Ranting!

Oh my god, my children are friggin' INSANE! Today is one of those days when I question why on earth I had kids. Let me start by telling you all the things these little terrorists have done today (and it is not even 3pm yet). At 9am, Iyla went into the fridge, took out the maple syrup and proceeded to bathe Chance with it. Then while I was outside washing it off of him, Leila was inside unrolling all of the toilet paper (brand new roll) into the toilet bowl. I had to give her a bath since she had gotten toilet water all over herself in the process. While I was doing that, Iyla thought it would be fun to make a "Barbie swimming pool" inside the FULL box of tissues. She just got her cup that we use to rinse with after teeth brushing and filled up cup fulls of water and poured them into the tissue box...WHICH SHE HAD CONVENIENTLY PLACED ON TOP OF HER BED. Hmmmm, where did all that water go you ask? Well, the tissues soaked up some of it but then the bedspread, blanket and mattress took care of the rest. I made her help me clean that up and realized that Leila had been very quiet (never a good sign). I found her NAKED and DIAPER LESS tearing apart all of the coloring book pages that I had gotten out earlier to try and keep them both entertained.
I was losing my mind so I put them both in the car to run an errand. Leila decided that she really wanted to WALK in the grocery store (which I have never ever let her do, so I have no idea where she even got the idea). The entire time she was screaming in the cart saying, "Lala wok, Lala wok, Lala wok!' It is not even like Iyla was walking and she wanted to do the same thing. Iyla was sitting next to her in the GIANT truck shaped double seat cart (which is a little bit like pushing a dead buffalo through an ice skating rink). Those damn slippery floors and absolutely no turning radius on the friggin' cart. Well, as Leila was chanting her unreasonable demands, Iyla had found a way to pinch her finger in the seat belt buckle of the cart which, of course, set her off on a high pitched screaming fit of her own. I seriously came home with like 4 pears, a head of broccoli, some lunch meat and a tub of cream cheese. Looks like another grocery store trip is in order tonight. Ok, so still not done with my story. When I was unpacking the groceries and talking on the phone to my sister (she can vouch for my hysteria) I heard the bathroom door upstairs open. By the time I got upstairs (8.4 seconds) Leila had AGAIN decided toilet playing would be great but this time Iyla had just pooped and she was sloshing Barbie hair around in the poop! Soooooo, she had another bath and now they are both (unwillingly) napping!
OMG, kill me now!

Nya's first soccer game

Team huddle

Go Nya!!!

Get in there Nya!

Great kick!

Nya is coming in for the ball.

Nya had a great soccer game...they won 3-0 and they were so proud themselves. Hakim is really enjoying coaching her team...this might just become a yearly thing for him!

Best. Night. EVER!

Last night was one of the best nights ever. I am constantly trying to do things that will create lasting memories for my kids...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Let me start by saying that our sky box seats were awesome...we had an entire suite and an awesome view. When the show first started, Nya looked at me with tears in her eyes and said..."Mommy, I am SO happy that I am crying!" That seriously made my entire year! Then as the show went on she was dancing, clapping, yelling for the dancers (especially our favorite girl, Sasha) and singing along. She would recount some of the moves as she remembered them from the TV show. For example, the music would start and she would say..."Oh yeah, this is the one where Sasha does that back bend or this is the part when Melanie does the really big leap."
She was so super excited. At intermission we went into the bathroom and she said, "Mommy, I am so excited that even my stomach is screaming!" Could she get any cuter....NOPE! Oh yeah, and my favorite comment from her was during Sasha's solo when she said, "I wish I could just rewind this night and play it again everyday...FOREVER!"
I have said it before but I really mean it when I say I would be equally as proud of my child if she were to become a brain surgeon or a professional dancer. Actually, I think I would be more proud if she became a professional dancer because that takes so much passion, determination, strength, strong will, perseverance and dedication. I would just love to watch my child do something they really, truly love everyday of their life. It is also because I could have NEVER been a dancer...I have zero rhythm and I really do not have the capability to be "passionate" about anything. I guess I can live that dream through my kids! One of them is bound to love dance....I mean come on...three girls!!!

Our sky box suite

Perfect seats

Just waiting for the show to start

The opening number

The bollywood number

One of my favs

The circus number

Melanie

Sasha (our favorite girl) and Ricky

A very special thanks to my mom who bought Nya the tickets as an early birthday present! Seriously, the best gift ever!

So You Think You Can Dance

I am taking Nya Bliss to see the "So You Think You Can Dance" tour dancers tonight as a HUGE surprise. She has no idea and I am so super excited for her. Thanks to my mom who bought her the tickets as an EARLY birthday present. "Mom" saves the day yet again! 

I really love being able to do one on one things with my kids so they can get the chance to have some undivided attention from me and feel super special in the process. I will post pictures and videos from tonight. I am so excited to see her reaction!

Disney Princess on Ice with Iyla Jade

After she got her Tiana doll

Our awesome seats

Blue teeth-thank you Ring Pop

Princess and the Frog...New Orleans scene

Bayou scene

My favorite part...Mama Ode...so fun!

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel

"The Lanterns" scene...really cool

Iyla and I had a special day with just the two of us. Nya and Leila stayed with my mom. I took Iyla to see the Disney Princess on Ice show at the new Amway arena. We had killer seats, she was totally mesmerized and it is something we will both remember for a very, very long time. She was perfect the entire time and she sat still in awe for the entire 2 hour show.

I LOVE IYLA JADE!!!

Big sister

She is so cute

I love this picture

She was so super excited to be going to "Nya's other school"

She wanted these doors to open so badly.

Say cheeeessseeeeeee

Look at Leila looking at Iyla, so cute.

Crazy sisters!

These pictures are from Iyla's first "official" day of preschool. Tuesday was more like an open house. I seriously love these pictures. They totally capture her excitement and she looks so freakin' cute...I can barely take it. Also, it really made me realize how big Leila is. Leila was so ready to go right in the classroom with Iyla...

First day of school!

Yesterday was the first day of school for Nya (1st grade) and today is the first day of school for Iyla (pre-K 3). I cannot believe how fast they are growing up. I find myself forcing my brain to remember things from when they were babies. I try and remember little faces they made or the way their cry sounded. I hate that they are growing up so fast. I am glad I still have baby Leila at home with me or I might be really freaking out about my kids growing up.

End of summer bash

We had an end of summer pool party at our friend Colleen's new house. The kids loved it, we all had a super great time.

Hammock time

Love this picture

Sarah and Nya

Nya and Daven

Nya and Daven

Princess Iyla Jade

Crazy kids!

Happy Birthday Twinks!

Today Landon and Preston Carter are TWO! We love you guys and cannot believe you are already 2 years old. I know you will have fantastic birthday weekend and we cannot wait to celebrate with you real soon.

Cinnamon/Hammock Beach

L to R: Nathan, Emily, Sarah, Nya, Leila, Iyla, Keith and Will

Will and Nya in the waterfall

Wahoooooo!!!!

Ready..Set..GO!

Nya and Will in action

Leila Sky, Mommy and Iyla Jade

She is so cute, I can hardly stand it!

Will getting ready to go down the slide, such a cute little face.

Iyla making mud pies

I love her expression in this one.

Our humble abode for the week.

Sweet baby Leila

New favorite picture.

Iyla holding a real, live starfish that Erika found.

The view from our room!

"Secret beach"

Treasure hunter

Look at her cute footprints in the sand.

Late night beach trip

Love her

Kids versus waves...who do you think won this one?

Look how happy Nya is.

Cutest baby ever.

I pretty much love her A LOT!

Look at Leila's tongue...

Dance party!

Me and my sweets

Flying Iyla

Will, Keith, Iyla, Leila, Nya

Best trip ever.

We had the best time ever. I really wish we could have stayed a month. The kids loved every second and, quite frankly, so did the adults! We really stayed busy between the beach and the pool but we loved every single second... We are surely going back next summer, and the summer after that and after that.....