Americas NEXT Ninja Warrior

We are hitting a phase of MAJOR ENERGY!  Of course, right when we decide to take a break from sports...this boy is in need of constant challenges--physically and mentally.  Xander has watched America's Top Ninja several times and he really wants to get on that bandwagon...We would love to have him participate in every sport but unfortunately it all costs a lot of money and well, that has to be divided out so I guess our kitchen, my walls, furniture and everything else we own will be his training ground? 

Life

 Mon petit chef

 A car ride does some good!  This little non-napper falls asleep in the car frequently in the afternoon (so does her mom!) and thankfully, I can transport her.  Sometimes, I choose to hold her though. 

Spontaneous dance party--no lights needed

Gymnastics!

My kids have all been begging to do gymnastics...Eliza & Violet have done it before but when Tricks offered a Groupon and we were allowed to get 4 I took advantage and got each of my kids a month of gymnastics.  They all had a blast and loved it so much...we aren't continuing but we did 6 weeks of training. It was a great way to end the summer!

First Day of Preschool Playgroup! (And picture day prep!)

I cannot believe its time for this little gem to start preschool. She has been desperate and the morning of her first day she got up and dressed and ready to go.  Abby is doing a one-day a week playgroup with 5 BOYS!  She is in heaven learning her letters and playing.  We are so happy for her.

Here is Abby doing her "homework"--after all, "Everybody is doing it!"

 Lots of play makes a little one tired.... (mind you, she rarely naps!)

And this was too good not to share.  Picture day was upon us and we had a crazy busy morning so Eliza had to leave her curlers in while we went to the park to wait for her turn to go to school...it was adorable!

Quiet Time!

"Look Mom! I got the puzzles ready for us!"

 translation: I dumped all the puzzles out

A & V have really enjoyed having some time alone since the big ones went back to school.  They are also loving time with Mom.  And Mom is loving a more quiet house and a less messy house! 

Abby's 3!!

What a fantastic birthday celebration we had!  We started out with our traditional birthday donuts.  Abby had requested a bike ride to the river (she fell in love doing this with Daddy and Violet while Mom and big kids were at swim meets this summer.)  It's 5 miles there and 5 miles back...Xander rode himself, Eliza rode the tag-along with Ben and I had the girls in the trailer behind me.  What a crew!  The ride was beautiful.  Everyone laughed and had a great time.  We had already planned on Mom and Dad coming but the kids were famished by the time we got there and the measly snacks I'd packed were not going to cut it so we asked Nana & Grumpy to grab some McDonalds.  They brought the kids some hamburgers and Abby got a birthday Happy Meal...surprisingly, amazingly, NO ONE complained that it wasn't fair.  It was awesome.  We played for awhile on the beach and had a blast.  We headed home--everyone did great again!  Xander got really tired at the end but it was the longest he'd ever been and the temp was hitting near 100!  Abby fell asleep during the ride and we let her sleep for a small bit once we returned home.  After that we went swimming at Nana & Grumpy's house.  Then Abby asked for waffles for dinner so we went back to the house to make her dreams come true...Uncle Jake, Nana & Grumpy decided to eat with us.  Abby enjoyed all the attention, love and of course, presents!  It was a great day!

Abbys Birthday Party

This little girl wanted a birthday party.  And not just any birthday party, certain people had to be there.  Thank you to my TOTAL last minute planning, I truly appreciate my friends bringing their kids over!  Abby was one happy girl.  The kids played playdoh and ate and played.  It was the perfect hour!

First Day of School

 While some of us still looked like this:

Others of us looked like this: 

ELIZA 1ST GRADE

 This boy wasn't all too thrilled (not about starting school but because I took a picture at our house in DIRECT sunlight and not at the school next to the sign, gosh Mom!)

XANDER 3RD GRADE

And as soon as all the rigamarole was done, we partied a little with some Jamba and peace & quiet!

August Baby BBQ

My friends, Lindy & Sophia were pregnant with me while I was pregnant with Abby...they both got little boys and we got our Abby!  Since their first birthday we've celebrated together with an end of summer BBQ birthday bash.  I cannot believe how old these guys are!!

It's hard to believe and remember really when they looked like this:

summer dayz

We have been up to everything and nothing all at the same time...enjoying the last few summer days where Mommy doesn't work and there is no school.  Life is good!

WOW Science Museum

We took some friends with us to use our Groupon to the WOW Science Museum in Lodi.  The kids had a great day!

 A lesson in handwashing...try again kiddos!

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom!

We love that our school participates in the Six Flags reading program!  We LOVE our free tickets to Six Flags.  This year was the first year that Eliza had earned her ticket so she got to come with us.  We added 4 other kids and 2 families that haven't joined us and with 4 mommies and 7 kids we had a fabulous time traipsing through admiring the animals and taking in the rides.

Xander has a knack for getting picked in the animal shows...I was EXTREMELY jealous that he go to feed the tiger.  Talk about a DREAM!  I LOVE tigers.  But, I guess I will continue to live through my kids...

 Love the butterfly exhibit!

 Unlike years past, the kids were mostly tall enough for the fast and crazy rides...even our younger ones!  I even got to go on some of the big ones.  Xander especially fell in love with Kong (which gave me a massive headache) so he rode it 6x's in a row with his friend (there were NO lines!) and I sat at the bottom.  I did make them sit at the bottom of the roller coaster while I rode one that they weren't tall enough for :). 

 Shark exhibit! 

 Our little superheros!  The boys all met in kindergarten...we sure love them all!

Cousins Week!!

While we finished Champs, Auntie Em drove like a Champ to Folsom with all her kids in tow!!

And there were some very happy reunions indeed!