Kyle made it thru his first week....almost!

Here is Kyle on his first day of junior high. Ready and waiting on the porch. I'm sure if we check back in with him in a month, I will be saying come on we are late! but then again maybe not. He seems to be enjoying the new classes and teachers. Science class is ranking on the top.
Rockin' the converse. He wanted these when we were shopping and I said only if you will actually wear them. He agreed to wear them and they sat in his room for months now. I am actually surprised that he did not out grow them since he is growing so much now. They are kinda comic book inspired so I see why he likes them and he told me other kids thought they were cool.
WOW!!! Look how old he looks now....Could be going off to high school! Notice there are no new clothes. He did not want any. Asked him if he needs to buy anything else and he said no not yet?.....
Stop with the picture taking Mom!!!!! He knows that I will take a picture at every occasion so I promised not to get out of the car...Did he really think I was not going to keep taking pictures from the car?
See....still taking pictures. At least he is smiling and laughing with me!
The school has a cool way of letting parents know if their kids are on track. It emails me every day at 5:02 p.m. (yah a weird time!) and gives me grades and homework assignments. Also assignments in the future. I ask every morning and he is still surprised that I know. DUH! So, one of the assignments was to bring a book to class on Friday to silent read and write in your journal. I told him to put the book in on Wednesday. "Mom it is not due until Friday!" annoyed teenage voice here! I said I know but plan ahead so you don't forget! Guess what....didn't listen to mom and no book in his backpack on Friday. I did not remind on Thursday night since I assumed it was done. No more assumptions from me baby! He will be showing it to me in the backpack and I have the computer all to myself this weekend since that is what got taken away!

Circus fun for Savannah!

Grandma, Savannah and I headed off to the circus since Kyle and Daddy went camping with the boy scouts. We were off to see the beloved elephants first. I think they might still be her favorite thing from the circus. Savannah loved that they were able to pick up hay with their trunks and feed themselves.
We went into the preshow and down on the floor you were able to try on clown and other costumes. This jacket was actually pretty heavy so look at the pained look on her face!
We waited to have a turn on the motorcycle...think she liked this better? oH YAH! vROOMMMM!
We also stopped to drop another $15 on the fake elephant picture. Look at the smile...how could I not buy it? She did think it was real since she told me to tell my friends at work that she sat on a "real" elephant!

Savannah's buddies at work during the show.
Savannah liked these bouncy guys too. They bounced on some sort of tires and entertained the crowd.
More elephants!
Jungle flowers that came to life and danced around.
The people in front of us were there for their company picnic and they gladly passed Savannah the cotton candy and clown hat that came with it. I was not going to buy it but she was soooo thrilled with her free clown hat that I felt bad for about a minute. She wore it home and oh yes, when we went shopping at Walgreens later that night. Good thing it matched her outfit and she made a couple of people smile that night!

I would not recommend this run of the circus for people with toddlers. It was slow in parts and lasted too long. It was also difficult to see some of the acts since we were on the top level but I think they could have fixed it by not putting so much on the screens. Savannah had a good time and it was a good first impression of the circus.

I could have also done without the protesters at the animal cages and when we walked out of the event. I understand that they have a right to protest but doing it at the point of exit after the show is kinda silly. Most people just walked by and did not pick up their pamplets.

Almost Back to School....

Kyle has 3 more days of freedom left. We went to the 7th grade orientation at Quimby Oak yesterday. I asked him if he was excited and he said no not really but he wants to go and get started already. We saw quite a few students from Cedar Grove and I think that helped a lot!
This is where his first class will be...he will be with Mr. Fujimoto his 6th grade teacher first period. It is funny that his first class at Quimby is next door to my first class at Quimby! Kinda weird going as a parent-just goes to show how quickly time goes on and that my little boy is growing up! New changes for him are exciting but so nerve racking for me! I will be waiting for the first day information phone call at work on Monday!!!

We bought the PE uniform and lock. We will be working on remembering the lock combo all weekend. Also how to work it!

Last night Clark and I went for our parent orientation....nothing too painful just meeting the principal and asst. principals and a little info about what we have to look forward to for the next 2 years. There are 1000 students at the school so plenty of opportunity to meet new friends. Nice that the boy scout friends and parents are all together-we have never all been at the same school.

Clark and Kyle are off for a boy scout camping 2 nighter and Savannah and I will go with Grandma to see the elephants at the circus tomorrow! Lots of relaxing though because Kyle and I have to be out of the house by 7:15 Monday morning!
Have a Great Weekend!!!

A Day at the Beach!

Savannah watched Jon and Kate plus 8 go to the Beach so she was determined to have us take her. We actually had a free Saturday and when some of her friends were able to go too off to the beach we went.
A Little wet and trying to decide if she wanted more or to just stand by and watch the waves. The water was cold and she noticed the current pulling right away.
WHEE.......Back in to see what happens this time. In the end she was okay with the water. I think she would have more fun if it was the warm water of Hawaii!
Two standing by the ocean. I think Kyle could live at the beach. They are Clark's kids in that they love the water and everything around it.

Taking a rest on Rod's legs after they buried him in the sand. I think this was really more of a hit then the water. Kyle must have buried himself 100 times.
He dug this hole and then asked the girls to cover him up.
I've fallen and I can't get up......actually he was asking for food and water. Funny boy. He looks like a sand creature.
The girls all having a great time. The weather was perfect. Not too hot and a nice breeze. The Boardwalk was PACKED!! Lots of people out on the beach too but it did not seem too crowded.
Kyle went down to the water to make a sand castle with a moat. He liked the west sand better and when the water filled in the bottom moat it was perfect!

We had a great time and I was the only lobster of the day. After we packed up our stuff and returned it to the car we took a walk on the boardwalk so the kids could check out all the stuff. We got vanilla cones and had to gobble them up quickly as they were melting down our arms. We also stopped to watch the salt water taffy pull and get a box for home. Kyle was impressed with the arcade and mini-golf. We will definately be coming back and hopefully, it will not be so crowded and we will enjoy some rides and more fun!

Taiko and Dance Class

Savannah took a summer ballet and tap class. She cried in the first one since the slippery shoes (tap shoes) caused her to fall down, I was there and then banned from coming. We were allowed back to the final class. She did not want to participate again and was more interested in the snacks in my purse. I finally told her to go out and dance or I was leaving to go back to work....she went out and danced but was more interested in posing for other parents cameras and watching to make sure we were watching her!
Hands on your hips and a smile on your lips! Miss Leslie must have said this about 25 times but then again they are 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old!!!
Some Ballet moves by Savannah. She actually learned quite a bit and knows the first 5 positions and their names.
Dancing with streamers was one of all the girls favorites!
More ballet dancing will be in her future if the parks and rec. gods honor our request to continue in class in the fall! I will just once again be banned and Grandma will have to take her and wait for class to be over.

Kyle has been performing with his Taiko group. Here they are in Morgan Hill. This was to welcome the sister city's students that had come to visit from Japan. The BBQ was for the host families and the students. He is the one in the back row with the smaller drum-near the fan.
This is at the opening of the Pearl Ave. library opening. There was hardly any people when they started playing but by the time they were done the place was packed.
My very serious taiko drummer boy. He really needs to practice more but he loves it. His RSP teacher in the front is from Cedar Grove and he is going to miss her next year. She had him from the time he was in first grade and introduced him to Taiko drumming.
Watch out if there are sticks around----Kyle could defend himself and kick some butt!!!
Back to serious face-trying not to mess up......He will be performing again soon and needs to get lots of practice time in before then.This is a nice outside of school activity that Kyle will be able to enjoy for a long time.

Disneyland highlights

My mom was complaining that since I joined Facebook I stopped blogging....not true I just had not uploaded pictures in a long time. If you are on facebook send me a friend request......Clark and Kyle ask me everyday if I made any new friends today! Savannah stopped to say hi to WallE----we did not see the movie but due to the wonderful nonstop Disney Channel watching that she does she knows all about him!
Hugs for Chip and Dale. If you have a Disney Visa card you get a free 5x7 picture taken each day. Sometimes we do it and sometimes we don't...here we got to spend some time hugging the Chipmunks!
Hands Up!Grandma's friend Zach ( a castmember) gives her VIP status into Playhouse Disney. We pick where we want to sit and don't have to wait in line! YAH Zach!We met him when he was a dream giver in the Year of a Million Dreams and talked to him for a long time about his job and how much fun he has. Now we always make a point of at least going over and saying hi to him every trip. He is getting married in December and his girlfriend works in BugsLand!
Savannah was so excited to get this make your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It had bananas, raisins, marshmellows, and jelly.
What more could anyone want but a Mickey Bar!!! Yummy Dark Chocolate and Ice Cream...not as much of a favorite as a Dole Whip but probably number 2 in her book! YUMMO!!!!!

Look who was on his way to make some toys.....Pinnochio's Dad Geppetto! We were making a wish at the Snow White fountain near the castle and he just walked by, no helper either so Geppetto must not have stalkers! HA!And Look at this I made it in a picture...a rare sight!
Finally making a wish with Grandma......wishing to come back every day....Oh wait that is Grandma's wish!
Kyle finally made it to the park and I stayed late with him...here he is running from the Indiana Jones ball!!!! AWWWWWW
Grandma and Savannah helping Buzz Lightyear save the world from Zurg!! Grandma tries to beat Savannah every time since she can score without seeing over the edge of the car!
Dropping by to say hello to our friend Handy Manny, we saw him at the Playhouse Disney show with all his tool friends.

I did not take my camera out too often....I think this means we go too much so a little light on the pics.....but as always we had an awesome time and can't wait to go back.

Elephants?

This morning I decided to eat breakfast on the patio table in the backyard. It is nice and quiet and I get to read my paper while I eat Sunday morning pancakes. (a weekly tradition at our house)

Savannah woke up and wanted to come eat with me. Kyle got her plate ready and out she came. She was very whiny and I think still pretty tired but she started to eat and then everything bothered her. Her pancake was not cut right, she wanted juice instead of milk etc. I finally told her if she was really quiet that we might be able to see some animals while we were eating our pancakes. She asked if a kitty would come and I said probably. She agreed to be quiet.

About a minute later (thank goodness!) Mr. Squirrel decided to hop down the back fence. See, Mommy was right a squirrel came to our backyard, while she was being quiet. Savannah said right away okay if we are still quiet maybe more animals will come. I said yes, what animal do you think we will see next? With bright eyes and excitement "An elephant!" I laughed and said yes, while Mommy said our backyard looks like a jungle we were probably not going to see an elephant today! Savannah laughed too and said "elephants live in a circus or a zoo right Mommy?" Yes was her answer and she asked us to go and feed the elephants at the zoo!

We must really take her soon!!! So watch out for elephants in your backyard!!!!!!