Someone Is Going To Kindergarten!

Isn't she cute standing in line with all of her friends?

Miss Gina

Miss Laurie sending her out for her diploma.

She was so thrilled to have her family there for HER. It seems we are always going to Jolie's special occasions.

Getting ready to sing their song.

With her best bud Xavier.

This is what Landon and Reese did the whole night.

Her teachers adore her and cried when she hugged them goodbye!

A few shots of my beautiful mischevious boy.

I am so excited that it is finally summer around here. My favorite season by far. We have beach plans, swimming plans, Disneyland plans, Aquarium plans, and just plan having no schedule! Love it.

P.S. Stay tuned to hear how I finally did (and am continuing to do) the weight loss thing.

Bridging

Jolie went from a Daisy scout to a Brownie scout last weekend. She is excited! 

(Someone has to be, I am not exactly the biggest fan of girl scouts. But I am trying!)

Preslee's First Girls Night

These are my best friends. I love these girls.

Me and Melissa

Cambria, Teresa, Melissa, baby Preslee, and Me

P.S. Have I mentioned I have lost almost  25 pounds? No, I'm serious. Crazy huh?

Jolie Bean

Last month Jolie was in a school production of Mary Poppins. 

Here she is playing the cook.

And here she is Michelle (Michael, they changed the name since there was only one boy in the play!)

Jolie and one of her best friends, Katie. They loved being in the show together.

I love this girl. Jolie is becoming such a fun big kid! It seems like she has ended some of the difficult behaviors of toddlers and moved on to being so helpful/considerate/eager to please.

She definitely has her stubborn side too, and has to be on the go as usual. But Landon and I were just realizing how easy things are with her these days. She gets herself all ready for school every morning. She takes showers all by herself and washes her hair and everything. She can clean up her room without any help, and is always eager to help with any chores I have for her.

Jolie is a reader! That girl reads chapter books every night. She stays up late in her bed reading all of her faves like Junie B. Jones. And Pippi Longstockings. I love love love that she reads so much! Her dad and I both love to read so it brings so much satisfaction to see her enjoying one of my favorite hobbies as well.

Jolie loves to be outside playing more than anything else. She has a pal who lives right over our back fence and she hops over almost every day to play with the boys that live there. She is happiest at a park or the beach, somewhere where she can climb and run.

She is a great big sister. She takes care of Reese while I make dinner and get stuff done. She plays well with her sister and is such a good example to her. She loves going to church and primary and encourages her sister to love it too.

Jolie has recently become interested in baseball. She and her dad go to the park as much as possible and play wiffleball. Landon of course is in heaven about this.

Jolie is a great friend. Practically every kid at her school knows who she is. She walks down the hallways and at least 3-4 kids say hi to her, kids off all ages. She is so cute, she believes everything her little friends tell her. The other day she was telling us that her friend Juninho at school was in a snake charming competition and he won! She was so adorable and thought he was telling the truth! We had a good laugh that night over the funny thing that kid tells her. So cute.

Jolie has a great sense of humor! She gets most of the jokes on TV and in movies. She has one of the most infectious laughs I have ever heard.

It is so much fun to be this girls' mom. We could not do without her in our home, she is just the life of the party! A few weeks ago when she went to her Girl Scout Encampment day she was gone from 7am to 10 pm and we missed her soooo much! All day we felt like the house was dull and a bit boring without her. She is such a great kid!

Lucy Loo

Lucy is my little love bug. This girl is most often found cuddling up next to me where ever we are.

She is still my super shy little lady. At school she usually waits to be asked to play with the other girls before she will join in on the fun. Lucy is still as girlie as they come and is really looking forward to kindergarten next year where she can hopefully make some fun new girl friends! (Most of her friends are boys.)

Lucy loves playing with her siblings most of all. Lucy and Jolie fight quite a bit, but they still are the best little playmates. She even loves playing with her brother and often begs me to not put him down for his nap so they can keep chasing eachother or playing blocks or puzzles together.

Lucy is the queen of make-believe. That girl can play pretend with just about anything and anyone. She even often plays make-believe with her food! Her little mind never stops inventing games for her and Jolie to play. It is so fun!

Lucy is about as maternal as can be! She loves babies. She loves to hold them, play with them. She is is so gentle and sweet! Her brother is so lucky to have her!

Lucy is so quiet in public but the second you get her home she is easily my loudest child! She sings and talks all day long. She makes up all kinds of songs that are usually just her stream of consciousness! It is so funny to listen to the things that go on in her little mind.

Lucy loves to bake and cook with me. She loves to sit on the counter and help with dinner. Actually, she really just loves to do whatever I am doing. I think she sort of adores me and it is so sweet and flattering! I will be sad when she stops thinking I am the most beautiful, wonderful, smart woman there is.

I love my little Lucy. She brings just the right touch of kindness and love into our home. She just tends to bring us all together by the special relationship she has with each of us. It's easy to feel special when Lucy is around!

Reese Pants

I'm trying to get back on the blogging wagon. It's hard to get back in the groove I have to admit.

I need to start by updating on what the kiddos are up to these days. Today we will talk about Reese.

Reese is a cantankerous little bloke. He needs things to be just so and to happen his way or he is no fun! He is as shy as can be, won't go to anyone not in his immediate family. Not my mom, not his nursery teacher, no one. As flattered as I am to be one of the few people he is himself around, it can be a bit trying sometimes.

But when he is happy and at home or in his element, he is pretty much the cutest kid ever. He snuggles more than the girls ever did. He sings along to anything Yo Gabba Gabba, still his favorite thing to watch! He says only about 8 words but the ones he does are darling and we live to hear those words! His deep little voice is the most adorable thing ever!

We went to the beach on Saturday for the first time in a while. He doesn't really like new things/food/places/people (I know!) but he is simply going to need to get used to the beach because we will be spending tons of time there in a few weeks! He started to get into it after a few hours until he got stung by a bee! It was the saddest thing ever. We immediately packed up and went home and I am hoping he doesn't hate the beach from now on!

He is still the pickiest eater in the world! He pretty much lives on fruit, milk and crackers. 

This kid loves his sisters. When we go to pick up Lucy from pre-school he runs right up to her and sticks his little face in hers until she hugs him. I love that.

He still idolizes his daddy and cries every single morning when Landon goes to work. I know Landon hates leaving him!

Reese gives the best hugs and open-mouth kisses! He will run right into my arms a million times a day and I never get sick of it. He loves giving high fives and running in circles around me when I walk into the room. 

He still loves reading books and kicking throwing balls. He is such a boy!

It is both a challenge and a joy to be this little guy's mother. I love having this boy as my little side-kick and can't wait to see more of his personality come out!