First Day Of School

The kids have been wanting to go back to school for the last month.

They're starting a new school this year, and don't know many kids there, but were still beyond excited to do it.

So here they are.  Drake a second grader, and Gwen a fourth grader.

Drake insists on socks with his Toms

I die at their cuteness!

Also new and exciting for the kids is that they get to ride their bikes to school!

 In all their excitement, we got to school way early and had to wait for the gates to open.  Then once inside, we had to wait for teachers to come out and get their students.  They didn't want parents going inside the first day, so I didn't get pictures of them in their classrooms.

And then I worried all day that they'd get lost, or not make any friends, but they both were all smiles once school got out.  

It's going to be a good year!

...9...

My baby girl is NINE!

Gwen wanted to do her birthday party a little early this year since come the first of July, most people head for the hills.  So we did it the weekend before, and it worked out great.  Other than the garbage disposal eating my frosting tip.  :(

 She wanted a sleep over, but since those are not allowed according to the McPhie statutes, we had a late night instead.  All her friends came over in their jammies to make pizza, eat cupcakes and watch a movie on the big wall of the playroom - movie theater style.  

 Gwen decorated the play room herself.  Well with the help of Drake.

And Drake.  Oh boy.  I wanted him to go watch a movie with Gigi and Papa during the party so he wouldn't have to be around all the girls, but he refused.  He wanted to hang out at the party, and play.  What a nut.  

 So her early birthday party was a super success, and it was nice to not have to worry about a party on her actual birthday.  

So the night before I cleaned the house and got presents wrapped, balloons blown up, house decorated, and then went in to kiss my 8 year old Gwenny good bye forever, and found her like this.  It killed me!  She has her unicorn tucked in under the blanket and is sleeping with a little hat pinned to the top of her head!  Oh I cried, and cried.  As much fun as it is to see her grow up, I want to preserve my little girl just a while longer.  

Last picture of Gwen as an 8 year old.

But the next morning, I found a gorgeous 9 year old Gwenny! 

 Then we had a day of doing what she wanted!  

That meant no bar study for me, pedicures for the girls (Drake really wanted one, and has asked for one on his birthday in a couple of weeks),

I am UGE (silent H)

 Lunch at Olive Garden!

 The kids were fuh-reez-ing!!

This was how Drake waited for our lunch.  While he was confined, he certainly was not quiet.

 We had a fun giggly lunch!

We ended the night with a family party at the Collard's house (since our air conditioning decided to go out the night before), and ate German Chocolate cake at Gwen's request.  

  It was a super fun day, and I'm so happy to have gotten to spend it with my little best friend!  She passed out on the way home!

mom, can I have a shaver?

Want to see one of the cutest selfies ever?

Behold-

 Gwen and Austin.  hashtagnofilter

I have put a serious limit on the kids screen time this summer.  No TV/games until chores are done, and the kids have read for at least 20 minutes.  Often this doesn't happen until 4:00 pm if it happens at all!  Sometimes I think it's harder on me than on them.  Like when I'm studying and the kids are driving me crazy and I want to say "just go watch a movie!" but then I remember they can't.  :p

For Drake the hardest part is that I have a lock on my phone, so he can't just pick it up and play Bad Piggies whenever he wants.  But he has learned that if my phone is locked all he can do is make an emergency call, OR go to camera and take pictures!  Seriously?  Doesn't that seem funny that a locked phone will take pictures?  I mean I get the convenience thing, but what about the privacy thing?  Anyway, I plugged my phone in tonight and discovered HUNDREDS of pictures like these:

 Including some not so flattering pictures of me buried in my books and computer with headphones on, tuning the world out.  But you can thank me for sparing you those pictures. 

Did I mention previously that the bar is ruining my summer?

Well it is.

Study all day everyday, and I'm still behind.

Perhaps because I still have to make time for this cuteness.

 This boy is so rad.

And Gwen and I also have been on a baking kick.

I don't know how many loaves of bread I've baked already this summer, I want to find the perfect recipe, so I'm slowly perfecting wheat bread, but also am figuring out the right combos for white, oatmeal, and potato breads too. Gluten-free we are not!

 And I told you last time how Gwen was making tons of cookies, well she's whipped out her first cake ever too.  All by herself!  My little Gwenny Crocker.

In other news:

25 weeks, and the baby is the size of rutabaga.  Yep, a rutabaga.  

Should I be concerned that the garbage bags are in the same spot they've been for months, and the other night Ryan didn't know where that was??

Maybe I should be concerned about the fact that Gwen asked me today for a shaver so she can shave the hair on her legs?!!?!?  Holy smokes, I'm not ready for this.

oh what do you do in the summertime...

Gwen is back at it in synchro.  It's really fun to watch her and how much she's improved over the last year.

First place!

 She's been working really hard to get her splits.

 Drake is killing it on swim team this year.  He's been put in the fast heat, and his relay team took second!  I love how proud he was of that.  I love that he doesn't complain about having to go to swim this year.  It's great what confidence does.

Second place freestyle relay!

We attacked Camelback with cousin Cloe.

I've been studying for the bar everywhere possible.  My best block of time is when the kids are in the pool each day.  Then Drake steals my phone and takes random pictures (like below) and plays Bad Piggies.  He's an addict.

Gwen made cookies almost everyday the first week of summer.

I had to tell her no more cookie making since it usually leads to a mess, and many calories consumed.  But I love that she can read a recipe, and do it all by herself!

baby names

The kids are so excited to have a baby in the house.

I'm excited to have them be my little helpers when we have a baby in the house.

They're already being helpful.

They've come up with a list of names for their baby brother or sister.

Girls:

Sara

Suizi (Suzy)

Alisu (Alisa)

Michl (Michelle)

Boys:

Micle (Michael)

Joan (John)

Sparky

Joanathan (Jonathan)

Otto

Drake really likes the name Sparky.

His second choice is Jonathan.  In fact, he wanted me to call him Jonathan for a couple of days last year.

And then Otto.

life goes on

I got on my blog and realized that no one was updating it for me.

Darn.

I guess I can at least through up some pictures to prove that we have been surviving since school started.

Ryan had a birthday.

 Drake got pneumonia.  :(

 I don't think it was because of this...

 But he survived!

 Gwen has lost some teeth.

Tawnya had her baby.

Sweet little Skyla.

 We love her.

 D-backs game.

 My mini me, and my giant forehead!

 Triathlons.

 And serious training!

Now if I don't update for a few more months, please be understanding.  

It's going to be a BUSY next two months!

Christmas in July

July is a crazy month in the McPhie home.

The kids and I have our birthdays, hence the Christmas in July feeling, and we are at the peak of swim season.

Gwen was so excited that her friend Kate came back to Arizona again this summer.  So they decided to do a duet together for synchro.  They did a cute little routine to a Taylor Swift medley and got first place at regionals!!

Then these little cuties also did a team routine to The New Girl In Town from Hairspray.  Since they couldn't have their hair all big like in Hairspray (because their hair has to be put in a bun and then covered with gelatin so it doesn't get messed up or move in the water), they went for a big hair bow.  

These girls got second place for their team routine!

(I think, I can't remember, isn't that horrible?!)

So on to the birthdays.

Gwen kicks off July with her birthday on the first.

This was a big one, our little girl turned EIGHT!!

She wanted a "Brave" birthday party, so we rounded up her girlfriends to go see Disney's Brave.  

Now you have to know Ryan to know how excited he was for this.  But let me try to explain.  McPhie.  Scottish name.  Ryan served his mission in Scotland.  Ryan LOVES Scotland!  So he was relieved that Disney finally created a Scottish princess.  

To add to the Scottish excitement, he took the afternoon off to help with Gwen's party and accompany the girls to the movie... in his kilt!!

Gwen and Drake loved it!

Some of the girls thought it was weird.  

"Why are you wearing a skirt?  Boys aren't supposed to wear skirts."  

Ryan quickly let them know it was NOT a skirt.

Seeing the movie, and the men in their kilts helped.

Look at cute little Drakey, being the ladies man.

Gwen's actual birthday was on Sunday.  A FAST Sunday!  And cute little Gwenny was all about fasting since she was now eight.  So we had her birthday cake that night at Gigi and Papa's.

Part of turning eight in the LDS church is reaching the age of accountability.  That is the age when children can be baptized if they choose.  Gwen definitely wanted to be baptized and counted down the days.  

Look how sweet they are.

The baptism was beautiful and afterwards our Bishop asked me to bear my testimony.  Umm, okay.  Maybe he doesn't remember I can hardly do so without bawling.  You see I'm very emotional when talking about my gratitude for my Savior.  Couple that with my admiration for Gwen and the good choices she's made and being surround by so many loved friends and family members.  I was an emotional mess.

I hope Gwen knows how proud I am of her!

Next was my birthday.  It was pretty kick back, but just how I wanted it to be.

I got to hang out with my kids during the day, go on a date with Ryan that afternoon, and hang out with my family that night.  

Then later go out with my girlfriends who spoiled me and took me to Jesterz for a hilarious night!

It totally looks like I have a bald spot in this shot!

Next up was Drakey boy's birthday.

He was asking me how many days and hours till his birthday ever since Gwen had her birthday party.  So it was his turn to have a bunch of boys over and play with light sabers, water balloons, water squirters, beat a pinata and eat junk food.  

 He had a good time.

 Apparently I didn't get a picture of Drake's birthday cake, but it was cute, you'll just have to trust me.  It was a Lego cake, with a red, yellow and blue lego.  And it was super yummy.  Again, you'll just have to take my word for it.  ;)

Here he is getting his 6 pancake.

He was so tired!

And so we survived most of our family's birthdays, swim is over and summer is winding down.

School is just around the corner, but until then, I will squeeze every bit of fun out of what is left of the summer!