Unexpected school holiday

There was talk of a teacher walk-out and then there was an actual teacher walk-out. There was speculation that it would last a day or two, there was speculation that they weren't going back before summer, there was speculation that we would have to make the days up during summer, there was speculation that summer camps and summer vacation plans would have to change. In the end we were able to enjoy a week off of school in the beginning of May and only had to make up a half day. So we're chalking this up as an unexpected holiday. The kids were thrilled, but at the beginning of the week I was worried how I was going to keep them entertained. By the end of the week we were in full on summer mode and it was hard to send them back for a few weeks before summer break officially started. The highlight of our week off was meeting up with cousins at the Children's Museum. It has been years since I've been here and I forgot just how cool it is! I love old school buildings and imagining times past and this one with it's exposed brick and over-sized picture windows was no exception. Oh, and the children's activities were pretty good too ;). They have so many cool hands-on experiences that spark imagination and creativity, I only wish this was closer so that we could go more often. And of course everything is better with cousins. 

Afterwards we walked over to the charming Heritage Square. It's the cutest little block of old historic homes and buildings, many which have been converted to cute cafes and boutique shops. It's a little slice of heaven located right in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The kids had the best time running around exploring the nooks and crannies before heading home. It was definitely a day well spent!

Sweet 16

Sweet 16 can often be an oxymoron, most people would not consider the teenage years to be "sweet". But this girl defies the norm and keeps getting sweeter each day. Having your oldest turn 16 really makes you look back and reflect. I remember the first time I held her in my arms, that tiny little cry that could only be comforted by her mom and I thought I couldn't love her more. I remember having a princess party every time dad was out of town and singing her primary songs every night before bed and I thought I couldn't love her more. I remember watching Ramona in the parking lot of Target and eating cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears on mommy dates and I thought I couldn't love her more. I remember her squeals when I took her first Justin Bieber Concert and letting her wear red lipstick to see Taylor Swift and having a hotel party afterwards and I thought I couldn't love her more. And now I sit on her bedroom floor while she tells me about her first kiss and we laugh about fighting in Walmart over an aux cord. We eat carrots and hummus in the parking lot at her school when she forgets her lunch and laugh uncontrollably in dressing room stalls. She cracks me up when she shows me her latest YouTube videos that she never actually posts, and drives me crazy with all the slime she makes. She texts me pictures of her friend's houses on the sly if she thinks I would like the paint color and wants me to sleep in her room if she's watched a scary movie. She tries to teach me how to fill in my eyebrows and vows about once a week that she's going to start eating only healthy food. She calls to ask permission to skip school and lets me lay on her pillow to chat despite her head grease phobia. She dies when I ask her to teach me how to twerk and always shows me the videos of the best street dancers. She keeps a gratitude journal every day and tries to go to the temple every week. And now I really am convinced that I couldn't love her more. But somehow I know that this love I feel for that girl is just going to keep on growing. Feeling ever so grateful to be her mom and for the memories we've made over the past 16 years. Happy birthday Ky-Ky! She woke up to her room filled with balloons and photos from her "friend" Dylan, it was a fun way to start her day. We had crepes for about the 10th year running then I let her skip school so we could go to lunch, shop and hit up all the birthday freebie joints. Jason snuck her out to a quick dinner in between an EVIT meeting and dance rehearsal but the real parties came later. 

That next weekend she invited some friends out to the lake. Grateful for these friends that have helped make her first year at ALA such a good one. It was a fun day at the lake, they are such a great group of kids. 

They came back for pizza and cake then played all sorts of night games. The boys were thrilled that they let them play some creepy version of "Granny" with them. The party didn't end quite yet, we celebrated with a girl's weekend in Scottsdale a few weeks later but that will be a post of its own!