Back to School

Here’s to another school year! I hope the kids learn a lot, make new friends, grow, and are happy this year. Their teachers are great and I am planning on being in the classroom more this year to help them.

Tessa is already missing her big sissy.

Sylvie’s first day of kindergarten! I was nervous for her, but she did great. She was excited.Marco would only give me goofy faces.

Lucia’s first day of 4th grade. Her teacher is Mrs. Blake-her 3rd grade teacher’s wife. She sits in the back as usual because she’s such a good listener.Marco’s first day of 2nd grade. His teacher is Mrs. Komar. He loves her and was so excited to get her. He wouldn’t smile for me though.It was so chaotic that first day of kindergarten, Sylvie was starting to be a little bit unsure.Mrs. Fitzpatrick told her she could hold her stuffed dragon if she sat quietly on rug. She decided she could do that. The whole class is so quiet and I think that helps Sylvie to calm down.

Los Angeles Trip

Last week we took our only summer road trip down to LA. We left Wed. and got to Yesenia and Elliott’s that evening. Thursday, we took the kids to the Santa Monica Pier-we were going to go to the beach also, but we forgot that everything takes twice as long in LA. I was feeling nostalgic driving around Santa Monica and the neighborhood where Grandma Cole lived for over 50 years. Her house looks totally different now, as does the neighborhood. I guess things change!  One thing that hasn’t changed though is all the crowds of people everywhere! We did enjoy going on the old Carousel and the Ferris Wheel and the kids went on a couple of other rides. It was hot and there was no shade on the pier, so after a couple of hours, we were sunburned and tired and decided to head back. It took an hour in traffic with a tired and grumpy Tessa screaming the whole way. Ugh.

When we got back, we said good-by to the kids and Yesenia, Elliott and Valerie and Julio  and I took off for Pasadena to spend a night ALONE at a the Sheraton to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Yes, it was the first time we had ever spent a night alone without the kids in 10 years! Crazy, I know! We went to dinner at Le Courdon Bleu restaurant. It was different and I can’t say I liked the food too much. Julio enjoyed his more than mine.  The only photos we got are on my phone.

We returned on Friday afternoon-after spending most of the day searching for Marco’s birthday presents (everything takes twice as long in LA). The kids were happy to see us, but luckily, they were good for their aunt and uncle. The kids had been really upset about not going to the beach earlier in the week, so Julio took all four of them by himself. (I wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed behind.)

So excited! The sand!Can’t get to the water fast enough!It’s not cold!.Sand, sand everywhere-in the hair, bum, ears.But they loved it.

Saturday was the big family day. We went and saw cousin Valerie preach a sermon at the SDA church. The church had a big luncheon afterwards where everyone came and talked to us and were so nice. One funny thing Sylvie did while we were there-she went into the bathroom and took off her clothes and came out in her undies. People laughed, but we told her it wasn’t ok to do that. We spent some time at Abuela’s house that afternoon. That night was the big party to celebrate Valerie’s and Marco’s birthdays.

with cousin Haleasleeping in.Abuela always bears gifts.Marco’s pinata-from Abuela.

All the Hernandez cousins (minus Marco).

The original Hernandez cousins. (plus Marco)

The entire Hernandez clan.

Tessa strikes a pose.Marco got his own cake.

Opening gifts.

The drive home on Sunday-Marco’s actual birthday, we stopped for lunch at Denny’s.

We made it home and had a great time hanging with the Hernandez family!

Sylvie

Sylvie found some markers the other night while I was reading stories to Tessa before bed. Luckily, they were washable.

This is her new school haircut. When she got home from the salon, she went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror and said, “Oh no! My hair is ruined! I look like a boy!”  She doesn’t look like a boy, she looks adorable.