Last Week

Father's Day

San Francisco

With Paulette

The Exploratorium

I know that sometimes my blog is not exciting, but it is really for me to remember what we do from week to week. I better do it before I forget last week. Tuesday we had brunch at our friends' house and then went swimming at my parents, Wednesday we went to our playgroup , on Thursday we made a last minute trip to San Francisco to see my sister-in-law Paulette. The kids and I had never met her since she and Julio's brother and family live in Virginia. We went to the Exploratorium and then met her for dinner. It was so quick and it was really cold! I'm glad we went though. Friday we went to a friend's swimming birthday party. Saturday, the kids started soccer. They both really liked it. It's not a competetive league, they just teach them the rules and how to play soccer. Father's Day we just had a nice dinner at my parents' house. We had a relaxing day.

So we keep busy! Julio has been glued to the World Cup games. It's been so fun to watch it together. I guess that's all for now!

A Candyland Birthday Party

Uncle B made a cute birthday sign that we used to decorate for the party.

The spread-before the guests arrived.

The beautiful cake that brought it all together.

Opening presents from friends.

Anxiously awaiting the cutting of the cake.

Attacking Julio with the water balloons.

All the friends together with their candy boxes.

It is very stressful planning a birthday party-throw in a backyard that needs a total rehaul, and it adds to the stress 100%. Lucia wanted to invite boys this year, so we couldn't do princess or fairies this year. So, we (meaning I came up with the idea) decided to do a Candyland party. I had to order the party supplies online, got the bowls and containers at the dollar store, the food, drinks and candy at Costco, and the talented Wendi made the cake. I found a picture of what I wanted online and she duplicated it perfectly. The kids were in awe of the cake and so excited to dig into it. For decoration, I made paper candy and taped it to the chairs and walls. We borrowed a bounce house from some friends, but it was so hot out, that it didn't attract the kids as much as we would have liked. The kids ate nachos outside, but there was no shade. The heat forced us indoors where we did some games-some more successful than others. We played musical chairs, the bonk game, pass the present. Then Lucia opened her gifts and we had cake. Then we headed back outside for a water balloon toss-which ended up being "attack Julio with all the water balloons". Then the kids got to fill their Candyland boxes with candy and it was done! With 15 kids in the house, it was a little bit wild, but I think they all had a good time. I'm definitely not doing this every year. Thank you to the friends and family who came and helped!

June 10th...

Is Lucia's birthday!!! She is six years old today! I can't believe how fast the time has gone. She is our dear sweet girl and we love her so much. I still remember like it was yesterday the day she was born. The nurses all commented on what a pretty baby she was and she still is beautiful! She is very smart and imaginative. She could spend the whole day drawing pictures. She is very loving and patient with her siblings. She's a good helper most of the time. She is looking forward to losing her first tooth, going into 1st grade, starting soccer, having a sleepover in the backyard, riding in the car without a booster (not quite heavy enough yet), swimming without a floater, riding her two wheeler, reading chapter books, and so much more! She's such a big girl.

Happennings

Look at the lush grass! Oh and the girl with a new haircut too!

Yes, that is my son wearing his sister's swimsuit.

Julio fixing the sprinkler.

Ramona Quimby, age 2 (actually it's Sylvie who looks like a completely different child with her hair cut)

What have we done this past week? Well, I finished 2 books (The Help, Hunger Games and almost done with The Bell Jar) went to 2 playgroups, the library, got the kids hair cut, went to a ward BBQ, spent my 3rd Sunday as Nursery Leader (in a church without air conditioning), had Mom and Dad for dinner, shopped, cleaned, and enjoyed our new backyard. Julio, Dad and Dick spent the afternoon on Saturday in 95 degree heat putting in our new sod. It looks 100% better than what we had when we moved in.

I've also been planning for Lucia's Candyland birthday party this coming Saturday. We are having it in the backyard. So far, she wants to have nachos, a candy bar (a table with all kinds of candy), a Candyland custom cake, a bouncehouse (borrowed) musical chairs, the bop game, pass the present...Today we made "candy" out of posterboard and paint for decorations. We made M&M's, licorice, lollipos, and gumdrops to put on all the chairs. It should be fun!

So, the next post will be about Lucia's birthday! It's come so quickly!

The Hill's Came to Town!

Callie and Eden decided to come home last Wed. as a last minute surprise. We got to enjoy a lot of cousin time. We just mostly sat around and visited, but got some thrift store shopping, lunch outs, and did Memorial Day at the park. It was such a nice week and we are hoping and praying that Brian gets the job transfer back to Sacramento.

Here's to Brian! Good luck on the LSAT next week.

Me with two cute girls at Ancil Hoffman park on Memorial Day.

Having a picnic.

Lucia and Marco down by the river.

Sylvie is happiest digging in the dirt. Funny girl!

Me, Callie and Eden.

Marco and Lucia climbing in a tree.

Callie reading to the kids.

Lucia finishes kindergarten!

We made it through kindergarten! I say we, because it was a joint effort between me and Lucia. Homeschooling was very rewarding in many ways, but also takes a lot of time and sacrificing of other things. She learned a lot in the past 5 months though! Here goes the brag fest! She has learned to read and has mastered at least 50 sight words. She can spell and write simple words, can dictate her own stories (and then copy them) and summaries of stories she's read. She has learned a lot in math; how to count money, add, subtract, patterns, time to the hour and half hour, can count by 2's, 5's and 10's, solve word problems, identify fractions, plane and solid figures, measurement...a lot! For Social Studies, our final project was learning about the seven continents. We made collages for each continent with pictures from magazines. There is just too much to list, but I think she's ready for first grade in the fall. We are currently number 2 on the waiting list for the school we want her to go to. If she doesn't get in, we may do homeschool again. It's hard, but she learned so much, it's hard to resist. We'll see what happens. I'm so proud of Lucia. She's such an eager learner and tries to do her best in all she does.

Marco Time

Marco got invited to his first birthday party without Lucia. He was so excited and felt so special to be able to go to a party by himself. He even got to sit by the birthday girl!

Marco has been having more problems with his asthma this week. On Wed., after our playgroup at the park, he came home and started coughing and wheezing. He kept us up all that night and then we took him to see the doctor on Thursday. We're still not sure what bring it on-we know he's allergic to cats and if he gets congested he gets wheezy. It could be he's allergic to pollen and grass. But, asthma is not fun for anyone involved. He has his regimen of prednisone to open up his airways when he's had bad attacks, pulmacort for prevention and albuterol for when he's in the middle of an attack. My sister-in-law Paulette said her kids have been outgrowing their asthma-so hopefully Marco will too.