Golf Lessons!

My AG (avid golfer) finally talked our oldest granddaughter into taking some golf lessons recently. It took some convincing, since I think she thought she wouldn't like it or maybe that she wouldn't be any good at it. The deal was set up--four days of lessons, but she could quit after the first day if she didn't like it! Now that's shades of even more detailed negotiations to come for this little smarty! Not bad for a seven-yr-old! Hmm, reminds me of someone......oh yeah, her mother!

Well, she DID like it and the lessons continued. On the last day, she even got to go out on the course and play 3 holes! I'd like to have tagged along and taken more pictures, but for now I have to settle for just this one before they left the first day.

Open House for Isabella

It was fun to go to Isa's Open House at her school, and I have mixed feelings about knowing that she's at the end of Second Grade and will soon be in Third. She's had a great teacher again this year, which has helped make her eager to get to school each day (socializing is the other help!). She was very excited to take us all on a tour of her room and highlight her displayed work. It's easy to be proud of this sweet girl. Yes, she's smart as a whip and tries her best, but the part of her that's touching is her tender spirit. I've watched her yell hi across the playground to many young friends, and be the one who goes to someone who may be feeling left out and talk to them. It makes me smile to think about how God may use her in the future.

AWANA

The end of the school year activities are here. Can it be already? The first event was the Raingutter Regatta for Awana and then the Awards Night.

Oh These Sweet Faces

This is a short collection of some snapshots I've taken recently.

Isa and Cade at the park

Let's just say that I've learned since this day to be a lot more specific when I tell Syd to go get ready so we can go pick up Isa from school. Yes, we went out the door this way since we didn't have time for her to change clothes. Luckily we were able to park close on the curb by the gate so PJ Girl didn't have to get out of the car. And btw, she was dressed in pants and a top when I sent her in her room to get shoes.



A cute new hairdo.



Such good helpers!

Fun Times Together

These are some random photos from October. The first 2 are of Cade and Sydney in their new playroom in the new house. They lined up stuffed animals and themselves on the roller coaster track, which can barely be seen under them.

The next 2 pics are tyoical of our ride home each schoolday after we pick up Isa--Cade being silly, Isa always ready for a picture (and dictating to the other 2!), and Syd watching and copying and coming up with her own silliness.

The next 4 pics are taken out in the Vidals backyard.

And finally, these last 2 pics are of Sydney. On Mondays and Thursdays now, it's just me and Syd at home while Isa and Cade are in school. This particular day we had just been to Target and I bought Syd Minnie Mouse tights which she wanted to hold on the ride home. She got the package open and this is what I found when I went to get her out when we got home. This was as far as she could get them on and then she fell asleep.

First Day of Second Grade!

Second Grade. I spent the greater part of my 38 years of teaching in Second Grade. And now, it is Isa's turn. I'm excited! It should be a fun year!
Isa was more than ready to get to school this morning. She really looked more excited than nervous. However, she revealed when I picked her up after school that once she got to her room and sat at her desk, she was really nervous. This reveal came after I found her at the back gate of the school instead of the front as I had told her. Not a big problem, just more walking to find her. After having to park about 3 blocks away in the morning, we did our share of walking today--with no complaints from Cade and Syd even!

Projects

It's not that I haven't been doing any projects lately, it's just that I forget to post them and sometimes even forget to take pictures! So here are a couple from July.
This first one was for Miss Isa for her birthday. Having just made a trek to Disneyland, and having viewed the many items for sale in the gift shops (and the hefty prices), I looked at this one and thought, "I can make that". I have a feeling that I'll be making a couple more of these in the near future.

The next project was also part of Isa's birthday. She had told me that she wanted to try sewing something bigger, so I suggested a blanket. We started with the panda for the center. I enlarged and cut out the pattern and she did a great job of cutting out the pieces. Using small but sharp scisssors made it easy for her. We both like the way the edges looked rough and more like fur. Next, she manned the foot pedal and pressed buttons for cuttting threads, while I guided the fabrics. It was also Isa's idea to choose the blue and green background fabrics for the panda. This little girl plays with the fabric scrap box each time she comes over--I foresee some great future projects!

Perfectly Pleasing Panda Party

Since Isa is currently enamored with pandas, it seemed only fitting that her theme for her birthday party should be pandas. Thanks to the extreme talents of Ellie Garcia, (The Cake Designers), Isa's cake was ADORABLE!

We started our morning with finishing setting up the tables and then went over to the nail salon where the girls were meeting up with us.

Such excitement! Each girl got to choose a base color of polish and then a design to go on her nails. Isa chose black and white with dots (matching the pandas, of course).

(Sidenote about Sydney:  I don't think Jill had pictured Syd coming to the salon when she made the plans, but I sort of swayed her by saying that Marcus might have his hands full with keeping her at the house while he blew up all of the helium  balloons. I was seeing Syd and the cake in the same room.... But she did pretty well at the salon. She definitely thought she was one of the big girls and once she noticed that the girls were going to the shelf at the back of the room to choose polish, she was ALL in to that. Thankfully she didn't break any of the bottles on her many trips back and forth to rechoose hers, and it didn't seem to bother her that it was never her turn to have it put on her nails!)
The polishing took about an hour and then we came back to the house for lunch and presents and cake and ice cream. A fun party!! Isa has a very special group of friends!