Alyssa's first day of pe K

Alyssa started Pre-kindergarten yesterday. Oh boy!

This year is going to be different for us in many ways but one of them is her preschool class. She isn't going to 'just' learn how fast she can go down the slide or how many things she can build with sand, she will learn what sounds the letter makes and the correct way to write her name. So what if her S's or backwards? I think it is cute! but not anymore, she is gearing up for kindergarten which means times to pay attention and learn useful things like how to hold a pencil. Along with all of this learning, Rob and I will be helping her at home which means we get homework with our 3 year old (almost to be 4).

I am still on the fence on whether I will be putting Alyssa into Kindergarten next year or hold her back. It seems like everyone is holding their kids back and I don't want mine to be the only one is turning 5 during her school year. Tyler is hanging out with kids who are 14 and some who are turning 15 before school gets out and he will just turn 14 in late October. But, our close friend who is a school teacher feels that she may be bored if she is kept back. Luckily her new teachers will prepare her for kindergarten year and then let us know if we should send her or keep her back and then we can decide. I don't like the idea of her graduating high school at 17 but I also don't want to hold her back for JUST that reason.

Anyhoo, back to this year. She is with her favorite pal Lyle. Unforatunately, while we were on vacation I received the most horrible news. The Rideout family (Lyle's family) is moving to North Carolina September 15th. Even as I write it the tears are falling down my face. How am I going to console my dear daughter that her best friend is moving to a place we cannot drive to? How am I going to tell her that she will not be celebrating her birthday with her at the end of the month? When she looks forward to playing with her at school, what am I going to say? Nothing. I have no words as I don't understand it myself. I mean, sure, people move but not your friends! They are supposed to be available for hugs and stuff. Now I will have to learn to give cyber hugs.

Sorry about that. I am so heart broken over having to tell my little girl that Lyle is leaving. Ugh!

Onto pictures that are so sweet.

Our last hoorah!

I actually thought I already posted this but apparently I just saved it. Tyler rarely wants to have is picture taken especially on the goofy ones but he went through the entire zoo posing like the one above....


Sleeping angel....



Ryan and James....James is always in a great mood probably trying to sweet talk Ryan into playing with him. He is not quite ready for that but almost!


Tyler was holding him while I was taking pictures of the Penguins and one of the Penguin jumped out of the water and Ryan laughed. He only did it once but he was mesmerized by the Penguins jumping out of the water. They were so fast we were surprised he could actually see them.

Ryan's view of the penguins. Unfortunately, one didn't jump out as I took the picture so all you get to see is the water.







Tyler and I took the kids to the SF Zoo the Friday before school started. It is pretty crazy when your 2 and 3 year olds know exactly where the animals are. We were walking along the giraffes and they said' The Gorilla is next!". Which is true. Either I need to start going to the Oakland Zoo every other time or I need to go a different path inside the zoo. I need to keep them on their toes!

Tyler's a freshman!

Oh my, where has the years gone? It seems like yesterday that I walked my little kinder into his very first classroom. I think for me it isn't how quickly it has passed or realizing how big (almost 6'2"!) he is it is actually me feeling old enough to have a high schooler in the first place. When Rob and I attend his school functions we are sitting next to people who are in their later 40's early 50's.

He is hitting high school with great speed and doing well so far. Rob and I have been on him every night about needing to get things done as we do not want him to get behind. We are hoping he will do this for himself before he graduates....college.

Tyler made the water polo team and we are looking forward to seeing his first meet, match, event or whatever it is called. I have to admit I have no idea, other than they toss a ball around while treading water, about this sport but I will soon learn.

His classes are pretty cool this year. He has an A and a B day. On his A days he starts school at 9:20 and has three different classes all about 90 minutes long. On his B days he starts school at 7:20 and has 4 different classes about 90 minutes long. This allows more time in each classroom

Lyle's birthday party

We celebrated Lyle's 4th birthday today and it was such a nice party. She really enjoyed spending the afternoon with her favorite pal just playing in the backyard.

Her trip down the slip-n-slide! She wasn't sure at first and actually never really slid down but to her defense the other girls didn't either. Actually, Ava did but she is cool at the age of 5. Much more daring than the little 4 year olds. Hee hee.

She looks like she is sitting at one of those resorts where they bring you foo foo drinks.

Their craft was to make a necklace of fruit loops and the necklace part was a very thin piece of licorice. Alyssa was in love with this idea! Melissa put the bowl of fruit loops next to me and I had some and next thing I knew I had eaten a lot! Wow, they are yummy! The cake was an ice cream cone that had cake batter baked into it. Very cute and both Rob and I thought they were pretty darn good. Definitely wrote both of those ideas in my 'to do' planner for another time.

Disney Dance Class

Alyssa has been taking Dance (ballet and tap) since she was 18 months. She was finally old enough to take the Disney dance camp and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Her favorite friend Lyle and her older sister Ava took the camp with her and the three girls had loads of fun. Every afternoon I would pick her up and she would run out to me saying something like "I got to eat a cookie" but one afternoon she said she got to eat THREE cookies. The teacher and I had a little chat and she came out saying that she couldn't have more than one cookie. :D Why do they have to give them cookies in the first place? Why can't dancing be the treat??

They worked on a dance routine every day and even had time for a craft. They made a bracelet, necklace, a visor, and a card and then they put on a 30 minute show on Friday for the parents. Very cute!

They are a little blurry but you get the idea...

Trip to WA

My step father took Rob, Tyler, and our nephew Tarlin out on the boat for a little fishing. Tyler took the 'little' part seriously.

The little ham was posing all weekend.

What an adorable baby! He is finally growing into his cheeks! I will work on getting one that he is looking at us this week.

Actually taken 11 days before the one above. They change pretty quickly don't they?

I think Alyssa found what she wanted for her birthday. A computer. I wish we had that on our drive! Maybe for the drive to Disneyland in 2 months.

We had lots of fun swimming in the river (thanks Dad and Grandma!), playing with our cousins and eating not so yummy food (thank you Grandma) but it was nice to be home. Next time Daddy promises to get us a motorhome AND plane tickets. Driving was too difficult for them.