Cousins

For the first time in an awfully long time we managed to get the cousins together while we were in Southern California.  As I hinted I was there for work but the boys in my family tagged along for the ride.

Well after the Anniversary party we got together a few days later for dinner with Dave's cousin Stephanie, her family and Chris and his family - we were missing Stephanie's brother Eric.

Even better the kids got to play and for a few of them meet for the first time - my Drew sees pictures of everyone on Facebook, but it's not the same as real life.

L-R: Drew, Drew and AJ (not pictured Lauren... who was making faces to get them to pay attention and Aiden who would've been crushed by this posse)

We went to John's Incredible Pizza in Buena Park - it's an all-you-can-eat Chuck E Cheese on Steroids.

After dinner the kids played arcades and rode a few rides until they couldn't take anymore.  Before Cousin Stephanie and her family could leave I tortured everyone with a group shot... we had to do it in 2 pictures to get everyone in.  Someone had to play photog...

L-R: Heath, Drew, Stephanie, Aiden, Dave, Me, Drew, Chris, AJ and Lauren

L-R: Heath, Drew, Stephanie, Aiden, Drew, Annie, Lauren, AJ and Chris

What's crazy is I remember going to Halloween parties when Dave and I were dating and Stephanie I believe was barely 21!  Thanks for makin' me feel old girl - your now the mama of 2 kids!

Silver Anniversary

Better late than never... we celebrated Tata and Abuela's 25th anniversary/vow renewal 3 weeks after the first attempt.  So while I was down in Southern California for work and Dave and Drew were coming down, they had the Hawaiian themed party that weekend.

I was a bit late - along with the camera because of work, but here are the pictures I managed to capture.

The "first dance"

Prepping for the vow renewal.  The Ring bearer - Drew gets ready.

"Bankers" - the Best Man from 25 years ago 'officiates' the ceremony this time around.

Exchanging the vows

Here comes the ring bearer...
This could've been the first or second attempt.  Not enough cameras were ready so we did a "re-do".

Awwww....

Speeches...

Trying to keep the 4 year old occupied and out of trouble during the lengthy speeches

And there was some dancing after the speeches.  Clearly I had a willing partner...

The reason that Tata and Abuela are together today - David's Brother Bobby and his wife Norma.

 L-R: David (Tata), Norma, Bobby, Yolanda (Abuela)

And our final goodbye.

L-R: Me, David, Drew, Dave Yolanda

Week of Activity

What is a parent to do when their child is gone from 7:30am - 8:30 at night?  Celebrate and do whatever the heck they want!

This is VBS week at the church where Drew goes to Preschool. It was the first time he was age eligible and know what - he's loving it!  When I go pick him up, he's busy singing the songs he learned that day (he's also falling asleep to the CD for VBS) and speaking of sleep he's conking out without battle!  That makes this mama love it to!

He is really getting into the themes for VBS too - Tuesday was sports day so Daddy put him in a Dodger jersey.  Come to think of it, I think it was Drew's idea.  But yesterday it was crazy hat day.   This is the text I got from Dave as they were headed out the door (Drew has been sleeping in because VBS is that exhausting).

Safe to say it was a crazy hat?!

Today it was Hawaiian day, but it's cooler so he's just wearing a shirt with some palm trees and jeans.  We packed him a couple of leis to make it more festive.

The other cool thing about VBS is they serve him dinner.  I spoke to one of his teachers and they said he's been doing pretty darn well with the food issue - being the pick eater that he is.  They said he's tried something virtually every day - without gagging/puking.  Could this be progress?

Would it be bad of me to look for other VBS programs around town?  The sign went up for another church up the street from his announcing one for next month.... hmmmmm....

Time to Spare

It was a hot one this past weekend so we came up with a plan to stay cool and have fun indoors - bowling!  Our neighbors joined us for some fun thanks to a Groupon we scored.

This was Drew's second time bowling and his friend Christopher's first time.  The boys had a blast bowling 2 games.

Dave couldn't believe one of the frames that Drew bowled, leaving all four back pins standing....

His second throw only left 3 standing.

Go Mommy - she got a spare!  Shhhh she even  beat Daddy on the last game - but Daddy erased the board before she could get picture proof.

In between turns Drew decided to climb under any chairs he could find.  Thankfully the alley was VERY quiet that afternoon and he wasn't in anyone's way.

Christopher's reaction from one of the first times he threw the ball.  His mom Julie is in the background and Drew's there offering moral support.

Dave has this OCD thing where he shines the ball before throwing it.  Very odd, just like him.

And then the peanut gallery shows what they think of that.

We had a great time  and figured we could easily do this every couple months with the boys.  Funny thing is through the summer kids bowl free!  Perhaps we'll rethink how often we do this - at least through the summer.

Beginnings and Endings

Wow, what a difference two years makes!  Almost exactly two years ago... well 1 year, 11 months and about 3 weeks ago Drew started preschool.  He began mid summer-camp, but it was a big step. He left the home day care and entered preschool - about a month before the regular school year began.

Look how little he was!

We didn't even have his lunch box yet!

I of course didn't get his first day as an official Bunny (the beginning class).

Then here is a picture from his first official day as a Bear (the pre-K class).

And now look at him!  These are from this morning.  The official last day of Preschool.

He was so excited for his school party.  He will return on Monday for Summer Camp, so he won't be long without his school friends.  That will go through the end of August.  We begin Transitional Kindergarten at the end of August. 

I can't believe how big he looks after only two years!

Pomp and Circumstance

Warning, there are a ton of cute pictures coming up....

It's the end of one chapter right into the start of another - graduating from preschool!  Friday night we celebrated Drew's graduation with our family.  They came over for a rushed dinner and then off to the ceremony, which was hands down amazing!

Drew goes to a church preschool (not our church) and we were allowed into the salutary at 6:30 but the kids couldn't go to their classroom until quarter til.  So it was the perfect opportunity to snap some shots with his friends.

L-R: Drew and Troy

 Drew and Troy have been together since Drew was 4 months, and Troy was days shy of his first birthday.  Troy is definitely Drew's first friend.  We're going to miss seeing him every day like we have for the past 4 1/2 years! (Troy will be going to a different Kindergarten)

L-R: Troy, Zionna, Drew

 L-R: Naomi, Drew, Troy, Zionna

It's hard to keep serious faces for too long, so they make silly faces.
L-R: Naomi, Drew, Troy, Zionna

Can't you see the same picture in 12-13 years from now?!

Once the ceremony started, the Pastor of the church said a few words and then they played a slide show of the past year (or more for those kids who have been at this school for 2+ years like we have). 

I admit, this is where I lost it.  I swear it was the music!!  Here are the pictures of Drew from the slide show.  I will get the video off Dave's camcorder ASAP, so you  can see what I mean about the music.

From the slideshow:  Drew and his Best buds
L-R: Jayce, Drew, Troy

From the slideshow, his other best bud
L-R: Jayce and Drew

Final picture of Drew from the slideshow, where all the kids thanked their parents.  Too sweet.  Yes I admitted I was a sappy mess.  My Dad leaned over at one point and said, "wow you're really gonna miss this place".  It was the music!  I swear! :)
 
Then the kids came in marching to Pomp and Circumstance - all my pictures of the entry are blurry... darn.

We started with the pledge of allegiance followed by the kids singing "God Bless America"

Drew is in the back center.  Naomi happens to be in the bottom left, Troy to the bottom right.  You will see them frequently in the following pictures.

The Graduating Class of 2012

The kids did several songs for the parents, some of which were hilarious!  

He was so proud of himself there.... (back center)

The kids then each received their "diploma" (it was really just a rolled up paper).  Again, I got blurry pictures of them handing them off.  But he put his diploma to good use....

That would be Drew trying to "spy" us in the audience.

Our little graduate

The only non-blurry picture I have of Drew marching out as a preschool graduate.  That's the school Director Mrs. Kim helping him down.  Notice he's capless?  All the kids threw their caps in the air when the teachers told him they graduated!

We then filed out after some much deserved juice and cookies we found everyone in our group and took pictures

The Family shot

L-R: Uncle Matt, Drew, Adrina, Auntie Rana

L-R: Grammy and Drew (GrampC was MIA)

Oh GrampC was looking for props...
L-R: Grammy, Drew and GrampC

Great-Grandma Geri (GG) and Drew

And of course Ms. Stephie, his former day care provider who is also Troy's mom.  She has been an important part of his (and our) life since he was just shy of 4 months old.  WOW time flies.

So what is next?  Well TK as I mentioned last week.  But what does Drew want to be when he grows up?  According to the program...

Who knew!?!  Uncle Matt said if he had a "do over" he'd be a firefighter too - for those who don't know he's a police officer.  We aren't quite sure where the Firefighter ambition came from, but we suspect from the neighbor boy who Drew loves to play with.

Graduation is bittersweet.  It's a milestone in his life, and sad because it means our baby is growing up!  I cannot fathom doing this again when he's 18... so as one of the songs during the slideshow says... "Let them be Little".