What to do on a rainy evening...

What? It rains here? Believe it or not, yep...then it gets humid ;)

So Monday proved to be a bit spontaneous in the Dosil household. My dear hubby is not what I would call a 'baker', although I'm sure he would disagree and tell you that his cookies from a tube are highly qualified enough to be considered real baking ;)

Shortly after he came home from work and finished dinner, I observed him milling around the kitchen. Not sure what he was doing, I figured he wasn't making any noise, or a mess, so I let him be ;) Then he started to ask me where things were. Things that belonged in cookies. So I went in to investigate.

Sure enough I saw that he had a collection of ingredients on the counter (although when he asked me what the difference in our two flours were, I noticed he had taken out the whole wheat kind and swiftly replaced it with the regular, white kind). I also noticed he had mentioned using our Smart Balance spread instead of checking for butter in the freezer...oh boy.

My darling husband, Kyle, getting it all together...

I moved in. So did Abby once she heard the word 'cookie'.

Abby and Daddy once she took her place in the kitchen ;)

Once she took her position on the counter (thanks Melynda!), she began helping Daddy make yummy, chocolate chip cookies. Since I was, of course, photographing the event, which it was (an event, that is) , I was not paying attention to Kyle's method of mixing ingredients- which is "Throw everything in the bowl at once, regardless of directions, and have at it." I made him scoop as much flour as possible out and follow the directions.

Mixing some of the ingredients together...

She's just too precious...

Rolling the dough into balls- a daddy habit ;)

Getting ready for the oven...

Licking the dough off her hands ;)

Man, oh man, guys don't like following directions, or being told to follow the directions- even in the kitchen ;)

Abby and Daddy's 1st homemade batch of cookies- YUM!



Intermission- getting ready for bed

Despite some minor recipe directions infractions, the cookies were saved and I must say, it really looked like he and Abby were having a good time! They turned out very yummy and it was an utter joy watching this fun Daddy/Daughter evening ;) Especially tasting their goodies!

Ready, set, COOKIES!!!

Umm...good ;)


Finishing every, last bite!

I love my family.

Happenings In Our Household...

My darling husband and I have been living in our home for almost 4 years (Abby joined us almost a year after we moved in!) and in short, simple words, my dad has so eloquently named our house, "The Money Pit"- if you've ever seen the movie, you'd understand ;)

When we bought our home, we tore into right away, thinking we had lots of time (and $$$). Then we found out we were having a baby- YEA!!! Hmmm, I wonder if this is why I want to start finishing some of our many unfinished projects...disclaimer: the following statement is one borrowed from another Blogger friend- I.W.A.N. (I Want A Newborn). Can't help it...it's finally hitting me after almost 4 years ;) You can read her blog from my link, Life. Find it, she says it perfectly (thanks Shawni!).

Anywho...here's the list of projects either begun and not finished or ones that I just prefer to be done before we have any more cherubs joining us in the Dosil Domain:

1. Finish painting our master bath (completed 8/21/09)

2. Lay quarter round by the fireplace (completed 8/22/09)

3. Lay quarter round by the kitchen cabinets- only because I can't get new ones anytime soon...that's one of our last To Do's on the 'list' (completed 8/22/09)

4. Lay baseboards and hang a doorframe in the AZ room.

5. Hang a doorframe, and paint it, on our french doors.

6. Lay baseboards in all 3 bedrooms.

7. Caulk all the new baseboards.

8. Hang a closet door in the master bedroom- this one requires help.

9. Switch electrical in our laundry room to another wall- another one that requires help.

10. Take out a wall in our laundry to open it up, then repair the drywall.

11. Paint the laundry room.

12. Lay flooring in the laundry room.

13. Install shelving or cabinets (or both) in the laundry room/pantry.

14. Texture living/family room ceilings- again, another one that needs assistance.

15. Paint the above mentioned ceilings.

16. Tile master bathroom shower.

17. Tile master bathroom floor.

18. Install recessed lighting- paying someone to do that!

*19. Get new carpet in bedrooms- paying someone to that too!

*20. Laying pavers in the backyard- paying someone to do that as well!

*21. Getting new kitchen cabinets- we can probably do this ourselves (my uncle is a master carpenter), but it costs a lot, so it's officially last on the 'list'.

* items will likely not be done before anymore subsequent children. I'd be 45 before I got to have anymore if that were the case ;)

WHEW! I'm tired just typing this list out! Is it possible that this list going to change and evolve? Most likely ;) But, rest assured, while it seems as though we have a lot to do...I really just break things down into each step something requires because I feel MUCH more successful when I can physically cross something off my list. I do that with cleaning too. Doesn't it feel so much better to cross off, like, 10 things from a list of what you cleaned, rather than just "clean the house"? Um, I think so! I know it's all mental, but, well, I don't care ;)

Here are just a couple of pictures as we begin our many "fun" family projects. Enjoy and cheer us on!

Abby is helping us measure the base of the cabinets.

Here daddy is, checking Abby's work...

Abby gave up actually doing any work and moved on to supervising.

Not sure how she feels about it, but it seems as though she disapproves...

Weary...

Today I attended the funeral of a student that used to attend our school. He wasn't my former student, but he was one of our "Big Buddies" in one of the 6th grade teacher's class. I remember him as a kid who just loved to have fun, and he was amazing with his little buddy- always engaging and playing on his little buddy's level.

His dad spoke the most today, and I must say, he did an amazing job sharing his son's life and legacy with us. It was really what we already knew about him- he loved life, loved to have fun, loved to laugh, loved to be a boy, and what his dad really stressed- he loved Jesus...at a time in a young boy's life when that might not be the 'cool' thing to do, this boy did. Wow.

As I sat through the celebration of this young boy's life, crying all the while, his dad talked about their family's struggle with the "Whys" of how this all happened. He said that all they could take comfort in right now was that their son is with God and somehow, someway, this would touch other people's lives in the most meaningful way.

All I wanted to do was go home and snuggle with Abby and drink her in...I believe for me, that is what memorials and celebrations of life remind me of- that I DO have Abby and Kyle at home and they are healthy and happy and beautiful. Sure, Abby's a stinker of sorts at times, but man, in the grand scheme of life and love, does any of that really matter?

What a heart heavy way to remind me of my wonderful life blessings. I've been told that as a teacher that there will be a time when I will attend a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, whatever you'd like to call it, of a student/s of mine...I cannot even imagine. There is nothing in all of the education you can receive that will ever prepare you for this. Nothing.

To you Logan, may you continue to make people smile from above...

I'm Back to Work...

So it's official...as of last Monday, August 10th, I went back to work with some pretty awesome 5 year olds, diving head first into the new year. While I was a bit saddened at the thought of leaving my little girl with her new sitter instead of being home with me, just the thought of her making new friends and starting preschool brought me right back into the land of HAPPY ;)

One of the best things (in my 'highly valued' opinion- this is my opinion of my opinion) about being a teacher is that we have a definitive work year. We only have a limited amount of time with our students to do something with them, what a great challenge to embrace. And I don't just mean get them to pass the tests, meet benchmark goals, master grade level standards, and everything else we 'work' for...no, I mean we only have one year to make a lasting impact on their lives. Are the choices I make going to make it a good one, or not? I choose to push for the former ;)

I face every year (and really, everyday) with the question riding in the back of my mind,

"How will they remember me?"

I know that times have changed and curriculum has been pushed up to an even younger age (which I really don't argue, because I do believe young children can handle and even embrace it), but some of my most fond memories of kindergarten with Mrs. Kropen were the simple things like:

*playing in the kitchen center (check),

*reading stories in the library (check),

*recess with my friends (check),

*parent helpers (especially my dad and pumpkin pies) helping out (check),

*and having our 6th grade buddies come in to our class to read and do fun projects with us (check that too!).

I love my job (not just teaching, but KINDERGARTEN) and I have often told my principal that he will have to pull me 'kicking and screaming' out of it before I go to a different grade (have I learned that from my students?). But seriously, I'm just not done in Kindergarten yet, we have too much to do! ;)

Think back, what were some of your best Kindergarten memories?

Please share them with me, I love to try new things! Just think of how your great memory could impact some cool, little kid in my class ;) I'll even invite you in for a spin!

Taking it for granted...

If any of you are paying attention to the time that this is posted, you'll notice that I'm awake and blogging at 1:30am. Sometimes things just can't wait. I waited too long to write in my pregnancy journal (which is probably why there are only about 4 entries!) and I often wait too long to say the things I want to say- usually out of fear that I may embarrass myself, or that people won't understand why I feel the sudden urge to say things to them.

I am blessed. Is my life what I thought it would be? No. When I was 5, I was going to be a firefighter. When I was 12, I was going to be an OB/GYN (who saw that one coming?). When I was 16, I had no clue what I was going to be. When I got to college, well, the rest is history...

Life evolves, sometimes into things we don't, and will never, understand, but it does. And it doesn't slow down and wait for us to understand. Nope, it just keeps going. But there are times, and I do believe in the mayhem and chaos that we create for ourselves, they are few, but nevertheless, there are times when we hit the pause button and reflect on ourselves. Tonight was one of those nights. Though I suspect it has been building for a couple of days now.

A week ago, I watched a dance choreographed to a remarkable song, titled This Woman's Work (So You Think You Can Dance). A flood of memories came back to the movie that inspired that song...and I realized something (it all came together after rushing out tonight to rent the movie). I take so much of my blessed life for granted.

• my husband, who is as resolved as steel and hardly ever falters, supporting me every single step of my crazy ways
• my mom, who is right around the corner, literally and figuratively, to help me in any way she can (even if it's to make chicken noodle soup late on a Tuesday night)
• my dad, who has never doubted me and has made me live up to who he knew I could be
• my step mom, who judges no one and does her best to be the best she can for us
• my in-laws, for taking me in and loving me as one of their own
• my sister, who, Lord knows, struggled with me growing up, but has become one of the very best friends I have ever had- I love you!
• my girlfriends, who have seen me through all of my ugliness and heyday and stood by me through it all: boyfriends, breakups, makeups, weddings, baby, you name it!
• my guy friends, who have also seen the ugliest sides to me and still love me no matter what: boyfriends, breakups, makeups, weddings (and rehearsals!), baby, you name it!
• my health and those of the people I love...what more can I say?
• my everyday heroes (Bob, Greg, Mike, Edward, Zach and all the others out there trying to make a difference in the world) who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us. I take it for granted that they have come home everyday after their shift is up. Thank you God.
• my family, who is crazy, in love, spirit, and faults, for making me who I am today
• my job and the families I meet, who let me in and let me create in their children something new
• my friends who are far away, that still manage to reach me and let me know I'm important to them
• my God, who gives me everything

I dabble with the idea that I am strong and know what I am doing with my life, and I'm sure in many instances I am and I do. But reflectively, I don't think I'm there yet or have faced whatever it is that I am supposed to face before I can really say I'm there. Sure, I get through my daily struggles and pay our bills and take care of a (sometimes difficult) two and a half year old. But honestly, God has been really, really good to me. I read a blog, almost daily, of a 5 year old who has struggled with brain cancer since she was 4. 4. She (and her family) is an inspiration to me. I have never even met this little girl or her parents, but I hope one day I get to. She has seen more in her little, fragile life than any of us could ever imagine in a lifetime and I thank God daily that she has come so far.

Not exactly sure where my ramblings are going...but how can one song lead to so many memories and so many thoughts? Not sure, and I don't know if I want to know. I like when things take me by surprise like that.

I guess that for whomever is reading this, you are a special part of my life. And I just wanted you to know...

God Bless! "I thank my God every time I remember you." Phil. 1:3

Fun at the Phoenix Children's Musuem!

I love my sister and her husband, but man oh man, do I love their kids! I suspect a major part of that is because they are so darn cute and smart, but...I also suspect that it's because they include Abby as one of their own (which I guess she is, but you know what I mean...). We have a little circus whenever they get together- Mason as the ringleader, Maeleigh as the highwire act (lots of fun drama!), and Abby as the clown (or MC, she's pretty loud!).

Don't let this face fool you...

Oh yeah... where am I going first?

We seem to see these scary monsters wherever we go!

Me and Michelle decided to take our kiddos on one fun (last) field trip to the Phoenix Children's Museum. After finally calling Bobby to find out where it was (where we suspected it was all along!), we made it inside and found a fascinating place, filled with all kinds of things for children (and adults!) to spark your imagination and play!!! Not sure who had more fun, me or the kids? I always enjoy these 'trips' with the kids, even when the day usually ends in tears or drool 'cause someone fell asleep (and the former are the kiddos who SHOULD be asleep!).

This fun contraption made handkerchiefs blow through tubing and pop out in an unexpected place!

Loads of fun!

Here I am Mama!

You can see a small, white ball levitating to the upper left of Maeleigh's head.

When we say she walks to the beat of her own drum...

WAY harder than it looks! See below...

I thought he was going to kick me off. Nope, just wanted a pic!

Michelle may have made it about 6 inches, heading left ;)

Our little hula girl!

Although these three could have stayed at the same place the entire time we were there, they begrudgingly let us lead them on to different rooms after plenty of time had passed. Who would've suspected? They actually had loads of fun in the new rooms too! Every room presented the kids (and again, adults) something fun, challenging, or creative to do ;) It was a BLAST and I can't wait to go back again!

Coloring with these AMAZINGLY bright crayons!

Of course our friend, Manatee, joined us ;)

Sand on a lighted table, who knew it could be so much fun?

Uh oh, traffic jam at the carwash!

Getting 'washed'...

Almost done ;)

A game of Plinko, anyone?

This is where you could lose your child...you had better know what kind of shoes they are wearing that day. Can you see Abby in there?

Maeleigh and Abby, finishing an animal alphabet puzzle together.

Going grocery shopping...

Waiting in line for the checkout (it actually had a moving belt!)

Maeleigh did NOT want to sit in back!

VROOM! VROOM! Here I come!

While I am saddened that this will be my last official 'summer vacation' field trip post, I have spent so much glorious time with my girl and I am anxiously awaiting for school to start (Miss Abby starts preschool this year!) and see what new adventures she will go on...

Thanks for being so patient...

A look from the pier.

I know, I know, I have a LOT of catching up to do...where DOES the time go? Well, it's about to take me back to my fabulous job of teaching kindergarten, so I figured I should really get caught up on my summer blogs before heading back full time ;)

First off (this blog) is our recent trip to the lovely San Diego, CA. This is an annual trip that my family takes with my sister, Michelle, her husband, Bob, their two awesome kiddos, Mason and Maeleigh, our mom, Pam, Bob's mom, Selena, and for a least a few days, Abby's Grandpa Kelly. This year we were also blessed to have 'extra' visitors- Moe and Sarah and our very missed friend, Ernesto (he is now a resident of San Diego full time).

Is this really how close guys get when they hang out?

The trip was amazing all over, even with the normal 'hold ups' a trip with lots of family and young can have;) One of the things that I do not have a picture of (and I am so sad about it) is the hotel room we stayed in the first night. Maybe you are fortunate enough to have read the story, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, or maybe you haven't. In short, when I say that our first night was like that book, you'd understand. For those of you who have not read it, we were literally sleeping on top of one another, considering all of the luggage that had to be brought in from Bob's truck at night! I couldn't sleep, although it seemed to me as though everyone else was. There's just something ominous about hearing new breathing in a room with you at night when everything is supposed to be quiet. All I have to say is, thank goodness it was only one night!!!

Anyhow, the first official day of our trip happened to land on the 4th of July! What a fun day to be there!!! From the bay, we were able to watch what seemed to be 5 different fireworks shows- how amazing is that? Before hand, Moe and Sarah came to hang out with us and the kids had a lot of fun playing with Moe...we don't see enough of those two.

Abby teaching Moe how to color.

My awesome family on the 4th of July!

Of course we did our annual trip to Sea World, ALWAYS fun ;) The kids had a blast (and the adults too!). I love to see how excited they get over what seems like the silliest things: bumpy skin on a starfish, the pets show (even though they don't get that excited over their own pets), the icy cold arctic environment, MANATEES (pics didn't quite work out this year, after much screaming, we finally figured out that Abby was saying, "I do it myself!"- oh well, huh?), churros (that one is really for Aunt Chelley and Kyle), and the ducklings swimming around in our normal family photo op place.

The bumpy skin on starfishies ;)

They look very studeous, don't they?

Michelle, my mom, and me...I think we take this picture every year???

You can see the back of Mason's head between Bob's and Selena's

(he's getting so brave!).

There's uncle Bobby trying to keep everyone alive ;)

A little bit better...
What a beautiful family!

We spent a lot of time down on the beach. How could we not? The weather was absolutely perfect! I do notice that our load of beach stuff begins to slowly dwindle down as the week goes on because we cannot stand lugging it around day after day. How come we don't remember that every year at the beginning of the trip?

Our beach bum!

Look at these two cuties!!!

Here's Abby and Daddy saying, "Where'd our feet go?"

"Here they are!!!"

Grandpa Kelly, Abby, and Daddy

Abby REALLY wanted to go

boogie boarding...









I tried to convince her otherwise...

This is what we ended up with...

One of the best highlights of our trip was meeting up with my cousin Zach, our fellow Marine...not everyday you get to dine with a hero ;) We love him so much and we were so glad he got to take some time out of his busy schedule to hang with us. Thanks Zach!!!

Mason switched his outfit so he could match uncle Kyle ;)

Scary monsters- oooooh!

Me, our hero, Zach, and Chelle.

Me and my amazing hubby, Kyle ;)

Too cute for words!

Walking with confidence on the pier (not so much a couple of days earlier)!

Hope you enjoyed my recap and the pictures! Can't wait to go back...