Ahhhh, another summer almost gone! It definitely went by waaay to fast. But, I am am super excited about the school year coming up. Alicia will be in first grade, Anabelle in her last year of Pre-K and I’ll spend this year continuing to take Angelica and Domanic to the Learning Link (parent and me). So, here are some of what we did this summer!

I am amazed with all the kids and how well they did continuing their education throughout the summer. We all spent the month of July reading up a storm. Our goal was 100 books for the RSM Libraries reading program. We crushed it. The girls earned some prizes and Alicia and Anabelle each won an extra raffle. They also had a blast at Girl Scout Day Camp. We also visited the Library book store and stocked up on some Spanish books. There was also an awesome Spanish story time held weekly we visited that all the kids loved. We worked on all the kids becoming more independent too. They are all now responsible for clearing their places after each meal and then Alicia sweeps. They also have the responsibility of picking out their own clothes at night for the following day. Grand Finale…we’ve gone the entire summer witn NO TV!

ALICIA is really starting to some into her own. She is definitely my creative spirit and book worm. Over the summer we worked on lots. She now knows all about money and it’s worth. She learned how to tell time…and even got a rad Hello Kitty watch once she nailed it. We went over cursive writing and she can write her first and last name, but still needs a little practice when it comes to longer sentences. She crushed her math papers that were sent home from school. We started at the beginning of summer and when I gave her a 10 minute timed test to complete the paper, she did it in just under 3 minutes! For the grand finale…..she has learned all 50 states (not taught until 5th grade)! We are currently working on capitals.

It wasn’t all pencils and books. We did the water park, pool, parks, Disneyland, library story times, Gymnastics, Folklorico (which she loves),OC Fair…where she donated her hair, Girl Scouts, and tons more. AND….we went to Denver to visit Tio Juan and Tia Grace. What a trip! We went to Garden of the Gods, the park, the Museum, Downtown, and her favorite….learning to sew from Grace. She is obsessed. I am definitely fostering her new found love and setting her up with her own little sewing station.

ANABELLE is definitely showing her colors as the jokester in the family. I didn’t do as many lessons with her, mainly because she doesn’t start kindergarten until next year. We worked on spelling her first and last name and then writing the two. She’s good to go. We also did tons of reading, worked on numbers, patterns, and read tons. She ddoesn’t enjoy it as much as Alicia, so it was more of a challenge for me, but we reached all of our educational goals for the summer and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

One of my goals was to get her swimming without floaties. So, when that week came I braced myself and we went for it. The morning of the first lesson, I explained to her she was going in with me and not wearing floaties. She immediately protested. We got to the pool, I got all the kids in the water and Dom in the stroller with an apple, then it was Ani’s turn. I carried her into the pool as she kicked and screamed….when I put my mind to something it’s happening, but boy was I questioning my approach. So, it continued for about 10 minutes before I got her to let her legs float behind her in the water. Then Alicia told her to try and touch the bottom of the pool with her feet. She could and was stoked about it. So, I thought I’d just let her play in the water and get used to not being in floaties before we went in for the lesson. I need the break too.

By this time Dom had finished his apple. So I had to get him in the water too. Of course, because my focus was entirely on Ani learning to swim, I had forgotten his floating ring swimming thing. You know, the one they can just sit in. Crap, I wasn’t going to get the kids out to go back and get it. I decided to just hold him in the water.Like that was going to really work? So, after he pushed me away for the hundredth time I went for the floaties. As soon as he had them on I turned to check for Ani. My heart stopped. For a split second I didn’t see her. You all know that split second….the one that seems to last at least 3 weeks long. Then I spotted her in the deep end! I almost crapped my pants, or suit. Then I somehow managed to calm myself and just watch. She had gone in for the squirt gun. Swam all on her own to the middle of the deep end, grabbed that sucker and I watched and encouraged her as she swam to the edge. Swimming lessons complete! Ani also started soccer a week ago and she is an ANImal.

ANGELICA…my little firecracker. She’s almost a combination of Alicia and Ananbelle. SHe is so smart and so independent. She’ll be 3 in 3 more months and blows my mind daily. Her sassy personality has really grown over the summer and it’s so fun to see. Because of her age we kept it fun and creative, working mostly on craft projects. She’s doing great with her numbers & colors (English and Spanish). We worked a little on the alphabet and she learned how to spell her first name…almost there with the last name.

She was the only one who stuck with the gymnastics. It’s her “thing” for sure. She is keeping up with all the kids who have been enrolled for much longer than her and she absolutely loves it. It’s so fun to see her excel at something she has so much fun doing. I can’t wait to see where this may take her.

DOMANIC is a machine. He is such a boy (whatever that means). He climbs on everything….not like the girls did, it’s a hundred times crazier. And the throwing and hitting things? It’s much different than the girls. His appetite is out of control and he eats everything. He likes to get people’s sandals and hit the wall, mocking when he saw his Poppa kill a bug. He also does this face when he is proud…he scrunches up his face and raises one eyebrow, to die for. He’s enjoying his new haircut and I have my fingers crossed the curls come back.

So, all in all I’d say the summer was a success. As always, I wish I would have documented more here, but I guess we were just too busy having fun. And, like I always say, I’ve gotta keep up with this blogging thing. I’m so happy with my little family and can’t wait to enjoy the new school year with the kids.

Looks like I haven’t been here in a while….probably won’t be here much in the next month or two either. Here’s a look at what’s coming up, hopefully I’ll actually get some time to blog about some of these things:

On top of the usual Daisy meetings, we’ve got an MS Walk, Arthritis Walk, Cake for the OC Fair, Ponytail cutting party, Strawberry fields…..

School’s just as crazy with Jog-a-thon (which I am planning), International day, field trip to Apple store, talent show, Administrative professionals week, Teacher Appreciation week, Alicia’s teacher’s birthday, PTA meetings…..

Then there’s well, life in general…birthday parties for friends, planning Alicia’s birthday party, Domanic’s birthday party, cakes for family parties, sports for the kids, and the list goes on…..

How did we even make it this long?! I’m on day 8 & Going strong. The first 6 days were miserable. Headaches, cold sweats and night sweats…no bueno. But I think I’m over the hump. I’ve had no sugar other than fruit and my cheat….1 tspn nutella. Side note: I only ran on day one because I felt so crappy….time to get with it this week. ;-)

The girls are still drinking milk, but we’re alternating with almond milk. We are limiting cheese and cutting way back on grains. They’ve had no sweets other than minimal nutella. Tonight, I let them splurge on some whole fruit popsicles we picked up at the store. Surprisingly, they don’t seem to miss it.

Poppa just took Rick and Ani to Jr Rat Pack. Ani is SO stoked…..Rick has her books packed and ready to read on the sidelines. She actually was almost convincing in trying to get me to let her wear a tutu so she could “cheer” for Ani. Hope it goes well.

So we were talking to the girls about signing up for soccer….Anabelle gets super excited jumping up and down, as does Angelica…Alicia says she’ll read instead.

So, I go to the “priority sign ups”. Why priority….well of course I assume priority means something special so I’m all in. I guess I just thought it was for the really eager parents that couldn’t wait for regular sign ups. Well, apparently it is for the parents who are volunteering to be coaches, asst coaches and yup, you guessed it….TEAM MOM. I had no Idea and really hadn’t planned on taking on that responsibility. I guess some things are just meant to be…why fight it right?

Tomorrow the girls are celebrating (with the rest of the world) Dr. Seuss’s birthday. They are allowed to wear their jammies and take a favorite book to read.

Soooo…..do you really thing I’m going to let my kids roll outta bed and into the car in their PJ’s?!?!

I spent last night cutting out 100 paper hats (resembling Cat in the Hat) and 200 stripes that all the kindergartners will be receiving for a craft. I’m going to volunteer for the day and get to read to the class. I Also made Alicia some Dr. Seuss print jammie pants and puffy painted the Cat in the Hat on a white T. I used the left over fabric for a skirt for Ani.

It blows me away how excited the girls get over these events. I hope They never loose that.

It’s March first….and a new start for a few new things. After lots of research, I am implenting a Paleo based diet for our family. I will have to start slow with the kids, but don’t think it will be to difficult.

The only fast food the kids eat is pizza and that’s about every other week. They will definitely be tasting some new things. The toughest things to cut back on for them will probably be yogurt and cereal.

I’m also going to start running sans children. I like an early workout so That its done and out of the way….but I’m up at 5:00 as it is. Kids are in bed by 6:30/7:00 so it’ll have to be an evening run.

Wish us luck!

Just got back from a tea party birthday party…Ani is in her Cinderella dress, tea party hat, drenched in rings, bracelets and necklaces…and she’s sitting down with Poppa watching transformers.

Cookie while on the potty: “Knock, knock”

Me: “Who’s there?”

Cooks: “I’m talking to the chair”

Me: “Ohhh Kaay “

Cooks (in her regular voice): “Knock knock” (while looking at the chair) .

Cooks (in high pitch voice, pretending to answer as the chair): “Who’s there?”

Cooks (regular voice): “Banana”

Cooks (high pitch): “Banana who?”

Cooks (regular voice): “Banana orange…..ahahahahahah!”

Poppa’s at a tournament today….so, heading to Target with the kids to get their Valentine’s goodies and assembling them later today. Then a play date with Jack and his two brothers.