So Long Hair

So today was a busy day... Shea came over this morning and gave Loch, Brae and Ash hair cuts, we finished packing, cleaned and ran a ton of errands... By 5 o'clock I was exhausted and ready for dinner and an early night... WELL... NOT so much what was in store for us.
Ashlyn and Irelyn started opening the new DVD of Alice in Wonderland while the boys and I started putting away the groceries. As I am putting chicken in the freezer, in walks Ash "MOM, Irelyn is in the bathroom cutting her hair", "SHUT UP?" I scream as I run to the now locked bathroom and begin banging, begging for Irelyn to open up... she eventually does. In shock I stand there staring at my 3 1/2 yr old with a freshly cut mullet.
The tears start, on me, on her, and on the rest of the kids. I honestly am in SHOCK...
How could this girl who LOVES her long hair, pretends to be sleeping beauty, and begs to have 2 braids down low in her hair DO THIS????

With tears streaming down my face I did manage to snap a few pictures, expecting the laughter that will come one day when I look back on this experience.

The pile of long curly beautiful curls on the bathroom floor


Poor Irelyn, I am sure that my reaction did not help her.


Crying hysterically the whole way.... We quickly ran over to see Chad's sister Shea at work who did her best to 'fix' the situation.


I just was not prepared to say goodbye to her long soft beautiful naturally curly hair. No more braids, no more pony tails, no more fun hair styles.
The END result...


Thank goodness she is SO STINKIN CUTE... and still adorable.
Love you Irelyn.

Teacher Gifts

Wilson Elementary has been our family's HOME away from HOME for many years now. Through the years we have been blessed with SO MANY wonderful, amazing, loving teachers. This year however was the LAST YEAR my children will be attending Wilson... We made the decision to attend Zaharis Elementary School next year. It is a bit further away, and has quite a different philosophy about teaching and the whole education process. One that I believe will benefit Loch, Brae and Ash immensely. So as we said goodbye to the teachers this year it was sad for many reasons. We will no longer see the smiling staff that have been so kind to us, we will no longer see the hallways or breezeways, the library and the artwork.... The dozens of children that so kindly run up to give me hugs with excitement when I walk through. While we look forward to the new memories, new friends, new kind teachers and staff... we said goodbye to a wonderful school...
The children made these Adorable flower pots for their teachers. Each one using their own creativity picking their pieces of paper that fit their personality, typing up teachers popular sayings, hand writing notes,

This was a fun project and I hope that the teachers loved them as much as I did when they were finished.
Here is the poem I put on the front of the card.

Like a SEED
planted in the soil
I have needed patience,
nurturing and toil.

YOU as my teacher,
A job done well
Have helped me grow
Anyone can surely tell.

Now these too
will grow and bloom
Hope you’ll think of me
I will come and see you soon.

One Week

In one week the Howey summer adventure begins... I will be flying to TEXAS with the kids, where they will be spending the next month and a half with their grandparents having the TIME OF THEIR LIVES .... Then on Sunday I will be off to DUBLIN...

It does NOT seem real. Am I really going to be in another country.... Away from my hubby and kids??? This 'short' & quick 6 week summer session, will allow me to have the Fall 2010 semester at ASU only consist of 2 online classes... THEN I AM DONE!!! This journey to get my degree that I started back in 1995 will FINALLY be done. Granted I took a 11 year sabbatical... the past 1 1/2 years I have been working my TAIL FEATHER off to accomplish a dream, set an example for my children and prove to myself that I AM WORTH IT.
I have put myself last so many times as a mother, and while it may seem that I have been selfish taking time to work out, or going to school, etc.... I have done my best to try to keep my family first. YES things have slacked, dinners are not as often homemade (but thank heavens for Fresh N Easy), I have not been able to help in the kids classrooms as much as I would like to (but I am still a presence there and all the kids & teachers know me), Homework (mine and the kids) still gets done, Straight A's for ME and the kid-o's, Books have been read, Love has been present.
We are happy...
This summer will FLY BY, The kids will return home, new routines for the school year will be set and the memories of Ireland, and the summer spent in TX and UT will be fond ones...I am sure.
As for now....so much to do, planning, preparing, packing, cleaning, stressing... It all will get done I am sure.
The one week countdown starts tomorrow morning.

The Happenings...

It is

February
already !!!

Valentines day is around the corner, I am reminded of the

LOVE and ADORATION

I have for my wonderful husband

(crazy it will be 13 years next month)

and my wonderful family

that with all the craziness can always make me smile.

----------------------------------------

Lochlin ........

is doing Soccer

and oh my goodness he is so cute out there on the field.

Maybe it is bad to say my 11 yr old son is cute,

but he is...

and I just love watching him on the field

and get excited about all the new moves he is learning.

Loch and Brae

are doing Joe Ward's Basketball Camp again,

which is a really fun because they are getting such great coaching from Joe four nights a week

as well as some quality play time with their cousins.

Braeden. . .

participated in Wilson's Spelling Bee a little bit ago

and did such a good job. I can't imagine the pressure standing on a stage up in front of the 4-6th grades having to spell a word without making any mistakes.

He was adorable and really did an amazing job.

Ashlyn . . .

is so freaking cute too.

She started playing tennis on wii sports and was enjoying it so much that she decided to take tennis lessons. She has been going two times a week and is really doing so well at picking up this sport.

Plus it has been a benefit that she has been doing it with her best friend Reagan.

Irelyn . . .

my little princess is so much fun.

I love how her personality is just growing and developing so much. She loves to have tea parties and eat tortillas and cheese almost every day for lunch, and almost is never seen without a purse full of jewelry, makeup and do-dads.

Yep, I am STILL HOPING and PRAYING I can graduate this December.

I am in school only 2 days this semester ...
BUT it is ALL day Monday and ALL day Wednesday.
Thank heavens for the help I get from Chad's Mom and Sue Gilligan.

Needless to say my days are busy with school, homework and Irelyn
and my evenings are booked with kids activities.

I have a new goal I am working for and that is getting the funding for a study abroad

in IRELAND this summer.

It would be 1 class and a 125 hour internship based in Dublin.

I would live in student housing at Shanowen Square

I will get hooked up with an internship in a field of study that goes along with my major.

Go to school every Tuesday & Thursday night and

Every weekend is a 3 day weekend.

My mom has said she would watch the kids for the 6 ½ week session.

Chad would HOPEFULLY be able to come over and visit

(maybe even take a quick trip over to Scotland to see his old tromping ground and friends)

And, now I just have to PRAY I can get a scholarship to cover my tuition and living expenses.

Keep your fingers crossed. Till next time.

-Dawn

Life

I was thinking about my life and (crazy I know) my blog...
It is my journal and a document of my life.
I need to be better about writing in it.
Hopefully to have some sort of written legacy of a sort to leave my family and children.

Life has been so crazy lately, I wonder

what I am doing

adding the stress of full time school to my full time mother/wife role.
I really do LOVE what I am learning.
I enjoy reading chapter after chapter of my textbooks and reading the articles and studies from all my different classes. All of this STUFF is actually helping me
to be better at my job as a Mother/Wife....

I have learned about the different parenting styles, communication styles, verbal and nonverbal communication, the development of children esp through the important teenage years. . .

AAAHHH, I can't believe that TEENAGE YEARS are just around the corner for us.

Am I really that old???

Lochlin turns 11 next week. I swear I can remember the night I went into labor with him like it was yesterday (Chad didn't believe I was really in labor because he was 6 weeks premature... After hours of refusing back rubs, my mom and his parents finally convinced HIM we should at least check with the Dr)

It has only been what seems like a blink of the eye and I have
4 kids, and have been
married for 12 1/2 years.
Where did time go?

Am I doing enough to help my children grow up to be
KIND Loyal HONEST Generous CARING Successful ADULTS

I do know as I have gotten older I appreciate the small moments with my kids more. . . the before school hugs, the requests to read a book or watch a movie for the 100th time, the excitement when they show me good grades on tests (and even the bad ones so I can help them understand better) I love the dinner time talks, and bedtime hugs and kisses. I love my children, my husband, and love being with my family.

HOPEFULLY, Lochlin, Braeden, Ashlyn and Irelyn all know that I am trying my best to be a good mom. I want them to feel loved, feel like they can talk to me (and Chad), I want them to learn good values, and know that I support them, I want them to get a good education and I am hopefully setting an example that at any age you can finish your education.
(but it is so much easier when you are younger)

August

So School Started for the kids. Can't believe Loch is in 5th Grade... (Am I really that old) Brae is in 4th Grade, and Ash is in 2nd Grade. I LOVE all the teachers and really feel like my kids are lucky to have such fabulous people around them all day teaching them.
Irelyn Started Preschool (she is going with her cousin Rexli to Mrs. Freeman) She doesn't really look happy in this picture, but she LOVES school, I am so excited for her to grow and learn this year at School as well.
My little Brother OWEN got married to the cutest girl Alyssa. They are so adorable

and It was so much fun to have all the Allen's together for a little craziness..

Chad WON a cruise at work so the morning after the wedding We took off to San Diego for a weekend cruise on the ELATION. This was a first time for both of us, and we had a blast. We wandered the ship, and all the different restaurants and shops etc.

But mostly spent tons of time doing this... NOTHING....

We met a fun couple from San Diego Andrew and Negar and enjoied two of the evenings with them.

When we docked in Ensenada, Mexico, Chad and I went for the Kayak Adventure at La Bufadora. It was so beautiful.


La Bufadora is the second largest blowhole in the world, and can shoot upwards as high as 80 feet above sea level. Waves and air are drawn into the underwater cave and the trapped air and water then explode.
We were able to get right up to it with the kayak and could feel with the swells of the waves how big the next explosion would be. FOR SURE my favorite part of the trip.

Chad and I also really enjoied the PEOPLE watching. I MEAN REALLY... Are these people serious.... This guy was wearing a vest with jean shorts. He had quite a few different vests and yes he changed them several times throughout the day to make the most of his cruise attire..

Then for the FORMAL night... he had on all white (pants and shirt) with his bright red Asian vest and cowboy hat.

OH and I must say how sexy the guys were that entered the HAIRY CHEST competition. Luckily chad and I had the best seats on the boat to watch them strut their stuff...
Well, The cruise had to end and we drove home Monday afternoon and arrived just in time for my first class at ASU Monday Night. So fun to be back into reality...

Holy Cow!!

Really ... I mean it REALLY... have I not posted in 8 months... No way can I catch up. Life is crazy. We spent a FUN summer in Texas with my family.

My mom is the best ever.


I loved spending so much time with my sisters

Texas is so pretty. We went to the Botanical Gardens

Texas Beaches (ok gross lakes) Pools, Parks, Museums, Movies, etc...


We missed Chad so much the whole time we were there...

THEN

My baby Brae turned 9... I can't believe it... 9!!! He is such a stud and we did a spy party for him. The kids did a LAZER course on the playground, and went on a scavenger hunt collecting clues throughout the neighborhood all night long. Lots of sweaty stinky boys wrestling and playing... P.U. GROSS... But I think they all had a blast.


We got to babysit a cute little puppy for a week while Chad's Sister went up to Utah.. My kids were in heaven with little Dolce.

This past weekend we went to San Diego with Chad's family. It was so much fun.

The first night I was able to meet up with My dear friend Claire after the Shamu show..


Our group was HUGE... Martin, Cheryl, Tatum & David (and 6 of their 7 kids) Chad & Me (our 4 kids) Ty (his 2 kids) Paris & Mican (their 2 kids) and Shea & Josh... Seriously... We were quite the site...



We did Sea World. and Belmont Park, and Mission Beach.

It was so nice and really made me miss Hawaii.. The beach is the perfect place to be.


Now School starts next week. The Allen Crew is coming into town because Owen is getting married in a few weeks. ASU, Preschool, Gymnastics, Basketball, etc... Real Life Here we come..