Hanging Out in Downtown Disney

Ok...so here's the thing about growing up an Army Brat...you graduate from High School, move away, and unless you are very lucky, you never see any of your friends again. That is why I'm such a fan of Facebook, Blogs, etc! Over the past year, I have been able to get in touch with tons of my old friends who I haven't seen in FOREVER!!!

A few weeks ago, we were able to hook up with my friend Brian Rideout! It was so good to see him! We look exactly the same as we did in High School...if I do say so myself! (Ha ha ha!) No, actually, we haven't seen each other in probably 15 years...and the best part about it was that we were able to pick right up...like it had only been days, instead of years!
It was really fun introducing him to my family, and hearing all about his! He is currently back east, but we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will get transferred back out here...he is a Marine. I can't wait to meet his wife and kids!

So...we decided to meet in Downtown Disney. What the kids didn't know was that not only were they going to meet one of my friends, but that they were going to get to see their grandparents and cousin Samantha! (My mom and dad were here with Sami for her 6 year old birthday trip to Disneyland!)

I haven't seem Sami in FOREVER! It was so fun to see her! She looks more like my sister Kelsey every time I see her!

Here are my mom and dad in the Lego store...where else! Yes, my mom is in a wheel chair...she said her back hurt, but I think she liked having my dad push her every where!!! (Just kidding mom!)

We had a great night seeing family and friends! Downtown Disney is the best!

Rylie's Adventures in Kindergarten!

Yes...my baby is in Kindergarten!!

Here we are the morning of Kindergarten Orientation. Rylie was so excited!
Her teacher is Mr. Hall. We love him!!! Here she is with her best friend Lauren. They are in the same class.
Every year, the night before the first day of school, I read my kids the book, "The Kissing Hand". In Kindergarten, we also read, "The Night Before Kindergarten"! This was my last night before Kindergarten...the past 5 years have gone by way too fast! It was hard not to cry...ok...I did!
Rylie immediately found her friend Andrea when we got to school...and off they went!

Me and Karolin...don't we look SOOOO sad!

Lauren, Rylie, and Andrea...after their first day of school! So...as you can see...they look like trouble!!! These three have been friends since they were born...literally! So it is fitting that they are all in the same Kindergarten class! Poor Mr. Hall!

I tried to warn him about how spontaneous my daughter can be, but I wasn't prepared for the phone call I got the third week of school from him. Mr. Hall called to tell me that there was good news and bad news. The good news was that Rylie wasn't hitting Lauren in the booty in class...the bad news was that on her way out the door...she slapped him on his!!! It was pretty much one of those, "good game" booty slaps...I could have died! If she wasn't my last child, I probably would have! I was dying inside as I told my daughter that "we don't slap our Kindergarten teacher in the booty"! She understood...and hasn't done it since...well, not to my knowledge anyway!

So, a few weeks ago, she came home and I could have sworn that she had little wispy bangs...if you have seen pictures of her lately, all of her is...well, was, the same length. At first I thought that maybe she just had some new growth I hadn't noticed, or that some of her hair might have broken off...but the closer I looked, I realized IT HAD BEEN CUT! It took me a week to get it out of her, but I finally did! She CUT HER HAIR at school!!! (Yes, the safety scissors that won't cut anything around the house can cut hair!) I asked her why...she said because she decided she wanted to have bangs. I asked her if she at least went in the bathroom and looked in the mirror when she did it...she said, "why would I do that...I did it at my desk"! I asked her where Mr. Hall was...she said they had a substitute that day. Then I asked her what she did with the hair she cut off...she said that she wrapped it in a piece of paper and threw it away!!!

Friday Rylie got a HUGS (Huge Undertakings Great Successes) at the Friday morning assembly! Mr. Hall gave it to her for responsibility! With how crazy she can be, she is a great student. She's a good helper and she loves to learn!
Kindergarten has been a great adventure thus far...and I'm sure there is MUCH MORE to come...if I know my daughter! The most important thing is that Rylie loves school!!!

Update - FINALLY

Ok...it was Mason's Birthday for way too long! Sorry about that!!! We have been so busy...but I will try to be better about blogging!!! I'm going to do a quick catch up...and then hopefully post some other things this week...

So...school has begun!!! Rylie is in Kindergarten this year! We can't believe it!!! However, her adventures thus far deserve a post all of their own...so stay tuned! Parker is in second grade with all of his little buddies and loves his new teacher!!! Mason is in fifth grade and is having a great year so far! Rylie loves that she gets to see her brothers at school! She sees Parker most often...mainly because they are on the same side of the school!
The beginning of school also means the beginning of soccer season!!! All three kids are playing again this year! Parker is playing in the Under 8 division and is on the Strikers! He is a scoring machine!!! I have lost track of how many goals he has scored already!
Mason is playing for a club team this year! He is on the U-11 Yucaipa Athletic. The world of club soccer has been very exciting thus far! His team has transformed over the past two weeks...they are becoming quite the little players...and are very exciting to watch!
Rylie is playing in Under 6 this year. She is one of three girls on the Blazing Hot Rockets, the other two girls being Lauren and Sammi. She has transformed this year!!! She is on fire and has scored an average of 4 goals per game...no lie!

Things at our house have been as busy as ever...but totally worth all of the craziness!

Happy Birthday Mason!

11 years ago today was one of the best days of my life...I became a mother! Mason, I still remember that first night in the hospital...the first time you looked up at me with those big blue eyes of yours. I couldn't believe how much I loved someone so tiny! You were my little buddy for such a long time...sometimes I really miss those days...just hanging out with you watching Barney and Teletubbies! You are growing up way too fast!

You have always been such a thinker...I still remember the night I was tucking you in when you were 3 and you asked me the question I will never forget..."mom, when God was making all of the people, did he put on their feet first or their heads first?"...you were so serious...and I had no idea how to answer you...you have always been one step ahead of me as far as the deep thinking goes!

You are growing up to be such an amazing person! You have a huge heart and you are an amazing big brother to Parker and Rylie! I know I don't tell you enough, but I hope you know how wonderful I think you are and how lucky I am to be your mom! I love you buddy...Happy Birthday!!!

All-Stars

This season Parker made the 7-8 year old All-Star Baseball Team!

He was so excited that his name was on his shirt! There were 3 teams in his division from our league this year - Blue, Red, and Grey. Parker was our AMAZING catcher! He had some of the best plays at home! The first weekend was seeding. They went 4-0! The 4th of July weekend started the double elimination tournament. They went 3-0 that weekend! This past weekend, in triple degree heat, we faced the only other undefeated team. The game went 10 innings! (They only play 6 innings usually.) Parker caught all 10 innings! We ended up losing that game by one run. It was heartbreaking! Worst of all, we had to come back 2 hours later and play in an elimination game against our Grey team. That game went 10 innings as well! Yes, our little blue team played 20 innings in one day! Parker caught 6 of those innings (yes...16 innings in one day!) and they ended up winning that game! By the end of the day, we were the only remaining team from our league! Here Parker is with his buddy Kenny. They had a great time on the team together!
We battled back and made it to the championship game, against the only team that had beat us. Unfortunately, our little guys ran out of steam and lost that game 3-4. These little guys played so well, that sometimes you forgot they were only 7 and 8 years old!
It was a great post season! Parker had so much fun and did an amazing job! Way to go buddy!!!

The Shooting Range

So...Shane wants a gun. I told him we could only get one if I was comfortable shooting it...so he took me to the shooting range.

We went with some friends of his from work. They brought everything! They even had a bunch of different guns for us to try, since we still haven't decided what we are going to get. Here I am with Peggy...she taught me how to shoot!

I liked the 9mm the best, however, I was the most accurate with the 38 Special and the 22...
Shane's favorite was the 45...he wasn't a beginner like me! (That one had a little too much kick for me...for now anyway!)

Here are Peggy and I with my targets...not too bad for a beginner...I brought the center one home just to remind everyone not to mess with me!

See...Shane even made it out in one piece! I really enjoyed it and plan on going again!

Arrow of Light

Mason received his Arrow of Light a few weeks ago!

The Arrow of Light is the highest achievement a Cub Scout can earn.

Here Mason is crossing the rope bridge.
I was in Sacramento with Rylie when they had the ceremony, so Shane got pinned for me!

Mason worked so hard to receive this! Great job buddy...we are so proud of you!!!