Thank you Kaiser

Thanks to Operation Splash sponsored by Kaiser Permanente the kids were able to do swim lessons again this year at an INCREDIBLE price! 

I got a friend to watch Katelyn so that Claudia and I could do Mommy and Me. The kids all did great and enjoyed every minute of it. Madison even jumped off the diving board!

Charles is learning the different techniques and how to properly dive. 

They are becoming such great swimmers! 

Daddy joined us on the last day of swim lessons so that he could see Madison and Charles jump off the diving board!

Another year completed!

First day of school August 27th, 2012

 

Last day of school June 13th, 2013

 Can you tell they were not Happy about me photographing them! Stinkers!!!!

 Madison getting her Kindergarten Certificate!

 I can't believe I have a 1st and 3rd grader! Where does the time go!

The kids did GREAT this year! They both had AMAZING teachers!!!!

Have some snacks

I asked Claudia to give Katelyn a few more veggie straws...

I guess I should have clarified what a "FEW" means!!!

Very Creative

Madison made her own purse all by herself.

She's so creative. When it's really quite and I can't find her she is ALWAYS in the office at her desk creating something spectacular!!!!

For a school project she had to create an object with recycled matter. She chose to make a horse. This is her creation with a little help from mommy!

BUG

Charles found a bug. I still do not know what kind of bug it is. It looks kinda like a spider. It climbed all over his hands and arms. It seemed pretty gentle but looked kinda nasty.

If anyone knows what kind of bug this is please let us know!!

Memorial Day Tradition

 

Every year we go with John's family on Memorial day weekend to visit the graves of several of his family members. There are 4 different cemeteries scattered around southern California that we visit. This year we skipped the LA cemetery because it is a days trip itself. But any how, we did get to the other 3. We went on Sunday afternoon after church and started at the Loma Vista Cemetery in Fullerton. That one is my favorite because my grandma and grandpa are buried there. 

Next we went to the Fairhaven Cemetery in Santa Ana. John's family has lots here. Including his brother Jonathan who was a still born. I think this tradition started because his birthday is right around memorial day. 

Then we went to our newest addition..National Cemetery in Riverside. This is where John's dad is buried. It is a beautiful cemetery and it's nice and close.

We ♥ you Papa!!!

I love this tradition and the kids really look forward to it also!

Here's a photo I found from our memorial day tradition in 2011

Boy they have changed!!!

A NEW cousin....Bryce Justin Anderson

On May 14th my Brother's wife Kristyn gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He is as cute as ever!!!!

We had the privilege of taking his big sister Kaylee to meet him for the first and then to stay with us while mommy and daddy where in the hospital. 

 

The kids had a great time with Kaylee. Claudia and Kaylee played pretty well together. They even spent some time paining. The kids are so EXCITED to have another cousin. Especially a BOY. It's been 6 years since we've had a boy born in our family on either side.

Madison

For Mother's day Madison' class had a tea party for the Mom's and did some kids and recited some poems. Madison did a great job. I love how she just lights up when she sees me and the girls at the school.

One of the parents (or maybe it's a grandparent) from Madison's class raises (not sure if that's the right word) silk worms. She brought them in to show the class and the little girls and I just happen to get to school early that day and Madison's teacher saw us outside and invited us in to see the worms. Madison was very brave and held one. I didn't realize just how big they are. She really has been having a lot of FUN and has been Learning so many things in Kindergarten. I can't believe the year is almost over.

Birthday FUN

 I've always wanted to rent a surrey and take a family bike ride along the beach. So this year for my birthday I decided to make it happen. John got out of work early on the Friday after my birthday and we headed down to Newport Beach. We got the surrey and headed down the bike path. The kids did not enjoy it as much as I was hoping. But it was Fun!

 

I brought a picnic dinner so after our bike ride we headed to the beach to have a picnic. It was WONDERFUL to sit on the sand and enjoy the ocean breeze. The kids LOVED it!!!!!

 It had been such a LONG time since we had been at the beach. 

After we ate our dinner we enjoyed some DELICIOUS cupcakes 

from Creme De La Creme Bakery. Yummy!!!!

 

 I had a really hard time trying to get all the kids to look and me so I could take a half decent photo.

 

It was a FABULOUS family outing that we 

need to do MORE often!

Foodies

It's true what they say that each kid is totally different and come with their own little personality and character traits. My kids are so fun and so different from each other. We've lucked out or maybe are good at teaching them, I'm not sure which is true. But all are kids are pretty good eaters. They are not always happy to eat new things but they are good for the most part. And they do have their favorites.

Charles is our Carnivore. He LOVES all things meat. I have not found a meat that he doesn't like. And he is pretty well rounded when it comes to the rest of the food groups but meat by far is his favorite.

Madison is my Herbivore. She LOVES most Fruits and Vegetables and will ask for fruit over anything else.

And Claudia is my DAIRY girl. She LOVES LOVES LOVES all types of dairy foods. Her favorite is milk and yogurt. She is getting better at trying new foods and is finally expanding the list of foods she will eat. The other day I was washing strawberries and she asked for one. So I gave it to her and this is what she did.

Then she gave it to me and said "take it." I'm pretty sure she didn't really like it. But at least she tried it!

It will be interesting to see what Katelyn's favorite it! As of right now she really likes breads and yogurts. 

 

Katelyn LOVES these veggies straws. 

And I LOVE them to because they are so portable and not too messy. 

 The other day I gave her a frozen gogurt and she WENT TO TOWN. She thought is was great! She could not get enough in her mouth at one time. You would have thought she hadn't eaten in days. It was so FUNNY! I took it away once she had eaten about half. And she was not happy about that! But I think a whole one is just too much for her little growing body. But she sure loved it!