Happy Birthday Seth & Cali

What a fun day!!! We had Seth and Cali's birthday party at the Santee YMCA activity pool, Sat, July18, 2009. Seth turns 7 this week and Cali turns 5 in a few weeks.....wow, how time flies.

To make things easier, we have done their birthdays together since most of the same people would come to both parties anyway. Seth and Cali seem to like it this way and don't complain.

We had lots of friends and family to celebrate with us. The Chase family came down, Grandma and Papa Knoop drove into town and of course Grammie and Papa Mac. It was a fun day with lots of happy kids celebrating the party. See you all next year!

Hanna Swims

Hanna has been taking a swim class with 2 certified swim instructors from our ward. She is not sure about going under the water but seems to like everything else okay. The pictures show her swimming with KC, who was able to come to a couple of lessons. The kids are also in a picture "helping" her to get in the water. It is so cute how they always rally around her. She must feel the incredible love our family has for her.

Drive-In with Friends

What a fun night!
We went to the Santee Drive-In with the Jenkins and Konolds. We saw "Ice Age #3", it was cute. The second movie was "Up" but the kids and adults weren't so "up". The kids had fun snuggling in their sleeping bags and blankets in the back of Ab's new truck. They ate popcorn and snacks and didn't make a peep
during the movie...
or so the peeps were minor.
We sure are glad to
have such fun friends.

4th of JULY

Although the circumstances for KC being home on the 4th of July were not what I would have wanted (his internal bleeding ordeal)....we were happy to have him here. We first started the day with the annual Grossmont Ward pancake breakfast. It was yummy and the kids got to play some fun games and make paper airplanes. Then, with the Jenkins family, we braved it and went to the beach. We were going for a short bike ride and they were going for Ab to fish. We luckily found parking spots and got in our short beach visit on the 4th....with all the other crazy people. Then, we went home and cleaned up a bit to head over to the Schallocks for a BBQ. We had your traditional hot dogs and hambugers and all the fixins'. Last, we walked over to a nearby baseball field where we watched the fireworks. Above is my crazy family in the dark watching the show. It was a fun-filled day that we got to spend with KC...all day...a rareity.

Our little eater

KC was in the hospital last week for internal bleeding, due most likely, to too much Motrin...crazy, huh? Anyway, my mom sent him an edible bouquet of chocolate covered bananas and strawberries. So, of course the girls and I dug right into it and you can see the results of it on Hanna's face. She is so cute and LOVES to eat.

We are glad KC is doing well and that he is home with us getting plenty of rest and downtime. We love you dad!

....My very own bug "bee" girl....

Here is a picture of Cali in her Ariel mermaid swim gear. She has got to be the most imaginative kid I know. She LOVES to dress up and I mean EVERYDAY. After getting this swim gear she wore it to Seth's school every morning for over a week. Of course, she thought she was the coolest kid in town and a lot of kids at Fletcher Hills thought so too. She sure is alot of fun!

Well, the reason I starting writing this blog today is not about Cali's costume (which I do love and had every intention of adding anyway) but about her love for animals/bugs. She thinks she is going to be a mermaid when she grows up and I think that is a great idea!!!

Today, in true Cali fashion, she captured a bee. I will have to share the whole story so that you understand the funny side to all of this. The other day at the pool she was with KC and she told him that she was a friend to all bees and that is why they do not sting her. She saw some outside the pool and was watching them but they did not sting her so it confirmed in her mind that she was right. She was very proud to point this out to KC as well. Then today I gave her a small empty container to do whatever she wanted with. She told me, "I'm going to collect a bug in it". I of course thought, "sure you will" and sent her on her way. Well, 2 minutes later she came back to me with a live bee in the container. I was shocked and asked how she did it. She proudly told me, "I was very careful and just scooped him up". I just started laughing as she told me she would let him go "one day". It was all so very cute and I'm glad she did not get stung. Gotta love our Cali girl.

Cali GRADUATES Preschool.....June 2009

This had to be the best day of Cali's life....so far!!! She has been in a parent-participation (lucky me) preschool that does a fun thing with the kids. The teacher allows each student to take home this stuffed animal "Moose" and keep him until the next class day. The student has to "write" (via mom/dad) about what Moose did while he was with the child. The kids can draw pictures or include pictures taken of Moose or with Moose. Then the kids are called the "Superstar" for the day and they are treated like royalty...right up Cali's alley...animals and crowns....what more does she want. Anyway, today was the last day of class and Miss Tammy took me aside this morning and asked if it would be ok if Cali got to keep Moose permanately. Of course I said, "yes, this will be the best day of Cali's life". So, after class Miss Tammy took Cali aside and presented Moose to her to become a permanent part of our family (see pictures). Cali was beside her self, as you can imagine. She could not believe it and kept hugging Miss Tammy. Then, later that day was Cali's graduation, which was very nice. Dinner was provided, a fun slideshow of the kids was shown and the kids got their certificates. It was a cute night and full of fun.

P.S. The last photo is of our crazy boys!!!!!!