Let the Good Times Roll

As our summer slowly winds down, we're still HARD at it enjoying every minute we have left. We spent almost the entire week (last week) at the pool. It was entirely TO HOT to be anywhere else. We've swam at Mamaw and Pappy Maglingers, Beech Bend, Indian Hills, and this weekend...the University Plaza Hotel. Karson's bestest friend at Plano KAYLEE celebrated her 8th birthday there. We adore Kaylee and her mom Brandy. They are some of the sweetest people we know and are very thankful for their friendship.

We got Kaylee a Monster High doll. Not sure what the appeal is with these spooky gals, but I figured Kaylee would like one. Got a text from her mom the next day saying she LOVED her doll. Karson has also gotten into the Monster High dolls lately.

All I can say about these dolls is "eeewww". I can't understand what the appeal is of a doll that looks gothic, creepy, dressed like a ghoulish/vampire/Dracula/wolf or whatever, but the are the "new" thang. Two of Karson's friends at church have brought them and wanted to play. Karson doesn't own one but wants one SO bad. Since she is a saver (when it comes to her piggy bank), I told her she could buy one with her money. Matt took her on a run to try to find the one she wants--TRU, Target, Wal-Mart--nada. Little did we know, it would turn into a wild goose chase much like the desirable Cabbage Patch doll or the Zhu Zhu pet. Apparently, the one she wants (pictured above) is impossible to find and not one of the newer dolls. SO, lucky us, when we googled it, it cost(s) WAY more money and is hard to find. I lucked out and found one on Amazon. She/WE waited and waited for it to arrive. AND, when it did, it was the wrong doll. When I talked to the customer service rep., he said it was probably pulled from the wrong area. I'm thinking...they are ALL pulled from the wrong area--these dolls are creepy. We had to take it back to the post office and return it--currently am waiting on a refund. I found another one from K-Mart. com which happened to be cheaper--yeah! I ordered it and a day later received an email saying there was an error in the processing, and I needed to call. Sheesh. I called and was told that K-Mart didn't stock it but Sear's did and they could re-order it through Sears. Okay, sure, do that. At this point, I have been charged by THREE different places for this doll. Then, I received another EMAIL from Sears stating the same thing as the Kmart email. I called yesterday and was told that the doll wasn't in stock, and I would receive a refund. NOW, I am waiting on THREE refunds and haven't told Karson because I know she would have an aneurysm. I found the doll on Mattel's website and ordered it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. That's been the small drama of the week (it's always something, right).

Isaac had a sleepover with cousin Evan on Friday night. He doesn't sleep-over with many people, usually only Pap and Nana or Meme and Pops. It was kind of a big thing for him to stay with Evan. However, my 4-year old Miles had NO problems at ALL spending the night with Samuel Garcia last Sunday night (his 1st overnight with a friend). Anyway, when I went to meet up with Paul and Isaac, I decided to take Isaac to Toys R Us and go backpack shopping. Plus, we needed some Nerf bullets for the new gun Paul had just got him from ESSEX (the best store in BG).

Here's his pick. Isaac has really gotten into Star Wars lately. He gets the DVD's at the library, along with the chapter books.

I was up in the attic the other day (melting alive) and found these. I knew they would come in handy some day. Luckily, there is TWO flat sheets. Isaac and Miles have been carrying them around the house =).
Speaking of backpacks, Karson picked hers out a few weeks ago. She wants to carry a messenger bag this year, and Justice has some of the cutest ones I've seen. Justice is the store that girls "graduate" into past Gymboree and Children's Place. I don't like all the styles in there, but there are a couple I like (that aren't TOOOO mature). We found her bag there and spent way more than I wanted to--it better hold up. And, I got her a thermal lunch box from 31. Karson picked out the garden lattice design which goes quite nicely with the bag she picked out.

Today is an extra special day because the twins celebrate their 7th birthday.

Evan asked us for a box of money--he was very serious about his request so I took it very serious. I found a box at Office Depot and had the kids paint it green, and I added some money signs and tied $19 in cash like a kite string with Mighty Beans at the end. We got Elizabeth the game Hedbandz and some Monster High stickers.



Paul and Shannon planned a day full of activities like tie dying shirts, making paper airplanes, face painting, making jewelry and hairbows and a water balloon fight. The kids had a blast.

Today was busy. Karson decided she wanted to try out for Robin Hood at PTK later that afternoon (after the party). I didn't know what to expect since Karson has never been involved in theater, aside from PTK camp which she attended for the first time this summer. I had talked to my friend Chas moments before to try and get a feel for what we should expect--her son Walker has been in many PTK performances. When we walked in, I could tell these kids came to ACT, you know what I mean. I read on the application that a resume is encouraged. A resume? We walked into to the theater and watched a couple of acts--WOW. I immediately felt scared for Karson and told her she didn't have to do it. Plus, there are lots of people, parents and kids, in the audience watching and listening. To my surprise, she said, "Mom I want to." I told her what Chas had told me, make sure she speaks LOUD and enunciates. There are many kids there for try-outs so they pair them in groups and have the kids actually do a scene from the play with scripts in hand. The kids get to practice with their partner(s) ahead of time. Karson read three different times. I was SO PROUD of her. I thought she did great. I know she has high hopes of getting one of the bigger parts, but honestly, I'm not sure if she did. Like I said, the kids there came to PLAY. They were very animated, and the age ranges were 7-18 so Karson is definitely one of the youngest. When we got in the car to leave, I told her that I was SO proud of her and that there is NO WAY I would've done that at her age--that she was very brave. Then we talked about being prepared for whatever part they assign (if any??). It makes no difference to me if she decides to pursue acting or not. The committment is HUGE--two hours a night for the entire week (minus Wednesdays). I'm not sure for how many weeks either? We'll see. I'll keep you posted =). After try-outs, we headed over to Chick Fil A afterwards to meet up with the birthday kids again for dinner with our families. A super-de-duper day all around!