The last few days of Christmas Break

We're trying to squeeze in the last few days of fun

in 2010 (can you believe it's New Year already?)! Scootering in the beautiful sunshine after some heavy rains...
doing some jumping jacks on the trampoline at Open Gym
(gotta get those wiggles out)...

attempting a new gymnastics move...
I don't know if Simon liked this one...
(looks a little scared)!

And spent an afternoon fishing
for the Kids Fishing Derby...
Simon SURE learned what patience is!!!
Oh, how fishing is challenging for little children...
they expect to catch a fish-
NOW!
Not so much...

Simon walked away empty-handed...
but made a memory with Mom & Dad.
That's about it for 2010!
Happy New Year, friends!
Now go blog about some family memories of your own:)!

'Lil Jingles 2010

Every year, the 'Lil Jingles perform

at our church...

these cutie-patooties

know how to sing, let me tell ya.... they melt your hearts as the Christmas Carols

are belted out at the top of their little lungs...

Here's an example of Simon singing...

although he gets a little distracted

by his buddy, Eli,

who really wanted to emphasize

"Christmas Day"....

Hope you all had a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Trick-Or-Treat

Simon's hand-me-down SpiderMan costume

sure got its use this year for Halloween!

He wore it for five straight days...

even after Halloween!

He tricked-and treated...
along with about 25 other cuties!!
Thank you to the Spinellos
for making a VERY fun Halloween for all these
kiddoes!
He already is thinking about what he wants to be
next year!!

Pumpkin Adventures

We had a chance to go to Pumpkin City

for a few pictures and some fun

with our friends,

Archer and Beau...Simon got to squeeze and snuggle his favorite

little baby boy, Beau...

we ran into the Carsons
as we do every year at Pumpkin City...
Simon and Lucy are VBS buddies
(and sure make a cute couple!!!)
Simon and Archer got to go on a train ride...
that almost ended up to be a
shoving match...
BOTH boys would not let go of the bell
during the ride-
there were tears and yelling...
it actually made me laugh so hard
because I couldn't believe they were going at it so much....

just to hold the bell!
"Work It Out" as we Mommies like to say;)

The night ended up with some cute pics and
three VERY tired boys!

Then, the next morning was Kids Club...

Super Heroes RULE!
Which Super Hero looks more authentic?

This bunch of kids is GROWING all the time!

Just got baby TWINS added to the bunch!

Happy Harvest Time Everyone!!

Have FUN!!

First Ever Field Trip with my Boy!

What a day today...

my first ever ever field trip with my big preschooler!

We headed to Tanaka Farms in Irvine

with all 12 of his classmates, plus the AM class....
which included his sweet cousin, Ryan.
we are lucky enough to have to the same teachers,
but different classes.
The great thing is...
we get to spend
Field Trip Days together!
Whoo-Hoo!!!

Only five months apart,
these boys adore each other and
his mommy and I are
soooooooo happy!
Family get togethers are like a BIG
playdate!!

Simon got to walk through Corn Mazes....

Pick his (least favorite) veggie, radishes....
but he quickly changed his mind after I cooked
the BEST dinner
with some Olive Oil and stir-fried in those home-picked veggies:)


and yummy carrots....

and of course, green beans....

finally, he got to pick his own 'lil pumpkin....

PERFECT for our Harvest decor at home!

We LOVE Preschool and ALL the adventures Mrs. Summers

brings us on!

I LOVE being a Mommy

and am honored to be able to stay at home with him

and spend these priceless memories with my sweet boy.

I am one grateful Mommy!

Nothin' Better!

Had a rough few weeks this past while...

just life, that's all!

Nothin' Better than seeing

your sweet boy

playing, laughing, running, & lovin'

on his buddies.

Oh...how I needed a night just to hang with the mommies...

and watch my boy have the time of his life!

When you have a blue day...

I highly reccommend

you taking your kids out with some friends....

and sit back....

and just watch....

listen...

and savor every minute!

Hearing the laughter of children is the sweetest sound to your soul.

Trust me!

It makes you realize how blessed you are...

how thankful you should be daily...

and what a gift that children are to all of us.

Enjoy your day, my fellow Mommies!

Teddy Bear Picnic

Simon had a very special day last week...

The Teddy Bear Picnic,

where ALL the mommies and daddies were invited.

I got all packed up at home,

drove to school,

and realized I forgot his Teddy Bear!

He looks a little ticked in this picture

because he was the only one in class who didn't have his bear

to receive an award, but...

I did drive all the way home

and got it for my boy...

I made it back in time for the

"Teddy Bear Hunt."

The teacher lead the kids all around campus,

searching for their Teddy Bears.

Finally...Simon found his!!

And thankfully, the teacher's aide

saw my situation and hung an award around the

bear's neck, so he would be like the rest of them...

just a little late.

We took pictures,

snuggled with the bears,

and sat down to eat our picnic...

only I forgot to bring his picnic!!!

What the heck...

It's a Teddy Bear Picnic

and I forgot the Teddy Bear AND

the picnic!

Luckily the teacher had some fruit to give Simon,

so he didn't starve.

The day ended up good.
He sang some songs about bears...

did activities that started with the letter "B"...

balance beam and squirting balloons...

and the day ended up not so bad.

He had a few tears here and there because he

was missing his bear and snack for a brief time...

but hey...he recovered quickly.

I didn't...

I felt terrible!

But ya know what...

I'm doing the best job I can!

Thankfully, Simon still loves me

and forgives his mommy in her "mommy moment."

Chit-Chat Time

One of my favorite times of the day

is when Simon gets home from Preschool.

We come home,

put his backpack down,

get cleaned up,

prepare a yummy snack (for both of us),

and sit down at his little table for Chit-Chat Time. I LOVE this!

We talk about the day...

what new friend he has made,

what centers he liked best,

what his "job" of the week is,

what his favorite part about school is,

and so on and so on...

It is so special to spend time together chatting about

all the new things that are going on in his life.

He loves sharing, giggling about it, and

telling me all the details...

I LOVE seeing his face light up

as I see my little boy

growing up!
People say, "Oh, they grow up so fast."

I believe it...

that's why I don't want to miss a beat.

As long as he's willing to share,

I'll sit there for hours

and listen to my boy do his little chit-chat.

Preschool!!

Second day of Preschool...

going good!!

Simon looks like Sid the Science Kid

(just like his daddy whose a science teacher). I've never seen him so excited to go somewhere...

you would think it was Disneyland or somethin'!
Thank goodness he likes school
(so far)!

He Finally Did It!

Simon passed his swim test!!!

This has been a summer of

overcoming fears and growing up...

We are so proud of our little guy!

This is the Reason Why...

I haven't blogged in a week!

VBS...

otherwise known as Vacation Bible School.

We have spent the last week

setting up, planning, decorating, preparing,

sweating, fixing, making,

and finally tearing down and cleaning up

our sanctuary into a High Seas Adventure! Dave and I both worked VBS

and LOVED every second of it...

so did Simon!

He fell in love with his Group Leaders...

Got to hang with his buddies for a week straight...

sang in a performance

(he wasn't as scared as he looks in this picture)...

Got to see one of our church members

represent our country

as someone who has fought in the trenches for freedom...

Had a chance to give to others in need

(the notebooks are going to the Marines who will give them to

the Afghan children when they go to their villages)...

Got to see a real ship being transformed on our stage...

The ship went from this...

to this by the end of the week!

What an amazing Team effort this was

to put this wonderful event together.

It was an unbelievable stage

that was filled with 92 kids that had a chance

to learn more about Jesus!

That was the best part of the week!