Went to the store on Saturday and for some reason they had free face painting. The line was not too long so we waited. The kids were so excited and it actually made the shopping trip so much nicer for everyone!
Lightning bolt in case you wondered.
Rockin' Reader Award for three months of reading well!
Matthew and his friends ready to sing at his promotion.
Getting his Kindergarten completion certificate.
He did it! He passed Kindergarten with flying colors. Now only 12 more years of school and that doesn't even count college!
Matthew and his two fabulous Kindergarten teachers. We will miss them next year. After their promotion ceremony there was this wonderful BBQ for all the families by the Kindergarten classrooms.
My brother-in-law turned 40 so we went up for his birthday party. While there we thought we would drive up to the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park which is close to her house. There was fresh snow on the ground up there and we had so much fun. I really love to travel. I actually always feel like I am a better mom when I travel. We are happy, have many new adventures, learn so much, and are carefree. The kids really are great travelers too.
Here we are next to the biggest tree in the world: General Sherman. It is not the tallest or widest but it is the biggest in mass. Pretty cool!
I'm on top of the world!
Wow that is one big tree!
The family picture with the biggest tree in the world in the background!
This is one of there favorite places we went to.
Ian and Matthew cut down this tree. For reals!
This is their new home now. Newly renovated!
Ian took this picture. Pretty good for a three year old!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Matthew wanted to touch the top of the rock cave...
So naturally Ian needs to touch the top of the rock cave also!
Matthew looking out for his baby sister!
The kids loved the hotel room! Ian asked if it was our new home and then stated that he wish it was. They ran around flipping on every light switch and then rolled around on the bed.
They cried the next day when it was time to leave. They did not want to leave the hotel room! They wanted to play hide and seek in the small room too before we left. Too funny!
Matthew was chosen for student of the month for the month of May! Way to go Matthew!
Cute picture. I think I have to already watch out for these girls!
They had a lot going on that day at the beach! Behind here they were reading the names of fallen people during the line of duty and ringing a bell after each name. There was also a TLC channel van giving out free ice cream. The lifeguard station was also having an open house. Lots of fun for the whole day!
Calista's first encounter with sand. She was intrigued. I have never had a child until now that actually sat and played with a shovel and bucket before the age of one!
Burying Eric in the sand. The yellow towel at the bottom of the picture is Eric's head. The boys were a little too enthusiastic with the burying and let's just say Eric had a special crunch in his mouth the rest of the morning.
Grandma and the baby
We sat her on top of Eric and he would move the sand up and down. She was confused on why she kept moving up and down.
Matthew so cute in the sand! Papa wrote "RIP"!
Ian was very concerned about getting sand in his face.
They made him into a Batman!
They love to dig a hole next to the water every time we go to the beach.
Calista LOVES water of any kind! She leaps into freezing swimming pools and runs into the waves at the beach!
Lifeguard station had an open house so you can look at tools they use to save people! Ian loved the row boats and knew exactly how to row without any instruction. A natural at rowing!
Ian loved the wave runner also. Matthew is practicing poses for the lifeguard calendar he will be in when he gets older!
Get out of the water!
Ian is chillin' in this picture!
They had these towers that blew snow. The kids loved running around in the "snow".
Disney knows how to do it! They have this cross country train tour for their upcoming movie A Christmas Carol. They have this train decked out with movie stuff. You go through the train and each car has something new from the movie. It shows how they made the movie and had Dicken's things from the museum in London. There are interactive games too. Lots of fun and the kids loved it! At the end there is a theater that shows two full scenes from the movie in 3D.
While waiting in line they had these jugglers that were funny, Christmas carolers decked out in the full costume, and booths for card making and tattoo fun!
This guy was on stilts and juggled these glass balls. Reminded me of Labyrinth... only the greatest movie ever made!!!!
Bah humbug! This is actually Jim Carey playing scrooge (the picture, not the person, although I can get pretty grumpy sometimes).
They had these televisions as pictures on the wall. The scenes would change or they would show the making of on them. Really cool. The official Dicken artifacts are in those glass cases.
Blends in well, doesn't he?
Shows the dot suits and cameras used to film. The kids loved this part!
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose....
Merry Christmas to all!