First Day of School

Today was the first day of school. We now have a second grader and a fourth grader.  I can't believe it. They are both so big. No more babies.

They were so excited this morning. They have wonderful teachers again this year. (no bad teachers at our school, so that's really a given)

We are looking forward to all the wonderful things second and fourth grade will bring us this year.

End of Summer

I just can't believe Summer has come to an end and school will start tomorrow. It went by way too fast. I guess that means we had a ton of fun. WE DID! Here are some pictures from the rest of our Summer (since my last post).

We had a great Summer filled with wonderful memories; Patriotic Sing, Happy Hollow with great friends, Girl Scout Day Camp (with both girls doing the Monkey Bridge!), Crawdad fishing at The Lake with their cousin, & eating the catch of the day (6 Crawdads...YUM!).

School starts tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a wonderful year filled with great memories.

Sixth Annual Tahoe Trip

It's hard to believe we have been going to Tahoe with the B family for the past 6 years. Their oldest was just over a year old. Their younger daughter wasn't even born. O was less than a year and CK was about a year and a half old. WOW...I've gotta find those pics.

The girls are all getting so big. They play so well together. This was the first year that all four girls were old enough to play together without fighting.

The weather was a little gloomy two of the days, but we didn't care. The girls still swam in the ice cold lake. yike!

The girls spotted little fish and crawdads in the lake. Of course, they tried to catch them. I guess I'm buying a fishing net.

We had a fantastic hike on the "Tahoe Rim Trail." The trail starts in Tahoe City. What a beautiful day for a hike!

If you remember, last year we made s'mores. We did again this year, but in the oven. YUM! I'll be posting this recipe on my food blog later. The benefit to this recipe is you can enjoy them for several days!

Just a few images of The Lake

The girls....

Our two families...

Only My Daughter....

The night we get back from our fabulous road trip I am unpacking and the girls are in their room playing. All of a sudden CK comes out of her room crying. I ask her what's wrong and she says,  "I miss school and my teacher!"

I tell her we were so busy these past two weeks with vacation she didn't get a chance to think about how much she missed school. We'll be busy all Summer, I tell her. I give her a big hug and tell her it will be okay.

CK goes back into her room and after a little while comes out again. Smile on her face and says, "I remembered my teacher gave us Summer homework. I did a Scholastic News and I feel much better."

Only my daughter. I hope this attitude lasts through college.

Our Gypsy Tour of The West

We just got back from a fabulous road trip! 3612.5 miles, seven states (NV, UT, WY, CO, NM AZ and CA) in two weeks! We stayed with family, friends, and a few hotels along the way. We saw some of our beautiful country, the Salt Flats, Fort Bridger, Garden of the Gods, Grand Canyon, Petroglyph National Monument, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West and more. As a surprise to the girls, we ended with Disneyland (their first trip ever).

A trip of a lifetime. Spending time with my family and friends. Showing our daughters our beautiful country and teaching them about our history. We loved it all!

To make it easier, I put all the pictures on a website.

Click here to view all the pictures.

Mother's Day....The Day We Ran Away

I told the girls "We are running away on Mother's Day." They gave me a funny look. Not understanding what I meant. I told them not to worry it was just going to be for the day. We would be back home for dinner. That sounded better to them.

When I run away, it's to the ocean. We got up early and were waiting in the membership line at the Monterey Bay Aquarium a half hour before opening. YES!

I told my husband, he's got the camera today. I'm not taking pictures. I want to be IN the pictures on Mother's Day! He did and did a great job. I have to admit, I couldn't stop myself. I took pictures with my cell phone. It's in my blood. I can't help it.

Here are some great pictures my wonderful husband took.

By the way, the BEST way to see the Outer Bay exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to go STRAIGHT from the membership line to the Outer Bay exhibit. No one is there and you can get these great shots (all with a point-and-shoot, BTW)!!!

Thank you honey for taking these wonderful images of me and my girls!

 

I couldn't resist! I ended up with the camera in my hand, and had to take this picture!

The Girls Art

My girls love to draw, color, cut, paste, staple and make stuff. When I had to get a new cell phone about a month ago (old one died) the girls were so excited to discover the sketch pad.

Now anytime we are out and about and they are sitting for more than 2 minutes they want to draw.

Tonight, they were at a Home and School Club meeting with me. When O was done with her homework she started to draw. She completely drained the battery. She drew 6 images. Yikes. Stupid phone. Battery should last longer than that.

Here are the 17 images CK and O have drawn on my cell phone in the last month.

How can I tell them no when they leave these beautiful colorful images.....and notes of love.

Our Family Field Trip

O's first grade teacher has a dream. A dream that every one of her students goes to college. During Spring Break the students have a college project to get them interested and excited about college. I think it's a fabulous idea.


The project consists of interviewing two people who have graduated from college and a few optional items. For O's optional item we choose to visit a college campus. Where else by mommy and daddy's alma mater.

We had a great time walking around campus and showing the girls around. So much has changed.

What a fun day at SJSU. Thank you Mrs. C for a great project.

Easter Memories

One of my most vivid memories from childhood is Easter at my grandmother's house. Every Easter, with out fail, she would have Peeps. I only remember the yellow ones at Grandma's house.

Peeps are not my favorite to eat. My grandmother must love them. In my mind's eye I can see the yellow Peeps in their boxes sitting on my grandmother's round living room table. I don't remember ever eating them. Just seeing them there.

Still to this day when I see Peeps I think of Grandma. For that reason, I love Peeps.

In honor of my Grandma the girls and I made Peeps Krispies Treats to bring to Easter at my parents house. I found the recipe online and thought they looked fun (so colorful) and sounded good.

They are yummy. Even if you're not a Peeps fan, they are a little sweeter than normal Rice Krispies Treats. I think they're going to be a hit.

Happy Easter

Happy Hollow is BACK

Our favorite park and zoo has been closed for what seems like forever. It's been a very long year and a half. We have missed going so much! We just could not wait any longer. The girls and I had to go to the member only sneak peak opening. Along with 8,000 other members! It was a great day! It really did not seem like 8,000 people were there.

The new Happy Hollow is beautiful. Like the girls said, not better, just different. They did a fabulous job with the remodel. We can't wait to go back. Here are a few pics from our first day back.

CK:  "The Bald Eagle is our state bird." (as she is starting to look up information on the computer)

O:  "National bird."

CK: Reading information on Bald Eagles on the web, she softly says: "Oh! She was right."

Homophones

CK was listing homophones (part of her homework) while we were sitting eating dinner tonight. O and I were trying to help her think of some.

O says very excited, "There and their." She also came up with some that are the same spelling, so not a homophone. O kept on thinking of homephones. Wanting to help her big sister with her homeowork.

"Cupboard and cupboard!!!!" O says as she tosses her arm in the air, very excited. CK and I both look at her. "What?"

O explains...."Cupboard, like the group of people that sit at the table with the president and make all the rules and cupboard that the dishes are in." Very proud of herself for thinking of such a good homophone.

I did everything I could to not laugh, but I just could not hold back. "O" I said, "Great job! Did you learn about this in school?" "Yes, last week." she smiles.

"You have the right idea." I told her. "But the president's group is a Cabinet, not a cupboard. Close! Cabinet, cupboard....same thing, right?" O smiles back at me.

I'm glad to know she is listening at school. She understood exactly what her teacher was explaining. Next step....remembering the correct name. Minor detail really.

Mother's Have Special Powers

Setup:  The girls are in the bathroom. They are suppose to be getting ready for bed. I'm in the other room.

Mommy: Stop talking and get ready for bed.
O: (to Mommy) What are we doing now?
Mommy: Flossing.
O:  (to CK) How does she know what we're doing?
CK: Mother's have special powers.

Interviews

A friend of mine interviewed her 3 year old and posted it on her blog. I thought it was such a great idea, I thought I would do the same with my girls. Here is how it went.

Interview with CK - 8 Years Old
What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer and a Horse Back Rider
Where do you want to live when you grow up? Up in the mountains where Mrs. F (Cowgirl) lives.
What is your favorite...
color? blue
lunch? turkey sandwich
dinner? chicken wings
drink? apple juice
treat? rice crispy squares
Where is your favorite place to visit? Kauai
Who is your best friend? O....my sister
What is your favorite thing to do with...
your sister? play webkins world on the computer
daddy? camping
mommy? Girl Scout Day Camp
What is your favorite show? Curious George
Who lives in your heart? My family
(she clarified "all" (immediate & extended) after hearing O's answer)
What about Jesus? In my heart.


Interview with O - 7 Years Old
What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer, Dentist, Doctor, and Zoo Keeper
Where do you want to live when you grow up? San Jose
What is your favorite...
color? Red
lunch? Salami and Cheese Sandwich
dinner? Daddy's Fried Rice and Chicken Bolognese
drink? fruit punch & apple juice
treat? rice crispy squares
Where is your favorite place to visit? Tahoe
Who is your best friend? Kiki
What is your favorite thing to do with...
your sister? Go to Happy Hollow Zoo
daddy? Riding in the truck
mommy? Cuddle  (aaaaahhhhh. What a sweatheart.)
What is your favorite show? Electric Company & Curious George
Who lives in your heart? Jesus and my family and Nonna and Papa.




These were very fun interviews. It would be fun to do the same questions in another few years.

I have a journal for each of my girls. I started it when they were born. C and I will right in the journal every once in a while. Maybe when something special happens or just because.  I think I'm going to print these interviews and put them in the journals. I'll give them the journals at some point when they are adults.

Big Sister to the Rescue

C and I heard the upstairs bathroom door nob moving, but O was not coming out. Then we hear: "Kiikii!" We could feel the panic in the air. CK walks slowly and nonchalantly from their room to the bathroom and opens the door. Big sister to the rescue. All is well again.

C and I thought it was so funny, as O had "locked" herself in the bathroom and starting to panic, she doesn't call mom, not dad....big sister is the first person she think of to get her out of a jam. This will be good in about 10 years.

Our Two Hour Vacation

Today was such a gorgeous day. I was out running a few errands. When I returned home I should have cleaned house and baked for O's party, but I just couldn't. I needed to be outside enjoying the sun. So, when C went to work I took the girls for a walk. A two hour vacation!

We walked down to "our pond" and to the park. It was like spring. Flowers in bloom, everything is green and beautiful. Birds singing and dancing from tree to tree. It's hard to believe it's February.