Lake Isabella ~ Summer 2005 ~Labor Day Weekend

Fun at the Lake...The Kids...

The Lake...

Jeremiah age 2

Makayla age 5 1/2

The Sand...

The Sun...

...with Mom & Dad.

Fun Nights...Even Funner Days...

...riding the wave runners.

...playing with our friends.

...that's what we love about Lake Isabella.... EVERYTHING!

Go Climb A Tree...

...sharing special moments with ones we love.

...trying new things.
...believing in ourself.

...knowing when to accept help.

...and then knowing when to just sit back and enjoy the veiw.

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All these things and more, I wish for you...

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Love, Mommy :)

Just Add Water

My reciepe for happy kids in the Summer?... Just add water!
As is true with most kids... I just cannot keep mine out of the water, come Summertime. (Not that I would even want to try!) Every year, just before school lets out, I buy one of those nice big Intex swimming pools. (BTW- where were those when WE were kids?) This becomes part of our daily Summer rituals.
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Whether it is just my two- or a gaggle of neighborhood kids (plus my two)- from June to September, morning till night- our little backyard swimming pool sees plenty of action. These are photos of Makayla, Jeremiah and a friend, one such day, last August. And this particular day was just like nearly every other, last Summer- and every Summer. They had a ball.

Even Sadie the Cat cannot resist all that wet fun! (She likes to get up on the inflatable edge and relax with her paws in the water. (I know... STRANGE CAT!) Just look at the interest gleaming in her eyes! She almost looks like she is ready to jump right in with them!
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Now that Summer is almost here again, we are looking forward to long, hot days, spent cooling off in the pool- followed by muggy nights, staying up laate, BBQing, and night swimming in our little backyard pool.
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Aaaah.... the joys of childhood!

First Day Of Water Play 2009!

What a great way to kick of the first day of Spring Break!!!

Today was the first day warm enough to pull out the old toddler pool for a little splashin' around!

The kids and I spent the first day of our Spring Vacation hanging aroung the house, kicking back, playing and enjoying not having to go to school. The kids woke up early and had breakfast while getting to watch the morning cartoons that they usually miss while in school. Then, while Mom got to clock in a wee bit of extra shut eye; Makayla and Jeremiah took turns hiding plastic Easter Eggs and searching aroung the living room for them.

Then, after they got tired of that, they started a new game/craft project. They divided all of the eggs up between them; and then drew faces on each, and gave them all names. After they had their 'Egg Babies', Makayla transformed an egg carton into their 'Egg Farm'. She also cut little blankets for them, while Mom made head kercheifs for the girls, and bibs for the boys. They had a whole morning's worth of fun on that activity! (Those are my favorite kind of activity...the ones that let them get crafty AND use their imagination.)

After lunch, we pulled out the play clothes and the hose for a bit of water play. That is when our little neighbor Vicka and her mother Natasha came over to join us. They are some new friends that we meet this year, when Vicka and her Mama moved here all the way from Russia. Natasha is the new wife of our neighbor's brother; an Vicka goes to Kindergarten with J.D.

The kid's splashed around all afternoon,until it got a little cold. After we changed into dry clothes, and our friends had left; the kids put on the old, "Mom, we're bored!" routine. So, I took them for a scooter ride around the neighborhood, where we stopped by our other friend's house, to see if they could play for awhile.

Brian, Michael and their Mama, Lorraine came over to play on the trampoline, and share a pizza dinner with us. All in all, I would say that we had a fabulous first day of Spring Vacation. Who can complain about craft project, water play, TWO playdates and pizza, all in one day!

J.D.'s Kindergarten Easter Party!

There is nothing like a good Easter Egg Hunt,
to get you in the mood for Spring Vacation!

Ms. Park's Kindergarten Easter Party was a whole lotta fun, for both the kids and the parents.

Mom volunteered to fill and hide he Easter Eggs for the big hunt. Then all of the kids came out and had a ball finding them.

Afterwards, the kids and the parents who wee there, went back to the room for some more Easter fun.

The kids counted their eggs, and checked out their candy loot.

Then, Ms. Park had some Easter Basket crafts for the kids to make.

First they colored, and then cut out the baskets, and then we put them together.

Then the kids sang a song or two that they sing in class, and passed the time until school got out.

...and then before we knew it, the bell rang, and it was time for Spring Vacation!!!

JEREMIAH GRADUATES HIS WHITE BELT KARATE CLASS!

NOW ON TO THE YELLOW BELT CLASS...


Way to go champ!!!

March 25th, 2009

Jeremiah really enjoyed taking his first Karate Class. He worked very hard to listen during class, and learn all of the moves for his test.

We practiced and practiced, and when the big day came, he did great.






This is Jeremiah waiting in line with his classmates, to have Sensei sign his certificate of completion.






He was so funny, when he got his Yellow Belt, he also thought he was getting the boxing gloves that he had seen the Yellow Belt class kids wearing. He didn't realize hat he only gets those right before he cmpletes the NEXT class! I think he was more excited to get the gloves than the belt! I don't blame him...they looked pretty cool! Oh well.



You can tell how proud and excited he was; and we are all very proud and excited for him too!

It is always great to see the kid's do something that they enjoy and are good at.

Gotta keep 'em busy!

This bottom photo is Jeremiah and Brian Mendez. Brian and his family have been friends of ours since Makayla and Brian were in Mommy & me Preschool together in 2003-4. They have been close buddies ever since. He and his family have joined us for most of the kid's Birthday and our annual Halloween Parties. So it was a pleasant surprise when we discovered that Brian and J.D. would be in the same Karate Classes.

Many times after school, or after Karate class; we would have Brian and his sister Ivy over to play. It gave the boys a chance to get to know each other one on one; and now they are just as good friends as he and Makayla. It was a nice change. Also now that Ivy is old enough to play here by herself, it gave she and Makayla a chance to get to know each other much better.

So now, we are gearing up for the new session to start on April 1st; when the boys will go into the Yellow Belt Class. (And we think Makayla has decided to give Karate a try, so she will be starting the White Belt Class that J.D. just finished. Hey, I guess I won't be needing to buy a new white belt!) That will be nice for the kid's to be able to practice together.

Jeremiah's First Mohawk

MR. J. DEISEL ROCKIN' THE COOL NEW DO...

...for a couple of days anyways!

This was J.D.'s first mohawk. (And the only one, so far...I am sure there will be plenty more in his future!) It was given to him in late June 2008, by Daddy.

The only problem with it, was that it was too long to stand up well. It looked super cool that first day...and then kind of flopped ver in a funky 1980's skater dude hair do. Nice, but not at all J.D. ;so out came the clippers, and he got his first shave!

I do have to admit, that while I sorely missed my boys beautiful locks, that he looked very handsome with his head shaved. And much older too! In fact, he looked so good, that we have kept it shaved ever since last Summer.

I still miss his 'Little Boy Hair', but I think he looks better like this. (And I can't complain about not having to keep the hair out of his eyes!) Also, since he was a bald baby; it seems to suit him better.

But, I know we will always remember J.D.'s very first mohawk!