Apple Hill

Today, our friends introduced us to a place near Sacramento called "Apple Hill".  It is a scenic stretch of road with dozens of apple orchards and wineries on it.  Can you imagine a better way to spend a beautiful sunday afternoon?  Tasting apples, pie and wine with great friends?  We can't either.

This pic above is Oscar, Brian, Calvin, Geneva and Jack.  They play together perfectly.

Hay maze.  That is Oscar  & Jack looking over.

Old apple orchard museum.  Darren teaching the kids about water wheels.

This one is for you Uncle Larry.

Sally, Brian, Jack, Darren, John, Calvin, Oscar & Geneva.  Eating apple pie at one of the orchards.  

Great times.  Thanks Parmans!

1st day of school

I know, I know... I haven't even had ONE post here since we moved to Sacramento.  

I'm sorry.  I've been busy.  You know MOVING.  

We've been here 3 weeks now and have been having a fabulous time so far.  We've been to car races, the capital buildings, we've had swimming lessons.  We've also had lots of contractors about.  We've had dead trees removed, trees trimmed, irrigation system fixed, etc.  We've played a TON in our huge backyard.  I'll get around to a post about all that later... maybe.

But....today was Oscar's 1st day of 2nd grade and Calvin's 1st day of Kindergarten in our new neighborhood school Mariemont Elementary.  So - quick side note - we LOVE our neighborhood.  As we walked to school this morning there were people lining the street in front of the school sitting on lawn chairs waving and cheering along all the neighborhood kids on their first day of school.  Yes really.  How great is that huh?  We feel like we've dropped into a dream neighborhood. It has been amazing.  

Anyway - back to the school.  

Mariemont... like the neighborhood it is in is amazing so far. This is the lunch "room".  They do have an indoor cafeteria for "hot days".  We laughed at that.  Not for rainy days... but hot days.

So as I said.  Calvin is in Kindergarten. It is 1/2 day here and he's in the morning session.  There are 31 in his class which is a lot but there are so many volunteer moms she has to cut it off at 4 a day.  So along w/ her co-teacher there are usually 6 adults in the room at a time.

They use smart-board that are linked to a wireless computer.  Cool huh?

Oscar's class has 29 and the same situation w/ volunteer parents.  The parents and PTA are heavily involved in this school.  Which we love.

So that is it.  2 in school this year.  Time has sure flown hasn't it!

Last Martial Arts Class

In  Portland that is.  

We will of course continue the boys training (and start Jacks) in Sacramento but we are so sad to say good bye to our local instructors Zach and Emily Dunn who run the Portland Ernie Reyes West Coast Martial Arts studio.  

They are amazing.  They've reinforced our current message of self discipline and respect.  Work hard and do your best in everything.  All while having fun.  And they've instilled a desire in the boys to become black best.

I know we've gone on and on about them before but honestly... they get like a thousand stars in our books.

Oscar tested for his Green belt today & passed.  He did amazing!

As a goodbye they let the boys break boards.  I mean come on.....! 

How cool is that?

Thanks Zach & Emily.  You two rock.

Calvin's Belt Test

Calvin earned his Lil' Dragon black belt today.  It is the highest ranking belt in the kids Martial Arts program.  Now he trains to move up to the Jr. program and spar with the big boys (and girls).

Cuteness all around.

Part of the work out.  Push ups, sit ups, burpees.

Sparing w/ his peers.

His form technique.

Resting after while being presented w/ his new belt.

His instructor putting his belt on him!

So proud of him!

Mother's Day at Preschool

Calvin's Preschool had a Mother's day tea today.  I love these things. 

The room was all done up... the table just so..

 

The kids sang songs!

It was a fantastic tea party w/ my favorite little elephant.

The week of OSCAR

This has been a busy week.  And it's all been focused on Oscar.  Which has been fun... I think after tomorrow he'll be exhausted.  Happy but exhausted.

Oscar started taking Martial Arts lessons 2 years ago.  Today he graduated from the Lil Dragon program at Ernie Reyes West Coast Martial Arts.  He's been through 9 belts in the Lil Dragon program.  Next week he gets to join the big boys... literally.  He'll be in the Junior program now.  We are so proud of him.  These are some pics of the test and a video of part of what he had to do.  If you are looking for a studio for you or your kids to learn Martial Arts we HIGHLY recommend this one.  Zach and Emily Dunn are a husband / wife team that are awesome.

 

The other focus of our week has been baseball.  This is Oscar's second year doing Little League.  He loves baseball.  And he's pretty good too!  I love that this year they have full on uniforms... they are all so cute.  We have 2 games this week in addition to his practice. 

I'm not sure how we will pull this all off once all 3 boys are fully going in extra programs.  I'm taking tips if you have any.....

Happy Spring!

Spring Break!!!

We went to the beach for spring break.  

We took Marley (my niece) with us.

We went to my mom & dad's condo. 

Monday the men went back to work so the 4 cousins, mom and I got to have fun the rest of the week!

Happy Spring Break!

Jack

Jack turns 3 today.

Jack is the light of our household.  He is the happiest child I have ever seen.  EVER.  It is hard to be around him and not break into a huge grin... but why would you want to..... not grin that is.

Jack likes to climb into "boxes" and yell "JACK IN THE BOX".   Then he laughs and laughs. 

Here is is on his 2nd birthday.  Football is still his favorite.

Did I say  he was the happiest child ever?  I mean seriously.  The poor kid fell 20 feet onto concrete, had 7 spine fractures and 3 other major injuries and THIS is how he looked 24 into his hospital stay last summer. 

God has big  plans for this kid.  And I think he knows it... which is why he is smiling all the time.

Here is his cake this year.  For more on that see HERE.

Happy Birthday Jack!