tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55154820371127344662024-02-19T06:51:35.053-05:00The Cox's Growing FamilyFAMILY: Where life begins and love never ends.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-46677024760016441232020-04-11T13:30:00.000-04:002020-04-11T13:30:52.303-04:00COVID-19There will never be a better time to catch up on blogging than during this time home. As of today we have now been home full time for 29 days! Its flown by. At first I was nervous about missing a few weeks of work to be home while the girls schools were projected to be closed for 2 whole weeks, right before Spring Break. I was afraid my network wouldn't work and the time would just be wasted. How wrong was my perspective 4 weeks ago. At first I was determined to use the time to have the girls catch up on school, Awana, soccer, piano, softball, while Justin and I did all the house hold projects, de-cluttering and prepping to sell our house. the list never ended. Instead of slowing down, my first thought was to make the most of this time. Great, I have a few extra hours to get even more stuff in to my day.<br />
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The first week went as you can imagine. We fell flat on our faces. We did get a lot done. The checklists were getting smaller. We even had time to have a St. Patrick's Day last party with our close group of friends. However, my computer went down and it was the end of the world. We packed up and spent a few hours at my work. Instead of enjoying the last few hours with my co-workers before we would work remotely indefinitely, I crammed to do as much as I could from my desk. I brought stuff for the girls to do. Because they could not waste a few hours where they could otherwise check things off their lists. Even typing this, I am in shock.<br />
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Week 2 came and the girls had real school work to do. At this point, I had all the kinks in my work figured out. I was successfully getting a full 8+ hours in every single day, Yah me! The girls lists were huge... like 6 hours of school work if they maximized every "required" item and all the optional items as well. Great, they can now do their school, soccer, Awana, piano, add write letters to all distant relatives, Facetime with Grandparents and connect with their friends and get their daily bike rides in. Yup, that lasted one week.<br />
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Week 3.. We have found a balance of doing all the required school work and none of the optional. PE, yeah covered with our now every other day bike rides. Technology, come on, that's what school is now anyways. Music, piano lessons are sufficient. Science, go make lunch and use measuring cups. Problem solved... Something happened this week. Through it all, we have found so much peace in doing nothing. Family dinner, every single night and ending with games and movies. It's become my own slice of heaven.<br />
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Week 4 is Spring Break. School has now been closed indefinitely... a new common word around here. Kids are required to do their normal morning routines, 45 minutes of educational activities and then whatever they want the rest of the day. It was a break we all needed. We certainly have not found the most ideal balance, but we (as in me) have been flexible with going with the flow.<br />
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I hope looking back on this time, I remember what its like to watch the girls learn a new school concept. Family game night. Sharing new inside jokes and enjoying all the small things. I hope the girls friendship continues flourish. I hope they remember all the helpers. Looking for ways to help others, and identifying all the people who are making this such a wonderful time.<br />
<br />Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-28321407094063812982020-02-23T16:56:00.000-05:002020-04-14T16:59:40.101-04:00Costa Rica 2020Costa Rica is a place I have wanted to visit for awhile. It was our first attempt at getting the girls out of the country (besides Mexico). We planned an 8 day trip over the girls "ski week."<br />
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We flew in to San Jose, Costa Rica. It's one of the two international airports in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it's the further airport from the areas we were wanting to visit. However, do to costs and times, it was the better option. We arrived after midnight and took an uber to our hotel. The hotel had a Mediterranean feel. It was beautiful in every way. We slept a short night there and then drove to our first destination, Arenal Volcano. It was a few hour drive through the beautiful country. Once we arrived, it was very green, moist and cloudy (normal being at the top of a volcano). Our hotel had over 30 tropical springs. We played around in several of them. We had dinner at a local restaurant with views over the volcano. The next morning we went on a river raft ride. We saw tons of unique birds, sloths and monkeys. Later in the afternoon we drove to the coast.<br />
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Once we arrived in Guanacasta we saw some of our soccer friends. It was nice to see some familiar faces. We spent the week relaxing at the JW Marriott, zip lining and horse back riding. Horse backing ride was a highlight for the girls. We started in the trees and ended on the beach. We saw monkeys in the trees and even a random cow. Both girls did wonderful on the horses and want to do it again soon. Zip lining was quite the adventure. The girls were brave and we all had a great time. We visited a few local towns. In one we rented jet skis and went out to the ocean. Addy and I rode together with a modest speed. Addy had fun pushing the acceleration. Justin and Alexa had a more adventure approach. They had quite the speed. Although it ended with some blood and tears, they had a wonderful time. We are all wanting to do it again.<br />
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On the Marriott property there were a lot of wild, but fed horses. We took several trips out to see them. We brought them apples and enjoyed their company. One day they even got into the parking lot and we helped guide them back to the fields. The Marriott also offered a kids club. This was a first for us besides the cruises kids club. The girls enjoyed stopped in and doing a craft while we were having some quiet time.<br />
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Costa Rica is a fabulous country and we hope to go back in the future.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-58425800860767711642019-04-21T16:17:00.000-04:002019-04-22T16:18:38.338-04:00Easter 2019Easter Week/ Holy Week started our as our return from Spring Break. On Tuesday we colored eggs. Addy enjoyed writing on eggs with the white crayon. Alexa enjoyed seeing how many different colors she could fit onto one egg. They both liked Justin adding lots of glitter to their final products.<br />
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Since Justin was traveling to Egypt, I decided to volunteer at church during the one outdoor service. This meant we were invited to church on Saturday night for a pre-Easter event. We enjoyed worship, praying over the chairs and a wonderful meal. The girls mostly ate bread and cheese. Afterwards all the kids ran around the field and had a fun evening. <br />
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Sunday morning we woke up early. The girls raced around the house to find more eggs then their baskets would hold. (Time to upgrade their infant baskets) They enjoyed sorting their eggs and even eating some chocolate before breakfast. The girls wore their dresses from the father/daughter dance to church. Once we arrived at church the girls were able to enjoy the bounce houses before anyone else arrived. They then went to their class and had a wonderful service, including games.<br />
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After church we went to the Ellinghaus' home for an egg hunt. The kids once again ran around and had a great time. I wasn't keeping close tabs on Addy's sugar intake. She ended up sick at dinner later in the day. Opps! It ended up being a learning experience for her on her personal limits. <br />
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Easter was a special day with a focus on Christ. We did make the most of the commercialized part as well. It never quite felt like a holiday having Justin away. Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-86573918682402833822019-04-06T17:44:00.000-04:002019-04-26T18:25:31.495-04:00HawaiiHawaii for our 10 year anniversary has been the plan as long as we have been married. I never imagined that we would be living in California and only a 5 hour plane ride away. I do remember thinking in the early years how strange it would be to have an 8 1/2 year old. That time flew by and I am very grateful that we had the opportunity to go as a family of 4 to Oahu. <br />
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After an eventful time driving to airport, we made it on the plane. We have always sat 4 across meaning I sit with the girls and Justin is usually across the aisle. Our flight was early but the girls had a good night rest, so they didn't sleep at all. Instead they played games, watched shows on the TVs, did a tiny bit of school work and watched as the islands came into view. Once we arrived we went straight to the hotel to check in. We walked around a bit, ate dinner and played at the beach.<br />
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The next morning we had an early appointment to go snorkeling in the ocean and see sea turtles. The girls enjoyed the catamaran ride. They were excited about snorkeling but a bit overwhelmed. Alexa did not like the cold water temperature. Addy was a bit hesitant about being in the middle of the ocean. The life guard with us offered to put Addy on his board and paddle her around. She LOVED it. It made her entire experience. Alexa preferred laying on the boat and relaxing. Later in the day, Addy and Justin took turns jumping off the boat into the water. Sunday afternoon we hiked Diamondhead as a family. It was so very warm so we can bought ices and a pineapple smoothie to take with us. The girls did the entire thing with minimum complaints.<br />
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Monday morning our hotel had an art expo. Alexa took hula lessons and the girls made bracelets from old water bottles. Addy bought a bath bomb that she later enjoyed. That afternoon we went and hiked Manoa Falls. It is a simple walk to a water fall. It is in a rainforest and felt right out of a movie. In the evening we went up with Aly and her family and swam at the hotel pool.<br />
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On Tuesday we went to a beach on the East side of the island called Lanakai. It was one most beautiful beach I have ever been to. The girls enjoyed snorkeling off the shore, playing in the sand and being buried up to their necks. We had lunch at a local Hawaiian spot. Super yummy, but so much food. In the afternoon we went to Pearl Harbor. We did the tour out to the Arizona. Addy was bored and fell asleep. Alexa was in shock and a bit sad. After the tour we met up with our friends. The girls were so excited to be together. Maanya even asked for a playdate....<br />
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Wednesday morning we woke up very early and went to Hanauma Bay to snorkel. The girls were very brave. I don't think they enjoyed seeing the fish as much as playing in the sand with their friends. After snorkeling we went and had Hawaiian donuts called malasadas. They were yummy and became our lunch. Then we went back to the hotel for the girls painting class. They learned how to paint the Diamondhead scene. Alexa did the night time and Addy did the daytime. We brought home two very sweet paintings. That evening we had a Magic Show at the hotel. The girls were in awe. It was a bit hit for them. <br />
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Thursday we drove to North Shore. We started at Turtle Bay with swimming and snorkeling. I enjoyed taking the girls out as the water was warmer and they were more comfortable. After an hour or so we moved to Sharks Cove. We saw lots of neat things in the Tide Pools. We snorkeled and came very close to a shark. It was overwhelming for me. The girls didn't seem too concerned by him. After lunch we went to Waianae Falls. The movie Jimangi was being filmed. We didn't have much time to be nosey so we didn't see The Rock. We did make it to the falls and all swam out under the waterfall in the rain. I hope its a moment the girls will remember. If we ever go back to Oahu, It will be on my list to see again. <br />
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Thursday evening we had our Luau. We were greeted with shell necklaces and drinks. The girls and I made flower bracelets and coconut leaf head pieces. The chief had a preshow that included climbing a tree. There was the traditional roasting of the pig (which we glanced over). We booked our tickets very early. I was able to get us seats in the front row. It made it such a great experience for the girls. They both really enjoyed the fire dancer and even the hula dancers. Our host was Glenn Mederio's. He sang "Nothings Going to Change my Love for you" as Justin and I danced. It was probably the highlight of the trip for me. Alexa went on stage for a quick dance competition. I could have gone to the Luau every night. <br />
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Friday morning we had an activity that Justin found for us. It was the Pirate Adventure. The girls were given eye patches and bandanas. The had to solve clues on the boat to find the location of the treasure. Once we were there they pulled it up onto the boat. They had pirate swords and went to battle with the crew. The girls LOVED it. It was Addy's high light for sure. That afternoon we went and got out traditional family ornament. In the evening we went out to a hibachi restaurant. So yummy but sad since it was our last night at the hotel.<br />
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Saturday morning we all decided we want to go back to North Shore. We stopped at the Dole Plantation on our way. It was neat to see all the pineapples that we enjoy so much. Outside of the train ride, we didn't see much else. I did get some yummy corn before we found a shrimp truck for lunch. After lunch we went to Waianae Beach. The waves were unsafe for most of it. The big drive to go there was so Justin could jump off the rock. He did and even got thrown around in waves for awhile. We have wonderful videos to remind him why he was so sore. Afterwards we went to get shaved ice from Masumoto. It was highly known for the best shaved ice on the island. I felt a little under impressed but it was still fun to do. The best thing about it was the cost. It was the first "cheap" thing we did all week. After we had our treat we went to the airport. We spent 2 hours in the United Lounge eating dinner and relating. Our flight was a red eye. The girls slept for most of it and for the 2 hour drive home. <br />
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Hands down the best Cox vacation to date. <br />
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Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-90971215128428290872019-02-17T16:58:00.000-05:002019-03-19T17:15:14.698-04:00Ski WeekThe girls were requesting a snowy vacation for ski week this year. Last year we did a cruise so I felt I should find something at least cold for them. We decided it was the perfect time to head to Chicago to visit Great-Grandpa. We woke up very early for a 6am flight. The girls have become amazing travelers. They help with bags, carry their boosters and wait patiently whenever need be. Our flight had some great tail wind, we landed after only 3 hours. Megan picked us up and took us to Grandpa's. The girls were so excited to see their cousins. That evening we went out for dinner for Megan's birthday. The kids enjoyed riding in Megan's "Fun car." That night they even tried to have a sleepover downstairs. Addy came up when she started having night mares. I was glad to have someone to cuddle with.<br />
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The next day the kids were able to play in the snow. They were both excited to shovel, make snow angels and throw snow at me. It was definitely a high light of the trip. Later in the afternoon we went to my Dad's cousins house for an ice cream party. The kids ran around and used up some of their energy. Addy was able to meet the other Addie. That night the kids played games before heading to bed (upstairs this time).<br />
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The next morning Megan's family left. We spent the day playing in the snow. We made a snow man and a snow kitten. Grandpa took us to the store to get food and then we spent the evening play games and doing puzzles. <br />
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The flight home was a bit more eventful. Our flight was delayed, and then pushed up to leave on time. The winds were against us this time. Our flight ended up being over 5 hours. The girls did well but of course were ready to get home.<br />
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Once we got home, we were greeted by Justin and Grammie. The girls spent the next three days playing with Grammie. They had such a good time. We went out for ice cream, and to a bird sanctuary. Addy even cried when it was time for her to leave. I promised she would be back again.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-7158872178055028542019-02-01T16:42:00.000-05:002019-02-15T16:42:49.291-05:00EgyptThe Cox girls only saw pyramids and sand storms through countless hours of video chats with Dad. However, the month was note worthy and worth getting on paper. <br />
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The first week Justin was gone, Alexa had soccer try outs. It was single handily the most stressful week in the last few years. Crazy, right? Something so minor like second grade soccer compared to the real life adult issues we have dealt with sound off. However, bare with me. This week started with our new routine of getting everyone out the door by 7:20 every morning. There is no back-up, no, oops I will bring it to you at school, and certainly no sick days allowed. Somehow we managed to get to school and work every day for a month. Yes, I am tooting my own horn. <br />
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We are so blessed to have our Nanny, Jena. She makes sure the girls are where they need to be after school and even gets their school items put away. Monday morning that first week she took Alexa to try outs. Alexa did great. We were so pumped! Alexa is great at a lot of things.. sports aren't typically one of them. She of course wants more then anything to stay with her friends and have fun. This isn't the normal 8-10 weeks of soccer. This is 12 months of training, tournaments, parties and then the season in the fall. (Big deal stuff in the eyes of an 8 year old) After the second day of try outs we began our wait... and waiting... and waiting. On the third day I was feeling the gray hairs pop through my scalp. (I have actual evidence of this) I called the coach. After a discussion I don't wish I relive, Alexa had a spot on the team. Crises diverted, onto the next big deal. <br />
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A couple months back I did the math and realized Alexa was going to be 100 months old soon. Addy and I surprised her by decorating the house. She was so excited. It is silly and doesn't have significant meaning. However, in our house we choose to celebrate life whenever we can. For 100 months I have been blessed with the sweetest daughter I could have ever asked for. She was more then I could have imagined a child would be. I pray that she knows her own worth.<br />
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Addy plays B-Ball now. She was asked to play on a team with her friends a few months back. She instantly said yes but made it clear she had no idea what basketball was. Her first practice she stood under the net and took a ball to the face. Once she had a bit more time to understand what was happening she started to really enjoy it. Addy's strengths include arguing with the ref on technicalities, making team chants on the bench, lots of water breaks and defense. We are focusing on the last one the best we can. She understands if she wants her team to win, she needs to get the ball from the stinky boys as quickly as she can. She hasn't quite gotten the strength to make a basket yet. She does put up a fair number of attempts. It's been a fun experience for us all. However, if I was betting person... I would put my money on soccer. <br />
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Rugby! Alexa finished her first season of rugby. Such a fun experience. She learned something brand new and wasn't afraid to make a mistake. She even played her first outdoor game in downpouring rain. Not many San Diego kids can say that.<br />
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There were more birthday parties then I can count. The girls are in the sweet stage of life where everyone is friends with everyone they have ever met or even just shared room air with. In turn it means weekends packed with bowling, pedicures and birthday cake. <br />
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The last big thing this month was Lego League Expo. Alexa's team, the Coyote Astronauts competed for the second year at Legoland. The kids did a great job and showed huge improvements from last year. Afterwards we rode rides and played with our friends. It was the first year that the second graders were able to ride rides alone. They are getting so big!<br />
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After a busy month, Justin made it home. At the time it felt like a very long time. In the grand scheme of things, it was just a blink.<br />
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Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-9820934956809602602018-12-25T12:43:00.000-05:002019-01-17T12:44:19.983-05:00Christmas 2018The Christmas season started with the girls school parties. Alexa's class had candy cane fishing and lots of crafts. Our little artist loved it. Addy's class decorated gingerbread houses. She enjoyed putting lots of candy on her house. She even ate some along the way.<br />
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The weekend before Christmas we drove to Williams, Arizona to take a trip on the Polar Express. We went in 2014, 2015 and 2016. It was fun to return again this year. This year the weather was very cold, but no snow. The girls enjoyed bundling up with hats and big jackets. We explored the town, ate lots of yummy food and took endless pictures. This year we even did the Santa sleigh zip line for the first time. This is the first year both girls were tall enough. Alexa and Justin went first. They enjoyed it with lots of laughs along the way. When it was time for Addy and I to go we were both nervous. I tried to act tough, but Addy could read right through it. She was requesting to go with Justin (who is clearly braver). I knew it was a good opportunity to show how tough we could be together. We ended up having a great time. Addy even wanted to go again.<br />
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That night we put on our matching PJs and headed off to the north pole. Addison still didn't want to go near Santa. She settled for sitting on my lap next to Santa for our traditional photo. Maybe next year... Once we got on the train we drank hot chocolate, ate cookies and sang songs. Addy took a nap but woke up in time to see the elves. Once Santa boarded the train, the girls excitement went even higher. It was a magical ride that I hope to always remember.<br />
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Once we were back home in San Diego we attended and volunteered at our churches Living Nativity. This is our second Christmas at Horizon and it's probably my favorite part of our church. Both girls enjoy being in costume, heading the kids that attend and talking about Jesus. What more could you ask for? The girls helped in the craft area for a few hours. Later they left me to help in games. By the end of the night, both girls had their own booths. Somehow there tiny statures have the confidence of full grown adults. <br />
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On Christmas Eve we attended church. The girls went into the children's service and had a great time. That night we went home and opened on gift. Before we opened them, Addy stopped us and reminded us we should pray first. Both girls were eager to give each other their gifts. After laying out milk, cookies and carrots (shredded of course) they were fast asleep.<br />
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Christmas morning was magical. We opened gifts, played, ate, video chatted with Grandparents, ate some more and watched Christmas movies. It was relaxing and fun and perfect in its own way. I used to be sad about not having family around on big holidays. Now I realize I enjoy just spending time with the people I love the most in the world. Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-20302579513027036422018-10-31T15:36:00.000-04:002018-11-01T15:52:51.095-04:00Halloween 2018Back in August we celebrated Addy's fifth birthday by going to Disney Land. Both girls were able to get full princess makeovers. Part of their makeovers were fabulous dresses. My thought was they could get the dress and then wear them again for Halloween. Fast forward a few months.. both girls are on board with wearing their pre-purchased dresses. Took the stress out of October for me. <br />
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We started our fall season by driving to Julian. We have driven though there, but never experienced more then some pie. Instead, this time we stopped at a local farm. We all painted little pumpkins (which later ended up getting washed off by an unexpected rainstorm). We played in the petting zoo. We were told we could pick up any of the animals. Next thing you know, our sweet animal lover, Alexa June is carrying a chicken around. That turned into Addy chasing chickens. It was a sweet moment. Next we visited the reptile show. The girls both enjoyed holding and playing with the snakes. Next was apple cider making. The girls had the opportunity to put apples in and stir the machine. It was pretty strong, but Alexa liked the flavor. After eating lunch in downtown Julian we came back to the farm for candle making and a hay ride. Then we stopped by the next door farm to pick apples and search for pumpkins. It was a great day.<br />
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Later in the month, Alexa had her Halloween piano recital. Since she was going to be Jasmine, she opted to play "A Whole New World," from Aladdin. She wore her full costume and did great. We are so proud of her. That same weekend we attended a Halloween party at our friends house. Everyone there was dressed. There were games, crafts and endless laughter. Definitely one we will remember. <br />
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On Halloween morning the girls got up early to get in costume. Addy was Ariel from the Little Mermaid. We opted to color her entire head red. She looked fabulous. The girls had a parade at school and then class parties. Justin and I rotated between their classes. It's nice having them in the same building, but it's still hard to juggle. After school the girls at their dinners in record speed. We then hurried out to tick or treat. We went through our neighborhood and the one next to ours. It lasted about 2 1/2 hours. Addy would walk into peoples homes when they opened their door. It was fun, but scary how comfortable she was with strangers. She enjoyed seeing so many of her classmates. Alexa was going for quantity. She was racing as fast and she could from house to house. I am not sure she enjoyed the scary parts of Halloween very much, but she enjoyed her treats. Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-44544276745557143732018-10-23T11:19:00.003-04:002018-10-23T11:19:42.217-04:00More then the leaves changed...What a crazy few months it has been. I am determined to keep writing stories for the girls to have as a scrap book if they ever want to look back on. Over the last few years I have felt the desire to work and have contribute to the family outside of the home. I knew I wanted to wait until both girls were at Sage and on a full day schedule. Starting in May I applied for 1 job with Justin's company. They hired me just to start my security clearance. Of the summer I didn't think much about it. Come August, another position posted. I applied, interviewed and got the job. They wanted me to start within a week. So we spent the last weekend of summer arranging child care, schedules and our new crazy life with two working parents. The girls started their first day of school. Addy started kindergarten and Alexa started second grade. It was a bittersweet day. My girls are growing up. They are happy, kind, smart and funny girls. I knew it would be one of the first (for Addy) and last days that I would get to walk them to Sage for awhile. I tried to really take it in, but it flew by. On their third day of school I woke them up, got them dressed, did their hair and then went to work. I cried the entire way there. Trying not to be red and crazy looking I had to suck it up and cover my face with fresh powder. <br />
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The girls started afterschool care a few days a week (only for 2 hours) and the have a part time Nanny two days a week as well. The arrangement so far had worked well. Addy has her moments where she is tired and just wants to go home and relax. Unfortunately that is not in our schedule for now. Alexa seems to be keeping up with the hustle and enjoying her new routine. Second grade has been a great year so far. Alexa enjoys being reunited with some of her kinder friends. She has made new friends and has a great teacher. She also enjoys the challenge of the academics. Being an early reader made Kinder and 1st grade a bit easy for her. Second grade offers new areas of learning and she loves it. Addy has made friends but also knows some of the kids from preschool, soccer and siblings of Alexa's friends. I think school is a lot of fun for her. She enjoys learning. I do think the academics are a bit more then she was expecting. She seems to be keeping up and always talks highly of her class family.<br />
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I am hoping I can soon start working earlier hours or more hours from home. My goal is to be able to be home with the girls in the afternoons. For now, we are sticking with out schedule until we can find a better balance. What a change it have been the last two months. Soon it will feel normal... I hope. Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-77711773827684705092018-10-01T14:33:00.000-04:002018-10-23T14:34:04.248-04:00Soccer MomI think we can officially say we are a soccer family. Both girls are playing full time this year. Alexa's competitive team practices twice a week and has 1-2 games every weekend for 3 months. It's a bit much, but she loves it. Alexa's confidence has grown. Her athletic ability went from very little to thriving. She works hard and really gives it her all. We are so proud of her! <br />
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Addy has been in preschool soccer programs a few time. This season she started on a real team. They practices every week and have a game on Saturday's. The games are pretty mild. The only real rule is on goal kicks, the offense has to go back to the half way line. Outside of that, the girls run around.. learning positions and ball control. Addy has scored a few goals this season. She seems to understand positions and enjoys playing goalie and defense. <br />
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Both girls plan on trying out for competitive once this season is over. Alexa loves her team and hopes to stay on it. Addy is more particular and wants a certain coach with certain teammates. I think it will be a good life lesson coming her way soon. Until then... I will continue coaching like a crazy soccer Mom from the sideline.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-58652154715178257962018-07-10T19:09:00.001-04:002018-07-10T19:09:41.808-04:00Summer GoalsEach year I try to plan ahead on what will make summer break the most memorable and meaningful for the girls. As usual I have some academics planned. This is usually reading, writing, flash cards and some Kumon books. The girls enjoy completing these and negotiating rewards for their sticker charts. This year I wanted to push them a bit further. I had each girl come up with 3 personal goals. I gave some ideas but in the end the goals were theirs. For accountability I am posting them below.<br />
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Addison's Goals</div>
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1. Learn to ride her bike without training wheels</div>
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2. Learn to swim in the deep end</div>
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3. Learn to read</div>
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These are some ambitious goals but I am happy she is dreaming big. Her first update: After 2 weeks of summer Addy has been going without training wheels around the block. She needs some help with sharp turns and getting started. So far so good. Swimming is making progress as well. She still has work to do. Reading is also improving. It will be her toughest goal.</div>
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Alexa's Goals</div>
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1. Back walkover</div>
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2. Running a 5k </div>
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She hasn't come up with a third goal. I am hoping she will as the summer continues. Her back walkover is a big goal, but she can get them. Alexa and I have started the couch to 5k training program together. So far we are half way through week 4. Our race is scheduled for August 19th! </div>
Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-65693473617696140392018-06-05T19:31:00.000-04:002018-06-05T19:31:15.565-04:00Farewell Preschool After seven years of having a child in preschool/daycare the day has come where they are moving on. I cannot believe Addison preparing for kindergarten. She has spent three years in preschool at three different schools. This of course was not the plan. The school she started in was located in La Jolla where we used to live. When we moved to Carmel Valley, Addison moved to Solana Beach Presbyterian Preschool. Although the school did have a lot of benefits to it, it was not the best fit for Addison. We decided for her last year of preschool she would move to Horizon Prep. We felt Horizon gave her more opportunities for growth and will give her the extra help to get her ready for kindergarten at our accelerated elementary school. <div>
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During this last year, Addison has grown so much. She has matured beyond what I thought was possible for her. She enjoys Spanish class, music class, eating lunch at school (this is new) and then moving into a full day schedule. She spent about 5 and a half hours a day at school. This has been great for both of us.Her personality has come out in the last few months. She is quite the leader and enjoys on stage. Her enrichment teachers always give us great reviews on her behavior. Her Spanish teacher told us that Addison has a heart for the Lord. I truly feel Addison is ready to start kindergarten in a few months. If anyone is not ready, it's this Momma. SO proud of where our peanut is going in life. </div>
Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-4124493598860535492018-05-31T19:00:00.000-04:002018-06-05T19:00:22.858-04:00Field Trips As most things in the girls lives, they both had field trips the same week. Addison's was first. It was to Helen Woodward. It is conveniently located right next store to the preschool. Addison always wants to visit the animals and knew her school would be going at some point during the year. The day of the field trip arrived and Addison was very excited. Her class walked over to the animal center. They were able to see a bunny, miniature horse and parrot. Addison enjoyed holding the parrot but the bunny was her favorite part. It was a cute introduction to what field trips will be like next year.<br />
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Alexa's field trip was the second day. I was chosen to join her class on the field trip. It started out as they usually do on the bus. Each parent was assigned 4 kids to keep track of. After a science lesson we were given full range of the museum. Keeping tabs on 4 kids who have 4 different ideas of where they should go was quite the challenge. Alexa and I enjoyed some time together but also with the group. At one point I could not find Alexa. She ended up finding a book and went behind an exhibit to read. After the museum we all ate lunch around the fountain. I am grateful I was able to go and that Alexa still enjoys me doing things with me.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-71320290172797755302018-03-04T16:04:00.000-05:002018-03-06T16:06:57.125-05:00Father Daughter DancesBoth Addison and Alexa's schools had father daughter dances around Valentine's day. Addison's was first. Leading up to the dance Addison was unsure what a dance was. She was thinking Justin was going to be attending ballet class with her. We tried explaining it in terms of a wedding reception, like a party. She was insisting she was not going to a wedding with Dad. Luckily when the time came she was pleasantly surprised. She picked out her dress with Grammie. I think it was the perfect combination of sweet preschooler, fun dance and eloquent. She let me do her hair. It took us an hour, but it turned out great. She also wore shimmer and a little bit of make up. She felt like a princess. Justin bought her a flower plant, which she loved. We got some great pictures and off they went. According to Justin they had a great time. Addison didn't care to dance with Justin but did enjoy dancing on her own. She ran around with her friends, ate tons of sweets and fell asleep in the car on the way home. It was a successful first dance.<br />
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About 3 weeks later it was Alexa's turn. Alexa has been to several dances so she had more opinion on her dress and the events leading up to the dance. After a few attempts we found the perfect dress on amazon. It fit Alexa perfectly and was great for dancing. Unfortunately, her skin was super irritated by it. She still managed to wear it to the dance. The next few days she had some bumps but they did heal. Alexa also asked to get her hair done professionally. Since I have been getting relatively good at doing the girls hair, I was a bit offended. I swallowed my pride and took her to her favorite saloon. She ended up with a cute up-do. Her best friend Sophia was there as well. It was sweet to watch them enjoy the milestone together. Alexa's hair dresser asked if she could add glitter. I said sure, then it was going to be sprinkled on. Nope... she ended up with streaks of blue in her hair. Oh well! After hair we came back home to get her ready. She also choose some shimmer and make up. Justin ordered her a corsage to wear. Unfortunately it was huge so we returned it for some pink baby roses. At the dance Alexa was with her group of friends. They had dinner, danced and partied until 8:30pm. Alexa came home smiling.<br />
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Both dances were a great bonding evening for Justin with the girls. This Momma enjoys getting them ready but wishes I could join the fun.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-6835801463804088662018-02-25T18:55:00.000-05:002018-03-13T18:56:20.619-04:00Family VacationIn September I came up with the idea of our family traveling for "Ski Week." My original thought was to fly to Cabo for the week. After doing some research I decided it would be too pricey to get four airfare tickets. I then moved on to look at cruises. As the goal was to go somewhere warm and also allow the girls to leave the country for the first time. So within 24 hours we had a cruise booked. Addison was envisioning sleeping on a fishing boat. She finally settled on the idea of the boat being as big as a hotel. The other thing we discussed was the water slide height requirement is 42''. Addison was 39'' at the time.<br />
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Fast forward to mid February. Addison is now 41 1/2 inches tall. She was becoming hopeful about making it onto the water slide. We drove to Long Beach early Saturday morning. Once we got on the boat we were all very excited. Endless ice cream, kids club and more to do then they could possible do in a week.<br />
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The first two port days were in Cabo. Both girls enjoyed everyone walking the beach trying to get them to buy whatever souvenir or service they were selling. Both girls decided to get their hair braided. I was pushing for this since it's something I did when I was a kid on a cruise. Addison also chose to get a henna tattoo and a mermaid fridge magnet. Alexa opted for a dophin that floats in a cup. The second day in Cabo we had lunch at a restaurant on the beach. Justin was picked to be in a drinking contest. He had to take a shot, chug a beer and then run around a pole 10 times at the beach. Lets just say it wasn't our proudest parenting moment. Addison also started getting sick in Cabo. We found a pharmacy and bought her some meds. It was an adventure reading the medicine boxes in Spanish.<br />
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After Cabo we went to Puerto Vallerta. We had an excursion booked for that day. We took a boat ride to a private beach. They serviced us lunch then we had access to ham micks, water sports and animals for pictures. The girls had the option of an adventure park. They both of course wanted to do it. We first had to pull them on donkeys up a hill. It was a fun experience but pretty dangerous when looking back. Once we made it to the top of the hill the girls ziplined down the hill. It was probably one of the highlights of the week.<br />
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The last two days on the boat where busy. The girls mostly wanted to hang out in kids club. Justin and I took full advantage of this and went to the spa. (Looking back weeks later this was a poor choice. I ended up with bronchitis and possibly pneumonia) We also all did animal towel making class and the life size sorry game. Justin and I were selected to play bocce ball. We won our first game but lost our second. In the evenings Justin and I went to the different music shows and comedy clubs. The girls were never ready to leave kids club. Addison fell asleep in there a few times but Alexa was always with her group of girl friends.<br />
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We were all sad for our cruise to be over. Maybe 10 or 14 day next time?Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-33274299832734331502018-01-24T19:03:00.000-05:002018-03-13T19:04:09.641-04:00Sports and moreOnce again the girls were eager to rejoin as many activities as I would let them. Alexa tried out and made competitive soccer. It was a fun surprise. Alexa works hard but it very new to the sport. Competitive soccer is quite the commitment. She has practice twice a week, indoor games on Sundays and tournaments about once a month. In the fall the will play regular season games on the weekends. Alexa is still continuing piano. She just had her third recital. She seems to enjoy it for the most part. After another few months she will know enough to switch to a new instrument if she choices. She is also in gymnastics as a strength sport. And of course she is still doing AWANA with the family.<br />
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Addison is showing a real talent for sports. She has become quite strong (mostly a good thing) and is getting fast. We decided to move her back to a competitive gym for gymnastics class. After just a few months she has made a lot of progress. She is also asking to go back to soccer. She is signed up to play for Alexa's soccer club on their recreational league in August. We are officially a soccer family. Addison loves AWANA the most. She has made friends and loves her teachers. She thrives in that sort of environment. Our church program goes through 4th grade. Justin and I both volunteer in SPARKS (1-2 grade) this year. Next year, Addison asked if I would be in her group. I cannot wait.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-77638268409209105862017-12-25T18:57:00.000-05:002018-03-20T19:03:10.283-04:00Christmas 2017Several years ago we decided that Christmas would always be spent at home with our family of four. It's our children's home and its important to us that they get to be there for important holidays. This year, Pepere was given a terminal diagnosis. We decided that we would go to Atlanta and have one last holiday with him. To accommodate this we had to have our big Christmas morning at home a few days early. Two days before Christmas the girls went to be like they would on Christmas Eve. We did the usual leaving our cookies and milk for Santa. The next morning we had our Christmas morning. The nice thing about it being early is that we didn't have the usual phone calls from the well meaning Grandparents. The girls spent several hours opening new toys, clothes, stockings and the playing for the rest of the afternoon. That evening we went to church for the Christmas Eve-Eve service. Once we got home we had to get to bed early since our flight was early the next morning.<div>
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On Christmas eve we flew to Atlanta. The girls were very excited to see their Grandparents, Aunt and Uncles and cousins. Over the next few days we hung out at Nana's making memories. Addison and Pepere were even able to spend time cuddling with their bear-bears. One day we went to the Cabbage Patch Hospital. The girls were able to watch the babies bloom and visit the different hospital rooms. Another night the girls stayed with Nana and Pepere while Justin and I went to top golf with some of Justin's brothers. It was a fun week in Atlanta.</div>
Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-51602674736471693232017-10-18T23:34:00.000-04:002017-12-11T23:35:04.890-05:00The FallThe school year is flying by. Alexa had a rough patch at the beginning of first grade. Since then, she has flourished. She is making friends and doing great academically. Alexa has been enjoying soccer, gymnastics, AWANA and piano lessons. In soccer she has been improving in playing defense. She is evening trying out for a competitive team later in the fall. Gymnastics is just a recreational class that is just for fun. She is enjoying being with Addy & Maanya. Piano lessons have been continuing as usual. She had her second recital and is starting to learn how to use her foot pedal. Her teacher is heading on a tour in Europe. Alexa will have a fill in teacher for the next several months.<br />
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Addison has been enjoying school since day 1. She seems to be making friends among the other students. Her teachers as well as the other staff always rave about her. She enjoys Spanish class, music and now ballet. She also enjoys going to AWANA, soccer & gymnastics. She is looking forward to going full day and signing up for more enrichment classes.<br />
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<br />Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-5529455551971947612017-09-16T12:55:00.000-04:002017-10-16T12:57:06.387-04:00Alexa June is 7!My first born is 7 years old. In the last year, Alexa has really matured. She no longer does the preschool type behaviors. She is socially aware of her actions and is more emotionally in touch with her own feelings. She is a bubbly, talkative and sweet girl. At school she has taken on a leader role (probably because she is one of the older ones). She is smart, focused and motivated. Sometimes she does talk during class, but she is working on that. At recess she enjoys monkey bars, hiding in seek and other group activities. She seems to play mostly with girls but a big variety of them. Lunch is still a challenge for Alexa. She eats through her lunch time and usually with the next lunch as well (when 1st graders are playing). It is more important to me that she is eating her lunch, then getting a third recess each day. <div>
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Alexa is involved in lots of activities. She enjoys soccer. Her best position is defense, followed by goalie. She does gymnastics with her sister during the week as well. It's a good physical, indoor activity for her. She likes it because it doesn't involve running. Alexa has piano lessons one day a week, and she practices on her own every other day. She is getting ready to have her second recital in just a few weeks. Both girls are also still in AWANA. This is the first year Justin and I are volunteering. It's a lot of fun to spend the evening with the girls in this environment. Alexa is learning lots of verses and how to use the virtues she is being taught. Lastly, Alexa is joining a Lego FIRST team. It's STEAM+ based and ran by an engineer. We are excited to see how she enjoys this one.</div>
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Alexa is 45 inches tall and 40lbs! She is taking after her Momma in size, but still growing as she should. She is still on the charts and expected to be over 5 feet tall. We will see if that happens before too long. </div>
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Alexa is a sweet sister and daughter. We are so proud of the girl she is becoming. She goes out of her way to show kindness and be helpful. Lastly, Alexa LOVES to read. I cannot keep a book out of her hand. I know it sounds silly but sometimes I want her to get out a play. She prefers reading and rereading her books. Currently she is working her way through the Puppy Palace series. </div>
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Alexa's birthday was celebrated at school with a class donation of a game and then prizes for her friends. She gave eraser puzzles. They were a hit. Her actually birthday fell on a soccer day. We brought cupcakes for her team. The following weekend we had her party at Pump-It-Up-Poway! Alexa had a fantastic time with all her friends. </div>
Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-50373342088989784112017-09-01T13:41:00.000-04:002017-09-01T13:41:48.712-04:00First day of SchoolAddison started back at school first. She is starting a new school for the third year in a row. Unfortunately the school we had her in last year was not the best fit for her. I felt she needed more structure and more academic focus to get her ready for kindergarten (or Transitional Kindergarten if he decide to hold her). Addison is now going to school at our church. The school has preschool through 12th grade. It's a fantastic school and we are even considering moving Alexa there at some point. For now, Addison is in the pre-k program with the intent of sending her to Alexa's public school next year.<br />
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Addison's school has cute uniforms. Addison wasn't excited about them at first, but now knows they means it's a school day and she doesn't complain. They also make our mornings a bit easier. Addison's class has 16 kids in it with two teachers. She LOVES her teachers as well as her best friend named Danica. It was a huge relief that she took to school so easily. We have only received positive feedback from her teachers. Addison is also eating lunch at school everyday. The last two years she has had a few lunches at school but not consistently. This year she packs a snack and a lunch. I like the independence it is teaching her. It should also make the transition into kindergarten a little easier. She has learned the pledge of allegiance and several other fun facts (like how many bones cats have).<br />
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The only complaint from Addison is that she is one of the first to leave each day. The school options are until 12:30 or 2:30. I opted for the 12:30 pick up since she is now going 5 days (compared to 3 days last year). However, I made a deal with her that if she stops having accidents then she can stay all day. Win-win? <br />
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Alexa started this week. She found out her teacher name and the kids in her class a few days prior. I could tell she had some mixed feelings. This is her first year at the same school back to back years. She ended up with one close friend in the class, 1 child who challenges her academically (she likes this) and 2 others she wasn't friends with from her kindergarten class. She had 6-8 good friends from kindergarten and has hoping more of them would have been in her first grade class. She was very excited to be back on the first day. She has been playing with her friends from last year, but also starting to make new friends. Her class has two new students. One of them lives in our neighborhood. We have already had one play date and have a second one planned. Not a bad first week.<br />
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I cannot believe my girls are at school everyday. I am a bit lost but finding my new identity. Overall I am just happy that the girls are happy, healthy and thriving.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-29442835909097190512017-08-02T18:01:00.000-04:002017-08-29T16:08:35.950-04:00Addison Alena age 4My baby is 4!!!! What a year its been for our Addy-Lu. The early part of the year Addison went through behavioral testing. She was diagnosed with anxiety as well as a sensory processing disorder. One day at a time we learned what this meant and how to best help our peanut. Addison went through OT (currently still does it twice a month), speech therapy and a behaviorist. Since she had so much happening all at once its hard to say what had the biggest impact. What I do know is that my stressed, frustrated and unhappy little girl learned how to enjoy life. She blossomed into a sweet and kind child that is able to have FUN For the first time in her short life. The pain of watching your child struggle (even in small ways) is more then I could have ever imagined. Hearing Addison say, I don't know how to have fun, made my heart skip a beat. The challenges of last year are something I never expected but being on the outside of it, I look back in awe. Addison today is a completely different child then she was a year or two years ago.<br />
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We have always loved her with all our hearts. But to see her HILARIOUS personality come out, is a dream come true. My little girl is full of love and a caring heart. She has more friends then I could have ever prayed for. Addison loves to play sports, sing and dance. She is quickly learning how great school is. She is learning basic math and beginning to read. Her future looks bright and I am blessed to have a front row seat of everything she will accomplish in her life.<br />
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I certainly don't want to sugar coat where we are at today. Addison still has her struggles. Some things are just harder for her. We are working the best we can to help where needed. Right now we are focused on confidence building and problem solving as well as handling her anxiety. Her very strong willed personality can be an accent in the future... for now its a bit of a challenge, but one I will gladly face over and over again.<br />
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My hope for Addison is that she knows how much her Momma loves her and will always do whatever it takes for her to learn her possibilities are endless. Bring on age 4!Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-82376494232191256442017-07-28T17:12:00.000-04:002017-07-29T21:40:56.451-04:00VBS Our church has VBS for kindergarten through 6th grade. They also have a preschool program for volunteers kids. Since we want to get more involved I decided I would volunteer so Addy could also attend.<br />
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The girls were very excited on the first, early morning. Alexa was a little shy but quickly found some friends. Addy jumped right into her class and had a fantastic time. I was assigned to snack, but also helped with registration. It was a good fit for all three of us.<br />
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During the day I didn't see Addy at all. She does report every detail of her day. She especially likes games, music and the yummy snacks. I do get to see Alexa during open program, when her group comes for snack and then closing program.<br />
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On Wednesday the girls had water day. Alexa was able to enjoy the 75 foot water slide, water balloons and a slip and slide. Addy's group was suppose to use the tiny pools to refill their sprayers. Addy decided she was going to jump in and swim. She was soaking wet in her VBS clothes. I brought her a swimsuit, but they didn't think she was going to need it. (They clearly don't know Addy very well). Overall, water day was a huge success for both girls.<br />
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Addy's favorite parts of VBS were the chickens (Dolly & Holly) and the bounce house. She also really enjoyed the youth leaders. Alexa enjoyed games and the youth leaders. Whenever I would see her group, I could spot Alexa by looking between her two favorite girls. She was always holding their hands or cuddling. When the week came to a close, we were all a little sad. It was a great week and we look forward to participating in it again next year.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-22179165640178285312017-07-16T00:20:00.000-04:002017-08-01T16:45:44.618-04:00Family VacationAfter two and a half years living in California we decided it was time to visit more of the state we call home. We started our trip up the coast with a stop in Disney Land. We knew the girls would enjoy it and it would get some of their energy out. We quickly found out that Addison reached 40 inches on some rides with the right gym shoes and poofy hair. The park was not that busy and we were able to sneak in several rides before the heat picked up. Addison's first big ride was Space Mountain. She was pretty scared and didn't enjoy it very much. However once she told the girls at Star Tours that she did Space Mountain and they were impressed, her memory of the ride changed. She then went on to tell anyone who would listen that she rode the Mountain ride. A highlight of the first day was Splash Mountain. This is a ride I rode as a young child and have fond memories on.<br />
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The second day we went to California Adventures. Addison rode Soarin two times and loved it. We also did Cars twice and enjoyed riding as a family. The frozen show was a nice break from the 95* heat. Alexa and I snuck away to ride the water ride while Justin and Addy went on the Little Mermaid. At the end of the night we walked back over to Disney Land to watch the parade and firework show. The parade was great but the fireworks were cancelled.<br />
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The third day we went back to the parks until after lunch. Then we started our drive up to Monterrey. The next few days we explored Carmel and Monterrey. We drove the 17 mile scenic drive. We played on the rocks and near the water in Carmel. Back in Monterrey we rode a surrey, walked through Cannery Row and ate dinner on the water. It was a cute town and I am glad we stopped through.<br />
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On day six we finished our drive north to San Francisco. We were all very impressed by the buildings, public transportation and beautiful bridges. We visited the Golden Gate Bridge by way of ferry. We saw whales under the bridge. We also went to the museum Exploritorium, Children's Museum, China Town and Fisherman's Warf. Alexa was called on stage to help a magician and the girls enjoyed a two story carousel. Justin's highlight was probably our visit to the original Ghiradelli ice cream shop.<br />
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After three days in San Francisco we drove down to our last stop, Santa Barbara to visit Jeff & Marie. We spent the weekend at the Children's Museum, on the pier and play games. Marie started to teach Addy Set. The grown ups played a fun game on the xbox (maybe it's playstation) as well as BanaGrams. The weather was great and the food was delicious. We plan to go back again soon.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5515482037112734466.post-53001150384538525112017-06-16T00:19:00.000-04:002017-07-26T00:13:41.779-04:00Summer BreakWe blinked and the school year came to a close. The last few weeks were tough on both girls. Addy was unsure of what the change of her schedule was going to mean. Alexa was sad about not seeing her friends everyday.<br />
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Alexa's class had several events planned. It started with her Kindergarten program. All four classes put on a show for the parents. They wore they custom made shirts and looked adorable. Then they had their end of the year party at the park. The kids presented Ms. Ho with her gift. They also played with bubbles and ate a ton of popsicles. The last day of school the entire school had a family picnic. Addy and I arrived with food and a blanket. We had a fun time playing and socializing for the last time. 30 seconds before the official replace the principal counted down. All the school cheered when they were released for the summer. Alexa hugged her friends and had a tough time.<br />
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Addy's last day was a little different. She didn't have a big party or fancy count down. They did however have fun themes and dress up days. Addy enjoyed Hawaiian day. On the last day, Addy said good bye but didn't really grasp what that meant.<br />
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Once school was out we quickly established our new summer norm. The girls spend a little time in the morning doing their summer school work. Then we usually have some sort of play date in the afternoon. Every other week we have either a camp or a vacation planned. It will make the 10 weeks fly by.<br />
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Summer is such a special time for me as a Mom. I know our summers together are coming to an end. So I am making the most of the last ones we have.<br />
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The weekend for the wedding arrived quickly. We packed up and traveled on a red eye. Luckily both girls got a lot of sleep between napping after school, sleeping on the plane and then in the car on the way to the hotel. Alexa fell asleep before we even boarded the plane. Addison fell asleep after take off and slept on the floor on Alexa's nap mat.<br />
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Once we arrived we hurried to the rehearsal. The girls looked adorable in their dresses and fancy hair. They did everything they were asked and had a good time. Afterwards we went to the rehearsal dinner. The girls enjoyed playing with their cousins and coloring pictures with the junior bridesmaid.<br />
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The next morning we were all up early for wedding events. The girls delivered flowers to the bride and then off we went to get ready. We had lots of time so run around and use up some energy before they got their hair and make up done. The girls looked and felt like princesses in their dresses. They took lots of pictures before the ceremony. The both walked down the aisle perfectly. Neither wanted to stand up front. The both sat with us and then went back up when it ended. They walked into the reception as they were asked. Then danced for hours!!! Addy cried when it was over because she wanted to go to a second party.<br />
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All in all it was a great weekend.Ashley Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549926113020871903noreply@blogger.com0