Fall so far

Fall is my favorite time of year. I absolutely love when the hot weather breaks (well only at night here), but you can sense that change is coming. The smell of fireplaces at night and the sight of pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks make my heart sing. I just love knowing that all of my favorite holidays are quickly approaching and two months of school is under my belt. (By the way...school is absolutely insane-teaching all day straight exept for a 20 min lunch period in which I use to prep and grade and usually have students in my room!) I pretty much wing everyday. I am hoping that my kids are learning. I try to bring a passion to teaching content, but come on...chemistry is not really a desired concept for 16 year olds.

So first up is Halloween. This year, Davis is going to be James Dean and Shea Bear is going to be Audrey Hepburn. It is going to be a Halloween pulled straight out of pop culture from the past! I can't wait to post pics! Shea wanted to be a princess...go figure, but mommy got her way since she does the online shopping.

Then my BABY GIRL turns five! How can that be? Beautiful Bears is growing up and what a smart, sassy crazy woman I am raising! (after all she is my child...would you expect anything less?) When asked what she wants for her birthday she tells me that she just wants her whole family together. All her grams and gramps, aunts and uncles and cousins...and in that statement she is truely sincere.

Next up...Thanksgiving. I CANNOT wait to get family time with everyone and Nikki, A Lynn and U Steve will be here. Of course we are going to really miss Max and Leigha, but HOORAY for cousin time with nikki six. YES YES YES!!!

Then Christmas/Channukah (I still have no idea how to spell that) Oh seeing the joy that the kids have at that time and the family time we get...I love every minute of it...spending money is also a plus. And it will be Taylor's very first Christmas...so fun!

Davis turns two. Ugh I just "popped him out" as Shea states it. My baby boy is growing as well. He loves animals and most importantly he loves his mommy and still clings to me :) Another thing that makes my heart sing.

Finally New Years. Another year! 2013...crazy!

More change on the horizon...

Amy is steadily recovering. She takes positive baby steps everyday. She has a long road to travel, but she is on her way. She is strong and still fighting for her life. I love her and really miss her! My heart both rejoyces and hurts for her everyday. I hope that I can go see her again sometime soon.

Davis will be getting glasses. Turns out, baby boy can't see very well. He looks super cute, but man keeping those suckers on him...whew..It's going to be a fight.

This fall so far we have been enjoying high school and ASU football games and just went to my friend Candice's wedding. Candice made a beautiful bride and the wedding was a good time with friends.

Enjoy these candids from the past couple weeks.

A~S~U!

ummm...

Bears supporting her bears

Dini's first shave

cousin love



sleepy puppy



Candice

What a beautiful back drop

two of the four...missing Annie and AMY!!!

Beauty of the day: friends. I love my friends. I have so many different friends. I have childhood friends, dance friends, school friends, teaching friends, family friends, Howie's friends that are now my friends. Friends have shaped the person I am today. You all have allowed me to feel comfortable to be my crazy self and develop into Kendra with a full yet spunky soul. Thank you! 

Ames

Please pray for my good friend Amy. Our prayers were heard. Dan and Baby Gabby are doing well. It is a miracle. Amy still needs our payers. She is strong and will get through this and recover. Amy you are loved by so many. We will never ever give up. You and your family continue to be in our hearts and prayers.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/chandler/chandler-teacher-fights-to-survive-after-being-hit-while-walking-with-baby-and-husband

Thriller Teacher Dance

Master's Graduation Day

Beauty of the Day: How our bodies can heal & Last night's sunset

To grade or not to grade...that is the question!

I have had the HARDEST time getting through these lab reports! I have about 30 more and am so unwilling to donate my time to them. I have not been very good about taking pictures lately, but the biggest news in the Kaplan household is our backyard...it is DONE. Yes DONE! It has been so nice swimming in our pool and playing on our nice patio this weekend. We have been outside all of the time despite the hot hot hot temperatures. Here are some pics of the pool build.

Before Excavation

Just beginning

Excavation Complete

Steel for concrete pour

Shotcrete pour

Cool deck pour

Tile

Stone

Fence

Water Fill

And there your have it...minus the flowers in our pots

Landscaping

Shea's new favorite "toy"

extra little patio



Play pit

 And there you have it...it cost a lot of money but not having a yard full of mud is priceless! The joy on my kids' faces = priceless as well! 4 more weeks until October break!!! Thank goodness!

Beauty of the day: New babies (I got to meet baby Gabby for the first time today...she is just precious!!!)

Exhaustion

I am SOOO OH SOOO tired. Here was my day yesterday:

No Sleep (not even an hour b/c of sick baby boy)
Alarm goes off at 5
Hurry and get Shea Shea ready for school (oh and myself I guess...too tired to care...not sure if I even put deoderant on)
Stumble into Bashas to get coffee.(I need at IV of coffee btw)
Make it to school just before school 7
Rush Shea to class and kiss her goodbye
Run back up to the office and go to a 7 am meeting (late)
Bell rings at 7:20 to start school
Teach 2 1/2 hours
Lunch Meeting
Bell rings, teach four more hours
Tutor a kid for 10 min after school
Another meeting at 2:30
Rush to get Shea at 3
Drive home
Get her dressed for dance and spend 10 min with D
Take Shea to dance for an hour
Come home and eat dinner
Park time for a half hour
Bathe D and S
Bedtime for Davis and Shea
Pass out

Are you kidding me?

Good night

Beauty of the day: my bed

PS-Please pray for little Hunter to remain strong and heal quickly. Please also pray for Linz's strength!

Life Updates

Well it happened...they gave me 6/5. Oh boy...teaching all 6 periods with no break is kicking my butt! Good news=extra money, bad news=no prep=no time. Oh well. We will stay busy I guess this year.

On another note here is what is going on with us currently.
     -Jess moved in and is getting aquainted. We love having you J!
     -I am trying to finally lose my Shea baby weight. (Maybe I shouldn't have eaten bags of peanut butter cups and m&ms)
     - Shea is dancing more at a new studion right by our new house. (2 hours/week) She is now on a team that performs all over. (Ang-remember the State Fair/Competitions/Ostrich Festival)
     -Shea was moved up a level in gymnastics.
     -Davis is starting to talk a lot more and is still a huge mama's boy.
     -Our pool construction is moving along. Slowly but surely.

Beauty of the day: Sweat pants and sports bras!

Hold on Tight

Hold on tight and cherish the ones you love. "Life is short but sweet for certain."

Keep on fighting and getting stronger little man and rest in peace C.

Beauty of the day:  Genuine People (To our excavation people-Thank you!!!)

Friends

Thank God for friends. Liz, Court, and I are soulmates and will be friends until the end of our days.

Beauty of the day: Make up artists and the rain that has hit the valley of the sun

Happy Fourth

Our fourth of July consisted of red, white, and blue sprinkle doughnuts, play time, nap time, Best Buy time (for Howie) and GRANDMA CINDY'S! It was such a great day. The temperature only reached a cool 90 degrees. It was rainy and just plain awesome! It brings such joy to me to witness my kids regard my mom's house as their favorite place to hang, just like I did with Henry and my grandma's house when I was younger. Henry and my grandma's house and the duck club are still my "happy place" when I shut my eyes and need a break from reality. Everyone had a great time munching on grub, running through the sprinklers (D was naked so I'm not gonna post any of those pics), making fun of one another, and watching the fireworks. I wish I could explain in words the show that Davis put on in the sprinkler. I think Grandma Cindy peed her pants laughing. He is going to be the class clown for sure; whereas Shea Bear is reserved, quiet, and a true blue scaredy cat :) So with that said, here's to our freedom!

 Britt and I tried...this was the best we could get of the three of them!

   Beauty of the day: Fireworks (thank you chemistry)