ALL GROWS UP!!

We were so lucky to be given the chance for Lilah to start preschool early.  

The entire school year she has spoken non-stop about wanting to go to school 

and Hillcrest Country Day School was able to squeeze her in for the last few weeks of the year. 

Today April 22, 2010 was

Lilah Alice Mayernik's 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

- no mommy in sight, no big sister, or cousin Jake 

and of course - 

she never looked back!  

 

With a kiss, a hug, a 'Bye Mommy" she was off playing with the kids.

  It didn't hurt that three of the Bustamante clan were in the class too! 

The only tears shed were by her BIG sister who wanted to stay at the new school too!

We are SO PROUD of our strong, confident, independent still 2-year-old 

BIG GIRL!

TAKE A LAP! or... 23 of 'em!

It all started with oranges...  16 to be precise.  
Carefully sliced to refresh some brave Pre-K runners! 

The Day of the Murphy Ranch Jog-A-Thon started like most others for Jake and Ella -

-that's right - 
in TIME OUT!

Ella and Jake were dressed and ready with their cheering section in tow!

Lilah patiently waited for the race by taking care of her new friend... rollie-pollie. 
She spent much of the morning sweetly singing it lullabies 

No real athlete would begin a race without stretching!

And let the race BEGIN!

The jog-a-thon ended after about 25 minutes of continuous movement from our runners.  
Even Lilah got into the race!  
Jake finished with a whopping 23 laps! 
Just look at his tired little face 
and Ella was able to run a solid 21 laps!  
Way to go!

We finished the day with lunch (and orange slices of course) in the Pre-K room with a special guest 
- Daddy (aka Uncle Justin!).

Freedom

 After almost 3 weeks of watching and waiting, our teeny caterpillars grew into beautiful butterflies. 

Ella and Lilah loved to run out every morning and see what new growth they had made - they grew a little each day and then one day we had a chrysalis!  

7 days later we were able to watch four amazing painted lady butterflies emerge, dry their wings, and fly!  

Today was the day of release and the kids were so excited!

Our little painted ladies seemed to enjoy their freedom... we watched them quickly flutter away.

We can't wait to do this again next year and I am off to try to find our next adventure!

... inspiration ...

This photo was taken on the day that I was due with Lilah in May of 2006.  She arrived a full TWO weeks later at 9 lbs. 11 oz.  I came across the picture over spring break and had only one thought...  

WHOA! 

Could I really have been that big?  

Could a stomach really stretch so far? 

... and inspiration struck!  

My new pregnant life began this morning!  

I have spent the last 3 months in a pregnancy coma - so tired, so grumpy, so nauseous...  It took everything I had to just make sure I was being a good mom - everything else took a backseat!... but that picture made me realize that I'll need to be an energetic and agile mom in July, August, & Sept. as well.   Hopefully this mornings workout was the first of many more (though my sore legs are wishing differently!) and our weekly menu will be a healthy benefit for all!  

Here's to being able to still get off the couch in September!

San Diego Darlings!

When I was a little girl, our annual trip to California from Las Vegas was the highlight of the year!  The trip always included a heavenly stop in San Diego.  We decided to start the tradition with the girls!
  We had a fantastic time together as a family visiting SeaWorld, The Zoo, and playing on the beach outside of our room!  We can't wait to go back!






The girls went through several emotions during the Shamu show...
but they were obviously impressed in the end by the dramatic flips and splashes!





It's amazing how a few little fish can keep these curious girls busy for hours!  Feeding the sea lions and sting rays was almost as exciting as holding the food! - Dead Fish :)  Yes... they squished the eyes and everything!

I wanna walk like the animals... 
A DAY AT THE ZOO

Lilah has never met an animal she doesn't want to love and hug and pet and take care of! 
She was in heaven at the petting zoo.  

We also couldn't believe it when, late at night - she sat straight up in bed - still asleep- bobbed and weaved - fell straight back - and OFF of the bed!  

We, luckily, had put pillows on the side of the bed 
(just in case).  
Justin and I went to check on her and found this...

Yep - she was STILL sound asleep after her midnight roll with her little face pushed against the wall!  It was absolutely hysterical!


Thanks San Diego and Thanks Kona Kai Resort for the pool, the sandy beach and the playground!

The La Habra Children's Museum

Nestled in La Habra, right off Euclid, is a preschooler's and Grandma's PARADISE!  The La Habra Children's Museum.  Today Grandma took us there and the cousins were able to play conservation, play bus driver, play farmer, play dress-up, and just plain PLAY!  The highlight was viewing the new baby chickens and planting our own flowers in carefully self-painted pots! 

Lilah really stole the show today in the 'theater room'.  

She sang, she smiled, she hammed it up!  

What a cutie!

Ella was surprisingly shy on stage but she handled about 17 costume changes like a pro!

What a great morning!

Passionate Painters

On a special day off from school and work the cousins had a fabulous morning of painting!  Eggs, Paper, and even a little bit of faces!  Another wonderful addition to the day was discovering that our caterpillars had started to make their cocoons!  I do believe Spring has Sprung!