Summer Break in Arizona

This is going to be the best summer ever. This is the first "summer break" I have had as a Mommy. We started out the month touring schools and activities for Alexa. I felt so far behind since most schools started enrolling 5-6 months ago. My favorite school that I researched prior to arriving Arizona has a HUGE wait list. Alexa is 8th on the list in a class of 10 kids. So we knew that was not a realistic option. We ended up picking the 8th school we toured. It's called KinderBugs. They are owned by a lady and her sister in-law. Their school is beautiful, the teachers have degrees and the students were so polite. I felt like the staff and environment was the perfect example of what I want Alexa to grow into. Alexa will be in a prek class. I really hope it's a good fit for her. The school has a kindergarten as well. So next year we have the option of keeping her there or putting her into one of the charter schools. She starts school in 2 months. Slow down summer!

Alexa has started at one of the preschools I toured in their summer program. This school has great education standards but they lean a little more Montessori then we are looking for. Their summer program allows the kids to get down and get dirty but also have the flexibility to just be kids. Alexa comes home covered in dirty and exhausted each day. She goes 2 days a week for 3 hours. So far it's been great.

The girls and I have been swimming almost everyday. Addison seems to enjoy her float. I think she will be happier when she can play in the water on her own two legs more. When we moved here almost 4 weeks ago, Alexa swan very passively with her puddle jumper on. She decided really quickly she was too big (even though she is still smaller than the minimum weight) for her puddle jumper. She then started jumping in on her own. Now she takes running starts (only a few feet) and jumps as far as she can. She likes to swim to the bottom of the pool for dive sticks and she tries to keep up with the big kids. I am really proud at how far she has come. I am still very torn on swim lessons at this time. She is progressing so fast with watching her friends that I don't know how much benefit swim lessons will be. I think we will hold off until the pool closes in October/November to do swim lessons indoors.

Some moments I want to remember..

• Alexa woke up as I was taking Addison out of her crib. Alexa was upset because I did not say good morning to her. I quickly went over and said good morning. Alexa asked me where all her cookies where at. Knowing Alexa does not eat cookies I told her I was going to let the cows out. She said OK and rolled over back to sleep.
• Addison now says Hi and waves to people. Such a happy girl!
• Addison will drop her knees when Justin is holding her so he is forced to make her dance.
• Alexa refers to herself as medium. She said she is not little like babies & the big kids say she is not big yet, so she is medium.

We have 8 weeks left of summer. We already have a trip scheduled to San Diego, Nana is coming in town for a week & we are heading to Ohio for almost 2 weeks. We are hoping to visit the Grand Canyon and spend lots of time at the Zoo, local farms and water park.