Water Rats

Still catching up on posts - these pictures are from a trip to California Adventure where I finally let the kids play in the water. Isabel won the best tan award in our family this summer.

Need a Nap?

Looking for a good place to take a little snooze?



These pictures were taken from the boat WHILE the kids were riding around the lake. She was THAT tired.

I guess that is what happens when you spend the night before "sleeping" in a tent with your cousin at Grandma and Grandpa's house.



Last month we visited my Dad, Sandy, Salina and cousins in Bullhead City, AZ. Here are a few pictures from our short trip, which included a train ride, a buffet, swimming in the hotel pool, and a day at the lake with some boat rides.

Bouncing Bunnies

Adam and Isabel are growing up. It feels so weird not to have any babies in the house - they are big kids! Although Ben still corrects me now and then when I call them "the babies." Hard habit to break...

A few weeks ago they started preschool two days a week. They LOVE it. In fact, I had to drag Adam home kicking and screaming on the first day. Their class is called the Bouncing Bunnies, and here they are on the first day.

Flashback Friday

A few weeks ago I came across some adorable pictures of Anna's 2nd birthday on my in-laws computer.

I talk about it every year, so of course you all know by now that Anna's birthday is the day after Adam and Isabel's birthday. So, the year she turned 2 I was still in the hospital. My sister-in-law Stephanie planned a little party in my room - and check out the last minute cake she made! Anna looks so happy, love these old pictures.




The other reason I was thinking about this today, is because I saw this story about a lady who had two sets of twins in 10 months. Good luck lady!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/10/09/2.sets.twins.10.months.kabb

Kindergarten

Anna was so excited to start kindergarten today. Adam and Isabel were a little sad - they don't start preschool for 3 weeks. Note to self: let the preschool know just how hard it is for the little ones to wait that long for their turn.

Yesterday we celebrated the new school year with a special dinner and dessert, followed by a quick fashion show so Anna (and of course Isabel and Adam) could show off their new school clothes. Grammie and Grandpa Butch joined us and Grammie made Anna some adorable new bows for school. After the twins went to bed, Ben gave Anna a father's blessing for a great school year.

This morning it was hard to get out of the house, and the school was a crazy zoo of cars and kids. We need to get there earlier to avoid the extreme traffic. But we are excited for this new phase!



And, my shining Mom moment came when I went to a short PTA welcome meeting and discovered that kindergartners eat lunch at school. Good thing I stayed for that, I had to go home and make a lunch! Poor Anna would have been the only one without anything to eat.

Yay for kindergarten!

We love NYC

Goofballs

This is an old picture but I just downloaded it and it made me laugh.

Countdown to Kindergarten

Preschool ended a few weeks ago, but I still wanted to share some photos from Anna's last week. She loved preschool and looked forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays for the past year and a half. Last year she was in the Pooh Bears class, and this year she was a Cute Kitten. On the last day of school we took a picture with all of her teachers. She also celebrated her birthday at school on clown day - hence the pictures with her face painted.







Top 10 things Anna loved about preschool:

1. The monkey bars
2. Field trips! To the dentist, the grocery store, the nature preserve, the pizzeria, etc.
3. The share can
4. Taking home the class mascot, Pepper the cat
5. Painting. Lots of finger painting.
6. The Halloween, Christmas, and Easter parades.
7. Special teachers who love their students.
8. Being special helper.
9. Lunch bunch (staying after school for lunch once a week - which Anna begged for every day)
10. Time away from the twins to make new friends


Adam and Isabel are signed up for the Fall, and the teachers already know who they are since they were always there for Anna's drop off and pick up. The first thing Isabel asked on her birthday this week was, "Are we going to school today?" Now that they are three, they can't wait.

California Girl

Anna danced in her first recital today! We weren't allowed to video tape or take pictures inside but I have some of the rehearsals so I'll try to upload a clip soon. She did great and remembered most of the dance, which was to the Beach Boys, "California Girls."

Swimming Superstars

The kids have been taking swim lessons for the past month or so. They loved it and I hope they will be able to take more lessons before the end of the summer.

Anna can swim pretty well unassisted now, and can swim the long length of a pool. She can also float on her back and is starting to learn to use the correct swimming strokes. And Adam and Isabel have come pretty far too. Plus, the lessons gave them a jump start on their summer tans. I'm jealous - I was in the sun during every lesson too, but no tan for me. Here are some pictures...