Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Fun at the zoo.

With cousin's Sammie and Jacob at the zoo.

Lauren and the Meerkats.

Lauren and Sammie!

Time to say good-bye.

Valentine's Day at our house starts with the Valentine presents. Lauren made me two wonderful crafts. One is her hand print in a heart. It is so very pretty. It will have special place at work.

Lauren loved the items in the Valentine's basket. She got a new Webkinz and had to load him on the site. She doesn't play webkinz much anymore but today she wanted to play on the website a few times.

We then went to the zoo. We called Brian and Diane to see if they wanted to meet us there. Since we all have annual passes it is an inexpensive way to spend the day. It was so nice out and the girls had fun just running around. I don't think they looked at more then a couple of the animals but they had a great time.

It was a wonderful Valentine's Day.

It is also the start of Chinese New Year. We missed the FCC celebration last weekend and I ask Lauren if she wanted to change into her Chinese outfit and go out for dinner. That was quickly voted down. We will try again next year.

Out of State Cheer Competition

Most of Lauren' s team. This was right after the first day's competition. They were doing really well until Lauren had a fall on one of the stunts. The girls didn't seem to care. (A couple of the girls are on a older team also. They had to go and get ready to compete again.)

Lauren on stage.

The big move.

Room service.

This weekend we had an out of state competition. We went to Palm Springs. the competition was two days. It was a huge competition. Lauren's division had 12 teams in it. Usually we only have between 2 and 5 so this was huge. They had big screens on the side of the stage to show the competition. It went from 7:30 am to about 8:00 pm. We only had to stay for the time she competed and during awards.

Lauren just loves to stay at hotels and loves when they have room service. She wanted to order it all the time. We did when we first got in and she thought it was great. (The wine is mine.) She hates that I take pictures of everything.

The competition did not go well for them. They started off really strong and then Lauren fell on one of the stunts. The girls didn't seem to mind. I asked Lauren if she felt bad and was upset that she fell and she told me "mom, it is just for fun". We (the parents and coaches) had high hopes for the second day but with 3 falls things did not get better. (Again the girls didn't seem to mind.) It was just a bad weekend for their cheering. However, they had a great time playing with each other. We were hoping to go swimming but it rained all day and was cold. So instead the girls ran around the hotel. Since most of the guest were in the competition so no one complained. The girls really got along and so did the parents. (Of course Sunday morning it was bright and sunny and warm!)

We have another out of state competition in a few months. I am sure they will do better and even if they don't I don't think they will care to much. That one is right by Disneyland so they are excited about going to the park after the competition is over.

Book Report

Lauren and her book report project.

This weekend Lauren and I worked on her first book report project. This was the paper plate book report. Lauren had to read a book and then using a paper plate create a puppet of the main character. Lauren decided to do the book, "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake". She wanted to use fur on her paper plate. She had suggested that she cut some fur from her cat when I didn't allow that she suggested that we cut up a stuffed animal she had. I suggested we go to the store and buy some fake fur. I helped hot glue the fur on the plate (and I suggested that we put stuffing on the plate). But she did everything else. I think she did a great job. She was so proud of how it turned out. She has to give her report next week and I am sure she will do a great job.

One Year Later

Cupcakes

Making cupcakes one year later!!

The hair

Look how long it it now. (I think she is tired of getting pictures taken of the hair growth.)

MLK day 2009. It was a day off work and school. We had just hung around the home and I started to feel guilty that we had not done anything that fun. So I suggested that we make cupcakes. It has been one year since that day and the crazy accident that happened. I still can't believe that it happened and now I can't believe that it has been one year. Lauren's hair came back in the bald spot and is now about 3 to 4 inches long. It has been an interesting year.

First, we had to cover the bald spot. Then when the hair was about 1/2 inch to 2 inches, it started to stick up through the comb over, so we had to deal with that. We are now at the point where all the hair is long enough to fit in the side ponytail. It is so nice not to have to cover the bald spot, use wax to keep the hair down and anything else.

Today we celebrated and we made cupcakes!!! Lauren even used the handmixer once again. At first she was a bit scared but I told her that she needed to do it so that she could get over it and not be scared anymore. The hair still need to grow a lot more but we made it past the hardest part!!!

winterfest

Winterfest at school.

Playing in the snow.

Blaire on the Velcro jump house.

Lauren on the snow.

Usually Lauren's school has a fall fest but this year they decided to do a winterfest instead. Fall in Arizona can still be hot and the fest is usually really hot. Having it during the winter was a nice change. The weather was great and everyone seemed to have fun.

I didn't get many pictures of Lauren because she "wanted to hang out with her friends". My little girl has grown up!!! My other picture issue is that my usual camera is in the shop. When I told Lauren I might not be able to take as many pictures of her this next month or so, she clapped and let out a happy scream. I think she is trying to tell me something.

We met Blaire and Grant at the fest. Lauren hung out with Blaire for a while but even ditched one of her favorite cousins for friends. Blaire really wanted to do the Velcro jumpy house. They put on a Velcro suit and jump against the wall, also covered in Velcro. It was pretty funny. Blaire said it was hard to unattached from the wall. It was pretty funny to watch.

We had to leave the fun early so Lauren could go to her first ever slumber party. I miss her tonight.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!


Good bye 2009 and Hello 2010.


We spent the evening at my brother Brian's house. The girls played with silly string and we had poppers and a great dinner. Then we watched the ball fall in Time Square and yelled Happy New Year. Although it was only 10:00 here in Arizona the girls thought it was the New Year. I don't think I can fool Lauren for much longer. She can tell time now and I think that next year she is going to call me on this time switch. But this year it worked and she was in bed and asleep well before the Arizona midnight came.

Fun Day with Sammie at the Zoo.

Lauren and Sammie playing on the dragon.

Cousins!!

Zebra sunglasses for a day at the zoo.

The day after Christmas Lauren and I went to the zoo with Sammie, Jacob and Brian and Diane. Brian and Diane got us a season pass to the zoo. I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time at the zoo this year.