4th of July

Happy 4th of July!  We had a good day celebrating our nations Independence.  Tracy got up early and ran a 10k in Irvine at 7am!  No photos, but a decent time - 1:01:20.  (One of these days I am going to come in under an hour!).  2 minutes faster than this race last year.  It's such a great way to start the day.

Then it was off to the Orange Park Acres Parade.  Zachary's Jazz Band - The Minutemen Band marched in the parade.  It was the first time he's been part of a marching band.  It brought back so many memories for Mom and her high school marching band days.


Practicing before the parade:

The start of the parade

Zachary looks so serious!

Nana came to watch the parade as well - just like the old days watching Mom in her parades ... only this time we found shade! And it really wasn't hot at all, especially when you were out of the sun.  In fact Nicholas asked to wear my jacket

 

 Some of the other floats in the parade - that is Nicholas' friend Shannon on the left:

Here is Katie in her "float".  She got to watch the parade from her own decorated float.  She and Mommy decorated Saturday night - we colored plates and glued them on with crepe paper and ribbon.  Too cute.  

Katie and her crazy face

At the end of the day, after a BBQ and a nap (at least for Katie and Mom!) we went to Yorba Linda to watch fireworks.  This was exciting, because Zachary is not a fan of fireworks, and he came with us and actually enjoyed them!!  It was so exciting to be all together on a blanket in the park.  Nicholas took some photos on his DSI - I'm sure they will end up in a game somehow.

BLOG IN PROGRESS! KEEP CHECKING BACK

The goal was to have this blog semi up to date when the Christmas cards went out.  But 3 kids, work, holiday events and life in general make it a challenge to keep up.  But I am committed to sharing our family events on this site, so just check back later as we continue to add to the blog.  Thank you for your understanding!

Events to come:

Katie's 4th Birthday

Rough Fit Rewards Event

Thanksgiving

Christmas

 

Katie's Christmas Play

Katie had her first school play tonight.  It was adorable!  It was for the Pre School and Kindergarden kids.  She sang Away in a Manger, Rudolph and shook her booty to Jingle Bell Rock.  I have to figure out how to upload video on this blog, because you really need to see how cute the kids were.  My camera was a little blurry, but at least you get the idea.

Here she is with Samantha and Dominick before the play

And with Samantha and Cade - the girls are so proud of their Christmas dresses!

I don't think she liked the wreath on her head.  It looked really cute, but I think it itched, because she kept messing with it

The hand movements to Rudolph was really cute - the blinking hands were my favorite part

Child Mary

La Purisima does this beautiful event each November to commemorate when Mary's parents took her to the temple to be raised whne she was a small child.  The Pre-School and Kindergarden children follow a statue of Mary as a child and make an offering to her.  It's adorable, and all the kids get dressed up.  Katie was so sweet in her party dress, she kept turning and waving at me.

Here she is with her class and the statue

And by herself

Waving at me during the ceremony

That's my girl - posing for the camera!

Decon Bube and Ms De la Fuente are ready to bless the children

Getting blessed by Dr. Bube

Katie's Dora Party

Katie LOVES Dora the Explorer.  Having a Dora themed birthday party, then, was a no brainer.  The idea was that the girls in her Pre School class, her cousin Kaylee from Pennsylvania and some other friends would come over and go on a "Dora syled" Adventure.  The basic idea:

There is the pinata in the tree at the front of the house - so after some coloring and eating the girls would head outside to break the pinata (Dora of course).  But OH NO!  The pinata is gone!!  In it's place is a  note that Swiper the Fox took it.  Then the girls has to consult the Map in their backpacks and follow the map to find the Pinata.  But watch out for Swpier (aka Nicholas) he is always trying to seal their stuff.

I had made little backpacks from lunch sacks and string, there was a map inside.  They had to go over Hop Scotch Bridge (the carpet from Katies room) and figure out the riddle from the Grumpy Old Troll (aka Daddy), then go to chocolate tree (the orange tree in the back yard with Hershey's Kisses tied to it) and then get to the pinata (back in the tree in the front).  They then broke the pinata, got the candy and all was well.

It only took a few hours to do all this, was cost effective but a ton of fun to plan and enjoy.  Nicholas was priceless as Swiper - unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of him ... but I will remember him willing to do that for his baby sister forever.

In front of the Dora Pinata, beginning of the party

Valeria and Makayla enjoy juice boxes

Allison and Riley having lunch

Finding the note Swiper left

With their backpacks .. "Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?"

Crossing Hopscotch Bridge

Waiting to get through the Gate

The Grumpy Old Troll made them solve a riddle:  "Who's birthday is it?"

At Chocolate Tree - here comes Swiper.  We say "Swiper No Swiping, Swiper No Swiping"

Yay!  We found the Dora Pinata

Lauren is ready to pull the string and see if that opens Dora's Backpack full of candy

Katie and the Dora Pinata - that was her favorite part

Mini - Me

Now Johnny and Zachary have always looked alike, but this photo really surprised me at how much Katie looks like me when I was 4.  This is with her cousin Kaylee, who was visiting from Pittsburg, PA.  There is just something about her hair, her smile, etc that is just the image of me as a little girl. As the Mommy, that is really special to see!

Katie's 4th Birthday

Our baby girl turned 4 this year.  Where has the time gone?   We had a little cupcake and ice cream party with her brothers on her actual birthday.

Ready to for us to sing Happy Birthday!

Getting a little help from her brothers

Make a Wish!

Yummy cupcake- the frosting always goes first