Schoolbag in hand...

The arrival of kindergarten snuck-up on us after a summer of changes.  New jobs, new homes, new babies!  Just three days after We moved from Woodcrest to Penford - moving from the house we brought our first teeny little girl home to... to the home where she would start her school career - Ella had her Kindergarten Open House.

Just look at that mature look

Her she is with Daddy and Little Sissy!

Outside of room 3 (Mrs. Long's class) with proud Mommy!

Ella loved the open house scavenger hunt and even read "The bathroom is in room 1" all by herself!

That night she was thrilled to find a present waiting for her...

And here is Ella on her first day as a Scottie Dog!

OFF SHE GOES...

Here is our "GREEN" girl at the end of her looong day!   She loved it!

Family Photo Shoot

We had the opportunity to have much needed family photos taken thanks to a birthday gift from my sister.  It was so fun and I can't wait to do the same when the new baby is born!

 

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks!

It has become a tradition for the kids to go to a "Ball Game" with the men of the family each summer.  It is always a little crazy getting them out the door... and this year there was little time for pictures but Daddy made sure to get this one!

That's right! Their very own ball given to Ella by the Seattle Mariner's pitching coach!

My New Checklist...

Pregnant Belly kicked? - CHECK
Clothes wrestled on? - CHECK 
Clothes immediately removed? - CHECK
Physically Restrained?- CHECK 
Reasoned with? - CHECK 
Given 'options'? - CHECK 
Given 'ultimatums? - CHECK 
Given empty threats ?- CHECK 
Spanked? - CHECK
Chore Chart Reward System ? - CHECK
Mom with a Master's degree in education driven to actually yell at her precious baby (and then cry)? - CHECK


We'll get through this Lilah Bean...

A STAR IS BORN!

My newest nephew will be born by the end of the summer.   
I threw a STAR themed shower for Rachel 
and the newest baby Perez!

Friends and Family helped us to celebrate!

THE FRIENDS! THE FOOD!  THE FAVORS!  THE FUN!

Preparing for the shower was a lot of work and I sure had a lot of help from Jennie, Janette, Mom, Geneva, and several other friends!  The shower was a success and now we wait to meet the little guy!

Lovely Ladies!

One two three
Four five six
Seven eight nine
Ten eleven twelve
Ladybugs
Came to the ladybugs' picnic 

 

First we had a tube of ladybug larvae!






And then....

Thank you Aunt Jackie for one of the best gifts of the year!  Our ladybugs went from larvae to our lovely ladies in just two weeks.  The girls watched daily to see the metamorphosis and we even had a bit of scare when the larvae took a "nap" for a few days but the highlight was of course the day of release.  

Silly Celebrations!

I'm proud to be an American!

 

And these SILLY  kiddos celebrated  on the 3rd once again together at the La Mirada Regional Fireworks Celebration!  Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Food, Friends and of Course FIREWORKS!

We woke up bright and early on the 4th to head over the the Greenhills (aka Ancich) Patriotic Parade where we met our friends and family!  This year Ella rode her bike with the big kids and Lilah ferociously peddled her oh too small trike and of course Alli Dog kept Justin busy with her patriotic parading!  

What a great holiday and to think that next year I'll be back to pushing a stroller : )

We ended at our new friends Michelle and Tony's house for a day of swimming and a night of lighting fireworks. 
The girls were adorable with the sparklers and were very safety conscious - making mommy proud!