Camping

A couple years ago we went camping in Ripon and to the hot air balloon festival Labor Day weekend.  We thought it would be fun to do it again and to invite a few friends to come along.  We had our camp sites booked and our group all ready when I got the phone call Thursday night that the camp ground in Ripon was CLOSED!! Yes they closed it because I guess branches were falling and there had been some structural damage.  We were so bummed!!! Well after much research we found McConnell State Recreation Area which is right next to Delhi about 25 minutes north of us.  Spencer had a job site he was working on in Delhi so he went and checked it out Friday morning. It was a miracle that they had 2 sites right next to each other, flushing toilets, showers and most of available labor day weekend on such short notice!  We were all very excited that our plans were back on to camp.  So us, The Hamilton's, The Callisters and The Chu's headed north for a camping adventure.  

 The kids had a blast playing all together! The adults had a great time too!

 After an awesome BBQ (thanks to cook Spencer) we went on a night walk all together.

 After a campfire and smors we got all the kids to sleep except Payton (poor Ryan) and had fun playing spoons and shanghai all together.  Friday night we decided that instead of doing the hot air balloon festival we all just wanted to hang out at camp.  We would have had to wake up really early to see the hot air balloons and since we were up pass midnight it made more since to skip it this trip.  Saturday morning we woke up and enjoyed breakfast made by Spencer. 

 The kids played while we all cleaned up and talked.  

 Then we ventured down to the creek.

 There were so many tadpoles and frogs it was too cool! Carter was the one that would catch them he was really into it!

 Then the kids went swimming....

 and some daddy's too.

 It was really fun camping with friends! 

There is a huge group area at this campground and we all had said it would be fun to try to get an even bigger crowd together next time and maybe make it an annual trip.

First Day of Preschool

Well here we go again for year 3 at Merced Parent Preschool.  I just love this program and I guess that is why I will put up with the crazy teachers and endless hours of volunteering lol!  I can't ask for a better school for the kids.  I love the families, making up my own curriculum, enjoying parties and  basically the whole idea of the school so much I will just bite my tongue and deal with Mrs. Robbins for one more year.  Carter was very excited to start back up and will tell everyone "I'm going to the red school for just 1 more year and then I'm in kindergarten." Please Carter lets not rush that!!  We have decided that Carter will do a private half day kindergartner since I can't go through that separation anxiety again so that makes for a little less stress about the future.  But again lets not rush that and just enjoy this next year.  Carter's first day was orientation day on Monday August 25th and then officially started Tuesday September 2nd.  He loves it and is making lots of new friends and enjoying time with his best "old" friends too!   

 I love how Aubrey wanted to help in this picture. (She assured me she would be hiding her face lol)

 I figured out that getting a picture of my guy standing still was pretty hard that day.  Isn't the climbing picture so him?

The first day was just the kids that mom's work on that day.  Carter is a ladies man on Mondays! I love the friends I get to work with this year!!! My bestie Murun, Susan, Hillary and Karissa we are all friends so this will be a lot of fun!

Our first day and the last 2 days have been great.  Like last year I don't want him to go every day.  I really want to cherish this precious year we have together but at the same time want him to be social.  We are going to try 2/3 days a week and see if that works best for our family.  My planning days this year is animal week and under the sea week.  Murun and I got lucky and got to do our special project before school started.  We cleaned the shed and got the class room ready for the school year.  So much easier then a party and it's nice to be all done.

My kids beyond flattered me this week.  

Carter was asked to paint a picture of his family and he did this: 

He said he just wanted to paint mommy in a black dress! So cute!!

I got to volunteer in Aubrey's class on Tuesday this week.  It was fun to meet some new friends and be in her classroom.  It was nice not having to wait until November like I had to for kindergarten.  

Every day in 1st grade they have been working on their letters and letter sounds this was her letter "K" day:

 She said, "I asked my teacher if I could write my favorite "K" word, Kate and she said yes so I did" Look at that cute picture!

I just love my kids more than word can express and this just makes me feel like a really special mommy!

Run or Dye

Saturday August 23rd was Run or Dye in Merced.  This was our very first 5K and we all loved it!! 

We signed up as a family and with our really good friends Susan and Murun.   

Thanks to Susan for waking up early and getting in line at 7:00am for us.  I over heard that there were over 2,000 people at the event! That's really huge for Merced! The kids were very excited to wear all white.

We were excited to find our other friends the Miller's in the crowd.  We all were close together before the race started but when the run started they split us up so we didn't see them on the track.

It was so fun being around so many excited people all there to have a good time.  The music was going and everyone dancing and cheering was just awesome!

We decided that we should bring the stroller since 3 miles is a little long to have the kids run/walk.

The run was so much fun! Seeing the kids run and do so great was the highlight.  

So like I have said in previous posts I have been working on my running at the gym and in our garage on the treadmill.  I have been doing 3.5 miles and running 30 minutes straight (no stopping).  Running outside, with no T.V. and pushing or watching kids made for a completely different experience then the treadmill with my head set on.  I was disappointed that I had to stop and walk a couple times but after thinking of all the circumstances I guess doing a 5K in 40 minutes was not that bad.  Other runners were very impressed with the kids and would ask me their names and would cheer them on.  

Here was a reenactment of us coming into the finish line: 

I just loved doing this race my family and my friends it was a really special experience!

 We didn't want to miss out on the Lowe's craft this week lol!

We made it over in time even if we were pink, purple, blue, yellow and orange!

First day of 1st Grade

Aubrey's first day of school was Monday August 18th.  She was very excited about her first day!  Starting 1st grade seemed to be so much less stress than kindergarten for her and for me.  The transition was so much smoother this time around.  We were very excited that she got Ms. Buttrey as her teacher (I have heard nothing but amazing things about her) and that her best friend Kendall is in her class.  Aubrey could not wait to wear her light up shoes, the outfit she picked out and her Frozen backpack.

 Drop off for 1st grade is so much fun!! Last year we had to drop her at the cafeteria and leave.  1st grade we get to go to the play yard and play with her until the bell rings.  Carter just loves it and I think Aubrey loves introducing her brother to everyone.

 On the first day of school I was not prepared with my nice camera to take pictures in the class room.  See last year like I said before we dropped them off at the cafeteria and had to leave so that is what I was planning on this year.  I was pleasantly surprised that this year the teacher is so inviting and wants the parents to drop them at the classroom.  Carter and I actually got to go into the room and hang out for a little bit.  It felt so much better this time around! Last year I had to wait until October to get invited into the class this year Ms. Buttrey has already talked about wanting me help as soon as possible.  

The first week of school went really good.  We did have some minor issues with friends and a "bad" boy in her class that is in the same group.  We also had to already have our first sick day on Thursday due to a stuffy nose and one of her swollen lip attacks (still trying to figure that out!).  But all in all it was a good week and she is excited to go back tomorrow :)

Back to School Shopping

We had a great girls night out Friday August 15 in Modesto.  My favorite girls, Nana, Titi, Aubrey and I  shopped until we dropped and had a nice dinner.  Aubrey was so much fun to take back to school shopping this year.  She definitely has her own style and loves to show it off. 

The night was so much fun and it was a special to treat to just be the girls.  

Driving with just one kid for 45 minutes was also a treat.  I loved getting to have just Aubrey in the car she told me so many cute stories and we had fun making up fairy tales together.