Welcome Baby Sabrina Sophia!

We are so incredibly thrilled to welcome our new niece Sabrina Sophia into the world!   I don't have many details yet, but I understand that delivery was very quick and easy, and she is healthy, and what more could we ask for?   Congratulations Tia Erica and Hassan!   We can't wait to Facetime soon.
My Dad screen grabbed these as they met her at about 1 hour old.  I love that I can see my parents face too- such proud grandparents of FOUR now!  

Happy Birthday Lee Lee!

We've had a great day celebrating with Grandma Lee Lee today.  Happy, Happy Birthday to you Lee!

This site refuses to let me upload the kids birthday song video for some reason, but they sang her the birthday song last night for her to have first thing in the morning.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a great Thanksgiving yesterday.  Jake and Josh went and played a game of touch football with a big group of kids from Jake's school in the morning.  I was, and still am, under the weather, but the kids insisted that we bake THREE pies for Thanksgiving.  So, the girls and I baked and baked all morning.  The pie choices decided on by the kids: pumpkin, apple and chocolate!
My parents hosted Thanksgiving, and put out quite an enormous spread as always.  The kids got such a kick out of playing with little Duke.  He reminds us so much of Jake when he was little, just talking up a storm, especially about anything involving a ball.  Jake and Duke played a whole lot of catch and trash can basketball before dinner. The kids had their own table, and Duke sat too- just too adorable.  

 

 

Our family made a "We are thankful for" pumpkin, as a conversation starter about how fortunate we are.  Here are the ideas the kids came up with for what they are thankful for:  Family, friends, "people who give us hugs", friendly Jake, sweet sissies, amazing grandparents, clean water, parties, great school, our safe home, our backyard, our wonderful town, baby cousins, Coach Dada, clothes, awesome teachers, Mama, creativity, gravity (?) God and food on our table.   Pretty good!

Plays, Cookies and Tie-Dye

Last week Jake made a gingerbread turkey with Nana and Granddad:

 Friday was a brief Thanksgiving celebration in Jake's classroom.  

  On Friday, the San Carlos Youth Theater brought a class to C & A's preschool to perform an updated version of Little Red Riding Hood.   It was very cute, and the girls enjoyed it.

Friday night Jake and I went to see Cousin Rachel's acting debut in Much Ado About Nothing at her high school.  She was incredible!  We had front row seats which kept Jake engaged, even though he couldn't understand what was going on.  

Yesterday the girls and I made tie dye paper towels- great for them to work on using droppers to pinch and push out liquid, and great fun for our rainy day.  

Updates

I'm behind in posting, yet again.

Last weekend Jake went was invited to a friend's party (a girl from his class last year, and he was one of three boys invited).  It was at a bakery, and each child was given a cake, and then they had a quick cake decorating lesson about icing tips and shapes, and techniques.  Jake was super excited to go, and it certainly sounded like an amazing birthday spot that I will most definitely be borrowing for a future party for sure!

 
Yesterday Jake had his final Earthquake's soccer game.

 

The girls decided that they wanted to go on a hike today, and bring their Nature Journals with them.  I was prepared for a five minute walk, but I drove them up too a small little loop hike in our neighborhood anyways, and they actually loved it!  They kept asking when they could do it again, and kept stopping to record things in their journals.  It was such fun for me, as I love to hike, and to be out under the trees for an hour without any whining or crying was both girls was a great afternoon.  We'll most definitely be doing it again soon, and we'll slowly work up to longer distances.  Yeah for nature hikes!

 

 

 Cute picture the girl's teacher sent to me this week of our class of monkeys!

Happy Birthday Tia Erica!

Happy Birthday Tia Erica!   What a year it is going to be for you!   We hope that you have a wonderful, relaxing day of celebrating.

Happy Halloween

I'm a day late, but yesterday and even today have been crazy busy.  But, Happy Halloween!!

The school day started with the all school parade.  Colbie and Addy were included in the parade with their preschool, and they were all set to finally walk in it, but something set Colbie off once we got to the classroom, and she just could not recover.   Addy stayed calm through all of the crowds, but was not interested in walking in the parade without her sister....so, we watched from the sidelines.  Jake did great of course.  He has now been in this parade in the same costume for all of his years at BA, so maybe next year he'll finally be ready for a new costume, lol!    

 

Afterwards, there were two class parties at the exact same time.  I have NO idea how in the world we will make this work next year when there will be three class parties at the same time!!   I went to the preschool, while Josh went to Jake's party.  The preschool party thankfully was very quick, and as soon as most of the parents were gone, Colbie was finally happy again, and apparently had an "extremely good day"!   Jake's party was still going, so I was able to make it to the second half of crafting, Mad Libs and popcorn hand making fun.
Preschool:

 2nd Grade Party:

 

 

 Jake had to enter the pumpkin decorating contest this year, and he won "funniest pumpkin" with this crazy gem of a design.   He drew it on paper beforehand and everything!

Than came trick or treating!   My Dad and Grandpa Bill decided to walk with us this year, while Nana stayed behind and handed out candy at our house (thanks Nana!).   We went out early, and beat much of the crazy crowd thank goodness.  Jake found a buddy of course, and the girls got into the trick or treating pretty quickly.   All kids came home with a bunch of candy, and of course had to sort it all out.   It was quite a day!!!

 

 

Late post:  On the rainy Sunday, we finally carved our pumpkins.  It was all about accessorizing with pipe cleaners this year!