Like Sands Through The Hourglass....

....so went the days of our summer.....

I tried a different approach to this summer: planning every day.  Honestly, I think I can count on one hand the number of times the boys claimed they were bored!  SUCCESS!  Gio's last day of school was a Thursday and the following Monday he began a two week science experiment class.  He loved it!  He tested the effects of soap on whole milk vs. skim milk; constructed and set off a volcano; created a lava lamp in a water bottle; made ice cream and performed many more experiments.  He was in heaven!

Volcano!

The next two weeks, Gio took Hip Hop Dance.  This was his 2nd round (he took it last summer, too) and he was pleased with the opportunity to shake his booty on the dance floor.

Following Hip Hop Dance, both boys took a month of swimming lessons.  Gio's fins have officially grown in, I swear - he swims like a fish!  Vinnie LOVED every minute and spent every lesson (when at the wall) dunking his head in and bobbing back up - over and over.  SO adorable!  Both boys really excelled this year and had a great time.

My fish!

Happiness is swimming lessons :)

Twice a week, in the evenings of all four weeks of swimming, BOTH boys played baseball.  FINALLY Vinnie got to participate, not just watch from the side lines!  Hooray!  Unfortunately, he's not so hot at following directions.  Oh, well, it was a fun introductory experience.

They were in 2 different divisions, same uniform

The last two weeks of baseball/swimming and the week after, Gio took an optional Spanish summer school program to help him brush up on his skills.  Even before that, I had him working in Spanish and math workbooks to keep caught up.  He seemed to enjoy getting ahead and didn't complain too much.

Gio had plenty of time to play with the neighborhood boys and even earned an allowance, for the first time, doing regular chores.  He had different assigned chores Monday through Friday and, yes, he pays tithing.  My policy was this:  do every chore, every day and earn $5 on Friday.  If he skipped even one day he earned nothing.  Hopefully, I am teaching my children to do a complete job and give it their all!

First tithing given!

There was lots of progress made this summer.  As mentioned above, Gio gained confidence in his swimming abilities.  Additionally, he finally believed me that he didn't need training wheels anymore.  Hooray!  His bike of choice is currently this beauty:

He's had it a while and it's been sitting in the garage so long it had flat tires.  So, we took it around the corner to the auto mechanic's and asked our good friend, Carlos, if he could pump it up.  He put it on the risers and lifted it a couple inches, filled the tires and gave it the whole treatment.  Gio was beaming!

It was a busy and rewarding summer :)

What Can I Say??

Vinnie started Primary
(This was his 1st day,
reverence is still not his thing)

We've been busy!

Here's a little of what we've been up to:

We visited the dinosaurs in Cabazon

Gio has lost 6 teeth so far

One last ride on Lucky

One last ride on Athena
-Horsey Grandma generously donated both Lucky
& Athena to stables that benefit special needs children

Vinnie's love for building Frosty from anything
continues to grow tall, tall, tall

The Easter Bunny visited

Gio turned 7

Gio switched baseball leagues 
& became a Yankee

Wendy & I went to Palm Springs

We went to Legoland

.......and much, much more.......

All before the school year ended!

First Grade These Days

As Gio & I walked into the book fair after school today, Gio told a kid, "I told teacher on you!"  The guilty kid looked up at me, then at Gio & back at me before blurting out: "I told him he's dumb but I don't know if he's dumb and, and-did you get my birthday party invitation???"

Vinnanigans

My sweet (OK, crazy) Vinnie-Pie has succumbed to three-year-oldness.  That's right: he's bossy.  What's interesting is how he has chosen to express his new-found talent of being directive.  While driving about, much to my surprise, this little guy randomly shouts out,

"I wanna go to 
[the park, Mickey, etc.] - 
TURN RIGHT!" 

Our First Date

I had the most amazing date yesterday!  First, we got dressed up in matching outfits.  Next, we dropped off Vinnie to my good friend's who spoiled him rotten all day.  My date & I continued to his favorite restaurant, Home Town Buffet.  He did a pretty decent job cleaning his plate, considering he's missing a ton of teeth right now, so he helped himself to a fair amount of dessert.  When we were both so full we had to be rolled out of the restaurant, we headed to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts where we saw...........Beauty and the Beast!  I must say, my date's behavior was impressive.  He was quite the gentleman and only sat on my lap a few times during the show.  His attention span was better than I expected.  About half the audience was comprised of children and I mused that there should have been a brief break about halfway through the first act to allow for a couple rounds of Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes.  The performance was beautiful and did not disappoint.

The Mind of My Gio....

At the mall on Monday, Gio observed a pug dog walking by and commented, "Aw, what a cute little puppy!"

I wondered, aloud, "What is a dog doing at the mall?"

Gio thought about it for only a second before he suggested:

"Well, it's probably his birthday."

Months of Planning.....

All led up to this day of joy:

True: we celebrate with an aluminum Christmas tree.
This year we upgraded it with a color wheel!

SO exciting!

Proof that Santa & Rudolph ate their cookies & carrots

I'm not sure but it looks like he's praying.  LOL

My gift to my sister.  Don't worry she got even:
she gave me chatter teeth.  HA HA HA!!

Yes, that's a hot dog steamer that mom & I got Bailey.
It even barks when the hot dogs are finished cooking!

Lego & Star Wars heaven, Gio was in :)

Princess dress up clothes for Princess Gracie all bundled
in a princess hat box

Triplets! Henry, Charlie & Sophie

Dillon love Mr. Knightly & doesn't leave him alone for a
second when he's here.

The joy just kept on spreading all day long...

Katie's laptop dreams came true :)

In the end, it was Mexican food that brought us all together.  It was the first Christmas since my dad passed away that everyone showed up for.  A true season of miracles, I tell you.