Madison's Preschool

Preschool started this week for Madison. She goes two days a week. We decided to do another year of joy school. The kids all got along so well and we really wanted to keep them together. Madison was super excited to start. She got up early, got herself dressed and she was ready to go.
She has a new friend starting this year. I think the girls are going to stick together. Madison does love the boys though also. She loves to talk about all of her friends.

On the first day they talked about the letter A and made carmel apples. Madison was in heaven. She loves apples and add in some sugar and it is pure bliss for her.

Hurray for School!

Back to School

Blake and Hailey are back in school. It is so weird to have them both in school all day. This year will be a lot nicer schedule for Abby's nap and we won't feel like we are in the car all day picking up and dropping off. Hailey got our favorite first grade teacher. She also gets to be in class with a couple of her close friends.

Blake is in 3rd Grade now. I can't belive how much older and more responisble he is getting. He has a great teacher and he is super excited to be in the advanced math program, which means he doesn't have to do math homework as long as he stays on task at school.

I am going to miss them, but they are ready to be back in school and on a schedule again.

Last Days of Summer

The last week before school started we decided to take a last minute camping trip before school started. We were able to get a few campsites at San Onofre. We called a couple of family friends we thought might be able to take off in the middle of the week and headed to San Onofre. Madison and Abby both got sick in the night the first night so Madison spent most of the first day at the beach napping. She was all better by the afternoon and ready to play. Check out the dirty face.

Abby really loves the beach and is talking so much now. Todd was very proud when she pointed to our car with the surfboard on it and said "surfboard". Any water she sees she calls the beach. She loves running from the waves now.

The campsite wasn't the greatest and the beach was pretty rocky, but we had a great time anyway. We had a great time playing games and trying new was to roast marsh mellows with our friends. We love camping with friends so let us know and we will set up a time. We have lots of beaches we want to check out.

The kids had a great time collecting rocks and exploring the caves and hiking the bluffs.

It was nice was a nice way to end our summer break. When we got home we showered and were off to the outlet malls for some school shopping.

Happy 8th Birthday Blake!

Eight cool things about my birthday:
1. My Dad made the playroom a galaxy and we made an R2D2
2. I am going to get baptized
3. I get to go to Cub Scouts
4. I got a Nintendo DS
5. I had a cool Star Wars party
6. I got spaghetti at Grandma Di's house for my family birthday dinner
7. My friend Sara came to visit (we've been super good friends since we were one)

8. I got to have a sleepover

Sunday dinner at Grandma Di's house with all my California cousins. Thanks for celebrating with me.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away . . .

Blake wanted a Star Wars party for his eighth birthday. We attached a glowing light saver to the invitation. They turned out pretty cool. Here it is: He really wanted a light saber cake. Thank goodness that was pretty easy.

When they arrived they entered the Jedi Training Center. There they got a badge with things they had to complete to become a Jedi, a robe (thanks Grandma Newbold), a light saber and blaster.

First stop was making a droid in Watto's Junkyard. Todd helped them use some tools to create them out of metals.

Next we took a break and had padawan pizza, Darth malts, Yoda soda, sith snacks, Jedi fuel, and wookie cookies. The plates we got were 3D. They they loved looking through the glasses at stuff.

Then they were off to finish their Jedi Training. The had to complete Jedi balancing skills, blaster training, light saber and reflex training, and thermal detonator training. We did some in the backyard and some upstairs in the playroom that we made all dark with a black light and glow in the dark stars.

I think Todd had as much fun as the boys. I heard a lot less complaining about party preparations from him for this party.

Finally, they all graduated the training and we had cake and Darth malts in Jedi glow in the dark cups. If was fun doing the party at night so everything could glow.

It was an out of this world Star Wars Party!

R2D2

Todd is amazing. I found this $10 trashcan and asked if be would help Blake make a R2D2 for his birthday party. This is what they came up with. It was a very cool project for Todd and Blake. Blake had to keep going in the garage to see how cool is new droid was while the paint dried. Blake now want to keep it in his room for a trashcan. My mom made Jedi robes for all of his friends and we borrowed our cousin Sara and Lances costumes for the party. The kids had to get a photo with R2D2.