations but we are not for sure where, when or who with. I feel like we are in the military again! Thank God we are not.

~Alera~
The girls are doing great! I'm so amazed at how grown up Alera is. Kai spilled her tea the other day and I was not in the room and Alera had a towl cleaning it up and told me not to worry that she was taking care of it lol. She is so Amazing. Sometimes at night she wants to stay up with me really late so when she does I put her to work b/c I'm usually doing chores. She took all the laundry out of the dryer and folded every piece nice and neat. I think she folds better than I do. But she loves her mommy time with just me and I cherish each moment with each of them.

I was getting ready to change out my purse last night and Alera said she wanted to do it. So she started shaking everything out and money (loose change) went in all directions. So after switching everything over she still had all the money in a pile. She said "mommy can I have all of this"? I told her that it was already her's and that mommy saves it and once we get our jar filled up I go and put it in her bank account for her to go to college on. She asks "what is college and why do I need money". So I explained to her what college was and why she needed money. Then she tends to tell me that she needed money so she could go on a date with her boyfriend and that she could use it to get married! Pre-K might be a good thing but not in this case. A picture would have been worth a thousand words!

A day with the Girls

~Kaira~

Today was our first outing in big girl panties. I must have asked Kai a million times today if she needed to go potty! She did great all day until right before bed time.  I'm still proud of her.  My goal is to have her trained before her second birthday.  

She has learned a new song today (I like to eat, eat, eat apples & bananas).  I have been worried about her not talking very much and it seems over night she has put words together.   

~Alera~

People always say never laugh at your kids when your getting on to them.  I have had my first experience today with Alera. We were at the store and she was so bad I told her she was in trouble when we got home. We got home and I preceded to do my motherly duty. I turned around to walk away and she says to me "I thought I was suppose to have two". I gave her another one and she looked at me with such a serious face and said "oh, that didn't hurt that bad. I mean it hurt but not that bad".  I had to run out of the room so fast I was doubled over with tears from laughing so hard.

Alera is starting Kindergarten this year.  We had enrollment last week with a tour of the school and to meet the Kindergarten teachers.  Alera is very excited.  Can you believe there are 6 Kindergarten classes at her school???? There are 6 girls in our neighborhood that are all starting this year.

The girls took me to eat for Mother's Day. I wanted to make sure our lunch was not interrupted like it usually always is so we headed to the restroom.  Alera's in one stall and Kai and Me in another.  Alera is hollering out over and over Happy Mother's Day Mommy!!!!  So Sweet!

~Phil~

Phil is still over in Iraq. We know he is there until at least September but maybe longer.  He was suppose to have come home this month but stayed b/c he was not exactly sure what was going on with the company he is working for "Blackwater".  Blackwater did not get the contract in Iraq for this year but where he is at the contract ends in September so to speak.  We have no idea what is going to happen when that time comes but will know more later.  Phil is scheduled to be home again August 19th.  Just in time for Alera's bday and for her to start Kindergarten. We plan on taking the girls back to Great Wolf Lodge.

Phil is almost done with his Bachelor's degree. He has worked really hard to try and finish and is making good grades.

Swimming

This weekend our pool opened up so on the advice of Alera's swimming instructor to get her in the pool before the lessons started, off we went. The water was freezing but kids don't care not one bit. In January she was jumping in and swimming and now.....she is scared of the water! I couldn't believe it.  After two days and me freezing my butt off, Alera is now finally swimming again!