Easter Festivities

Easter this year was pretty typical. We dyed eggs and used them to make deviled eggs. The Easter Bunny came and brought Easter baskets. We went to church and I sang in the choir for sacrament meeting. I have forgotten how many pieces we did, maybe 5. I thought we did really well. After church we took some pictures and prepped for lunch. Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Aldo came over as well as Candy Grandma, Uncle Bruce, Aunt April, and Chase. We had an egg hunt for the kids and then the kids hid the eggs for the adults. Ours had lottery tickets in them. I got the idea from Aunt April from last year. Jake and I happened to win $1 less than we paid to buy the tickets. I think Chase won another ticket as well. It was a fun time with family and I'm glad we have some around :)

She's In Kindergarten!

Shyla, you have finally finished your third year of preschool. You started in Tiny Town when you were only 2 (almost 3). The only criteria needed was you had to be potty trained, able to handle the academics and be 3 1/2. Since you potty trained early, the teacher let you start the program early. Boy was she surprised at how smart you were. I'm not sure where you get your memory from, but it's photographic and great. In your last year there, only a couple weeks into class you would line up the pile of names tags and read them to me. You'd not only hand them to each child as they walked up to the door, but also tell me which parent belonged to which child. Some of the names were difficult for even me. You memorized them very well. Your buddy this last year was Aminah and you loved her so much. She was happy to have you as he buddy too. She made you the cool necklace for your graduation. You can already read several books, sound out almost all your blending flashcards, you're writing and spelling on your own. You never cease to amaze me! You also amazed your teachers when you were in the Building Blocks Preschool at the water park across the street from Tiny Town. The one you always refer to (and Jacob) and "the one with the blue roof". Remember Miss Tracy (Rising Star) and Miss Nicole (Building Blocks)? Do you remember learning to count in Chinese with Miss Jacqueline (Building Blocks)? You had so much fun these last few years in preschool and from what you tell me you're "super excited" to start kindergarten. You'll be starting in 2 months. It'll be here before you know it. Always keep learning and growing and using your extra smartness to your potential. It will help you go far in life! We love you Shyla and are so happy (and sad) to see you go off to Kindergarten. I've had you home with me for 5 1/2 years, but now it's the start of you developing and growing and becoming who God intended you to be. Go get 'em girl!

Jelly Belly Factory and Dance Like A Pop Star

March 30, 2012- Went with some friends to the Jelly Belly Factory. It was a sugary fun time. We got to take a tour of the factory, but the planning on the planning persons behalf (not I) didn't see that the Easter bunny was only there on Saturday's, and we went on a Friday, and there was no factory production going on, so we didn't get to see the factory in action. It was still a lot of fun and the kids wouldn't have known the difference. Okay, they would have known if we told them, but thankfully I hadn't mentioned it. I've been to the Jelly Belly Factory before, but it's been a lot of years. I can't even remember when the last time was. After the tour and picking out some jelly bellys to take home (we brought home I think about 15+ lbs of belly flops, some for our parents, sugarfree ones for my dad, and some for a friend who was teaching a class for us at our house later that night.) we ate carmel apples! 

L to R: Gabriel, Malachi, Cheyanne, Shyla, Jacob
Below: Always so happy to take a picture :)

Jacob wasn't in a good mood when we went outside to get lunches out of the vehicles. Here Jake is trying to cheer him up with rolling him back into the building. It worked... eventually!

Shyla and her friend Lecia took a dance class together called Dance Like A Pop Star. They both have trouble keeping quiet, but they did enjoy the class. Saturday, March 3, 2012 was their recital. They did great! Lecia's mom Terry made the skirts for Shyla and Lecia. She's a very talented seamstress. Shyla still wears hers and like to hang it in her room with her purses.

After the show. The girls are so proud of themselves.

The next couple pictures were taken at the Antioch Marina just outside the El Campanil Theatre where the recital took place. I couldn't decide which one I liked better. When Shyla wants to be, she's very photogenic. Although, on the flipside, when she's not in the mood, no matter how hard you try, you won't get a single good shot. 

Watch out road!  After the recital we took the girls out for ice cream. They thought they were going to be driving home.

Shyla was so proud of her work. This was on March 10, 2012. She came upstairs and was so proud that she made her, Jacob, and Malachi breakfast burritos. I like to make them, but it usually has eggs, potatoes, cheese, etc in it. These just had cheese. She made quite the mess that the camera doesn't give justice. She only came upstairs to tell us because she said she needed help with the microwave. That girl has got to stop watching my every move. But I love her all the more for it. Her independence is unreal. I've heard it from lots of people from the time she was walking (about 10 months) that she's very independent. I even had a coworker ask for tips on how to get her daughter to be more independent. I must be doing something right!

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

Bike Races

Back in January we had some good weather and decided it was time for bikes races. Grandpa didn't want to race with us so he hung around helping in the yard and trying to see what we can do about our storm drain that is clogged. 

Fleet Week 10/9/12

So once again we went out for Fleet Week only to be disappointed. Third year in a row. The first year we got to see the Canadian Snowbirds, last year they didn't fly on Saturday, the day we were going, only Sunday, and this year they flew before they were scheduled to and we were in a restaurant eating lunch. They were supposed to fly at 1pm and at 12:50 we heard a LOUD flyby of the planes. We just figured they were practicing or something. Nope. Jake was able to run out a snap a few shots and just like that... they were gone! Only the first 2 pictures are of the Blue Angels.

Real birds... flying in formation!

I love this shot that was taken as the planes fly over Alcatraz. 

This is my favorite shot I got. It's hard to tell, but this is the exact moment when 2 planes passed REALLY close to each other. You can sort of make out the tail end of the second plane if you look hard enough. I seriously am going to enlarge and print this to hang up. 

For some reason the sea lions randomly left the pier. It's been on the news lately. Only a few remain. As suspiciously as they appeared, they are gone. Perhaps they will reappear, but for now, most are gone. The rest of the docks were empty. 

The rest of the airshow was nice though so it wasn't a total disappointment. The fog rolled in in the afternoon as usual. You'd think with that happening every year that they'd start a little sooner! The kids had fun, we had fun, Candy Grandma and Grandpa Nonno had fun. It was a great day and other than some wind, gorgeous weather.