A visit to the Tide pools

October is a beautiful time of the year to visit the beaches in northern California.  We gathered the kids, our picnic lunch and met some friends over the hill at the beach.  It was a chilly morning, but we were able to catch a glimpse of the monarch butterflies with wings pulled tightly closed in the trees before heading towards the sun and up to the tide pools.

 Lots to see and explore.  It was a perfect outing for our group.

 

 

 

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1) Being so close to the ocean

2) Spending time with family and friends

3) Our beautiful natural world

Pumpkin Art

Painting pumpkins is just as fun as carving them.   Such creativity these two have!

3 Things I'm grateful for:
1) Beautiful outdoor weather in October for painting
2) That my littles still have a few mornings home with me a week
3) A quiet few moments just to watch

A Teddy Bear Tea

The kids were home sick all last week. Once we got past the feeling bad part of the illness mid- week it was really enjoyable having them home, snug as bug in a rug. We spent the whole week in pajamas, sleeping, eating, reading and resting. Such luxury! They were still a little slow on energy so there were lots of hugs and getting along well, which made it even more sweet.

Towards the end of the week when they were really feeling good I brought out the first book in the Paddington Bear series and began reading aloud all about his adventures in London with the Brown Family. It gave us the opportunity to pull out all my old London coffee table books and we went over what life was like in London for Paddington. What the taxi's looked like, the double-decker buses, the train stations, the shops, homes, parks, etc. In the book, Paddington often experiences tea so we set about to put together a tea luncheon party for some of our favorite teddy bear friends.

The kids had never had tea before. We decided to make it really fun by using some of my favorite vintage tea cups and dishes. We had a nice decaf herbal tea with milk and honey. For our lunch I made egg salad sandwiches cut out by a cute round shape, and open faced ham and tomato with cream cheese on a mini bagel. Fresh pears, blueberries and chocolate chip cookies rounded out the rest of our tea.
They loved the fancy tea cups and felt very special drinking out of the grown up cups and using the little mini gold spoons to stir up their tea. They all tried the tea but didn't care for it. Orange juice was later added.

We even laid out a special children's tea setting for our teddy bear friends. Bubba is so sweet making sure his teddy bear licks his saucer clean, just as Paddington Bear does the first time he sits down for tea with the Browns.

My busy girl really enjoyed the tea. She plays tea party a lot with her dolls. The boys, too really had fun. I look forward to many more fun improntu tea parties with all my children.

3 things I'm grateful for today:

1. Spending the morning at school with my oldest

2. Having a long lunch with my parents, sister, nephew, niece and 2 of my kids

3. My hubby for bathing the kids and putting them in their pj's so I could finish posting this post.

4th of July at the Beach

 Happy 4th of July!!!  It's a beautiful weekend at the beach in California.  We are enjoying the sun and sand, roasting a few marshmallows and looking foward to tonight's fireworks show.

 Hope your 4th is full of smiles, laughter and lots of relaxation.

 

3 Things I'm Grateful for:

1) Time off

2) Beautiful weekend weather

3) Freedom

Swimming like a Fish

It's that time again....SWIM LESSONS!  This is the first year all three are in the pool at the same time.  They sure seem to look forward to their pool time.  Reminds me of my childhood.  We spent all day long in the pool as kids during the summer.  Now, if they can just learn to swim, I'll feel better about them near the water.

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1) 3 private lessons at the same time

2) This lovely local swim lesson facility

3) Sitting back for 25 mins

Kindergarten Ceremony

What an amazing day! Hard to believe my little boy was completing his first year of elementary school...his kindergarten year! How much he's grown and changed this year. He has worked so hard and learned so much. We are so proud of him! Hubby wanted to be there too but he's also a teacher and was at his own 8th graders' graduation ceremony.

We brought with us a cheering squad, Boy Wonder's own personal fan club ready to celebrate with him as he received his completion certificate.

The ceremony was very touching. The teachers all said such wonderful things about the students. Then they called each child to come forward and receive their certificate and let each child know that they were now ready for first grade.

Boy Wonder was so proud! During the ceremony he displays his certificate for us to see.

Afterwards, Boy Wonder poses with his grandparents.

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1) Supportive Family

2) A good school and community for my children

3) Having the summer off

Gaps

Journaling has been a great way of documenting the every day. It's easier for me to sit down at the end of the month and review what I found was important enough to write about and oddly at the end of the year those will be the moments I most remember. Unfortunately I have to make time to write and in addition think of something note worthy to say.

When life is hectic I find there are gaps. Days turn into weeks and pretty soon months have passed. What have I been upto? What has kept me so busy to be away? Just busy day to day stuff that thought about collectively doesn't seem like much...carpooling to school, school committments and committees, deadlines, bills, appointments, meetings, projects due, playdates, birthdays and parties, new babies. All of this has taken me away and kept me busy too busy to have enough energy to sit and think about my days. So many days pass so quickly.

We are nearing the end of school now and some days it's hard to think back and remember what happened to us in a week. The summer days are getting warmer and longer. My outlook is looking up. I've almost made it through another school year. Hooray for me! Soon, I will have more time in the summer to play and just be. Bubba is already out and in just 7 more school days my oldest will have his kinder year behind him. I hope to have more time for reflection and possibly fill in more of the gaps.

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1. More time with Bubba and Busy Girl now that Bubba's school is out.

2. Having a wonderful time at Bubba's 3's class Culmination Party.

3. More playdates with friends.

Spring is here...

Ahh...the joys of Spring!!! 

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1. Time for a little more sunshine, a little less rain

2. New blossoms on my tree outside my kitchen window

3.Longer outdoor time

Springtime at the Farm

 

Nothing says Springtime like a trip to the farm, in the light rain with little toddlers to meet baby animals and eat lettuce, herbs and veggies from the garden. 

Easter at the Beach

I love this photo...it makes me want to sing, "Here Comes the Sun".

Here is my most favorite place to go with my family.  Spending time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, hubby and children at the beach for Easter has become our tradition.  I love looking at all the photos of the past years and seeing how big the children are all getting.  I'm so glad my children and my sister's children will have these memories of all of us together.

This also happens to be my birthday weekend.  Not a bad way to spend a birthday...with loved ones in the warm california sun.  Hope Easter is a good weekend for you too.

3 Things I'm grateful for:
1) Family time
2) Beautiful weather
3) A week off to enjoy

Happy Birthday Big Daddy!!

Happy Birthday to my dear hubby!!!  Thank you for being king of our castle!! We are so blessed.

3Things I'm thankful for:

1) My hubby

2) Chocolate cake

3) Family

Twirling and Swirling

3Things I'm grateful for:

1) Children who love to dance

2) Children who dress up and can be silly

3) Time to be with them

Turning 2 years old

My little girl turned 2 years old today.  I'm still in shock.  How can she be 2 already?  It feels like she is growing up so much faster than I'm ready for her to.  On the positive side,  I can't believe how much she has grown this past year.  How much she has achieved in her short time with us.  We are all in awe of her.  She is so ahead of every milestone we had for her.  We are so excited for her and so happy she is here with us. She is just amazing!!  

3 Things I'm grateful for:
1) Being busy girl's mommy.
2) Being a part of her everyday and watching over.
3) That she is still little enough that I get to rock her to bed every night.

My girl

This little one's expression sums up everything I know about her. See that sparkle in her eyes?  See that knowing in her smile?  It's hard to tell here, but she in on top of the kitchen table, clearly having escaped from her chair during breakfast.  She is loving, fun and full of lots of curiousity.  You may even call it mischieviousness, I don't, but you may.  I have a feeling she is going to keep me on my toes...