Pirates Game #1

We had our first Pirates soccer game today.  It was pretty impressive to see how much better Jake and all of the U8 kids have improved since last year.  Jake was incredibly aggressive the entire game, right in the middle of the purple team the majority of the time fighting for the ball.  No fear for our little guy, so awesome!   The game ended tied 4-4!

Soccer Season has Begun!

Tonight was Soccerama, which is supposed to be a celebration of all AYSO soccer teams for 4-7 year olds to get them pumped up for the games that start tomorrow.  It was complete chaos to say the least.  Here is Jake with his Team Pirates:

 

  

 

Jake Starts FIRST grade!

Today Jake started first grade!   He was incredibly excited and he didn't seem nervous in the least bit.  We are unfamiliar with his new teacher (with the only rumor around school being that she is quite strict) and only know a few of his new classmates.   We were running a bit late getting all three kids out the door to school, so we didn't even get to go into the classroom.  But, he gave us a hug, shook his new teacher's hand, and into the classroom he went!  What a big boy he is now!

From his teacher on day #1

  Day #2 went great as well.  All of the kids lined up at the door to shake Ms. Chan's hand before they went into the classroom.  She is still learning everyone's names, but she had no problem remembering Jake's name...sure hope that is a good thing!! 

Colbie and Addison Start Preschool

Well...I can't believe that the day has finally arrived when Addison and Colbie start real drop off preschool.   They are going to a preschool actually located on Jake's school campus three days a week this year.   All of last week the girls were telling me that they planned to stay in the car on the first day of preschool, and they would absolutely not be going inside.   We had a whole lot of anxiety building up to this first day, and I barely slept a wink last night due to nerves.   I kept things very happy and easy going this morning (Jake doesn't start school until Wednesday so the normal freak out rush was not necessary thank goodness, as there is no real start time for preschool).  The girls helped me pack their lunches, and by the time we put on shoes, they were both smiling and actually excited to go to school.  Many thanks to my sister and Hassan for coming down to watch Jake for the hour it took for drop off.   So, the girls and I arrived, and they slowly got out of the car, and walked into the school, and right into their new room.   I was expecting some coercing to get through those things, but I was very pleased with how the girls acted.   It wasn't until I actually said that it was time for me to go when the screaming, crying, kicking, complete meltdowns occurred.   Both Addison and Colbie are extremely shy, and very, very slow to warm up to new adults.  So I totally understood how they were unhappy being held by these teachers whom they basically had never met before.  But I ran out of there and jumped in my car and sat there for a minute listening to the horrendous and oh so familiar sound of their cries.   Moments later I heard them outside, up next to the exit gate, banging on the gate screaming that they wanted Mama.   Thank goodness a teacher reached the door before they got there, or they would have run right out into the parking lot and found me waiting in my car.   I didn't know what to do, so I sat there and just waited, expecting the crying to stop quickly.   Well...the crying went on for 35 minutes.   It was obvious that the teachers opted to just give them their space outside, as they had to carry on with circle time and welcoming all of the other children to their new school inside.   I was all for this decision, as the more you try to calm my girls down, the worse they tend to get.   After the 35 minutes of agony (yes, I sat there endlessly wondering if I had made the right call putting the girls here...mommy guilt is truly one of the worst parts of motherhood), the rest of the kids came outside for playtime, and low and behold, the crying stopped.   I drove away at that point, only hoping that the girls would start engaging with the teachers. 
I got home to Jake, and initially had a really hard time trying to give him my undivided attention, as I was just waiting for the school to call.  But they didn't, so Jake and I had a very rare two hours of basketball at the park, and then a lunch date.   I was sick to my stomach when I pulled up to their school for pick up, expecting evil looks from the teachers.  But I pulled up and saw both Addison and Colbie following one of the teachers around their little garden watering the plants, and picking fresh tomatoes...no tears, no worried faces.    WOW!!!!!!!  Yes as I walked in, I did get many sympathetic looks from the teachers, BUT, two of them came right up and told me how great the girls did.  One teacher in particular seems to have really stuck with A & C most of the morning, and went on and on about how "chatty" the girls were at circle time, showing everyone everything that they had in their backpacks and lunchboxes, and telling the other kids all about their big brother Jake.   I was STUNNED to hear this, as then tend to be mute most of the time with me when strangers speak to them.   This teacher went on to reassure me that our girls are extremely independent and totally capable of being at school without any issues at all.   I wanted to hug this woman so badly.  I really, REALLY hope that she is right, and that school can only get easier and easier from here on out.   Phew...what a day!!

Circus and Block Party

Yesterday we decided to have one last hurrah of summer and take the kids to the circus.  The girls have been asking to go to one for months give the many circus books that we read, so we gave it a try.  In hindsight, it was probably a year too early for A & C, as their attention space in pretty much 45 minutes at the absolute max, and the show in nearly 2.5 hours long.   We arrived early for the pre-show where we got to see some of the clowns and acts up close, which was definitely one of the highlights of the day.   Overall, the updated circus has many less animal acts, given the attention they have received around animal cruelty.  Instead, there are more x-games type "extreme" stunts, with bmx bikes, glow in the day trapeze artists, lots of tumbling and only a small show of elephants, tigers and camels.  

 

 

 

Later yesterday afternoon was our neighborhood annual block party.  We haven't been able to attend the past few years as it always falls on my Mom's birthday weekend.  But given that she is out of town, we actually attended and met many, many new friendly faces!  It was such fun for the kids all to get to know each other too.  The ladies organized an awesome taco truck to park itself on our street for two hours, and there was a jump house, and other kids games.  I was really impressed with how well it went.  Love the place we live!

Happy Birthday Nana!

We wish you a very happy birthday Nana!!!!   We know that you're celebrating in an extra special way today.   We look forward to celebrating when you return home.    We love you!

When You're Stuck in an Airport for 5 hours..

After five hours in the Maui airport, what do we do to keep entertained?  I put all three kids into this crazy photo booth to get some laughs:

Last Maui Post

The last few days in Maui felt like real relaxation as we all finally settled in.  Sleeping was always questionable, as the kids would start out in one bed, and by the end of the night, usually end up in our large bed....five in a bed is very, very tight!!!   We all woke up early and either Josh or I would head out for a workout, while the other hung with the kids.  We usually took the kids out to the beach as early as 7am, as it's already warm, and there is no one out yet, so it's perfect for sea shell hunting and rock throwing.  We even brought our arts and crafts out too some mornings.  The flight home was a very long day, as we arrived at the airport three hours early, only to find out that our flight was three hours delayed, so while we left the hotel at 8am, we didn't get home to our beds until 2am the next morning.  AMAZINGLY, the kids were incredibly patient and well behaved for the entire day though.  I kept them busy with endless running up and down the airport hallways or checking out the airplanes.  The girls slept for 1.5 hours at the start of the flight as they had missed their nap times, and then they were ok coloring, reading, etc for the remainder of the time thank goodness.   So, we're now back to reality getting prepped for school to start for all of the kids next week.   It was a great trip though, and the kids keep asking when we're going back, so we'll see.....

here are the last random pics that I had to post to capture in our printed blog book at the end of the year.

  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALOHA MAUI!!!