Reenacting the Sound of Music

Alexa has been two wheeling it everywhere she can.  Every single day that we go to the bus stop to pick up Emma, she insists on riding her bike there and back.  Every chance she gets, she pops on her helmet and scoots on her bike.  So we finally decided to get a bike trailer so that Arturo could take all the girls out on more extended bike rides instead of just around the neighborhood.

That was 3 weeks ago.  And since then, he has been out with all the girls every single weekend - biking all around.  He and the girls have discovered new playgrounds in our neighborhood and have worked on their endurance as the rides have gotten longer. 

This past Sunday when it was 70 and sunny, all 5 of us put on our helmets (Tessa LOVES her helmet!) got on our bikes, and rode the 2 miles down to the local ice cream shop.  We all got cones (except for Tessa, who got to have as much as she wanted of the four flavors) and then rode back home.  Heaven!

Here are pictures from our first test ride with Tessa a few weeks back.

The Shirt Says it all

Oh how I love this kid!

Upping the Ante

In our family, I am not too proud to admit that my pancakes are legendary.  My kids love my pancakes.  One weekend when my parents were here visiting, they offered to take the girls out for a weekend breakfast.  Both declined, saying they wanted Mom's pancakes instead!  (My heart swells)

Well, in the last few months, Arturo and I have had a weekend tradition of letting each other sleep in.  Arturo takes the "early" shift - waking up with Tessa and then with the big girls.  Once I'm awake (usually around 8:30) he then finishes breakfast and goes back for a morning nap.  This way, we both try to catch up on a little sleep over the weekend.

Imagine my surprise, when two weekends ago, I came downstairs to see my three kids gnoshing on... HOMEMADE PANCAKES.  Arturo was standing over the stovetop flipping pancakes, and all three girls were quietly munching.  And on top of that, Arturo made them this, freestyle:

To add insult to injury, this past Saturday I woke up to him making them chocolate chip pancakes!!!

Game On, I say.

Star of the Week

So the first week of school was crazy.  We had, well, the first day of school for both girls, Tessa's birthdya day, Emma's birthday day, plus Arturo's dad here to visit.  Boy was I thrilled to get a note in Emma's backpack informing us that Emma had been selected to be the VERY FIRST Star of the Week in her classroom.  On the Monday after the birthday parties and all that, I was to have Emma finish her Star Poster and bring it into school.  No, not busy at all!

We got it done (this is a task I firmly believe in the kids doing themselves - she chose the pictures and wrote the captions and her likes/dislikes herself) and I think it even came out nice!

It's in the eyes

My dad took control of my camera on the day of the parties, snapping a lot of pictures (many of them great!).  As I was sifting through the pictures on the computer after the party, I came across a whole bunch, just of little Tessa.  They are unconventional - up close views of her eyes and her feet.  I actually love these pictures - they really capture Tessa in a serious, contemplative mood - but those eyes, I love those eyes!  Thanks Dad!!

At the park with Abio

Arturo's dad was able to visit us for a long weekend and he spent a lot of time with the girls.  The weather was really nice, so they spent a lot of time outside!  One day, he took Alexa to the playground... he took lots of pictures of her!

Happy Birthday, Emipileki!

For Emma's 7th Birthday party, we decided to have a Hawaiian Luau, complete with Hula lessons.  (The party day was the same as Tessa's small gathering - so double header!)

Here's Emma, decked out in all her Hawaiian gear.  (I got each guest a hula outfit)

Elo came and danced for the girls.  She did such a wonderful job.  First she did a dance for the girls (who were absolutely transfixed - each one of them had their jaws to the ground) and then she had them stand up and she taught them all how to dance and what the different movements mean.

Then, one outfit change later (!) she brought out a bunch of native Hawaiin instruments, demonstrated them and gave each girl a chance to try out their favorite instrument.  Here's Emipileki with the sticks.

 And Sydney with another one (can't remember name)

I made cupcakes, in the form of a Hula girl.  They came out really cute, I think!

As part of a craft that the girls did at the beginning of the party, they glued little colored shells on top of a carboard jewelry box and got to take that home.

Tessa - 1 year celebration

Rather than a full blow out party for her first birthday, we decided to have just a small gathering to commemorate Tessa's first year.

The sweet tooth runs strong in our family!

Emma's 7th Birthday Day

Is Emma really 7 already?  It's so hard to believe!  On her birthday day, we gave her presents from the family to open.  Here she is with the bag of Smencils and Science Experiments Book that Chowie and Emily got for her.  She loves it!

I made iced sugar cookies for Emma's birthday celebration in school:

Happy First Birthday Tessa!!!

Happy Birthday Tessa!  We can't believe you are actually 1 year old... what a beautiful, happy little girl you are!  We love you!

Here is a picture of Tessa at 1, with a picture from the day of her birth.

She loves it when we sing happy birthday to her, the little ham...

Tessa, as usual, made a mess of dinner.  Usually the outfit she started dinner with is covered with crumbs, smeared fruit, and milk by the end of the meal.  If it is not salvageable, Arturo just takes it off of her.  This is what happened the night of her birthday.  So we just grabbed the kitchen dish towel and wrapped it around her - voila!