September Milestones

CAPRI

Our little Capri is growing WAY too fast.  She is now five months old and has started rolling over, eating solids and playing in her exersaucer.  She also loves eating her toes and hanging out in the bumbo while chewing on Sophie the giraffe.  She is perfect in every way and a true joy in our lives.  We call her “sunshine” because she brightens our day.  I wish I could freeze her in time and keep her this age.  I love it!

 

HOLDEN 

Holden is finally potty trained.  Hallelujah!!!!!  I seriously thought it would never happen.  We have been potty training off and on for 9 months and I have been SO frustrated.  But, we decided to give it another try so he could be potty trained for preschool.  I used the 3daypottytraining.com  method and it worked!  It was a huge commitment and we went potty about 60 times in 3 days, but it worked and gave him more control so we weren’t having a power struggle.  Yay! 

Holden also has been venturing out and trying new foods.  He is VERY picky and has a very limited menu.  So, we have been thrilled that he has added cutie oranges and turkey pesto sandwiches on wheat bread as a regular on his menu.  And tonight he even ate pumpkin pie – shocker!

 

TAYA

Taya learned how to ride a bike without training wheels.  She finally tried when we bribed her with a prize and she learned within 20 minutes!  She also started Girl Scouts, which has been so exciting for her.  She loves it and gets giddy for every meeting.

  

DAWSON

Dawson bought himself a pogo stick and learned how to jump pretty quick.  He is amazing – stairs, no hands and 1,300 jumps in a row without falling.  This kid has balance!

Dawson conquering stairs on the pogo stick.

Back to School!

It’s that time again.   We have had an awesome and relaxing summer and now it’s time to buckle down and hit the books!  Our back to school activities started with Taya’s meet and greet for Kindergarten the day before school. 

 

She got to visit her classroom and meet her teacher, Mrs. Lemos.  Taya loved her teacher instantly and gave her a great big hug.

Hallie and Taya aren’t in the same class.  But, they had fun visiting with each other and showing their classrooms.

Inspired by my Raimi’s craftiness, I decided to write some cute lunch box notes and make a little present to butter up the teachers.  I put some Good and Plenty candy in a mug and wrote this little note “I am looking forward to a GOOD year in your class with PLENTY of learning and fun!”

Then, onto the first day of school.  Taya was so excited…she was dressed with her bed made and ready to go by 6:30am.  Dawson on the other hand thought it was uneventful and I had to pull him out of bed!

 

Ready to walk to school with our neighbors – Kyle and Sydney. 

Kyle (3rd), Dawson (2nd), Taya (Kindergarten), Sydney (3rd)

 

Taya held my neighbor, Jen’s, hand all the way to school while I was pushing Holden in the stroller.  Cute!

Taya was great on her first day.  I walked her into her classroom and got her settled, then I had to leave before most of the other parents to get Dawson to his class.  Thank goodness she was ready for me to get out of there. She came home today giggling and happy and told me all about how fun her first day of Kindergarten was.

Dawson started second grade today in Mrs. Shopbell’s class.

He is already dreading journal writing – his least favorite part of school.  His favorite part – recess, of course! 

  

Tennis Camp

Dawson had a BLAST at tennis camp.  Next year, he insists on signing up for two weeks. 

Swim Lessons

We were spoiled this year with swim lessons in our own pool.  I don’t think I can ever go back!  The kids loved learning in their own backyard.  Taya learned how to swim and both kids can now swim all four strokes.  Thanks Hannah!

Play Date

I delivered on my promise for a play date with Lia.  My nanny, Linda, and I had a good laugh about these two.  Dawson acts so different around her - like he is just living to please her.  They seem like they are on a date - not a play date.  Jason says he knows how to pick 'em.  Too cute!


 

The Annoying Orange

Have you seen this video – The Annoying Orange?  Check it out here.  My kids, especially my boys, can’t get enough.  You can hear a lot in our house lately “Hey Apple”.  I think it is quite annoying, but I guess that’s the point.

 

Young Love

Dawson was sitting in his room tonight thinking about something with a smile on his face.  The conversation went a little like this:

Me:  “Dawson, why are you smiling?  What are you thinking about?”

Dawson:  “I’m thinking about the day I met Lia.  SIGH…  I remember the day I met her at church.  She is my best friend mom, I miss her… I remember when we were in preschool together.  I almost forgot her name – but then I remembered it tonight.”

Ahhh…young love.  These two were inseparable.  Their preschool teachers had to separate them because they liked to cuddle and kiss each other on the cheek during circle time.  They have always just clicked and liked each other.  They haven’t seen each other much since we moved from Rocklin.  I guess it’s time for a play date…

Just in case these two cuties get married some day – Lia will know that he loved her from the day they met :) 

Dawson and Lia on a preschool field trip in October 2007

Dawson and Lia at his birthday party in 2009

It’s coming off!

Last year we started an annual tradition of shaving Dawson’s hair on the last day of school.  This year Dawson and his buddy Kyle decided they wanted it shaved the day before so they could show off their summer look.   Jason decided Holden was old enough to get it on the action.  He had a buzzed head at Holden’s age and wanted to see what our little baby would look like.

 

He started out laughing thinking it tickled, then hated it once hair got on his face and in his mouth.  After his bath, he looked in the mirror, grabbed his head and laughed!

The boys rockin’ out with short lived Mohawks!

Those are some good lookin’ boys!  They are excited to stay cool during the hot summer!  Dawson can’t stop rubbing his head – he loves it.

My Blondies :)

Aloha to School!

Dawson’s school had a great Luau to send everyone off on their summer vacation.  We had fun eating a monster snow cone and watching all the kids perform.

 

   

  

“Listen to the Water” was their song.  Can you see the motions?  Dawson got really silly at the end and starting tugging on his ear acting like it hurt every time they said “listen to the water”.  The whole school sang and danced “Tonight’s Gonne Be a Good Night” at the end – it was fun.  Dawson has been singing and dancing it ever since.  If you want a show, he is happy to perform it for you!

Dawson’s and Aiden doing Chinese Checkers and Miss Mary Black. 

Dawson and his buddy Aiden.  Taya with his sister, Emily.

The kids had a blast just being kids.  Watching them play like this brought a huge smile to my face.  Oh, to be a kid again without a care in the world…..