Emilio's 6th!

Yesterday my boy turned six years old! We took him out to dinner and I made him a blackberry pie. He got to take treats to kindergarten, and open up a few more gifts from family.



It is difficult to wrap our brains around the fact that our firstborn is already 6! We are so proud of the boy he's becoming. Emilio is so creative, energetic, social, sensitive, smart, charming, and funny. We just love the person he is, and what he adds to our family.

Last Saturday we threw a ROBOT themed birthday party for him. It was great fun!

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Many Firsts

Last Wednesday, Emilio started Kindergarten. He is going to the P.M. class, and has lots of neighborhood buddies as classmates. He has done very well so far.

Here are a few funny comments he's made to me about Kinder though.

E: Mom, I like my teacher, but she hasn't let me show her all my talents yet.
Me: Well, what kind of talents?
E: You know how I like to draw a lot, she only lets me draw once a day.

another time

E: There are two problems with kindergarten mom.
Me: What are those Emilio?
E: Well first, it kind of takes up my time, so I don't get to do a lot of stuff at home, and number two, I don't really like growing up.
(I think he has had the realization that school is EVERYDAY, and he doesn't have the free time he was used to anymore).

His First Day Pictures






Today, Gabriela started preschool. She's attending the same preschool Emilio did. She even has one of his teachers from last year. She has been SO excited to start, and woke up with a smile this morning, knowing it was the DAY!





She loved her first day....she learned the letter X, practiced writing her whole name, got to celebrate a b-day with a classmate (this meant getting a cupcake!), and heard a story about never riding an elephant to school.

End of the Summer Fun

Pool Parties + Swimming Lessons + Blackberry Picking + Frog Catching + Sand Play + Picnics on Lake WA + Sledding down the alley hill on Costco boxes + Playdates + Lots of Popsicles + Spray Parks = Lots of end of the Summer Fun for us!!!

buddies

sitting in the baby's water bucket

boys will be boys

floaty sofa

sibling train

E's backstroke

hanging at the pool

alley way fun

tons of tiny froggies

smiley

Lake WA picnic

gathering the boxes to slide down the hill

hightop princess

Newcastle Beach

Loving the pool play

Andy & Sabrina's Wedding

On August 7th, Gabi and I stood up in my good friend Sabrina's wedding. She's been my buddy since 3rd grade, so it was an honor to participate in her special day after our history together. Some of us bridesmaids stayed the night with Bean on Friday night in her honeymoon suite. We had a fun girl's evening. Saturday was peaceful. It started raining while we were taking photographs on the waterfront, but once we got to the wedding site, it had stopped. It was a beautiful wedding. The highlight for me was watching my daughter take her job so seriously as a flowergirl. She came down the aisle tossing her flowers with the most dramatic flair. She had everyone in a fit of giggles. It was a lovely evening, and I was so happy for my friend and her marriage.

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VBS

In August I taught one of the 4 year old classes at our church's Vacation Bible School program. I had seventeen children in my class including my own daughter, Gabi, my nephew Marco, and at least five other children that our those of my good friends. I had two assistants in class who were very helpful, and a great curriculum. The part I was most concerned about was decorating the classroom in a fun way. The people at our church seem to go ALL OUT with the decorations. Thankfully, my mother in law painted an amazing mural for my classroom, and my assistants in the class had done some of their own decorations to add to what I had brought. The classroom turned out darling, and the teaching went well that week. Our church's VBS runs like a well oiled machine. The theme this year was High Seas Expedition. It was a great experience for me, and I hope for all the children as well. It was fun to be a part of getting kids excited about God!

Here are some pictures of our decorations for the week.

Block Party

At the end of July, our block had its annual "Block Party." This year it was improved with a bouncy house for the kids, AND a visit from the local firemen in their truck. Each child got to practice using the fire hose to hit cone targets. I even got a chance to try. The kids LOVED riding their bikes and scooters in the street for the day, and running around with all their neighborhood buddies. We had my brother, sister in law and the kids over, and John also had a coworker with some of his friends and family over. The food was catered by our neighbor and was quiet a large feast! We had a very enjoyable time, and actually felt like it was the best one yet.