New Addition

We have a new addition! His name is Herman and he is an American Box Turtle. Josh found him on the road and brought him in to the kids. I did not want another animal to take care of in this zoo so we compromised and put him in the backyard. Every day when the kids get home they run outside to find him.

So if we had three of something we would have the first few verses of "The 12 Days of Christmas" with our animals in this house: "4 crazy cats, 3 something something, 2 blue-tongued skinks, and a turtle in the backyard"....

Ready for Fall!

This post describes, in pictures and in order of occurrence, why I can't wait for Fall!!!


The State Fair

The Balloon Fiesta

The Pumpkin Patch

Carving Pumpkins

Alex's Birthday

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Kindergarten!

Aurora started kindergarten today! I can't believe it! Last night she made her lunch while I made mine for work, and packed her backpack. She was so excited this morning when she woke up. She got dressed and we did her hair and headed out. We took her to school and took her into her class, where the teacher, Ms. Bigelow, had their seats already assigned and their names on the tables. She walked in, hung up her backpack, sat down and was ready to go! We gave her a kiss and headed out - me with tears in my eyes, Aurora not even looking back.

After school we picked her up and she looked tired, but very happy! She told us all about her day and apparently had a great time! We asked her if she made friends there and she said, "All of them except two kids who were not very nice!" All in all I think it was a great day!

Tomorrow she has one more adventure - riding the school bus for the first time!

First Dentist Trip and School Shopping!

Alex had his first trip to the dentist last week! I was worried that he was going to be difficult but he did fantastic! Of course it helped that he watched his sister do everything first. He let them clean his teeth and do the fluoride and everything. What an awesome little guy he is!

Watching sister
Checking out all the equipment
I'm ready!
See my clean teeth!

Yesterday Grandma S. and I took Aurora on her first school clothes shopping trip! One of my favorite childhood memories is going clothes shopping and to lunch with my mom and Grandma every year before school started. Aurora is not very big on shopping (I'm working on her!) but liked being able to pick out clothes and a backpack and lunchbox. We also went to the Elephant Bar for lunch, at her request. She is all set to start Kindergarten on Wednesday!

Out shopping!

Some of the styles she picked out:

Hip Hop!

Aurora has always loved dancing, from the time she was just learning to stand! Any time we would put music on she would move and groove. Most evenings at home you will see us with music on dancing around or doing some sort of activity involving it.

The past year or so Aurora has been making up her own moves and doing "break-dancing" and attempting flips and such. She is also totally into "So You Think You Can Dance". Her favorite artists are Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas. She's my little hip hop girl!

So it seemed only natural to sign her up for Hip Hop class!! I signed her up at a local dance school for Saturday mornings. Yesterday was her first class. She was nervous at first but she LOVED it! She really had fun and learned some cool moves. They even played several of her favorite songs. She can't wait to go back next week. Here are some pics and video. They are not very good quality because we have to watch the class from a 'viewing room'.

Getting ready for class
Special Hip Hop shoes (split soles so they can bend in the middle)
Learning some moves

Sanda Peak and Skinks

The kids went with Grandma and Grandpa K yesterday up to Sandia Peak. They rode the Tram up, did some hiking and even rode the chairlift. Grandma K said they had a blast and loved hiking all around! Here are some pictures:




Aurora's skinks are getting big. We have started taking them outside once in awhile and they love it! They like to eat the grass and dig in the dirt with their snouts. They move just like snakes. I didn't think lizards had personality but these two seem to be developing ones. We are also not sure of the genders so we may be having babies down the road (who will be sold)! We even let the cats get a closer look at them. Aurora sure loves these things!