After School Fun

Hurricane Harbor

We got season passes to Hurricane Harbor today. For $39.99, we can go any day during the summer. It stinks that parking is $15, but that is still a cheap day especially if we fill up our tummies at home before we go! It is not far from home so it is the ideal kids' special summer spot!




We all had a blast! I sat out this ride so I could take pictures of the kids having a blast! Tomorrow, will be a day of relaxation! Maybe a movie... I'm thinking Night at the Museum Battle of the Smithsonian!

Working Hard to get ready for 1st grade!

Sophia's teacher has suggested she be retained in kindergarten. Her mama disagrees for many many reasons. I have put my teacher hat back on and in two days time, have taught her to create words from a word bank.

This is her "thinking cap". She puts it on when she needs to get her brain in gear. The cap is MAGIC! I used this technique when I taught 1st grade, and the kids loved it. It was amazing what they could do with a magic cap on their heads!

You can see all over her face how successful she is feeling! I dictated all of the words you see, and she pulled from the letter bank to create them. That is HUGE progress in 3 days! Her teacher actually told me she only knew the sound of 1/26 letters! I knew that wasn't the case. I think she freezes for Mrs. Tobin. Mrs. Tobin also said she couldn't sound out one syllable words. That isn't the case anymore. I am determined to work with her all summer to get her to where she needs to be at this new school! At her old school, there was no danger of her being held back. The standards were SO MUCH lower! I'm not going to let them punish her for the shortcomings in the CA public school system.


The next thing I want to get is a Victory Drill Book. If anyone has one laying around, let me know!

Sophia is very driven and responsible. There isn't a lazy bone in her body. If any of that weren't true, I might rethink holding her back. Her little personality has the makeup of a kid who will eventually do well in school. If not, her best will do!!!

Wrestling and Bike Rides

Sophia being studious!

Zack is loving his Star Wars Lego set. He spends hours building. That makes this mama proud!

Chilling out after school.

Then the wrestling begins...

And, clothes come off as it progresses because they get so sweaty!




And, it ended with smiles on their faces!

We love to go on bike rides on the paseo. Well, I don't always want to go because I'm lazy, but the kids love it so I make myself get out there at least once a week. I do get great joy out of being active with the kids. There is so much more to life than video games and television. I try to keep a balance in our home. I'm hoping they'll learn to enjoy many aspects of life. At least that's my goal!



Zack loves to do acrobats on his bike!


Life is great! We can't wait for summer! 2 more weeks until school is out!

Spring 2009 Portraits

I did not buy the copyrights to their pictures so I just took one on my own the day I had them taken.  This is no where near as good as the one taken in the studio, but it captures a place in time for them.

Here they are 5 1/2 and 7, but don't they look like twins?

The Huntington Library