Sometimes It's the Little Things

Trader Joe's + Dairy Queen, sharing a parking lot = Happiness.
 (Plus a good way to bribe your kids when you take all three grocery shopping).

Legoland Hookie

There were no real plans to go to Legoland until my friend Ellen gave us two free tickets, the only catch being they had to be used by mid-June. I found a buy one, get one free ticket deal from Burger King. All five of us could go to the park for the price of one ticket. Adam had Friday off. We threw the kids in the car with back packs and lunches, they thought they were going to school. After driving almost an hour Tyler goes, "It's taking so long to get to school". That's when Adam and I said, "Oh we forgot to tell you, we're not going to school today. We're going to Legoland". Looks of shock from the back seat, then squealing and excitement. Priceless! Also funny that we ditched school the day after Tyler got his "Perfect Attendance" trophy. Ha!

We had a great day. Minimal crowds. Good weather. Rode tons of rides. Our kids are great ages for that park, and both are pretty into Legos. It was a nice break from moving and unpacking. Time spent the five of us, stress-free, is the best. We stayed all day, kids got a couple small souvenirs of course, then drove home. Audrey and Tyler are still talking about their end-of-school-year surprise.

Cuddly baby got to at least ride the boat ride. Other than that we took turns hangin' with him on the sidelines.

Building with legos.

Cole looks so big in this shot. And so bald and blonde. He got away with wearing his pjs all day. It was a little chilly, and I was glad I hadn't changed him out of pajamas before we left the house. He was such a trooper that day!

Rulers of Legoland.

So glad we went! Great day. Great memories.

Foodie Quote

Tyler: "Mommy, I think you're the best cook in the whole world".

Me: "Aww, thanks buddy. What do I make that you like?"

Tyler: "Cinnamon rolls."

Nice. Of all the things I make my kids... Wonder how long 'til he catches on.

Saturday Off

Usually doesn't happen round here. No Ladybug this morning. Enjoyed getting some sun, with good reading material, while all three kids were happy in the back yard. Obviously our grass also doubles as the ocean - pirate ships set sail!

And the ice cream man came! We caught him. Kids were way happy. Scooby Doo ice cream pops made their morning. Tonight I'm going go-carting for Emily's birthday. Woo hoo!

Awesome Things About Friday

6am spin class with Amber. (Not the waking up part - although tons of sunlight comes in my bedroom now, so I'm usually up early. Argh).

Kids playing in the yard all morning long.
Diet Coke!

Yummy Coconut Water candle making my house smell way good.

Grocery shopping without kids because Adam's call time was late.

Unloading groceries (including Costco stuff) from the garage right into my kitchen! Amazing. People - I used to climb two flights of stairs and then some.

Baby fast asleep.

My kids and I gobbling up healthy snacks picnic-style on the patio. Strawberry lemonade, fresh cucumbers and carrots, hummus, pita crackers, yogurt dip, banana. TJ's herb and spice popcorn.

Taking time to unpack, and make this house our home. Might even be able to take a nap today!

Making smoothie popsicles for later.
Pay Day!

Wondering if the ice cream man will make an appearance. (We have yet to catch him - he is seriously one fast-driving ice cream man).

Movie night tonight!

Looking forward to Girls Night tomorrow.
Loving our new neighborhood. Ask me again why I was fighting coming up here? Beautiful, quiet, lovely. Good friends nearby. Kids classes are great. (Tyler's in karate. Audrey, dance).

Happy weekend kick-off.

VOTE!!

If you have a facebook account, do me a favor real quick and VOTE for Ladybug Music to qualify for a small business grant. It's super easy. Just click here. Scroll down and log in with your facebook account. Search "Ladybug Music". VOTE. They don't make you fill out any annoying registration forms or anything. My boss needs a little over 100 more votes to qualify, and she needs them by June 30th. Here are some of Ladybug Music's hopes and dreams, and grant money will help:

- Global music classes teaching & sharing traditional songs from all over the world!

- Ladybug Music touring band & videos

- Local outreach program to teach parents of young children in under served areas to become Ladybug Music instructors and bring the LBM program to their neighborhood!

So if you love music, your kids love music, you support early childhood education, or if you just love me - please vote. Thanks so much!

Bye Bye Kindergarten

We have an official First Grader! Bittersweet day. I'm so done driving Tyler to school each morning, but we'll miss Rio Vista. What a fantastic school. So much heart. We met so many great families, teachers, the principal was awesome. Grateful for this year, and for how much Tyler's grown. (I may have shed a few tears today). Excited to start a new school this fall.

Tyler and his teacher, Mrs. Gasper. She kinda scared me at the beginning of the year, but she is amazing! She was the perfect balance of loving the kids, letting them have fun, while also pushing them to learn and grow. Tyler is an amazing reader. His confidence has grown. Writing, math... he's on fire. So grateful for Mrs. Gasper!

 

Highlights from this morning's Kindergarten graduation:

Tyler singing his heart out louder than any kid in his class. I've never heard him sing so loud.

Each kid announced what they want to be when they grow up. Tyler said: "When I grow up I want to be an oceanographer. I want to study sea life".
On the car ride home Tyler said, "Mommies don't want their kids to grow up, but I have to grow up mom. I have to so I can be an oceanographer. So instead of saying "don't grow up Tyler", you can just say "grow up Tyler", okay mom? It's okay." I said, "Okay Tyler". (I might have shed one more tear).

Crazy Time, and Our Tiny Dancer

This weekend has been super fun and super crazy. Moving with three kids during the last week of school, with all it's festivities, is no joke. We are still living out of so many boxes. No matter how many I unpack, it seems there are always more. When will we finally feel settled?! The good news is despite the boxes, I am so happy in our new home, and loving our new neighborhood even more than I thought I would. Hurrah!

Friday we took a little break from unpacking (maybe why I feel overwhelmed now?), and surprised the kids with a trip to Legoland. Such a great day! Pictures and stories to come. Saturday night Adam's parents watched the kids while we went to the iCarly series wrap party at Universal Studios. I've gone to a bunch of wrap parties for his shows, but this was the best. We walked the red carpet with a bunch of screaming 13 year old fans (hilarious and amazing), dinner and chatting on a dressed up sound stage, then they closed off part of the park just for us. Rides with no wait. It was awesome! We stayed out later than we have in years I think. Exhausted but well worth the fun.

Audrey's dance recital. We made it! After last year's debacle, we have closure. At Legoland a kid ran into Audrey and she face planted, scraping her chin and giving her a fat lip - you can tell in the photos. But at least the girl could dance. Dance she did with her adorable class, and awesome teacher Miss Kandice. She's going to a new dance school by our house, so this was her last hurrah with Creation Station. We love them, they've been so good to Audrey. Here's a little video, too. Camera died about half way through. Of course! This is my life since moving, there's always something I forget - like charging up the camera battery. Darn.

Now to make it through Tyler's last two days of Kindergarten. We can do it! Oh, and what do I have to do to lose these last few pounds of baby weight. Definitely harder after baby #3. Sigh.

Father's Day

Adam's Father's Day gift. A basketball hoop for the driveway has been on the wish list since we found the house back in February. Basketball out front has been great fun. Happy Father's Day to the
 best one we know!
  

Cole watching Dad, brother, and sister play from his high chair in the kitchen window.

Tonight we celebrate the best dad ever with ice cream sundaes.

Award Day

Tyler got two awards today. One for Outstanding Citizenship, and a trophy for Perfect Attendance. The trophy especially is a huge hit. Three more days of school!

Swing

There might be some things that are nutso about moving (like trying to unpack with three kids!), but swinging in the back yard in the evening with your pjs on is priceless. Makes the yard all the more sweeter that we waited so long for it. Perfect weather tonight, too.

Mr. Cole is not havin' it.

Little grump face skipped an afternoon nap today.

A little better with sister pushing.

So far, so good in the new house.

4144

Adam just took a load of stuff to the house to unload. My babies are asleep and the apartment is empty. Quiet. Finally feels real. Like "happening tomorrow" kind of real. Sitting on the couch, waiting for laundry to be done, it's hard to calm my mind. Excited for new adventures ahead, but so. much. change. Memories keep pouring through my mind. Two year old Tyler running through the living room. Audrey being brought home from the hospital. Playing in the water table on the balcony. Walks to gelato down the street. Nostalgia everywhere. Mostly nostaglic about early childhood - my babies. Tyler was 8 months old when we moved in... now six! This is the longest we've lived anywhere since Adam and I were married. Five and a half years. We moved here a family of three, now five. Holidays, first days of school, play dates, dinners made, friends galore, Ladybug Music, favorite restaurants, parks. So much. So full. Ready to go (especially since we've way outgrown this place, plus so done apartment managing), but grateful, thankful for a home that served our family for so long. Grateful for the wonderful memories that make Tyler's eyes fill (just a little) with tears when he knows he has to say goodbye. Grateful for all that was created here. For best intentions. Long talks. Family traditions. Love. Forgiveness. Fun. Fights. Giggling. Crying. Yelling. Praying. Laughing. Snuggling. Growing and growing. All of it. If these walls could talk... 

How do you thank your home? Maybe you just leave your story behind. 4144 has a special place in our hearts. Here's hoping our next home treats us just as well.

Thick of It

Packing, packing, packing. Load van, drive to house, unload van. Pack, pack, pack. Clean, laundry, nurse baby, drop off kids, teach music class, go to end of school year activities, pack, clean, pack, pick kids up, apartment manager duties (4 more days!). Oh yeah, and don't forget eat. Woo hoo! Good times over here. Actually, it's all going quite smoothly. Knock on wood it stays that way, and you'll see us all alive and well on the flip side of moving!

Back Track Birthday

Audrey's belated birthday pics! (No I didn't forget, just chasing after kids, working, packing - a good busy). Audrey had a lovely party at the park. Gorgeous weather, pizza, Hello Kitty cupcakes, family and friends. Perfect.

These are the little sisters, Norah, Audrey, and Maya, playing with party favors. Everyday these girls play while they wait for their big brothers to get out of Kindergarten. Such sweet girls from great families.

Audrey and her favorite girl, Sadie. They are two peas in a pod. And pinkalicious Hello Kitty cupcakes - Audrey's request.

All these awesome kids! Becca, Sadie, Audrey, Jason, Jonah, Tyler, Sean, Ethan. Penny, Simon, Mason, Charlie, Capri, Ashton, and Hudson were there, too. Such a great turn out to celebrate our girl.

Audrey and Uncle Mikey. They have a special bond. She says things to him like, "Hey Uncle Mikey get over here so I can beat you up" and things like that. Audrey's way of saying he's her favorite. Of course Grandma and Grandpa Tait were there, too, and got Audrey one of her favorite presents - Lalaloopsy mermaid.

Such a special day celebrating with some of our favorite people. Our girl was adequately spoiled by all in attendance, and by those who love her from a far and sent birthday surprises.

What Cole's Been Up To

Teeth! Six months old and the boy has six teeth. Such a good kid, I didn't even know he was teething. Maybe the slightest bit fussy, but I looked in his mouth one day and there were four more teeth on top.

Sitting up. We're working on it...

... but after a few seconds it usually looks like this.

Perfect naked chubby baby. He's eating baby food and trying to figure out the sippy cup. Man, he will be excited when he can finally put finger food in his own mouth.

Adam and I call him our little ball of baby, because he is just that.

Cuddling, snuggling and being the best, happiest baby ever. Our sweet Cole. I could just eat this kid up!