our happenings this week

Spencer started soccer and just loved it...

He's a soccer stud already and has the stance down (second from left)


Leda got to pull out her swimsuit (still fit from last year, whew!) and got to go swimming, but first had to strike some poses. Her idea, I promise.







And last but not least, Chase started PRESCHOOL! I figured since he started dropping his naps a month or so ago (sad day in the McLendon home) there was no use keeping him here bored to death. Plus, he kept seeing big sister go and was asking, "My turn?". So now he gets to go with Leda on T/TH afternoons for a few hours. Fun!

His first day


Waving goodbye, he was excited!



He did really well and loves his teacher Miss Kelli.


Course it does help that Grandma is there and always has his back ;)

Kick back

Leda really knows how to kick back and relax, wouldn't you agree?

Date night with Grandma and Grandpa

My parents are super cool grandparents.

Back when their oldest grandchild McKay (my sisters son) was living in California, they bought annual passes to the Orange County Children's Theater and started taking him there. This theater performs at the OC Performing Arts center and puts on about four shows a year.

It's there where the children and their guests ;) get to enjoy a 90 minute play, have the opportunity to learn theater behavior/etiquette, and after the show, meet the actors and get their autographs. It's all very exciting!

When McKay moved away to Utah (so sad), it left a spot open for Spencer to take. At first we weren't sure if a three year old could handle the theater, but Spencer did very well and has really loved this time with his grandparents. We figure that he's been going now for about 2.5 years, wow!

Well, now that Leda is approaching the ripe old age of 4, my folks thought it was time that Leda join in on the fun. This last month was the first time all four of them got to go on a date to the theater together. Truth be told, I'm not sure Spencer appreciated Leda crashing the party at first, but as the night progressed, I'm told he warmed up to the idea of having his little sister along.

The foursome


Off to dinner and the show, look at those grins!



Grandpa likes to explain things, we all chuckle at Grandpa for how often he stops to look at flowers or point out architecture...but honestly, we love this about him. This picture makes me tear up, it just so perfectly captures my Dad...



And this picture captures my beautiful Mom. She really does love time with her "grandbabies" (her word)...



Autographs after the show, it's like meeting a celebrity! lol


A snapshot with the Frog on the way out, what a night!


And Aaron and I must confess that we kinda love being down to one kid for an evening every once in a while...it's so quiet, we almost don't know what to do!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for loving our children the way you do and wanting to make these memories with them.

Disclaimer: I realize this post might make my sister sad, or even cry. SO not my intent Carrie... love ya, muah!

LOVE him.

This guy here. Can't get enough.

He brought home dinner, bathed the children by himself, rubbed my shoulders and went out to get me frozen yogurt, just because. He gets bonus points for knowing to get me chocolate tonight.

How did I ever get so lucky?

dreaming

I'm dreaming of being able to bust out this pool for the kids...


dreaming of taking them here (w/cousins included)....



and especially dreaming of taking them back here...



Come on California weather, warm up just a bit more so I can get a tan, please?

(non-CA residents don't hate me for this post)

"Only child"

On Saturday night we left the kids with a babysitter so we could get out on a much needed date. Apparently Chase gave the babysitter a hard time at bedtime. He kept getting out of his bed, crying for Mommy, carrying on...so one of the times our sitter was upstairs tending to Chase, Leda walks into the boys room, put her hands on her hips, sighed and said,

"I wish I was an only child"

WHAT?!? lol

When the sitter told us this story, we were rolling. She's three! Where has she heard that? We were told she didn't say it in a mean tone or in a snotty way, it was clear she just wanted her rest and knew that if she were an only child the house would be quiet for her beauty sleep. ;)

Leda and her many moods often times has us in stitches. Aaron and I try not to laugh in her face when she turns on a dime, but this kid is just so darn funny, it's hard not to!



I just love this grumpy face!

My kids were creative this last week

At Spencer's school, the children were asked to donate a box of unopened cereal for a food drive they were having. But instead of just turning in the cereal box, they asked that it be decorated like the cover of your favorite book. Fun project, huh? Check out what my 6 year old did ALL by himself!




The only thing I helped him with was fitting in the word day...because as you can see he'd run out of room. Looks pretty good, eh? He's been so into these Alexander books lately, and I love it since it brings back memories from my childhood.



Next we have Leda, who one day decided she'd pose like this under her beautiful umbrella because that's something a pretty princess would do. And she has next to her her "handy dandy notebook" (Blue's clues) though it's not a notebook it's only called a "handy dandy!" Oh boy do we have our hands full with this one.



And last but certainly not least, we have our SON Chase. This poor BOY was dressed up again as a princess this week by his big sister. Aaron's getting a tad concerned.Course we shouldn't draw attention to it by snapping pictures, but we can't help ourselves right now, it's so funny.




So after being given a flower from our backyard (hand picked by big sis and instigator) he decided to dance around our kitchen like a little girl. Oi.



One day we'll have to make this princess dressing up thing stop. Either that or we'll have to give Leda a little sister.

That option wouldn't be that bad in my opinion ;)

(breathe Aaron, I'm not pregnant)



And that was our week with our crazy creative kids.

The Zoo

This past weekend we were thrilled to have two things:

good weather and good health.

So what did we do?

We packed up our three monkeys and took them to our local Santa Ana Zoo.




We (the parents) were a little disappointed that most of the cages were empty, but we soon realized that the kids didn't seem to care. They just enjoyed being with us, and we enjoyed being with them.







Isn't being part of a family, grand?

The thing about having a big sister...

is that they take the liberty of dressing you up, even if pink isn't your color or princesses aren't your thing.



But you love every minute of the pink princess making--princess purse holding process. Speaking of p's...doesn't Chase look per-ty?