Our hearts go out...

To the friends and family of the Gilbert Officer who was shot last night.

There are constant reminders to us of the frailness of life, especially with Todd's job. This officer was shot 3 miles from our house. If Todd was working last night, he would have been one of the officers following the suspects, as they were shooting and throwing things out of their vehicle.

We visited the scene tonight, and read the cards on the flowers and candles. Amazing support for this officers family. We ached for his two girls (10 and 12). We explained to our kids that an officer was hurt there. Rylee felt it pretty hard and had lots of questions for us. Maddie thought that that was where Jesus was buried. Either way, we talked about praying for the officers daughters. Rylee was very upset that some people know the rules, but still break them. She asked why the bad men couldn't express their anger appropriately, by walking away or talking about it (nope, she's not a therapists daughter).

Our hearts go out to this family and to all the officers who worked with him. Truly the loss of a hero.

I thank God that Todd has been kept safe. I'm so thankful that he was able to call me after the shooting he was involved in 2 years ago. I'm so thankful he wasn't injured.

The Joy of Having Girls

I get to re-live my childhood. Asking my mom to put soft hair rollers in my hair at night "but leave the front out so I can make big bangs." Sleeping in rollers all night, knowing that in the morning, I would take them out and have gi-normous hair, the best! I would couple the big hair with my ankle-zip Guess jeans "mom, you have to wash my Guess Jeans and Sweatshirt so I can wear them with my curly hair." Now, if all of these fabulous things lined up on a day where there happened to be a Skateland skating party that evening, it was true heaven. I knew that I would look hot, skating with big hair and Guess Jeans. Ah, bliss.

I love that my sweet Rylee wanted soft hair rollers. I love that she woke up at night, excited for the morning. I took them out in the morning, now....I remember looking hot, not like a poodle. Seriously, I thought, this is what I looked like? But just like me, my little poodle felt like the most beautiful girl in the East Valley. How fun!

In other news....Maddie related, just this week:

-She shoved yet another bead up her freakin nose. Luckily we got it out, I didn't even have to use Daddy's cop flashlight to look for it up there, progress?

-While at the park, in front of lots of lovely families, she yells (because I'm never standing in whispering distance when she says crazy thing, always yelling distance) "Mom, how long are you going to be in jail for this time?" I turned beat red, and ignored her. I had nothing. Maybe she was thinking of her "other mother"...let's hope

Christmas

Well, Santa delivered again (seriously, why does he get all the credit for bringing the best toys??). The big girls got bikes, daddy got a new electric remote controlled car, mommy got a coach purse, and Kenzie got all things Elmo. Some pics of the big day:
Alright so I only found one picture. Geez. I guess my New Years Resolution is to take pictures.

Catching up after the Holidays

The girls had their first real dance recital in December. They have been going to a dance studio for about 6 months, and got to perform in a recital, on stage, at a High School. Special emphasis on "stage" and "high school" as it was the coolest thing in the entire universe to get to go to a High School in the first place, then to get to "check out their backstage" (as Rylee squeeled). Dress rehearsal (all 6 hours of it) was a bit rough, Maddie had a complete meltdown because they didn't open and close the curtains "I NEED curtains!!!!," then another fit when it was over "I'm not done, put me back up there!!" They did a fabulous job during their performance, both of them just lit up getting to be on stage in front of hundreds of people. Of course afterwards, daddy gave them each a dozen roses...aw!