While Daddy is gone

The beginning of this week was enjoyable. Josiah had picked apples at Bita's house last weekend and we were looking forward to making applesauce. There were alot of apples. It took us all day with Josiah at the crank of the apple peeler-corer-slicer. We had enough to make a pie as well. We need a project when Daddy's gone as we all go a little crazy! The end of the week has not been so great. The flu has overtaken the household and while I care for puking kids the day drags on. Disinfecting for hours has become my most recent pasttime. :0/

Brianne turns 9!

What? I have a nine year old? How did that happen? We celebrated early on a Saturday night with the Wylies. I made an ultimate chocolate cake and pomegranate frozen yogurt. It was so yummy! Sunday afternoon we went out to sushi as she requested as a family before Dad left for Ohio. Monday, her actual birthday, we had doughnuts and presents after school and more cake that night. I left Brianne home by herself (she had the flu) for 10 minutes while I took Maicee to school this week "because she's old enough now".

First day of school

Crazy! I can't believe it's THAT time again. My daughters are now 2nd and 3rd graders! They were excited to see their friends at Pine Grove Elementary but sad the summer had gone by so quickly. I walked the girls to their classes on the first day and could sense the excitment and uneasiness in both of them. New classroom. New teacher. New friends. New routine. So much to take in and just leave them to figure it out. (yes, I still struggle every year) So typical of their personalities; Maicee marched right in and took a seat at an open desk. She didn't really even say good-bye to me. She faces uncertainty with such determination. Brianne was asking me quietly, "where do I put my backpack?" "Are we supposed to wait in line or go straight in?" "I'll just wait here til I see my friends." I had to firmly urge her into her classroom with my hand on her back and assure her she'd love her teacher and know at least a few kids in her classroom. I love their differences.

Isaiah's Warrior Party

We celebrated Isaiah's courage and strength as we watched him take his LAST chemo pill while at the beach. Friends and family gathered to throw him and his family a party. I made Big Sister Sienna a cake as a thank you for being such a support to him during the past three years of treatment. (my kids enjoyed decorating their own cakes with the leftover frosting) The kids were in the pool the entire time. We managed to get a siblings picture before everyone left. Check out isaiahoates.com for some great pictures of the event!

Beach Trip

boy cousins: Isaiah, Josiah and Graeson

Beauties: Ava and Brianne

Hip Hop performance by Brianne

All the cousins!

Our little family

Our family beach trip was awesome! I just never seem to document it well in photos. My mom does a great job at this so I will added pictures from her camera. Thanks Mom for being the photographer extraordinaire. We love the beach!

13th Anniversary

Thanks to Grammy and Grandpa Jr. Mike and I were able to get away for our 13th Anniversary. We camped at Carson River and enjoyed the peace and quiet. Mike fished alot. I read and journaled. We bbq'd the fish and had yummy risotto. It was a great weekend!

Old Sac

We wanted to take a day trip as a family when school got out. We also didn't have a big party for Maicee. Plus we still had our gift certificates from the Christmas gift exchange. So... we went to Old Sacramento for the day. We took a ride in a carriage, spent many hours in the railroad museum and had a picnic lunch. We also decided to take the steam engine ride per Josiah's request. He LOVED it! ItWe had a relaxing and good time with each other. We should do it more often.