First Day of School

Ryan started school yesterday.  5 days a week.  At a real school!  Crazy.  He's not quite old enough for Kindergarten this year, but there is a newer program in California called Transitional Kindergarten for those kids with birthdays from September to December, that didn't qualify for Kindergarten this year.  So he's in class with 25 other kids, who will all be turning 5 this fall.  Kinda fun!  It's the same hours as Kindergarten is, and then he goes to regular Kindergarten next year.  

As per Ry's usual -- he was a little nervous, because he "didn't know who the teacher was going to be".    But we had met 1 other boy that we knew would be in his class, and saw another familiar face from swim lessons that morning, so that helped.  Both Eddy and I got to go with him to school on his first day, as they did a parent orientation that morning.  We helped Ryan do a fun game/hunt to figure out where things were in his room, we met his teacher Mrs Henning, and then we said goodbye.  Of course Ryan cried, but a short while later we heard he was doing fine.  I guess because he is always this way with new things, both Eddy and I were completely dry eyed.  Yes!  I went back later that morning to help out in the classroom, and Ry seemed to be doing just fine.  It made me so proud to watch him listening to the teacher, following the rules, and in general paying attention very well (and this was before he knew I was there -- so he wasn't doing it just for me, I swear!)

His teacher seems fabulous, she is SO very patient with all the kids, yet keeps them laughing and engaged.  I think it will be a good year.  Just in 2 short days I feel like I've met some other great moms, with what seem to be good kiddos.  So I am hopeful this is the beginning of some great friendships.  

So cheers to a great first year Ryan.  I'm already so proud of how brave you are, and excited for all that you will experience and learn, and excited for a chance to make new friends!  I'm not excited, however, about packing a lunch for you everyday…but what are ya gonna do?  

Kaitlyn wanted to wear her backpack too -- and the Mickey ears, not sure, but didn't want to argue with the 2 year old about it.  She stayed home in her PJs with Nonni and Nonno while we took Ry to school

lined up on the fence with his friend Gavin, ready to walk into the classroom 

in class with Mrs Henning telling a story.  Ryan is in the bright green shirt. 

cousin Carl

We have been pretty lucky to have some fun visitors this summer.  Including my younger cousin Carl and his girlfriend Ellen (whom we had not yet met until this trip, but we highly approve!  as if our opinion matters).  Carl is entering his senior year at CU Boulder, and Ellen has graduated and works as a nurse in Denver.  They came out to see San Francisco for the week, and spent the first 4 days at my parents house and did a TON of fun stuff both with my parents as tour guides and also on their own.  It sounds like they really saw the ins and outs of SF and Marin.  

Then they came to stay with us -- and they had almost as much fun on our end.  Maybe.  We managed to get them up to Napa, so they could rent bikes and tour through the vineyards.  They figured out how to take a bus to BART to get into the city without us, as we still had to go to work sadly while they were here.  And we took them to see the Cal Berkeley campus, so they could see what life is like at another university.  We also just enjoyed hanging out at home, drinking wine, and playing a board game or two.  The kids loved having other "kids" to play with while we were cooking, and Carl and Ellen did a great job of keeping our kiddos laughing.  

Hopefully we get to see them again soon!

Ryan loved kicking the soccer ball with Carl, and playing all sorts of sports related boy things.  K would climb into Carl's lap saying "Can you read this?" every chance she got.  Not sure Carl realized what it would mean to come stay with us.  

 We all went up to the top of the Campanili on Cal's campus, while the bells were ringing.  Man it was loud up there, but very cool! And some of those bells are HUGE! 

And then we found every sculpture on campus worthy of climbing on...

Carl and Ellen 

Auntie Dana's day

Auntie Dana's birthday was this past Saturday, and we helped her celebrate with an awesome day in Sonoma for a picnic.  She is such an incredible Auntie to these kids…always full of energy, full of creative ideas for fun, and knows how to keep them laughing.  We are all so lucky to have her in our lives.  

Happy Happy Birthday Dana!  Hope this years brings nothing but the best for you.  

sorry for the shadows, but this was the kids blanket -- and the only grown up invited to join in was Dana.   

Dana created the Kid Olympics….one event was the plate balancing contest.  A hard one!

getting her cake ready

the kids showering Eddy with love

summer achievements

Who says you only learn new things when you're in school?  I feel like these 2 kids of ours have been learning new things right and left (of which I have had nothing to do with mind you).  We are so proud…

First up, Kaitlyn continues to be a master at climbing everything in sight.  Including the backyard truck.

She loves to take selfies...

She will draw on anything, and luckily thus far we have plenty of paper lying around so she has only chosen that as her art medium of choice...

 And she has mastered the art of drawing a circle…all by herself.  I didn't even know that she knew the word "circle", let alone how to draw it.

Next up, Ryan has become very interested in the monkey bars, and can get himself across about 6 of them before he gets tired...

And he can also do this...

And while big brother is trying all of that, little sister is trying to keep up in her own way...

And of course, Ryan's proudest achievement of late, is his ability to swim.  I mentioned before that he has been in swim lessons for the last 3 weeks or so.  And it has been perfect for him.  He went from being scared to put his face in, to not showing one bit of fear, to graduating from Level 1 to Level 2 after just 2 short weeks of lessons, and is now working on his strokes and side breathing.  What?  I somewhat fear that he is ingesting way too much of the pool every time he gets in, as he just can't stop smiling.  What a great summer for this kid.

Here is a video with Ryan's stellar freestyle...

And one with his stellar diving ability…

Seattle visitors

We hosted my brother and his family for a very quick weekend gathering a few weekends back….they decided at the last minute to come, and we loved having them!  It was Derek's 20 year high school reunion!  Old man. 

They flew in Friday afternoon, we got to hang out that evening and then Saturday.  Then Saturday evening Derek and Kim took off for the party, and we got to keep the kiddos to ourselves that night!  The kids had a blast.  Eddy and I were beat.  The next morning I had to keep all 4 kids safe and happy by myself for a bit, as Eddy had to work, which was not an easy feat.  But we all managed, and then we met back up with Derek and Kim for a quick park play time and picnic lunch before the Seattle crew had to head back to the airport.  Short and sweet, but we'll take any time with them that we can get!

on Nanny & Dzia Dzia's front porch -- wishing that Nanny & Dzia Dzia were home to play too!