The STAGE!

1 hour of waiting, a small snack in the belly, 8 three year olds were being kept in a room with 50 or so other girls (older and more patient), all of them being told "Don't mess up your hair, don't roll on the ground, don't touch her head band, don't scream etc. etc. etc., " all of them on the verge of shear meltdown, until they were finally called to the stage waiting area! This is where the meltdowns did ensue, some screaming, "I want to dance!" "I don't want to go without you Mommy!" "I want to go now", just some of the things that were being said seconds before they got all lined up on stage. These poor little girls have no idea what to expect, have no clue what a stage even is, but all managed to perform their little hearts out - maybe not the exact choreography that they were taught, but they performed!!
Sarah absolutely LOVED being on stage, she did NOT want to get off!
I know she tried her hardest, she kept moving and twirling to the point where we thought she might twirl off stage - she sure gave it her all!



Headed to the recital!

Just lined up on stage!
Getting ready for the Tinkerbell ballet debut!
Jakob did his part in the recital - he was a "walker" for the bridal party dancers - he walked a couple little girls out to the wedding march - you should have heard the crowd sigh! So CUTE!

I know this is a blurry picture, but that kid was moving so fast, I couldn't capture his face!

Just a few more quick videos! Enjoy Mom!

Ballet

Sarah had a dress rehearsal for her upcoming recital on Tuesday night. It was great to see all the little ones in their fairy costumes, but the pressure of performing in front of all of us, may be a bit much for Sarah! Hoping she doesn't have a meltdown on Tuesday! I know she really enjoys the class, performing on stage is a whole other obstacle, maybe her class clown personality will shine?!

Getting warmed up
Mrs. Laura, gathering up the fairies


The 2 minute attention span is in effect!
And she's done!

And we officially have a BIG boy!

Today was kindergarten promotion or graduation. I don't remember such an event from my childhood and I kind of think it is a bit overboard, since aren't kids expected to graduate from each grade? Do we need a celebration for things that are expected? I don't know, maybe I'm a bit old fashioned, but deep down I really did enjoy seeing my boy sing (even if it was SO painful for him to sing and be on stage), and just get recognized for his achievements. Like his principal pointed out, "Kids these days have it very different than when we were in kindergarten", they are reading, doing addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, science - seriously at ages 5 and 6! So, I guess that, YES I do want Jakob to feel like he did something special because all I remember doing in kindergarten is playing in the sandbox, chasing boys, playing house and taking a nap - probably didn't need a big celebration for that!

The Graduate
The Pledge of Allegiance
Proud Parents
Proud Grandparents
Proud Gramma
Kindergarten gang!
Oh and miss Sarah, doing her Sarah thing - Hide and Seek and just being goofy!! She said tonight that her favorite part of the day was hearing Jakob sing the "Alligator song" at his "gradumation".

Our Strongest Man

I know he doesn't think he's the strongest man right now, but he is to us! He ran 17 miles until both his knees locked up and still finished the marathon! Seriously, I think most would have given up. He's a man of his word, if he's going to do it, he will - some how! He's a great example to his kiddos, who were so worried about him when he wasn't at the finish line with his projected time, Jakob was teary eyed, thinking that Mark was taken to the hospital or "got lost", then thru the sea of people, came Mark- Jakob just stood frozen with a grin from ear to ear! Jakob made him a special medal - you can see it in the picture (white cardboard with yellow twisty ties/ribbon).


Not the best picture - Sarah is being Sarah in her stroller, and their are port a potties in the background, but at this point it was survival for all of us!


Congrats Mark, you rock!

Happy Mommies Day!

Had a nice Mother's day weekend, full of love, torment and more love from the kids!

Friday night, Mark had a great impromtu idea to hike at Torrey Pines to watch the sunset, unfortunately it was foggy, but it was fun to walk on the beach and hike up the hill, the kids thought it was exciting to eat their dinner in the car too (too cold outside).

Spent Saturday afternoon at the Wild Animal Park, the highlight was definitely the butterfly exhibit!
There were the most beautiful butterflies flying all around us, totally amazing!

Took this picture of a baby elephant nursing, too cute!
The kids feeding the deer. I didn't have any quarters for the food and this nice man gave us quarters - the kids were thrilled!

Woke up on Mother's Day to Jakob tiptoeing in the bedroom to Mark, "Daddy can you help me make coffee for Mommy?" How much do I love this kid!

He and Sarah made me the cutest gifts - here is one of my favorites:

P.S. Mark gave me the cutest shoes! He knows the way to my heart! Oh and at the end of the night, the kids and Daddy made chocolate covered strawberries - WOAH, I am seriously spoiled today!

Happy Mother's Day to all those that work so hard raising little ones, caring for big ones and loving us thru it all!
Hope you were all spoiled today too!

Beach weekend

We had such a nice weekend and took full advantage of it - beach on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. We have sun burns, sand in the house and lots of dirty towels - it was so worth it!

Jakob did some real body boarding with some REAL crashes and had a great time today in the water - 3 hours or so - jumping and running in the waves - I don't know how kids can stay so warm! Sarah had her try at the body board too, but liked standing on it better, she also enjoyed jumping in the waves and had a couple good crashes herself!



W

Spring!

Spring is here, and it's finally warm again in Southern California - well kind of - it actually rained today (on Easter) but it was warm!

Mark ran his first 1/2 marathon last weekend - I took the kids to the beach - we cheered him on from afar! Truth is, to get the kids up and out early enough to see him run is impossible!

Anyway here is proof that Mark ran his tail off - great job Daddy O, we are so proud of your hard work! What a great example you are for our kiddos!

Here is what the kids were doing to cheer you on - there own hard work - a little corn doggin' down a sandy hill!

We celebrated Easter with a very fun filled weekend - ballet class, followed by an Easter Egg hunt, egg dying, a kindergarten party at Pump it Up, and dinner/drinks at Stone Brewery - that was just Saturday! I just have to add in, one of my favorite things from Saturday is walking in the door and seeing the kids hanging all over their Uncle Jeff - he had them laughing so hard, we were laughing too - so cute! Thanks Jeff, what a great Uncle!
We spent Easter Sunday having a late breakfast, lazy morning in front of the TV, watching a nature movie with my family, then headed to dinner with Mark's side of the family. We haven't had this much family fun on Easter in I don't know how long! What a great weekend - minus one tiny detail - Sarah threw up on Saturday night (1 a.m.) - I think that cured her of wanting to eat all her candy at one time - not sure if this was the cause of it, but it did teach her this lesson!
So, needless to say we are hurting for some sleep right about now!

Here's Sarah searching for some eggs, she was so funny, running super fast into the field only to realize the eggs were all around her. I thought she was going to fall over face first here after she stopped dead in her tracks to grab an egg!

Dying eggs!
The whole family getting in on the egg dying fun!
Easter morning loot!



And just a little p.s.
I just read that "Easter" was originally a celebration of spring or fertility, where eggs were dedicated to "Eastre" the goddess of fertility - and I would say that our "Easter" was a great celebration of family and our own line of life or fertility - Thanks family!