Back to School

On August 20th, Kara officially started school as a kindergartener!  She wanted to ride the bus, even though she's the first stop and has an almost forty minute ride.  On the first day, we followed the bus to school, just to make sure she was okay.  And every day since, she's been happy to ride the bus to and from school.

Friday was the annual back to school field trip to Roller Towne, which I haven't been to since I was in grade school.  Though Kara has never skated, she was a trooper and was out on the rink learning to skate.

Kara had fun hanging out with her new best buddy, Kiara.  Kara said, "it's like we're sisters, but I have straight hair and she has curly hair."  

Before Ben and the Reedley school district went back to school, we went to Storyland with the Arakawas.  I've told Kara that Andrea and I went to kindergarten together and have been friends since we were her age... It's wonderful to know that our kids will be able to say the same.. 

Today was Ben's first day back at school... he was eager to go back to see his friends and teachers.  He immediately ran to the fish tank and playground, his two faves.

Ben graduated to a new room with new teachers.  Some of his friends from last year are in his class again, so I know it will be a great year for Ben!

Jason had a graduation of sorts as well... he's now facing forward in the car!  He looks like such a big boy, especially when you look over your shoulder and see that big smile with those big teeth!

We Love Pajaro!

Sho and I remember vacations at Pajaro when we were little kids and it's so much fun to see our kids enjoying it too!  There's always something for them to do and at the same time, so relaxing...

In the morning, Kara and Ben wake up early and head out to the beach to look for little treasures.

We go for walks...

Kara continued with her hula-hooping and really came a long way in a couple of days.  She is definitely the best hula-hooper in the family... hands down.

The kids love just running in the waves.  And even though I ask them not to get wet when the water is so cold, it's way more fun to get wet!  

They play and build things in the sand.

They climb trees... even in flip flops.

We take a lot of pictures.  Thank goodness for digital cameras.



We practice our skills...

We take time for the simple joys in life...

And we just enjoy being together.  Can they just stay little forever?

A Day with the Uncles

While in San Francisco, we got to spend a day with Uncle Gregg and Uncle Bill.  The older kids took a ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito and though it was a little chilly, they had a great time.

At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, there was so much for them to do!  

Kara was obsessed with the hula hoops and though we could tear her away to go see some of the other attractions, she always gravitated back to the hoops.

Jason also loved the hula hoops because he found that they can be greater stabilizers when a little boy is trying to walk so fast!

Uncle Bill made us a great lunch which we enjoyed while looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge.  And since Uncle Bill works for the Golden Gate Bridge, we now know why it's called the Golden Gate Bridge even though it's not gold.  What other 3 and 5 year olds know that??

Or have climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge for that matter?

It's All About Jason

We gathered the family in San Francisco to celebrate Jason's first birthday!  At one year exactly, he's walking very fast, climbing on anything he can, pulling on most any power cord or roll of toilet paper, eating  anything in front of him and sleeping through the night (yeah!!!)

Jason could not keep his eyes off the cake and with his long torso, he reached across his tray to get a taste of the frosting.

Since we wanted to enjoy the cake too, Jason was more than happy to have his first gourmet cupcake.

This morning, on his birthday, Jason was happy to find veggie straws, his own set of utensils and that his birthday balloon from three days ago is still afloat!

Our good eater had gyoza as part of dinner... and happily shared with Ben, who is practicing for the gyoza-eating competition with the Dea boys!

With two winter babies, I always told Sho it would be cool to have a summer baby and have a shave ice truck as part of the party.  Bingo!  And yes, we've definitley made good use of our 99 cent candle :)

Yeah for Jason!  



I've been wondering how Jason can manage to have so much energy for all of this celebrating... A-ha!  Like father, like son.

Our baby is growing up...