What, it's not Tuesday?

It has been and is going to be a crazy, crazy week... Our trash gets picked up on Wednesday mornings and on Monday night, I rolled the trash can out to the street.  Sho asked why I was taking out the trash a day early.  Only then did I realize it was only Monday! 

It's deja vu because it's October and Clay's Fall Festival is rapidly approaching and Kara is on crutches!  At least nothing's broken this time. 

We have a painter starting Friday and we still have not found the right paint colors.

But even though it's been really busy and I have stress tension in my shoulders like I've never had before, I have to take a moment to share some highlights...

Sho and I celebrated our 10th anniversary last Thursday.  I was out of town for work the days before and we both had meetings to attend on Thursday night, but on Friday night, Sho surprised me and made us an incredibly delicious, very thoughtful meal... The meal consisted of some of our favorite dishes from various places and restaurants we've visited in our years of marriage.  I rarely write about us on this blog, but I just had to share how incredibly touched I was when I saw this menu and how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband...

On Saturday morning, it was back to the routine... three soccer games!  Kara and Ben's teams are both doing really well and the kids themselves are giving us lots to cheer about.  It's been fun.  Hopefully Kara's foot is healed soon so she can be back on the field.

In preparation for our move to the Academy house, Grandpa is putting cement down the driveway.  Even though it meant having the kids be late to school for the first time ever, we thought it was worth it to mark this day permanently.

The kids got to put their handprints in the cement, something I've never done, but Sho and I both agreed that it was an opportunity we could not pass up.

So now we will always have this reminder of how little they were once upon a time... 

Goal!!!!!!

Today started our 10-week string of soccer Saturdays.  Kara and Ben were both excited for their first games.

Kara had a rough season last year... I don't think they won a single game.  But this season looks to be much more exciting!  Last year, Kara primarily played the position of defender, but Coach Javier thinks Kara has good skills and encouraged her to be a forward.

Ben played goalie and I think he found his calling.  He stopped three balls, did great throw-ins and he doesn't have to run!  All he needs now is a big tree to provide shade and he'll be all set.

Even Jason got into the spirit and wore Ben's old uniform to the game, just to be like the big kids.  Jason patiently sat through three soccer games... because after Kara's game, I found out she had a second game and we ended up being at the soccer field for four straight hours!

And good thing... because in her second game, Kara scored her first goal!!!  And with her left foot, I might add... only because she does when she tells the story.

Though they technically don't keep score (though everyone parent does), Kara's team won both their games.

Not a bad way to start the season!

Can I Stay With You?

This morning I told Jason that he was going back to preschool today and he replied, "but can I stay with you?"  Fortunately, he went to school without any drama or tears.

He's definitely growing up... when I asked him to stand with Kara and Ben for his first day of school picture, he insisted on posing with his hand on his hip.

Jason's teachers from last year commented on how much he's grown and how big he looks now... His new teacher confirmed that he is very talkative.  This is Jason's post-school picture after his outside play time and drinks at the water fountain.  He used to need a step stool, but today I saw him on his tippy toes getting water "all by myself".

At bedtime, Jason came and asked if he could sleep with me... I told him he was such a big boy and asked why he needs sleep in my room.  He quickly replied in his little voice, "because I your baby."  I'm already wondering how much of an emotional mess I'll be when it's his time for kindergarten.

Let's Go To School!

On the first day of school, there was no need for an alarm clock... for anyone.  Kara woke us up at 6:10am, fully dressed, even with her tennis shoes on.  Ben followed at 6:45am with his clothes and backpack on asking, "is it time to go to school?"

Since they were up so early, there was plenty of time to have breakfast and even practice the piano before we made the short drive down the street.

We stayed until the school-wide morning announcements and flag salute were done and watched the kids head on to their classrooms... Some kindergarteners looked a little nervous or sad, but Ben was all smiles.

Both kids said the best part of the day was seeing their friends and both seem very excited for the upcoming year.
    

I'm sure there will be many more celebratory root beer floats and smiles throughout the school year.  Next root beer float is tomorrow for Mommy... Jason goes back to preschool!

Last Hurrah

School starts tomorrow, but before summer is officially over, we were lucky to get together with the Zarates one last time for a family play date. 

The kids rode around on their vehicles... and since the peach trees surrounding the house got pulled out, there is a lot of open road!

And though it was getting a little late and close to bath and bed time, we could not resist one last shave ice before summer comes to an end. 

Don't get me wrong, shave ice is always in season for our family.  And who can say no to those faces??

Everything is Awesome!

We found out that Lego enthusiasts would be gathering in Santa Clara today to showcase their creations and since we have some Lego-lovers of our own, we made a quick trip to check it out!

We all enjoyed walking around the convention center to see all of the Lego creations.

Some of the displays were things the kids recognized immediately and it was fun to see them made of Legos...

Some were winners in our book because they used so many of the clear Legos...

And some were just amazing because of their size and detail and we cannot even fathom how long it took to create and how they were even able to be transported!

It was a really fun experience.  Before we left, I asked Ben what he liked best and in The Lego Movie-fashion, he replied, "everything is awesome!"

And though we wanted to hurry home to get back to Jason (and make sure Grandma was still standing), the kids enjoyed a sweet treat with Uncle Ross before our trip home.

The kids could not wait to get home to play with their newly acquired Lego minifigures.  We were excited to find Padme, Princess Leia and the Ninjago guys sold solo.  Now we don't have to buy the $400 Death Star!  Everything IS awesome!

Little Treasures

Jason woke up this morning and I greeted him with "Happy Birthday, Jason!" to which he replied, "Happy Birthday, Mommy!"

The morning got off to a good start.  Jason watched his favorite show, Octonauts.  Since I still had to frost our little Octonauts cake, Jason got to lick the cream cheese frosting from the beaters.

And then it was some cake for breakfast before we headed out to Chuck E. Cheese.  As we sat around the table eating cake, Jason asked, "you like my birthday cake?" and when we said that we did, he reminded us "it's not Ben's cake, it's not Mommy's cake, it's not Daddy's cake, it's not Grandma's cake, it's not Kara's cake... it's my cake."

Jason could not wait for his birthday because he had been promised he could race cars to his heart's content.

I don't know who likes Chuck E. Cheese more...

The Arakawa family joined us to celebrate.  We sat at the table to start lunch and Jason asked, "where's my birthday hat?" and had Sho get it from the car.  The funniest part is that as Andrea and I were sorting things for Saturday morning's rummage sale, she found a donated Chuck E. Cheese birthday crown and insisted I bring it home to Jason.  What they say is true, one person's junk is another person's treasure!

And after a busy morning, our big boy reminded us that he is still our little baby.  Happy 3rd Birthday to our little Jason.