Good Bye Kindergarten....Hello 1st grade!!

Really has the school year come to a close already? Seems like it was only a few months ago I was shedding tears because my baby girl was starting Kindergarten and now she is heading off to 1st Grade. Each month brought so many different activities, projects, school parties, homework, etc. which made the year seem to fly by. I enjoyed this year of school. Taelor made some great friends and I got to know and meet some wonderful parents. It was such a joy watching all these cute little kindergartners grow up over the last year and literally it is just 1 month shy of a year since we are in a "year-round" school.These kids went through 3 teachers, Mrs. Vose started the school year out until mid September and then had a full time job offer at another school so she headed there to teach. Then Miss Muranaka was their teacher until April after Spring Break when Mrs. Wang was able to return to teaching. I loved them all and could not have asked for better teachers and teachers aids.

Taelor, you have grown up so much this last year. You are becoming such a sweet, caring, respectful, little girl. You received many compliment slips this year and were able to bring Mighty the Mustang home quite a few nights. You learned to read and write which is such a joy to see you do (and to sometimes decipher the words you are writing). This year is your first year of many years to come and yes mommy will shed a tear each and every year. May your life of school be filled with many friends who only better you, who stand by your side and you do the same for them. I pray that school work comes easy to you, that you enjoy school, even when it seems hard. I pray that God uses you to touch other people's lives and that you are a blessing to everyone you meet. Your teachers had all great things to say about you and it fills our hearts with so much joy hearing how kind and thoughtful you are. Continue to do good and always try your best and remember Mommy and Daddy are always here to support you!

You and Mallory met on the first day of school and remainded Best Friends all year! 

A few days before school ended you were given an award for "Compassion", and yes you are certainly a compassionate young girl and I hope you will always hold that close to your heart. We are so proud of you.

The last day of school you had a little performance which my eyes were filled with tears as you sang the song "It's a Wonderful World"....yes it sure it! The 1st Grade, 1st Grade song (to the tune of New York, New York) was so cute. All the kind words your friends said about you that Mrs. Wang read off made us so proud and melted our hearts. The day was filled with joy ( a little bit of mommy sadness, only because I am selfish and I don't want you to grow up, just not ready for it yet). You are ready for 1st Grade my sweet girl! So here's to new beginnings on your next chapter in your life, to your time to shine because I know you will, to all that you will learn this next year. Here's to the girl you are becoming! May you be blessed, cover the world with your quiet, yet beautiful smile. You are our world! Good Bye Kindergarten....Hello 1st Grade!

Father's Day...a weekend away

This year we celebrated Father's Day in Palm Desert with my family (only 40 something of us...and that is only half of my family...hehe). My dad turned 70 this year and he wanted to celebrate it this weekend. So we all headed out to the hot desert and had a blast. The lazy river was perfect, the kids enjoyed themselves SO much, swimming, relaxing, playing with their cousins. It was a perfect weekend. Not to mention on Sunday we celebrated daddy! I mean sitting by the pool by 9am in the hot sun doesn't get any better. Saul we love you and you ARE the BEST daddy ever! Your kids are so lucky to have you home with them as much as you are. You are nothing but extraordinary, loving, fun, funny, good looking and all around the greatest dad ever! Thank you for all you do for our family. We love you SO much!! And to my dad, who has always been the greatest dad to me. He is so loved by all of us and is the best Papa! We love you dad/Papa!

Oh I wish I was floating on this lazy river! See you soon LR, I promise we will be back in the near future!

Preschool Graduate...

How did this year go by SO fast?!? How is my little boy ready for Kindergarten! I am so sad yet happy to be moving onto this next chapter in his life, but these moments sure tug at my heart like no other! I will miss his little preschool along with all the great friends he made...Trey, Sadie, Alyssa, Grayden, Ivanna. He had the best time this year, learning about Jesus, learning all his basic numbers, letters, shapes, made me a ton of arts and crafts but most of all he was a great student as Mrs. G said he was one of the best, always helping out, listening and good manners (this make a mommy very proud). I will miss Mrs. G and Mrs. Kilduf. It's hard saying goodbye, but he is now off to Kindergarten with a full heart and a mind that is eager and ready to learn. Just don't grow up too fast Ethan, you have an entire life ahead of you, kindergarten is just the beginning. Sigh. Tear. My little graduate. End of the year. Ready for kindergarten!

Beach Days

I think they could live at the beach in their bathing suits all day every day!

Sunsets & Beaches

A favorite pastime of ours to do as a family is to watch the sunsets. I love that my kids enjoy the beauty of it also and are always asking to go down to the beach to see the sunset. Friday, I was off early from work and we headed down to Laguna Beach to enjoy a walk along the beach. We then drove down the coast and after passing Ruby's Shake Shack, there was actually parking and so FINALLY we were able to eat dinner there. Such a great view! We walked down to Crystal Cove which is like going back in time to a little beach town where everyone takes vacations at the same time and you see the same people (at least I felt  that way). And since we didn't have enough of the beach we headed to Corona Del Mar and finally watched the sunset. It was the PERFECT afternoon/evening. Sometimes just stopping to enjoy the simple things in life is what makes your heart smile and your days brighter.

Kindergarten Open House Night

Our first Open House was so special. Grandparents joined us as Taelor was our little tour guide of her classroom showing us all the things she has done throughout the year. It is so amazing to see how far she has come in just a year. Her journal was so cute to read, and it will be something I will cherish forever. She loves school and has had a great year in Kindergarten. Even though she went through 3 teachers (Mrs. Vose, Miss Muranaka and now Mrs. Wang) she and all the kids adapted well and learned so much throughout the year. I will be sad when the school year comes to an end, but tonight I enjoyed seeing all the hard work the teachers and staff put into these little kids who are sponges for learning. I appreciate so much all the work they do! Taelor we are so proud of you and all you have accomplished this year. We LOVED your classroom and especially loved your self portrait of you! Keep up the hard work always!!

Pool time...my little swimmers

The kids have been taking swim lessons and they are now little fishes in the water! Coach Brooke was so great with them. Taelor can swim the entire width of the pool doing the breast stroke and Ethan has his "superman" swim down like he is off to save the world. Such a good feeling to know your kids can swim in the water. It is going to be a great summer! Now if I can only get them out of the water!