Kiana's Classroom

Monday was the day Kiana got to go meet her Kindergarten Teacher. As well as find her cubby, take her supplies, meet other kids etc. Here she is in front of the board!

She is so excited about starting school. Her personality has changed so much in the last couple of months - she is finally coming out of her shell.
In here room there is a reading loft. Here she has crawled up there to look at the books. I think the kids are really going to enjoy this!

We had to leave her in the room to go to the Library for orientation. She was across the room saying "go" and shooshing us out with her hand. Notice behind her in this pic there is an old clawfoot bathtub. Looks like it is filled with pillows for the kids to pull out and get comfy.

Stay tuned for pics tomorrow - when I take her to school for her first day of Kindergarten!!!

Some last minute shopping

Sunday - Kiana and I headed to the mall for some last minute school shopping. We already had supplies and more clothes than we needed - but we need some accessories.

We started off at Claire's, getting more necklaces and bracelets!! Now we really need to get a big jewelry armoire for her room!!

Then it was off to Stride Rite to look at shoes. We only got one pair. She wanted some hot pink Converse - but they were out of stock in her size. They were really cute.

Then we went to Gymboree. She is really almost too old for the clothes in this store now - but of course I was able to find somethings we couldn't live without. We got one long sleeved dress with some cute striped tights. And a ton of accessories - mostly for her hair. We also got two super cute new PJs!!

She insisting on carrying all the bags - as she is such a big girl now heading to Kindergarten! She was really ready to go home too - until we were passing Build a Bear. We went in - and she was so excited to add yet another animal to her collection.

Today she picked out a rainbow bear. She spelled her name out for the stuffing lady - which is such a good step in the right direction (usually she is to shy to attempt any such act). She also went through the little ritual with the bear's heart - following all of the stuffing lady's directions!

Then - when the stuffing lady asked what her bears name was, she quickly replied "Chloee". Never is she at a loss for a name for something. She already has kids names picked out. After that, it was off to pick out an outfit and shoes for Chloee.

Here she is picking out which stuffed animal she wants - decisions, decisions.
And here she is, at home, and striking a pose with her newest Build a Bear, Cholee. Sorry about the glare off of the mirror on our entertainment center.

On another note, we decided today that Kiana is going to be 6 ft tall by the time she is 12 years old. Since October, both Kiana and Cameron have grown about 4 inches. The crazy part is that she should not be growing at the same rate he is - he is practically hitting puberty!

If she continues at the same rate, she is going to be 6 ft tall in 6th grade!!!! Not that unusual for someone with Leach genes though!!!

Out on the Lake!

Saturday we went to the lake. Kiana HATES the water. She dreads going to the lake - asking about every 5 minutes for 3 days leading up to the lake trip "are you gonna make me swim?" It gets so annoying - but she is just petrified of the water.

However - she does like to ride in the boat. I don't have any idea why she is so scared of the water. I wish I knew why, and could ease her fear, but no go.

On the other hand - Cameron loves to swim and tube etc. He has been a thrill seeker his entire life. He is cautious - but loves to have fun.

Here is cute little miss in her sunglasses. Oh - to be young and carefree!! I don't know what she is pointing to, but we were just stopped and chilling at this point.
Here we are clearly under way - hair blowing in the wind. Again, even though she is so scared of the water - she sometimes falls asleep while the boat is running as it soothes her or something.

Here is Eric, our driver for the day. He claims he is calling it quits for water sports for the rest of this summer. After his fall a few weeks ago, he still can't turn his neck completely, and he wants that to have plenty of time to heal.

Here is Cameron, and a friends niece that went with us. They rode together - and had alot of fun. We had so much fun, that over 2 hours flew by in no time. Then we packed it up and went home for the day. It was really windy, so the water was pretty choppy! More than anything they were catching air on the tube from all the waves.

Sad that the weekend is coming to another END!! Oh the dreaded work week - and still I did not win the POWERBALL!!

Our Cats - Lucy and Allie!

For those of you that don't know - we used to have 2 pets - a dog (Toby) and a cat (Callie). Callie met an untimely death (she got caught under the garage door!). It was very sad! And we found out that we are not a good family for taking care of dogs.

So early this year - we found Toby a new home. He lives with an older lady - who adores him. She also works at the nursing home - and takes him with her sometimes as a therapy dog for the elderly. He loved to just be a lap dog - so I am sure he enjoys the attention.

So - in early April - we got 2 kittens. Lucy, a calico, and Allie, black and white. They were only 6 weeks old and SO tiny. Now - here we are months later with a post!! They are almost 5 pounds each now. They are really sweet.

A few weeks ago they got spayed and declawed. They hated each other for more than a week - hissing and growling at each other - but now they love each other again (by the way they are sisters).

Here is a pic of Allie. She is the stalky, chubbier one. She loves attention - being petted, etc - but she does not like being picked up. She is Kiana's cat. She has the shineist black fur.
This is Lucy. She doesn't mind Kiana picking her up and toting her around. She is Cameron's cat - but Kiana is trying to negotiate a switch, since Lcuy will let her pick her up! Lucy is very tall and thin. Her back legs seem to be longer than the front - which is strange. At the bottom of her back left leg - a patch of her fur is tiger striped. I really wanted an orange tiger striped cat - but they were both boys (that is how we ended up with Allie instead).

Both cats have a favorite blanket - we call there mommy. The reason is, it is furry, and they will suck on it like they are nursing on their mommy for hours. Eric has hidden that blanket, because it drives him crazy -LOL.

Kindergarten is coming!!!

It is fast approaching! My second - and more than likely last child - is heading off to kindergarten in 16 days!!!

This weekend we went shopping for school supplies. Just daddy and I took Kiana to the store - no brother on this trip. She got to pick out anything there was a choice on.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered her the cutest backpack and matching lunchbox from Pottery Barn Kids. Click here to see - it is the pink with white polka dots and green accents.

A few weeks ago - we went to Tulsa to go shopping (mostly so Cameron could go to Abercrombie Kids) - but we ended up buying Kiana a bunch of outfits - even though she already has a LOT.

The last item we needed was a nap mat. I didn't want her to have the same one as everyone else - so awhile back I bought some cute chocolate brown and blue fabrics to make her one. As usually goes with any project I start, I got started by cutting out the fabric - but that was as far as I got.

So yesterday, I finally got out the sewing machine, and finished up her adorable new nap mat - again I say, Finally!

Here it is - you just unroll, sleep, then roll back up. It even has carrying handles. the pillow is attached! It is so cute.

Here are some up close pics of the fabric. Here is the paisley.

And here is the polka dot pillow and handle fabric.

Last but not least, my little sleeping beauty (well pretending anyway!!). Excuse the mess in the background! That is the laptop cord, and some practice books for Kiana to write on. That is my bedskirt in the background, also brown and blue. Notice it is even big enough for a 4 ft tall child to lay on with a little room at the bottom!

Hawaii Trip Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

The Boys Surfing Lesson

Here are some pictures from the surfing lessons. They had to put shirts on to protect them from the sun and so the teacher could easily know who was in his surf class. It is also better than wearing sunscreen so that it doesn't get in the water and mess with the marine life. Glasses - just to make him look like Mr. Cool.
Here they were being instructed on how to lay on the surf board.

Heading to the beach. Cameron is with another co-workers daughter in the background. They are doing the buddy system, where they have 2 boards but they are each carrying part of the other. I guess that is how you are supposed to do it - but of course all the men wanted to carry them on their heads!

Here is Cameron up on his board - and about to wipe out!

And here is Eric making it look easy!

From the rest of the pics that I am not posting - it looks like got up on the boards multiple times. As much as they loved going out to surf - they didn't want to do it again - because they were so sore and worn out from paddling themselves back out into the waves. Now you know why surfers are so thin - it is a LOT of exercise to keep paddling out and getting up on your board.

Cameron decided after this surf lesson - that he is going to move to Hawaii and go to college - however, I disagree!!