Matthew's SIX Year Old Favorites!

SIX year old quiz for Matthew!  Let's see what he loves now!

Favorite Food: Pesto Pizza
Favorite Drink: Coke (stayed the same)
Favorite Color: Dark Blue
Favorite TV Show:  Incredible Crew
Favorite Movie: Indiana Jones (stayed the same)
Favorite Vacation: Hawaii
Favorite Candy: Squeeze Pop
Favorite Ice Cream: Cotton Candy
Favorite Disney Character: Wreck It Ralph
Favorite Book: Frog & Toad are Friends
Favorite Song:  Thrift Shop by Macklemore
Favorite thing about Dad:  "There's so much things to say about him.  I think that he teaches me sports and that he gives me hugs.  He helps me a lot when I'm sleepwalking."
Favorite thing about Mom:  "When she cooks yummy dinner all the time and when she cuddles with me at bedtime."
Favorite thing about Michael:  "When he sits around and plays video games without me.  And, that's my life.  Just joking.  When we play baseball together."
Favorite thing about Claire:  "When she helps me with Emily.  Claire takes care of me and plays games with me."
Favorite thing about Emily:  "Well, this isn't my favorite but she always copies me when I pick ice cream, cereal, or any other thing.  She always just chooses what I choose.  Does that count as my favorite thing?"
Favorite thing to say:  This never gets old!
Favorite thing about school:  Playing with TJ, Joey, and Jacob.
Cheeseburger or Nuggets: Cheeseburger because I like to get the toy at McDonald's!
French fries or salad:  French Fries and dip them in ketchup.
If you could go one place in the world, where would you go:  I would go to Lake Chelan and go in the hot tub every day!

Matthew Turns SIX

Happy birthday Matthew!  What a BIG guy!  Six years old!  Matthew continues to be one amazing, loving, patient, wonderful, hilarious, and helpful kiddo.  I often say that he makes my world go 'round.  What I mean is that for the most part- Matthew just goes with the flow and adds such positivity to our family!  He just does what he supposed to do and loves his family.  Matthew is the epitome of a great kid.  I am lucky to have him.

On the morning of the kids' birthdays (especially if it's a school day), I like to have a special treat for them.  Matthew LOVES chocolate and maple old fashioned donuts.  So I surprised him with this ridiculously big '6' donut!  He cracked up and gave me the biggest hug!

This year, Matthew didn't really have any real request for things he wanted for his birthday.  He just said, "Mom, you just always know what I need."  No pressure.  Once all the kids were home from school, it was gift time!  This year, Matthew got some Skylanders Giants, A Marble Tube Game, Hot Wheels Angry Birds Racers, and a few other goodies.  Even Auntie Jocelyn stopped by and brought Matthew balloons, a 49er plush ball, and a bag of apples.  Apples are the way to Matthew's heart, by the way.  She didn't come inside because Claire was contagious!

The one bad part about today?  Claire was home sick with the stomach flu.  It was a serious quarantine situation.  The Superbowl is in a short three days and we are having a huge party at our house.  Poor Clairey. On a happy note, for dessert- Matthew got his favorite cake which is Nana's Cake and Auntie Gina spent it with us!

Happy Birthday to our Matthew who loves his new friends in Kindergarten AM (Joey, Jacob, and TJ are his best friends), loves playing any board game with any willing participant (favorites are Monopoly and Chutes and Ladders), loves all fruit and most veggies, and whose personality is coming out to play, people!  Matthew is hilarious!  He is very smart and very creative which makes his jokes and off handed comments the best!

I love you, Matthew and am so proud to be your Mommy.  I can still see your sweet baby face in the isolette when you were just a few days old.  My heart thumped so deeply and so perfectly for you.  We've shared that special connection since day one and I know that throughout our entire lives- our love for each other will continue to swirl and grow.  Love you, buddy.  Happy Birthday!

Friend-emies

My kids love each other but also bicker a lot.  Typical, normal kids- I say.  While sometimes it is frustrating to NO END to referee their arguments, it sure does warm my heart that they do indeed love each other.  These two pics make me smile.

Visiting Sam's Fire Museum

We absolutely adore our neighbor Sam Seibert.  He and his wife Sheila (who passed away about 1 1/2 years ago) are so sweet and so caring.  We see Sam regularly and have really gotten to love him throughout the five years we have lived next to him.

Sam is 94 years old and is as capable as someone half his age!  Until Sam retired, he was a City of San Jose fireman.  He is always ready to go, fix something, or help someone.  From time to time, we see him fixing something on top of his roof.  He is constantly repairing watches and clocks (his hobby and a true talent), and when he is not home doting over my family and Sweetie Pie, he volunteers down at the San Jose Fire Museum.

Up until today, we had not seen the museum.  Today was the grand opening of the museum to the public.  The kids and I were in awe of how many historical fire engines, hoses, and fireman/firetruck memorabilia they had in there.  No wonder Sam is so passionate about it.  He was honored in front of all in attendance and we felt so proud to be there supporting him.  He showed Claire, Matthew, and Emily all the engines and answered the 100 questions they had for him.

Although today was an already jam packed day for our family, we were happy that we could be there for Sam as he is always there for us.

Emily Previews Preschool

Once again, can't believe we are previewing a preschool for Emily.  Our last baby is jumping into the educational system and it honestly feels surreal!  Emily has been chomping at the bit to go to school  Whether she will be as brave come September, is up for debate!

Emily is going to attend Ballard Montessori like her siblings did.  She knows all the little ins and outs of the school so she is definitely feeling confident.  She will be in Miss Naheed's class next year.  We love Miss Naheed.  Seriously love her!  I wonder if she is ready for all that Emily will bring to her class ;)

Emily explored the school grounds and found a mouse in her classroom.  As you know, Emily is obsessed with the King Mouse so she thinks that anything with a mouse on it is somehow put there by the King Mouse.  I had to laugh that the mouse card reads, Shhhh.  Something Emily is definitely going to need to work on next year!

I am going to enjoy the next few months with my littlest baby home with me.  It is a bittersweet transition for me.  Come September, it will be the first time in 12 1/2 years I have had time to myself.  All four will be in school!  Emily will go Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-12 p.m.  Crazy.  Congrats Emmy on making it to preschool preview day!  Before you know it, you will be a Big School Girl!!!

Matthew's 6th Birthday Party

Matthew couldn't contain his excitement around his birthday party.  For the first time- he has a built in group of friends that were excited to celebrate him!  In preschool, you don't really get that tight knit group of kids that really get to know each other.  But in Kindergarten, there is a family of friends who all are ready to celebrate you!

Matthew has thirteen boys in his class.  That is a very manageable number!  He chose to have his party at Nickel City.  Yep.  The place works just as it sounds.  Every video game is a nickel.  Most of the boys in his class had never been to Nickel City before.  That's where having an older brother has benefited Matthew!  He knew all about it and was super excited!

Matthew was also thrilled that Gabe and Brennan could join in on the fun!  I made sure all the kids had partners and then let them loose with a bag of nickels!  The kids had so much fun.  After an hour of playing, we retreated to the back room where the kids inhaled pizza and finished if off with a monster cupcake.

Matthew cracked me up this year.  He was very specific about his cupcakes.  He wanted blue frosting, a candy face, and didn't want the cupcakes to look happy because, well- monsters aren't happy!  He loved the finished product!

What a great party!  I still can't believe that my little guy is turning SIX!  Ahhhhhh, where has the time gone?  Happiest of birthdays to you, Matthew!  I love you more than nickels!

Spirit Week at St. Chris!

Spirit week is a lot of fun for the kids.  Less fun for the parents who need to make sure they have all the necessary things that they need!

First up was crazy sock day.  This was an easy one.  The boys weren't too keen on it but Claire loved it.  Besides, the boys were wearing pants and you could barely see them.  The girls wore shorts or skirts so it was more fun to get creative!

Next, was crazy hair day.  I learned my lesson years ago to pick up extra bottles of colored hair spray around Halloween time in order to have the spray when crazy hair day rolled around.  Michael and Matthew just wanted there's to be super colorful while Claire wanted to try something cool and wacky!  In order to get Claire's hair to stand up like that, I parted her hair and placed an upside down plastic up in her hair.  Then I gathered all the hair at the end of the cup into a ponytail.  Honestly, it was that simple!  I was shocked that after a full day of school, Claire's hair looked as good then as it did first thing in the morning!

Lastly was pajama day.  No brainer.  Easy peasy.  The boys were not in the mood to be photographed but Claire and her friends were more than willing!  Girls will be girls!

What a great week!  And now all the parents can go back to worrying about homework, groceries, and the other necessities that make the world go 'round!

49ers Win NFC Championship!

The San Francisco 49ers are in the playoffs!  How exciting!  For many many seasons now, our family rooted for them even though they have been less than stellar.  Damien has rooted for them his entire life.  And now, we have real reasons to be excited because it's post season, baby!

Today- for the NFC Championship game vs. the Eagles, we had Mark and Jocelyn, Tony Fery, Tomas Jimenez, and Jamison Pfister over to watch the game!  It was a great group because all the people in attendance not only really know the game of football, but have been lifelong 49er supporters!

Not only did Damien and I go to school with Tomas, Tony, and Jamison, but Tony and Tomas worked for the 49ers for many years!  This was an exciting game for sure.  To keep this short and sweet (even though it was agonizing) the 49ers pulled it out at the very end of the game!  It was nuts here!  Our house erupted!  In fact, you could hear screaming in the streets from all the neighbors!  It was an awesome game and an awesome win for the 49ers and the community!

On a side note, my kids pretty much rock.  They made this Lego replica of a football field, complete with snack shack, and sportscaster desk!  They also had an old card that played the Monday Night Football theme song when you opened it that they deconstructed and took the components out of it. They then attached it to the Lego field so when you touched it- it played the song!  We all have football fever over here!  Superbowl in 2 weeks!

Cousin Sleepover!

What's better than a cousin sleepover?  Donuts in the morning!  We love it when Gabe and Brennan spend the night!