Did I ever tell you I hate the summertime???

Well I do! I am an AZ native and it never seems to get any easier...or cooler! Good thing we have a cabin up north to sneak away to, or I'd probably go insane. Between my four kids, two dogs, two cats (yes, we got a new kitten), one husband, and this blistering heat, I feel like I am going to go crazy most days! Luckily, school is right around the corner for me again. I'll be able to get away two nights a week and enjoy some "adult" time for a change. Unfortunately It will be to learn which isn't fun, but I'll take it!

So Jorden is officially a Sophomore now. Wow! She is taking summer school at my 'old stomping grounds' (THS)...it sure has changed since I was there (don't worry about how many years ago that was!). She seems to like it, definitely a change of pace for her. She finished out the year strong and will be adding two "A's" to that once she completes summer school. Bella will be starting swim lessons again in the intermediate class (Eels) and possibly in dance or tumbling after that if we can swing it this summer. She dances around the house all day long, so we feel it is our duty to get her started in something before this phase slips away. Boys will do a few rounds of swimming as well (Pikes) which is an upgrade from parent/tot classes, so we are excited to be able to hand them off to the teachers to listen to the screaming this year! Mike is embarking on a new adventure (more details later) so let's just keep our fingers crossed for the time being (biting nails).

We are now a family of ten!!! We have a new kitten named Canada. For those that don't know, we have another cat named America. This only made sense, right? She also goes by Candy (Bella) or Ninja (Jorden). She is cute. I'll post pics when I upload them. Frankie loves her, Floyd can't be bothered with her, and America won't even come inside anymore. We'll have to remedy this at some point, but for now it is as peaceful as a zoo can possibly be. :)

I got accepted to Ottawa's Master of Arts in Education program which starts in one week! Man, that break didn't last long. I am waiting to hear back from the director of NAU's Education program to verify that a School Psychology program is definitely coming to the valley next Spring. If so, I will be applying there this fall in hopes of transferring. I am starting at Ottawa instead of waiting because I will already be six classes down by the time NAU gets their program up and running, and I don't want to waste any time. I just need to make sure all the courses I am taking will actually transfer over or are equivalent to, which is why I am awaiting a phone call. SOONER than later, please!! So I will either be an Ottawa graduate or a Northern Arizona graduate in 2012. Either way, I am pretty stoked.

We are planning our first "real" family trip in September, to Colorado. It will be a blast and I am so excited to see where Mike grew up. We are also going to Elitch Gardens, Denver Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion, Estes Park, and a few other places Mike wants to show us. The boys won't remember the trip (yeah for cameras!), but the girls will and I am very happy to be able to share memories like this with them.