California Summer

Each summer we undertake the major exodus to the US. This entails packing 4 kids up for the summer holiday and boarding a jumbo jet to spend 15+ very long hours to reach California, with a stopover in Japan. It is an absolute nightmare but there is no other way around it. Luckily, we soon forget it happened while we spend a wonderful summer among family and friends.

This past summer holiday began in California with a trip to Disneyland. It was the first time at Disneyland for half of them, and the first time they remember for the older girls. I mostly watched with Ella on the sidelines, resting my pregnant body.

A trip to California always entails lots of beach time and walks along the bluffs. The weather is always perfect in the summer and the kids can spend hours on end in the sand and water. Alexander became buddies with his cousin David and we are lucky Joseph and Tracy live close to my parents and Xander was able to see David often. All my sisters came to California at one time or another. Kiersten and Alessa were there for awhile with Tasha and her girls. Abigail, Maggie, Afton and Eliza make up a perfect foursome. Grandma got the sewing machine out and the girls had fun making rag quilts and doll clothes with Grandma. Cami and Kara also came with their children for a week, bringing along a new cat and some cat drama (Grandma already has two cats and they didn't all get along.)

Most of the time, the kids played happily on Grandma and Grandpa's hill in the tree house, swinging, visiting the horses, in the garage playing the wii, swimming in the jacuzzi or waterfall, or eating fresh popped popcorn in the loggia. You couldn't find a better place to spend the summer and create some fun memories.

We spent a fun morning at the marine institute in Dana Point, enjoying the displays of fish and other marine life in the area.

School Days

Here are some final school year pictures. Abigail and Maggie both had a fantastic year at their school here in Singapore. A few weeks ago they have a program called student led conferences. This is where the student leads their parents through their year with a portfolio containing samples of all their academic work and progress. Then they take us around to the different specials: art, PE and music. Pictured here are Abigail and Maggie on the climbing wall in the gym. They are also pictured next to their art in the art show that the art department puts together. Maggie is pointing to her piece and Abigail is standing by the cakes with slices--her piece.

Abigail is with her Achievement Day group. I am the leader for her age. (There are actually 13 girls so they are split into older and younger. ) We had fun making summer flip-flops last week. And below she is modeling her "Chewer Trainer," her invention she made for the invention convention at school (kind of like a science fair, only with an invention.) You wear it at dinner and it reminds you to keep your mouth closed while you are chewing.

Xander at his school. He is with his teacher Miss Christina. Some of his friends at the activity table. Also a picture of him writing his name on the board with his friends Iman. They all have to write their name when they come in.

Here is Xander with Laoshi his Chinese teacher in the classroom. (Laoshi has two tone marks and literally means teacher in Chinese.) She does their Chinese circle time.































Putting his shoes away and at the play yard.