For the love of books

 As a child, I LOVED books. As in couldn't eat, bathe or drive anywhere without a book in my hand. My choice of books were pretty basic and juvenile- I had every Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley Twin book available. There was a small, family owned bookstore within walking distance from our house. I would stalk them every few days waiting for the new Sweet Valley Twin book to come out (as if the previous 56 issues weren't enough). I can still picture every inch of that store, can still hear the door chime and can remember that distinct new book smell. 

My love for books has dwindled. I love book stores and have a pile of books calling my name every night but my comfy bed calls louder! :) Instead, I love encouraging my girls reading habits. A few years ago, Julia didn't enjoy reading as much as before and I was so sad (it has since returned)! Even though our budget is quite tight lately, and the library is still our friend, there is something so magical about getting to peruse a book store and walking out with a new book to call your own.

The school book fair is this week and each girl picked out a new book. We were the last ones to leave, otherwise I would have stayed all afternoon (like Bella!)

 

Bella scoping out all the books. It took her a while to pick hers out!

 Julia usually is happy to smile for pictures but she was irritated that Bella had a play date today and that she didn't. I think the picture is funny and will be something to laugh at someday!

Camille picked out this book about chickens in honor of our new flock!

HAPPY READING!

Camille's party

Camille was so excited about her party this year- she truly got the concept that everyone was coming for her and bearing gifts with her name on it!

We celebrated at Skies of Blue- an awesome, indoor play area in Maricopa. I also work there (very part-time) and it comes with many perks- one being able to use the facility for family events.

While I was setting up, Chet and the girls tested out the equipment. 

Handsome guy!

Chet and his beautiful mom

Most of the Lamis crew

Even my mom got into the bike riding!

 

Photo booth fun! 

 

The birthday girl and her BFF Emily!

 

 

I put the pictures into photo booth strips for party favors. 

Disclamimer- I am new to Photoshop and need to learn how to re size pictures without distorting the image- oops! Still good for my first attempt!

 

We came back to our house for ice cream cake (Camille's choice for the 2nd time this week!) 

 

and presents!

We love this little 4 year old SO much!

Camille is 4!

 My sweet (and kind of crazy) Camille is now 4! 

'MY FAVORITES" ACCORDING TO CAMILLE

Food: smoothies 

Color: pink

TV show: Backyardigans

Book: Angelina or Olivia

Best Friend: Emily

Dessert: Banana split ice cream cake with sprinkles

thing to do: hang out with mommy

Her birthday celebration included a breakfast of donuts, a trip to the nursery to check out cool plants and baby chicks, her first bowl game and her pick of dessert (banana split ice cream cake with sprinkles).  We were happy to spend the day together! 

Happy birthday Camille!!

Why not?

 Now that we are staying in our home a little longer, we decided to take the plunge into backyard chickens! Everyone asks "why??" when hearing of our little plan and we answer "why not?"! We all love animals and think backyard chicks will make a good addition to our family.

*these are already 4 weeks old- more hearty than the cute little day old ones and closer to being able to move outside. They will start laying eggs by early Fall- one a day per chicken!

We would love a backyard ecological system, so in addition to the eggs, these chicks will help as fertilizer, a supplement to our compost and natural bug control. They currently live in the garage under the heat lamp but will move into this outdoor coop within a few weeks. (we will add a run to the coop soon)

Never too old for cake!

We celebrated Ronnie's birthday this past weekend- starting with a trip to the theater to see "The Little Mermaid". (okay, the play was more for the girls but still part of the celebratory weekend).

For a grandpa, this guy sure loves his birthdays and cake! Happy birthday Ron!

Daddy Daughter Dance 2013

 February in our house means lots of spoiling by daddy! Chet buys the girls a big box of Valentine chocolate AND takes them to the annual Daddy Daughter dance at our school. Julia and Bella look forward to this dance every year!

All grown up!

 Bella and Chet laughing because her courage was too big for  her little wrist. Mom saved the day and stapled it smaller.

 Ready to dance the night away!

 How did I get so lucky with this handsome husband and beautiful girls?

Camille has 2 more years until Kindergarten so this little one stayed home with me. She put on her favorite dress and we had our own dance party!

Must see

37.5  years

That's how long I have lived in the wonderful state of Arizona. I love the desert, the orange trees, the sunsets, the weather, touristy Wild West stuff, and being so close to family. I was getting tired of it all and in a rut until we planned on moving to Minnesota last month. Then my I Love AZ campaign  kicked into high gear and I was sad to leave everything I had taken for granted!

After we decided to stay in Arizona for a bit longer, I have definitely enjoyed all that desert living has to offer. One of my regrets was not exploring Arizona to its fullest. Even being a native, there were still places I hadn't been, yet we always said "Oh, we'll go there someday". That someday is now and we are trying to check off all the "must sees". Our first "must see" was the Bisbee mine tours. Chet and I had been to Bisbee, AZ with Suzanne and Pat when they lived in Sierra Vista (oh to be that close again!) but never with the kids.

First stop -the supposed haunted Bisbee Hotel. 

*little tidbit about Julia- she has some odd/not so odd fears. She is very fearful of natural disasters and wants to know about each location's potential for disaster like "Does Minnesota have tornadoes?". Somehow Julia knows about the Chilean miner accident from a few years ago (from where, who knows??) and was apprehensive to go on a mine tour even though we explained the safety of our tour. 

Julia is also somewhat afraid of haunted hotels- well, what kid isn't? Julia made sure she walked in the middle of our group, peered around every corner, jumped anytime a hotel guest or worker exited their room and definitely didn't enjoy the fun fact that one of the resident ghosts was named Julia Lowell. 

*Julia clung onto Chet the entire time.

 

 Putting on their best scared faces for the camera!

 

Off to conquer Julia's fear of mines. :-)

At the entrance of the mine- they are very serious about safety!

 

This is the mine train that took us 1500 feet into the mine. 

 The narrow shaft that we rode most of the way.

 Ending our trip with an ice cream stop in downtown Bisbee!

 LOVE old towns that look straight out of a history book!

 Bisbee is only 10 miles from the Mexico border- since the kids have not been to Mexico, we decided to take advantage of the proximity and show them Naco, Mexico from the fence that marks the border in this border town. It delayed our long 3.5 hr drive home but it was one of those "why not?" moments that are fun to enjoy!