It helps me

Blogging helps me to see and reflect upon my life and how great it really is.
I really am so thankful for my many blessings - these 3 in particular.



I miss blogging

First Grade

Sadly, summer has come to an end and the school year has started. It was a great summer and I could have definitely enjoyed another month of playing in the pool and having beach days with my kiddos. But, the time has come so Jack and I hit the mall for a little school clothes shopping and one on one time together. We grabbed some lunch and talked about all the great things that the first grade had in store for him.



He was understandably a mixture of nervous and excited. He is such a brave boy who continues to impress me as he openly shares what's in his heart and in his head. I am so thankful for our relationship that continues to grow deeper and deeper. I love to remind him that HE is who made me a mom. I sure will miss not having him around the house as much each day.

Today was the big day. Today was Jack's first day of the first grade.





Is there anything sweeter?
They couldn't be more different, but they sure do love each other.



He has a desk!
This is a BIG deal. Gone are the long tables and shared supplies. He has his own desk now and his own supplies. My boy has entered the big time!



When I left him I had some mixed emotions. I'm sure that's no surprise to those that know me. I am not easily pleased when it comes to issues affecting my children. This isn't always a bad thing. I am not a complainer (at least I try not to be), but I do want the best for them.

The classroom was packed - 30 kids, 1 teacher! YIKES!!
You hear so many stories about kids having their BFF in class, that wasn't the case for Jack.
His teacher is new to our school so although she is a qualified 1st grade teacher she will have a bit of a learning curve to get to know the school.
None of these things are deal breakers, just some things that weighed heavy on my mind throughout the morning.

I'm happy to report that when I picked Jack up from school he was happy and smiling and said he had a great day.
He never mentioned how crowded the classroom was. Apparently It didn't affect him they way it did me.
He said he found his BFF at recess and they made a "meeting spot" for lunch PLUS he made friends with the boy sitting next to him.

Although, there are some "things" that aren't exactly perfect I have to admit that day one seems to have gone pretty well. I am hopeful that each day will continue to get better and better and that he will have the awesome year of learning that he deserves!

I've been neglectful

Yes, I've been a bad blogger. Somehow I've let the weeks slip by without blogging about the family. The truth is that I take way too many darn pictures at family events that it is almost overwhelming for me to narrow it down and then actually blog about it after our day. However, we have had so many great days, so many special moments that I don't want to forget. So, please bare with me as I do a little catch up blogging.

I was inspired by simple as that, a blog I enjoy reading to blog in collage as a quick but cute way to get caught up on the month of May. She actually does a beautiful monthly collage capturing the highlights of her month. There was no way I was going to be able to narrow my many photos down into one collage so I opted for one collage per event. Thanks for still "following" along with us.

Mother's Day


My brother Michael and his wife Frances had their first baby. My first niece - what a blessing! She's just beautiful and we hope to spend more time with her soon.


Home school day with mom! Jack's class was going on a field trip to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, a nice but very small aquarium. Because I always attend the field trips as a chaperone, I opted to not send Jack to school that day but to take both Jack and Benjamin to the "big" aquarium. I arranged for my mom to watch Annabelle (thanks mom!) and the boys and I spent the day at the Aquarium of the Pacific here in Long Beach. We had a great time! It felt like the old days - the day's before kindergarten, preschool and therapy schedules. We were so carefree! It was a lot of fun. We spent as much time inside the aquarium as we did outside. The boys rolled down the grassy hill about 25 times and we got ice cream. Something I guarantee you Jack would not have been able to do had he gone with his class.

I am CONFIDENT they both learned a lot that day. Jack actually did a "book report" as he called it for his teacher to tell her what he learned. Learning to get along with one another was also a big part of the day. By the way, I didn't dress them - they choose to be "twins". I love my boys dearly!

The kids and I attended our first rally to let the leaders of California know that enough is enough. It was called Wake Up California. We were all there to sign petitions and to increase awareness about the crisis facing California public schools and the need for our legislatures to take action now! There were a couple of hundred people there as well as the press. It felt good to show our support.


We ended our month celebrating my sister and I. Mingie turned 41 and I turned 38 this past May. Wow, were does the time go. Doesn't seem like that long ago (according to our parents) that she and I were running around together like Jack and Ben. Our birthday celebration was great! Casual atmosphere (thank you Mingie), good company and great food - exactly what I wanted! The weather was perfect and the boys even got to do a little gardening with their Uncle Ed.


Jack finished up another great month of beginning art at Averyboo Arts.

We are so very thankful to my Dad who graciously offered to pay for an additional month of class. He saw how great Jack was doing and how much he enjoyed it and wanted him to be able to continue. I love that my parents never put me in that uncomfortable position of having to ask for help. They watch, they listen and they unselfishly give what they can. They have both in the last few years (since life got more expensive) offered to help out with different expenses for the kids - be it art class for Jack, karate class for Ben or money toward the thousands we owe to the hospital and not to mention the babysitting they both do. They are both so generous and giving of their time. I have no idea what Braden and I would do without them. We are blessed to have such wonderful parents as role models. We always talk about the love they shower us with and how my grandparents (both sides) were the same way. We hope that we can continue the "generosity and love" with our children throughout their lives as my parents and grandparents have done for us.

T-Ball and sibling bonding

Benjamin's 1st official T-Ball season has ended. What a fun experience that was.
He had a game every Wednesday and Saturday - no practices (silly, I know) - just games. He didn't really improve much all season, but he had a lot of fun and looked super cute in his uniform. Isn't that what really matters anyway?

Annabelle was his biggest fan!

She LOVED wearing his hat!


She LOVED hanging out with her big brothers when the game was over.
This was not my proudest Mom moment but it was super cute to see how she copies everything they do. Oh man, help me now!

pictures taken on May 11th

Twins!

I can't get enough of these two. They seriously crack me up! They really are so funny together.

Belle had woken up early and there was still about an ounce and a half left in the pump from her night time feeding. So I put her in her rocking chair to let it finish out while I picked up her room a bit. When Ben realized that they were wearing the same pajama pants he climbed right up next to her and started reading to her and hugging on her. She immediately pulled up her shirt to show her brother her "button". She is very proud of it and shows it off where ever we go.




pictures taken on May 12th

Love, love, love them!