What's Happening??

What have we been up to? Not sure why this is typing underlined...please ignore...but besides looking cute lounging with a toothbrush ?!?....we have....
finished up 2 weeks of swim lessons, and finally got it the last day! Argh...oh well!
Went to Gilroy to visit Aunt Jenny who was visiting her in-law's and nephew and niece.

Partying with a pony! And this cute guy turned 7!
And this sweet guy turned 5! Making sure no one blows out his candle....

Made our summer list...shamelessly stole this cute idea from another blog.

Working on our workbooks
Here's Cooper again showing he's 5 with his birthday doughnuts....a tradition around our household!
Went to the Carmel beach...and froze...but the boys loved every minute, making sandcastles and outrunning the waves.
Played at the Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey. If you haven't gone, get there...so much fun...a real train to climb all over, fun equipment, paddle boats...we had a blast!
Started that day off with fun at Casa de Fruta!
Spencer blowing out his candles, and yes, blocking his little brother and cousins from blowing out the candles!

More to come...happy summer to you!

For Vicki

(BFFs forever...Brian, Joe, Chip)

Sorry....I never got to post about the Hattons visit to CA! (Now that I'm on break, I can go back and share some past events!)

Chip, Vicki, and Lily spent some time with us, and we had a great visit! Cooper immediately declared he was going to "marry that girl" (Lily). It was very sweet! We wish they lived nearby!

Summer School

Excuse the no pics post...one of these days I will spend the time getting my pics onto the mac instead of only my pc laptop! I have been using the mac a lot more...though mostly because the laptop is super old (almost 5!) and the boys love to use it!

it's officially summer for us!!!!!!! YAY! We are enjoying our days...we jumped in with swim lessons right away, and yesterday spent a family day in Monterey doing all those things we want to check off our summer list...train and carousel at Casa de Fruta, Dennis the Menace Park, paddleboats, Carmel beach, clam chowder in a bread bowl on the wharf...it was a great day!

Today Joe let me sleep in on my first day off, so our "summer school" didn't start yet! Yes, I am doing the Brown Summer School. We are studying a theme a week, and that includes books from the weekly library visit, art project, field trip, etc. I bought the boys a workbook for Grade 2 and K, so they are working on those everyday, as well as time for reading. The time is pretty structured in the morning, starting with chores, walk, breakfast, workbook and learning time, reading block, etc. But the afternoons are pretty free, plenty of time for park, walks, bike rides, playdates, etc. this week we aren't starting with a theme yet. We are coming up with our weekly themes, organizing the overflowing art supplies, starting journals, workbooks, and schedules, signing up for library summer program, swim lessons, etc. We have a visit to a friend on Wednesday (Hi Kim!) and a birthday celebration on Friday, party time on Saturday. But I am excited. I have my own list of summer projects and reading lists. I will share as we go along.

Here are some links to see some great and fun "summer school" ideas:

* http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/ (She is doing a Funner in the summer series...scroll through some past entries like THIS one to see how she is doing her program!)

*Like her summer list ideas: http://megduerksen.typepad.com/whatever/summer-list/

*Another idea about themes http://cleanmama.blogspot.com/2010/05/messy-monday-routines-week-style.html

EDITED: here is another post from my fav blog about summer schooling: No More Summer Mush Mind and the one that got me thinking about my summer school!

Anyone else doing "summer school"? don't get me wrong...we are playing and lazing around in pajamas and breaking out the board games (Battleship is a current fav) and being bored (well, not yet!)...but I also want to capitalize on my kiddos interests in learning. they are at such a perfect age! Loving it!

Cooper graduates!

Cooper is now officially a pre-school graduate! Here he is, with our beloved Mrs. Rodriguez, about to walk down the aisle. Afterwards with Mommy and Daddy

Not sure why this came out sideways, but with two friends having cake, Brandon and Luke.

With Spencer and Jake

At home, ready to enjoy his graduation cake!

No jokes about how it's just pre-school...I know, I know, graduations can be overdone sometimes, but this one is so cute! We LOVE Merced Parent Pre-school!!!! Can't wait for Kendall to attend!

May days

Hello there....really need to pay more attention to my poor neglected blog...noticing no one is leaving me comments anymore...is it because you are tired of waiting for me??

We have been busy busy busy...as you all have, I'm sure! I celebrated my birthday, on Mother's Day! 2 special days rolled into one!

Packing up my classroom because...I get to move back to Peterson and teach my favorite grade next year, 3rd! yippeeeee....so thrilled...I get to be with my kids again! SO happy!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I honor of Mother's Day on Sunday...here's a piece on good parenting suggestions I really enjoyed (and enjoy the pics of my sweeties!).

http://71toes.blogspot.com/2008/02/7-motherhood-ideas-i-love.html

More updates

SO blogger was acting funky about adding photos, so here's some more...
Kendall enjoying her popsicle at t-ball! Cooper waiting to bat at his first t-ball game! It was the cutest thing!

Daddy loving on his girl!

future model? she put on red knee socks and started posing.

My breakfast partners

and yes, I do have another child...better get some pics of him, too! Love my Spencer, too!

May May May!

Wow, where has time gone? We are now entering the busiest time for moms and teachers...the end of school! What have we been up to?
Here are the boys relaxing on part of Hawaii...literally...we decided, as I was about to book our Hawaiian vacation...sob...to use that heard earned and saved money to buy furniture and try to have a "grown-up" house. We bought a new bedroom set (bed, dresser, nightstand and entertainment stand) and a kitchen table. I do love it...but will miss playing on Maui this summer. Oh well, there's always next summer...right? Cooper started t-ball, which he LOVES.

Kendall turned 2! Poor girl...her birthday was pretty overlooked. Her actualy day we went to the park for a pizza picnic. No cake. shhhh...that makes me cringe...hope she doesn't need therapy for this in 20 years!

But she did have a birthday tutu!!!!

I {Heart} faces

OK, so i've been stalking this blog for awhile, but ready to dip my toe in...with one of MY fav pix of Miss K! You probably remember seeing it. enjoy again!

We moved!!!

Well...there went April....seriously! started busy and now ending busy! We celebrated Kendall's 2nd birthday! It was very low key. I actually feel bad...so low key...so next year I have to give her a blow out! i'm picturing a pink tea party for my girly girl! then, we moved! Yippee! I don't know if you knew...but I hated my house! The floor plan was great, the neighborhood was fine, but after getting robbed last fall, I had been ready to move on. plus, we were always sick there and it was dark and falling apart. So...when this new house popped up in the neighborhood we really wanted to be in, we were thrilled! So airy and open and light! 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, big family room, nice size backyard. We are happy here! We have good friends down the street, our babysitter is around the corner, the kids all have friends close by. I have been bad at taking pics...and now I'm not on my computer so I don't have any pics to share. Sorry! I will update more later. Just wanted to pop in and say {hello}!!!!! Enjoy Earth Day!!!

HapPy EasTEr!

Happy Easter to all of you!!! Hope you enjoy your day and take time to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for us! I am so thankful that He is risen!

We are celebrating all weekend! Yesterday we dyed eggs (or drew on eggs)at Grammy's with the cousins, (And Joe played with his new toy he got Friday...he finally replaced his stolen camera with this beauty he scored off ebay! Need any video work or editing? Joe's your man!)and then went to Steph's for her annual Easter party. Yummy food and a big hunt for the kids! This year Brian was the bunny! Kendall would not go near him for anything (yes, it was freezing!!! In April! Still not sure how I am going to bundle my kiddos today in their Easter clothes!)! Spencer said, "I knew the Easter Bunny was Stephanie last year! This year it was Corbin's Dad!" Friends...we missed you Chip & Vicki!

Today we are going to church, and then we are heading back to Grammy's for Easter festivities. We are celebrating Nana's and Grandpa's 62nd anniversary today and Kendall's birthday, too. You should see the tutu she is going to wear! So sweet! Have a happy day..and enjoy Spring Break....SO thrilled!