Last Day of School

What an incredible year!!  It is pretty amazing looking back on the year and seeing everything that we ALL have accomplished!  The fact that Charlotte wasn't even born when school started is incredible just in itself but then thinking about the changes that took place within our family because of that as well as other things and how we have all adapted to it all just makes me smile.  Some of it is definitely a blur but we are so thankful for a year full of growth, smiles and love!

Ella's last day was on Friday, June 2nd.  Ella had such a great year with three incredible teachers.  I was hesitant at first with the setup of her class with 21 kids and 3 teachers but it worked out so well and we couldn't have been happier with her teachers.  Each of them were so warm and nurturing and showed her extra love on the mornings when she was hesitant to go, but also pushed her academically and never made her feel self conscious with her speech delays.  I love watching her light up when she sees the teachers in the community and the big hugs that she gets from each of them.  It was a perfect first year of preschool for her.  The exposure to new things, forming new friendships and experiencing time away from me were all so good for her.  We've loved watching her grow.

First day of school on September 5th 

3 years, 9 months

 And, last day on June 2nd!!  

4 years, 5 months

 They finished out the school year with a family potluck and picnic on the last day which was a great time.  We'll be sure to get Ella and her bff, Sophia, together this summer-they have basically been inseparabel during the school year!  

 Julia had fun at the picnic, too!  

 Joseph's last day of school was the following week on Thursday, June 8th.  The last week was filled with fun activities for the kids and you could definitely feel that summer was in the air (despite the June gloom!)  

We have loved walking to and from school this year and although it takes a little bit more planning and time management in the mornings than driving I have enjoyed watching the kids interact with one another and with friends on the walk to school.  On Monday we picked up Jeremy since Jake was sick and I just loved watching the two of these boys walk in conversation for the entire way.  The friendships that Joseph has made this past year really have been special.  

 On Tuesday, June 6th I went in to volunteer for the classroom party which consisted of water play and then ice cream sundaes.  Here is Joseph sharing his towel with Tyler from his class.  

 Enjoying his HUGE ice cream sundae, despite being cold from the water activities still!!  

 The room mom put together a touching video of pictures from the year and on the last day all of the parents/families were invited to the classroom to watch it.  It did bring a tear to my eye and some of the kids were full on bawling...Joseph on the other hand just danced/did push ups to the music!  

 We LOVE Mrs. Clark!!  I know that I've talked before about how much we've loved having the personal connection with her and her family this past year and how it has made the transition to kindergarten so much easier, but more important that the connection is the amazing teacher that she has been for Joseph. She has pushed him academically and has been such a great support for him socially and emotionally.  We can only hope that his first grade teacher is as good as she is (secretly, I'm wishing that we'll find out on the day before school starts that she's looping with the class and we'll get her again!!)  

 Joseph's first day of school on August 16th, 2016

5 years, 8 months

 

He looks so young here! 

 And, his last day of kindergarten on June 8th, 2017

6 years, 6 months!  

Now we are READY for SUMMER!!!!!  Yay!!  

9 Months!

Sweet baby Charlotte! 9 months has just snuck up on us way too fast!  This months she's really been on the move and is starting to get into EVERYTHING!!  She pulled herself up for this first time this past month (on May 5th) so no longer can we place things just a little out of her reach because she will get to them.  She doesn't like to sit still, as evident from the pictures, and although she is still army crawling, she is FAST!  

She continues to be as sweet as can be with such a happy demeanor.  She continues to bring so much joy to our lives and we just all love Baby Lar Lar so much.

I have three baskets underneath the hutch which store the kids school stuff and they have become her favorite "go to and mess up spot."  The baskets are now on top of the hutch (which drive me crazy) but at least I'm not constantly putting everything back in and checking her mouth for bits of paper.  Speaking of mouth...she continues to put everything in it.  Thankfully we haven't had any choking incidences as she tends to keep whatever it is on her tongue for awhile playing with it giving us some extra time to get it before its gone!

Sweet baby girl still sleeps on the go a lot during the day and we are looking forward to summer when *maybe* she'll get a decent nap at home every few days.  Thankfully it doesn't seem to phase her.

Just a few sweet pictures of her hanging in the driveway while the kids play in the cul de sac on May 22nd.

Practicing her clapping!

She has discovered these cubbies, too, this past month and has started crawling up to theem, getting on her knees and taking everything out.  Ahhh...let the fun begin!!

Again, so proud of herself!

And, this happened this past month!! So much for a leisurely Target trip with just her. I swear she did this in about two seconds!  Back to the ergo for her while in Target from this point forward!  

Happy 9 months sweet baby girl!!  We love you, your big blue eyes, your wide mouthed smile and your chubby rolls!  

Memorial Day

We had a full and festive Memorial Day weekend.  

We kicked off the long weekend with Friday cul de sac and pizza time which always is a great time.  Although the picture doesn't show it, Charlotte was having fun hanging with Natan while the older kids basically play around them.  

 Our neighbor, Julia, gave this dress to our Julia that night and she insisted on putting it on immediately and it was the first thing she put on the next morning, as well, and has continued to wear it honestly almost daily since she received it!!  It is definitely her favorite dress!!!

On Saturday morning I snuck away to meet up with Katie and Michelle, who was in town for the weekend, for a relaxing visit to the nail salon.  It was such a treat to catch up with both of them without having to chase the kids around and we had a great time!!  Then, that afternoon we met up again, this time with our families, to celebrate Michelle's dad's 70th birthday.  The party was at Michelle's brother's home, which also means that it was at Mrs. Clark's house.  The kids were so excited all day that we were going to a party at her house as she is definitely celebrity status at our house!  We all had a great time at the party!  

On Sunday we went to church in the morning and that afternoon we went to our neighborhood friend's, the Kiffe family, for a Memorial Day bbq.  The kids had a blast in the bounce house and we all had a fun afternoon visiting with friends and meeting some new people, too.  We loved that we were just able to walk to the party, too!

On Monday we went to Nani and Poppa's for an actual Memorial Day bbq.  As always, it was a great time  and the kids had a blast swimming and playing all afternoon.  Even Charlotte got in the pool which was actually her very first time in the pool and no surprise that she LOVED it!!!  I wasn't planning on getting her in so didn't have her suit, or swim diaper for that matter, but it didn't stop her. She is ready for summer!! 

Julia is such a fish!  She just loves it!! 

We had a belated birthday and Mother's Day celebration for Nani since she was in New York for both special occasions which made it a fun way to end the day!!

We can't wait for summer!!!  

Pop Pop's Visit

 We were lucky enough to have Rich's dad, Pop Pop, come to San Diego for a work conference which  meant that we were able to visit with him for 5 days!!  He arrived on Sunday, May 21st in the morning so we picked him up and then took the ferry to Coronado.  This was the the first time that we have ever done this ourselves so we all loved experiencing something new.  Pop Pop, Daddy and the 3 big kids hung out on the top of the ferry while Charlotte and I stayed underneath for the ride.  It was just about ten minutes each way but a good time!  Once we got to Coronado, we walked over to Tidelands Park to play on the playground and then grabbed lunch at Village Pizzeria before taking the ferry back to downtown where our car was parked.  It was a great day to spend the first day! 

 Beach hair, don't care!  

Moon's conference was just Tuesday and Wednesday so Rich took Monday off to spend the day with him.  We sent Joseph to school and then I actually volunteered in his classroom for my normal Monday morning there so Rich and Pop Pop took Ella to school and then were in charge of Julia and Charlotte while I was gone.  Once I returned, they took off to hike Torrey Pines and to have lunch  together.  After school we all hung out in the pool with Pop Pop for the afternoon!   

Pop Pop was at the conference all day on Tuesday and Wednesday but made it home for dinner so we enjoyed having him around at night.  On Thursday his flight didn't leave until noon, so the girls and I spent the morning with him.  We took him to the community park so he could go for a trail run and then we played at the park with him.  

 

We are so thankful that he made the trip out to see us!  We loved having him here and had such a nice visit!!