Birthday Girl Wants Chocolate Milk

"Birthday girl wants breakfast." "Birthday girl wants curls in her hair." That's how Raegan referred to herself the entire day. My Raegan is 5!!!!! I'm still having a hard time grasping the fact that it's already been five years since I had her. Man, time flies.
Well, for about a month and a half now, Raegan has been talking about her jungle party. I have no idea where she came up with this jungle party, but she was set in her mind and nothing that I would say or suggest could change it. In fact, I took her to the party store just to see what our jungle options were and as we were passing all these fun party ideas: beach party, Barbie Island Princess, pajama party etc..., I would try to steer her into a different direction and she firmly said to me, "MOM, THIS IS MY PARTY, NOT YOURS." Whoa, she put me in my place. Don't worry, I calmly reminded her who was in charge of deciding whether or not we throw her a party at all.
We were able to find some jungle party decorations, games, and pinata at Zurchers, lucky for Raegan, she didn't have to change her theme. We also saved toilet paper rolls for weeks, in order to make enough binoculars for everyone to go on a jungle safari. We decorated with green streamers in the door way, and on the fan, to look like a jungle tree, and had a jungle table cloth, plates, and cupcakes.
Since this is Raegans 5th birthday I let her invite 5 friends to her party, we had to narrow down the list to: Kenlie, Mallory, Jack, Sariah, and Isaac. We decorated the binoculars with feathers, pom poms, foam stickers, and sequence. While the binoculars dried we played jungle bingo and then headed on the jungle safari. The kids used their binoculars to spot jungle animals that were holding clues to where the alligator pinata was hiding. The kids took finding the clues very seriously and were so darling to watch, their expressions when they found a new clue, and were listening for instructions for the next clue were priceless. Kurt ended up having to break the pinata, and with his wind up and hit all the toys and candy were broken into smithereens. So much for our pinata treats.
After presents and cupcakes we played Tiger, Tiger, Lion, which is the jungle version of Duck, Duck, Goose. Then we let the kids run wild for a few minutes until their parents picked them up. Raegan told me it was the best birthday shes had in her entire life. Happy Birthday my Birthday girl!

We Have an Announcement

Nope, were not annoucing that were pregnant. Drum roll please.............KURT GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!! Yes! It's true! After being unemployed for 7 months and searching for something new, he finally settled on a job with KUTV selling ad's for their Internet listing. Neither one of us really know details on his job yet, but at this point I don't even care, I'm just grateful that he's employed. I was getting more and more concerned as time passed by wondering if we had made the right choice for him to quit his job back in June. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't a hasty decision, we had put much thought and prayer, and financial preparation into him quitting his job. It is far more important for him to be able to have the time to be a husband and a father and not be living his life to work and never enjoy.
We still don't know if this job he got now is the one that will work out, but he's going to give it his all and I'm excited to be able to stay home with the kids once again and get my life back on track.
Since the end of November I've been working almost full time while Kurt was Mr. Mom. Don't get me wrong, he did a great job taking good care of the girls. There was only one day that he forgot to feed them at all until 3:30 p.m. and maybe they never matched or had their hair done, but for the most part I can't complain, they were happy and safe and that's all that really matters.
This little change in our lives was a great learning experience for all of us. I learned how it felt to come home after working for hours and feeling tired and irritated, and Kurt learned how much work and patience actually goes in being just a stay at home mom. I have always thought we have appreciated what each other does, but after this experience I know will have even more respect and appreciation for one another.

The Closest Thing We'll have to a Pet

Kurt opened our front door and this little fella came flying in from out of the wreath that was hanging on the door. The girls were in hysterics, I was gone to Bunco, and Kurt was trying his darndest to get the sucker out. He finally threw Macy's blanket in the air to capture the bird and let it free outside. I came home and he was telling me about the fiasco that took place and I asked him where Macy's blanket was so that I could sanitize, and disinfect it and he informed me that she was fast asleep with it! So I quickly took the blanket away from my sleeping baby to insure she didn't get Bird Flu.
The next week, different wreath, Kurt opened the door and the same little birdie flew in our house, this time I was there to witness, calm down the girls, take pictures, and find a crappy blanket for Kurt to use to capture it in. There was bird poop and feathers all over the house. Kurt also worked up a sweat chasing that thing around. I must say it was quite entertaining.

It's Finally Macy's Turn!

Ever since Raegan started dance last fall, Macy has been dying to go to dance class as well. She would constantly ask about it, and be upset when she wasn't able to participate, especially since we would stay to watch Raegan's class the majority of the time. She would copy every move from the hall of the studio, and during Raegan's dance showcase she did the entire dance right next to us while the girls performed.
So this session, she is finally old enough to go to her very own dance class! I know that I was just just as excited for her to start as she was. Her class is on Tuesdays at 11:00 and it's a good thing that it isn't any later, because on dance days she wakes up and the first thing she does is gets her tutu on for class, even when she comes home from dance she hates to take off her dance clothes. Her little friend Lily from co-op also is taking dance with her. She is loving every minute.
The very first day of class, she went in and found her teacher and didn't leave the teachers side. Macy stood at the front of the class, next to the teacher, while the rest of the class stayed on their x's facing the teacher. Her teacher Misty, is great with her and it is so fun to watch Macy try to do all the dance moves.

Christmas 2008

All my siblings and I pitched in to give my mom this kitchen set, she's been wanting one for her play room for awhile now, and that is the cutest kitchen set, if I do say so myself.




This is Raegan playing Rock Band, she was awesome, anytime the game stopped (because of her not doing to great) she would say "Okay, who missed?" Never thinking it could possibly be her.

Christmas has come and gone and I can hardly believe it. This year we spent Christmas Eve with the Swensen side of the family and Debbie and Rich's house. We ate, and ate and let the kids play. Later that night we packed up the kids, and all the presents and spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa Smiths with Judd, Haley, and Carter. The girls slept well and we even had to wake up Macy in the morning. When they came down the stairs to Christmas it was if the paparazzi was there, with all of us snapping pictures of them, that's the price they pay for being the only grandkids on that side of the family. It took them a minute to let it all settle in before they would approach their presents. Once they got going opening though, there was no stopping them. They had a great Christmas regardless of our finical situation this year. Santa treated them well as well.
We did take the girls to see Santa this year, and with that, you never know what you're going to get. Last year Raegan was terrified, this year she jumped up on Santa's lap and let him know she wanted My Little Ponies. Macy on the other hand, wouldn't go near Santa, but was still determined to let him know that she wanted presents, so she told him that from afar.
Kurt and I decided not to do Christmas for each other this year, although, Kurt broke the rules and gave me the camera I've been wanting, it's actually my birthday present as well, but it was fun to get it early. I felt crappy for him, since I stuck to the rules and only filled a stocking for him. I'll have to try to make up for that next year.

Gingerbread Mania

The girls had a great time decorating their gingerbread house this year, I was loving watching Macy and how concerned she was with matching the colors just right and figuring out patterns. They were so proud of their creation when it was finished.

Raegan's Christmas preschool program was held at the Legacy Center this year, Raegan was lucky enough to have two parts in the program. She said the line "Look at the toys lined up and ready." and also was the train engineer, during the Electric Train song. She was all smiles during her parts and did a great job. I was a little worried that when it came down to her saying her line she would get shy and scared to say it, but she loved being in the spot light.

Dancing up a Storm

My little dancer was finally able to show off what she has been learning the past few months. Ultimate Dance had a dance showcase at the studio where we were able to get a taste of all the fun things they do during class, I have actually been staying at the studio during Raegans lessons, because part way through they have to change from ballet shoes to tap shoes and for a long time Raegan wasn't able to put those tap shoes on by herself. Anyway, the showcase was adorable. I loved every minute of watching those little ones show off. They first showed us their ballet skills, including leaps, sotae's, spins, and positions. After was the big tap dance. I have to brag that Raegan was pretty much the only one in her class that knew and did the dance. In fact her teacher had her stand smack in the middle in the front and also had her go first for their leaps and everything else they did, to show the rest of the girls how to do it. Yes, she was the oldest and biggest of the group, but, we like to believe it's pure talent.