First Day of Joy School

School has been a big part of Calllista's life since she was born.  She has watched her two older siblings get excitied at the start of each new school year with their backpacks and lunch boxes.  Over the past year she has often asked, "When do I get to go to school".   Good question?  She is my baby, my best friend (or so she says), and my Candyland pal.  She is easy to take on errands and what would a trip to the commissary be like without her?  I was not overly anxious for her to go to pre-school.  However, a few of us Moms got together and formed a "Joy School" group that includes 6 children either 3 or 4 years old.  SHe goes 2 mornings a week and couldn't be more thrilled.  She HAD to have a Dora backpack and Dora lunchbox. (Note....I never let any of my other children have themed backpacks or lunchboxes, I hope I am not becoming a softie with her).  A soon as Chloe and Ryan started school she asked every day if it was her day yet.  Well...it finally arrived....last Tuesday was her first day of Joy School at Angela's house.

She was so excited to knock on that door and begin her educational journey, or maybe it was that she was just excited to see her friends.  Either way....she was EXCITED!!!

I stayed with like every good Mom does on their child's first day of pre-school because I just knew she was going to need me, and feel abandoned, and have separation anxiety, and not be able to cope.  BUT NO, she sat on her spot and after a few minutes turned to me and said, "go away Mommy, go home". 

She loved every moment of it.  When we got home, I sat her on my lap and asked her all about it. 

 I asked if she had fun, "yes". 

Who her friends were, "Emily, Ryan, Giovanna, Ruby, and Brooklyn". 

And what she learned, "that we can't share our food with anyone". 

Because her friend has a peanut allergy, they were instructed not to share their lunch or snack, and apparently, it made an impression!

So Callista, we wish you the best of luck as you begin your first of many years in school!

He Is Home!!!

Look who drove in at around 10:00 pm.  He drove the entire drive from Denver to San Diego in one day and even had time to stop in Vegas for dinner at Macayo's with his parents and my parents. 

 He looks tired!!!

But not too tired to stop and buy my favorite (yellow roses) before he makes his appearence.

He went in to each child's room for a hug and kiss and Callista is the only one who really stirred and gave him a hug in return.  But the next morning......they couldn't contain themselves. 

 How did they welcome him....

Tackle Time!!!

They got all their hugs, kisses, and wrestling out right away!

Its great to have hime home (for good, and not just for a few days)!

Callista asked after a few hours when he had to go away again. 

He was happy to respond, not for a VERY long time!!!

I made it through 11 weeks unscarred and I have to say thank you to my parents who endured many nightly calls around 11:00 PM and my Dad would patiently walk me through going down the stairs and checking all the windows and locks.

Also, a big thank you to Angela and Melanie who gave me some much needed breaks to grocery shop, and also kept me busy with fun activities and lots of cheerful phone conversations. 

The Lord did truly make my burdens light!



First Day of School

Hooray, after 3 years at Hage, these two are FINALLY in the same class together.  Since I happen to have prime parking for the school, the Bitton's just parked in our driveway and walked up with us.

The Two Kindergartners!  I can't believe it.  They were sooo excited, they were skipping through the neighborhood.

What could he be thinking right now?  What is that face?

Chloe in front of her classroom.  Her teacher is Mrs. Phillips.

Here is the smile I will wait forever for.  He was so excited. 

He kept telling me to walk faster, and to move closer to the other parents, as if his teacher would shut the door and not let us in.

One last good-bye and NO...surprisingly enough, I am not crying....yet!

Ryan in front of his classrooom door.  His teacher is Mrs. Lowe.

The kids had a great first day.  No exciting news from Chloe, but Ryan definitely had the excitement in his class.   Someone bit another child, someone got their name on the board (perhaps the same student), and everyone is wild in his class except for him and Elliot.

Back to School Blast 2010

This is it....the last day of summer as we know it.  It has gone by quick in some ways, and slow in others.  We have had tons of fun this summer swimming, playing at the beach, and hanging out with good friends.....but none of that completely takes away from the fact that Paul was gone the entire time.  I decided we needed to go out with a bang.  We had our first annual "Back to School Blast" today.  The kids woke up to this sign hanging at the stairs, and they were excited.  I themed it all around water since the one thing I knew would happen today was swimming....and so it did!

You can't have a sign that says "Back to School with a Splash" and not have.....

Squirt Guns!!!

These guys can never get enough of the pool.

Then we watched Finding Nemo and ate fish snacks, with chocolate covered shrimp (Raisinets)), Goldfish Crackers, and Jellyfish (Mike and Ike's)

The Dinner Menu was Pacific Pasta (spaghetti), Carribean Blue Salad (Blue Jello with Whip Cream),

"Wetter" melon, and Ocean Water (Blue Gatorade)

We then skyped Paul and had our Family Evening on Knowledge. 

The kids popped balloons to find out what is was they were going to learn this year.

Callista is going to learn: sharing, numbers, and letters. 

 Ryan is going to learn: Responsibility, Reading, and Addition. 

 Chloe is going to learn: Problem Solving, Long Division, and Cursive Writing.

YIKES!!! I hope they DO learn it all!

Then we had "Octopus Ice Cream". 

Although it ended up looking more like a spider instead, but they loved it, and ate it anyways.

I know I am going to cry like crazy tomorrow.  I can not believe Ryan is starting Kindergarten. 

He is my best bud....my Taco Bell bud....my Dinosaur bud....and my shadow.  What will I do with him not in every room I am in?  I will be lonely....thank goodness I still have Callista...maybe she will learn to like Taco Bell as well!

I love you guys...thanks for an amazing summer!

San Diego Staycation - Day 4

Day 4 at Sea World

What a great day!  We loved every moment of Sea World.  Callista was cracking us up because she wanted to sit in the "Soak Zone" at every show.  Since we didn't, she is still asking if next time we go, we can sit there.  I loved the Dolphin Show and totally cried when the Princess got to fly with the bird.  A Big Baby, I know.

Shamu is in there somewhere, just look for that dark shadow up from Ryan's shoulder.

These two were actually hitting and fighting right up until I said "stop fighting, and smile".

This segment begins the traditional "silly face" pictures. 

Please notice I am never in any of these so called "silly facs" pictures.

Whew....life is so hard....we must take a break...it's just sooo exhausting to do all these fun things!

Paul said I was the perfect Pepsi poster girl....but my question was....

Why don't any of these amusement parks have Dr. Pepper?

Elmo's Flying Fish....

every 3 year old's dream come true....at least for my 3 year old

Look at that smile......has there EVER been more joy in her life than at this moment?

Daddy and Daughter enjoying a nice splash on Journey to Atlantis

It was an amazing vacation.  The funniest part was as we were leaving Sea World at 7:30 that night Ryan asked, "When we get home can we watch a movie?"

Response: "No honey...it is too late..when we get home we need to get on our Pj's and get to bed."  Ryan......with loads of tears, "But we didn't get a watch a movie all week long!"

Who would have known that with the hundreds of dollars spent on tickets for parks, and waverunners, that all he really needed was to watch a movie.  I mean really...we could have gone to Red Box every night and for $1.50, he would have been  just as happy!  It just goes to show...its the simple things they want. 

But we know he had a great time in spite of "no movies".

San Diego Staycation - Day 3

Day 3 was at Knott's Soak City in Chula Vista

Callista loved the kiddie slides and the wave pool the best!

Ryan enjoyed the kiddie slides and the play area.

Chloe loved the wave pool and the Storm Watch slides.

Paul and I just enjoyed tagging along with Chloe on whatever slide she wanted to go on.

Nothing beats a day of sun, fun, and water.....and everyone crashed that night when we got home.