Amazed

The last few weeks before school ended left me amazed and exhausted.

Amazed because I watched my kids give it their all and never waiver (even when mom offered an temporary break), amazed at their courage, amazed that they do hard things that aren't required and amazed that we survived it all. There were days that we needed to be 5 different places after school and somehow it just energized us more. 

Now that Julia is getting older, her level of activities is growing but she doesn't want to scale back on anything so she just keeps adding to her list. I watch her in awe and realize that I am just not that kind of person. As a proud mom, I will say that this child will go far in life. All in one week, she had nightly (5!) soccer club try outs, talent show rehearsals, Academic League finals, 2 school projects due, and a soccer game. Phew!

Julia tried out of the Barcelona Soccer Club which is new for us. None of her friends were making this jump from rec soccer to club and she knew she would be one of the youngest at try outs, yet she showed up on the first day and jumped right in. She was a bundle of nerves and even got a little teary when she saw the size/age of her competition.

 

 Plank time!

 

Julia knew that being the youngest gave her a disadvantage but she stuck it out and told me that if she didn't make the team, she would use it as a lesson and try again next year.... 

 

but was thrilled when they offered her a spot on the 2013-14 team! Club soccer here we come!

That same week, Julia's 5th grade Academic League team was entering the city finals. Julia blew me away with her new found confidence (she usually second guessed herself and would hesitate to answer some questions). She answered every math question she buzzed in! Both the 4th and 5th grade Pima Butte teams won the city finals and were recognized at the school board meeting!

 

Julia, Academic League coach Mrs. Rakoci,  and Julia's close friend Jordan

 

Go 5th grade champs!

Both Bella and Julia tried out for the school talent show. Again, their courage amazes me and I wonder where they both get these traits?

Bella performed a tumbling and dance routine (that she made up on the spot, per Bella's style) to "Take Me to Rio". She did awesome! 

 

 (the lighting is bad since I was far away)

 

 Julia, Loren and Emma hula hooped a cute routine to "Round and Round". They did awesome and no one dropped their hoop!  

 

Can't forget driving these 2 tumbling cuties to their weekly gym class. I think Camille loves having something in common with her big sisters! 

And this is what happens after a long 2 weeks of non stop action!!

Books, books and more books

A new crop of books has taken over our house these days. It used to be difficult to find books that excited Julia but now we can't see her without her nose in a book.

To potentially re-live my childhood (ha ha!), I bought copies of some of my favorite books when Julia was first born. I found the first edition of my all time favorite series "Sweet Valley Twins" and it sat on the shelf for a few years until she finally took to it.What does any mom do after that? Finds the next 35 books on Ebay (one lot) and watch your daughter devour 1 book per day!

 

At our Mother's Day lunch- she spent most of the time like this!

 

Still reading

Bella reading another one of my childhood favorites.

I love seeing them read!!

Chaperone duty

Damara, Bella and me riding the big yellow bus. 

I love being at home being full time! One of my favorite perks is being able to chaperone field trips and helping in the kids' classes. Bella had been sick for 10 days and recovered just in time for both of us to attend the 2nd grade Shamrock Farms field trip.

Bella and all her friends loved the trip and Bella loved having me there (such a nice feeling for me).

Mother's Day part 1

Part 1 of our Mother's Day weekend was celebrating with Jackie and the Lamis family. Everything is always better at Grandma and Grandpa's house- the 8 grand kids swam the entire time (only stopping for food). There were no Ipods to be seen or fights to be heard. The kids all had a wonderful time while the adults enjoyed each others company.

Mother's Day should always be special but it was even more precious this year since our time with Jackie is unknown. We were happy to shower her with love!

 

Cousin Taylor is always such a help with the little ones!

Isaac

Madison and Julia

 

The kids' table!

Jackie and her 3 kids

The kids were cold from swimming so Papa brought out the fire pit!

Bella reading to Keeley.

7 of the grand kids (minus Taylor who had left already).

National Public Gardens Day

Camille and I took advantage of this holiday (free admission!) and visited the Desert Botanical Garden. This free admission day also included the butterfly exhibit which is only open 1 week per year. Score!

I had a great time taking in all the glory of the Sonoran Desert. Camille, on the other hand, had enough of the walking (5 minutes into our visit) and kept asking when lunch was! I wasn't surprised- compared to the zoo (just 2 minutes away), the Garden isn't THAT exciting for a 4 year old.

eating lunch with the quails- you can spot one just above the back of her chair.

Doesn't she look thrilled to see butterflies? Ha ha!