September

September was a busy month of settling into our new routine.  August was a very scary month for my family up in Sonora.  A huge forest fire known as the RIM fire was out of control and homes as close as 8 miles from my parents were being evacuated.  We didn't make it up there when the fire was going on but when my parents would come down to Merced you could smell the fire on them.  It was crazy! Thank goodness the fire was contained by the help of 2 DC-10's that actually were stationed out of Castle (my work).  One afternoon my friend Sarah and I took our kids over to see the planes.  Her parents live up in Sonora too.

 Friday night September 6 was a children's concert in the park that Aubrey's teacher told us about.  We packed our dinner and had a picnic while lessening to kid music and watching our little munchkins dance.  It was fun! It was cool to see school friends and Aubrey's teacher outside of the school scene.

 Scott (Gaga) had his birthday on September 5th.  We are able to meet up with him on his birthday weekend to celebrate at Texas Roadhouse in Modesto.

This picture was taken at one of lunches with Aubrey.  We took her McDonald's and enjoyed lunch and then played outside with all her friends.  The kids just loved her daddy.  Kids are still telling her how cool her daddy is!

 Preschool work day!

 Super kid! This was on September 9 I think.

 Yay Titi came to visit and she made cookies!!

 September 13th was Aubrey's first ever sick day from school.  She got the nasty cold that I had a week before and I did not want anyone else to get it! When I had the cold it lasted for 1 week lucky for her she was better by about 2 that day so maybe it wasn't what I had but I had to careful and believe me I was just happy to have my little friend home.  We made GAK, colored a lot and worked on writing and reading.  She was sad to miss the letter T that day at school but the teacher was nice enough to send her home one to cut out.  The whole day she was saying how much fun it was to be with me it made me feel good.  

The weekend of the 20th we went away to the bay area.  Friday night we stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's and eat lots of pizza and played games.  On Saturday we went out to a nice breakfast and then they offered to take care of the kids all day so Spencer and I could go on a date.  It was wonderful spending alone time with my hubby.  It was also very cool for Aubrey and Carter when we found out that 4 of their cousins were coming over to play too.  We all had a blast.  We picked up the kids and said our good byes and then headed to Val's our favorite burger joint that I grew up on.  

 After dinner we headed up to Stockton to meet our newest niece and visit with that family.  It was so fun to hold a brand new one week old again.  She was adorable and a true blessing.  I'm really kicking myself that we did not take pictures of this weekend.  It was lots of fun and we are so grateful to belong to such a wonderful family.
Friday September 27th was my first time volunteering at Aubrey's school.  Peterson got over 850 API score which is really good we are the highest in all of Merced County this was from testing last year but in honor of getting such a high score the PTC club put on a carnival for the kids.  I was in charge of the sac races it was crazy how many kids but it was so much fun.  I loved when Aubrey's class came over and though it was so cool that her mom was in charge.  After the carnival we headed down to Main street for the Golden Valley high school homecoming parade.  The floats were all based off of Pixar films it was fun and kids loved it.  Again kicking myself for not having the camera!     

We ended September going up to Sonora to celebrate both my parents birthdays yesterday. 

 Such an adorable couple!! I love my mom and dad so much they are such a great team and wonderful role models.  I hope they had fun celebrating with us because we sure enjoyed being with them.

First Day of Preschool

Carter officially started parent preschool August 28th.  My work day at school is Monday this year and I find that Carter goes really only that day and possibly my work day at the airport and that is it.  Now that Aubrey is in full time school I really want to treasure the next two years of Carter at home.  I really contemplated even doing preschool this year for that reason and because he is still so young but that is the good thing about parent preschool you can go 1 or 5 days and every week could be different.  I find that even though he is too young it is still nice for him to have something to talk about and look foreword too.  I can only imagine with the holidays getting closer all the things Aubrey will have going on it will be nice that he has parties too.  I find that this year is a lot different than last year number 1 it's great not having to find a baby sitter and 2 last year I was really wanting Aubrey to prepare for kindergarten while this year I just want Carter to have fun.  There are 26 kids in his class and surprisingly most are 3 so we are having fun meeting new friends. 

 I've already had my first planning day it was September 9th Nursery Rhymes week I did humpty dumpty.  We read Humpty Dumpthy and another book titled Eggs.  We had hard boiled eggs for snack and made Humpty Dumpthy's for art.  The discovery was very fun.  I had the kids predict if the egg would break being dropped from a wall in a baggie with different materials such as marbles, feathers, bubble wrap, paper, and beans.  The song I found on YouTube and it was a lot of fun.  Carter loved the day and I was happy it came out so cute.  My next planning day is Halloween week and my special project is the Halloween party so I'm having fun looking on pintrest and planning.

Finishing up August

Saturday August 24th we were able to see Spencer's brother Craig.  He lives in Utah so we don't get to see him much so this was a fun treat.  Spencer's brother Adam and family had us all over for a family get together and we had a surprise baby shower for Angie that day. 

 Our little artist spent lots of time coloring.

 That same day my aunt had planned for us to meet up in Stockton for a girls lunch.  It was so fun seeing my great aunt and cousins who I don't get to see very often.

The last weekend in August our good friends the Reeder's came out and stayed with us.  It was so nice seeing them.  I have really missed having them 5 minutes away.  I can't wait to see them again hopefully soon. 

First Day of School

August 19th 2013 came way to quick for this family!!! 

Our little Aubrey started kindergarten at Peterson Elementary.  I had a very hard time with this new stage in our life.  Actually all summer I worried and dreaded this day but as hard as it was for me I tried my very best to be excited and positive for Aubrey because I knew she would absolutely love it.  I'm not sure she had any idea what kindergarten was going to be like but I knew she loved the red school (pre-school) so I had a feeling she would like it too.  Here in Merced Kindergarten is all day and I just could not believe that she was going to be gone from me all day.  I looked into every school possible private and public (I was willing to pay if it meant she would be home at lunch time).  I'm not sure why this was such a big deal to me but it was.  I have had her all to myself for 5 years and I didn't want to share her for so much time.  When our house was built we were told there would be a new school out by us well 6 years later still no school.  They send our neighborhood children to a school across town in not the best area with really low test scores.  Spencer and I were not okay with this so I started my battle to get her in the public school closest to us in January.  Lots of emails and phone calls all summer paid off and I got her in our school of choice one week before school started.  We had a nice kindergarten round-up the Friday before where we met her teacher Ms. Stapp, saw her deck and cubby and checked out all the fun things in the room.  Sunday night we picked out her outfit and laid it out.  She also really wanted daddy to set her alarm so he did that for her.  In the morning we got all ready and headed down to the school.  I was expecting to have more of an easier drop off and I even thought I would get to take her to the class room but no it was very confusing and sad.  They had all the kindergartner's meet in the cafeteria and that is where we dropped them off.  Since it was super crowded we parked a few blocks away and got there right when the bell rang so the teacher just took her hand and walked off.   I had a quick second to hug her and blow her a kiss she looked confused and sad.  I was left with a real empty feeling and cried all the way back to the car with Carter.  It was very strange having her gone all day and I could not wait to pick her up and hear all her stories.  Well the day went by thanks to Carter playing with me at the park and Spencer taking us out to lunch.  I think Carter and I actually ran to pick her up and when we saw her seating out in front of the class room she had a huge smile and the first thing she said is, "I like it! I really like it mom." I was relieved that it was good day and no one was mean to her.  

Here she is on her first day:      

The first week was hard.  It was hard to stay positive for her when she was just starting to get use to this new life and wasn't to sure about it and neither was I.  She liked school but she didn't like being there all day.  She missed Carter and I and all her toys she would say.  We missed her!!! Making lunches everyday has been an adjustment and just being accountable to a school has been a challenge and not what I'm use too.  Her teacher seems very nice and organized but she has yet to let parents volunteer in the class room which has been very hard for me.  Coming from preschool where the parents run the school to having no involvement has been super hard.  The teacher says that she will start to have us help in October so I'm just holding my breath and can't wait.  It's hard to be okay with her with someone else that I don't really know for so long.  Her school does allow to have parents visit for lunch time so we have done that twice and I feel like I have started to get to know some of her friends.  She is lucky to have two friends from preschool in her class.  She also has become really close to a little girl that sits right across form her.  Her name is Advaitaa which is very hard to pronounce so on the first day of school Aubrey decided they need nicknames Aubrey being Pinkalicious since she loves pink and Advaitta, Purplecious since she loves purple.  It was very cute and I loved all the fun stories she had about her new friends.  The teacher got word about my love for crafts and has had me do a few projects at home so I feel like I'm being a little helpful.  This is a whole new life for sure and we are still adjusting but it's starting to be okay and we are happy.  

These pictures are from the round-up Friday August 16th: