Happy Saint Emily's Day

My kids look forward to their Saint Days sooooo much!  Today was Emily's big day!  You would think it was her actual birthday she was so excited!  Grandpa never disappoints these kiddos!  Part of their saint day includes picking out the dessert and this year she picked a ladybug cake!  How fun is that?

Grandpa got her some great saint day treats, too.  He gave her a Lego Friends set, a Lego holder, and a darling pair of black boots.  She was grinning from ear to ear.  It really was a sweet day.  Thank you Grandpa for making Emily feel so special and once again helping her connect to her faith.  Love you!

Emily's Future Tattoo Plans

Emily came home from school today and told me that a certain girl on the playground told her that Emily could not be her friend.  Emily told me that she told the teacher the girl was being mean.  Apparently, the teacher handled it and then Emily and her now 'friend' made up with each other.  The girl, once she decided to accept Emily in her friend life said, "When we grow up, we should go to Safeway together and get tattoos."  I told Emily that while I was happy they were now friends, tattoos are kind of taboo in our house.  "Don't worry, Mom.  I will just get one dot.  It will look like a mole." she said.  Then I asked her if she really wanted another mole on her body and she said, "Actually, you're right.  Maybe I won't get a tattoo."  She just saved herself from a difficult conversation with her Daddy years from now!

E and Papa Visit Emily's Preschool

E and Papa weren't able to be with Emily on her first day of school but made today feel just as special!  They were able to pick her up with me and then treated her to an amazing lunch at Lisa's Tea Treasures!

E and Papa are lovers of all things tea.  This was the perfect place for our little luncheon!  Emily sat next to E and they just had the best time together.  They got to pick their flavor or tea, pick their tea sandwiches, and then choose their dessert!

We had a wonderful day and feel so grateful that E and Papa were able to come and share in Emily's school day with her!

Matthew's Soccer Team- Shark Attack

Matthew is loving his soccer team this year!  His coach is really awesome and knowledgeable of the game!  Matthew has been playing defense for most the year and is doing great!  The best part of Matthew's game is his physicality.  He is absolutely unafraid of contact!  He is aggressive and very smart on the field.  He is also really intense which cracks us up.  Matthew constantly has his game face on!

Our #4 is awesome!  Matthew is so excited to be on the same team and his friends Joey Garcia and TJ Gorshe.  Their team is doing really well and Matthew had a lot to do with it!  Out tough little fullback is fun to watch and should have a bright little soccer career ahead of him!

Go Matthew, Go!

Emily's Picture for Daddy

Emily is getting to that precious age now where she is drawing us random pictures.  After her first week of school, she is certainly feeling the love from Mom and Dad.  Today she drew Daddy this picture of the two of them holding hands while walking into her new school.  Damien's heart melted and he wanted to make sure that we were able to save this picture forever!

Safety Michael!

6th graders at St. Christopher have the great responsibility of keeping everyone safe during drop off and pick up times.  All 6th graders are given the chance to be part of the safety team!  Michael chose afternoon safety as opposed to morning safety (a huge thank you from me)!

It also just so happened that Natalie and Gina were in town to surprise the kids after school!  They loved seeing Michael in his safety vest and might have embarrassed him just a little bit.  Hey, it's a right of passage and I was just glad that my sisters were able to share in this pivotal moment!

You are looking good, Michael!  Keep up the good work!  And many thanks to Nat and Gina for making the trip down from SF.  I loved seeing you and the kids love having their aunties around!!!

Emily's First Day of Preschool

Today was Emily's first day of school.  There weren't many surprises as we had just been at the school two days earlier for her orientation.  She stayed near us as she played on the playground before the bell rang but as soon as it was time, she excitedly ran into the line for her class!  "All aboard the choo choo train!  Chugga chugga chugga," said Miss Naheed.  And like a good little girl, she followed her teacher into her classroom and gave us a small wave goodbye.  No tears.  No hesitation.  And just like that, she became a little school girl.

As we walked our the front door toward our car, I was overcome with emotion.  I have never cried when the kids started school.  For whatever reason, it always felt right.  They felt comfortable.  All was okay in the world.  Yet, here I was.  Fourth child entering preschool and I was a mess.  Damien and I silently sat in the car for a minute.  He was giving me my space and I was desperately trying to figure out why I was such a mess.  And then it hit me.

All of Emily's firsts, are Damien and my lasts.  Her first step meant it was our last baby to walk.  Her first day of preschool meant our last child was starting school.  With each and every one of her new accomplishments, I have to say goodbye to a life that I have grown so comfortable with.  I have always had babies.  Like when Michael started preschool, I went home to my babies.  Same with Claire, and of course Matthew.  But Emily's progress signifies something very different.  It provokes change.  A new way of thinking and honestly, a life I am not accustomed to.  I have dreamed of going home to no kids!  How glorious!  I couldn't wait!  But it is much different to experience than it is to imagine.  Today, to say the least, was bittersweet.

We came to pick Emily up and she was all smiles.  It made my heart happy and felt wonderful to see her starting this new life with independence!  She was now experiencing life away from me . . . and she was happy.  She showed us the work she did in class and was beaming.  I know that a lot of these changes will be hard for both of us, but I think it will all be okay.  In the meantime, it will be baby steps for me.

We took Emily out to lunch at Panera Bread and she was cracking us up.

• "There was a girl that was crying at school because she missed her mom and I was like, whatever."

While it wasn't the most sensitive thing she could have reported about her day, it sure shows how confident she is to be without me.  And her one liners (she is ridiculously sarcastic, and sometimes inappropriate) kept coming.  One after another.

• "Mom- can you take me somewhere special since its my first day of preschool?" said Emily. 
• "No, we just took you to lunch, bought you a cinnamon roll and a lollipop and Mom got you a Minion shirt!  That's a lot of stuff and you should be happy with that," explained Dad. 
• "Ya, that's only four things and if you don't get me five, then you're fired for the rest of your life!" Emily said through laughter to Damien.

She is a hoot.  Good thing we get her sense of humor!  Happy first day of preschool, Sweet Emily!

My Freckled Fibbers

I got a call from a Mom in Michael's class asking me if I could do her a favor.  It went a little something like this:

"Hey, Lisa.  I hate to ask you a favor but I can't resist.  Michael told me that you guys know Patrick Willis from the San Francisco 49ers. Michael told Conor at school today that Michael was just over Patrick Willis' house and that he had a blast going on his waterslide.  He mentioned that Patrick's house has three stories and that he and Michael love to play XBox together.  My son is a huge 49er fan and can't get over that you are family friends with Patrick Willis.  So here is my question.  Do you think it would be weird of Conor mailed Patrick Willis a letter?  He already wrote it and wants to go deliver it.  Michael told him Patrick's address and I just want to make sure that it would be okay.  That is where he lives, isn't it?"

Two days ago, a Mom in Matthew's class came up to me and said:

"Maximo had lots to say about Matthew at dinner last night.  Is it true that your family owns Chuck E. Cheese's?  That is so cool!  Maximo also told us that your family has won the lottery three straight times but we knew that probably wasn't true.  So do you really own Chuck E. Cheese's?"

In both instances, my jaw dropped and I apologized for my sons' elaborate imaginations.  Elaborate imaginations sounds better than big lies, doesn't it?  Oh boy.  If this is any indication on how the year will go- we are in for a bumpy but hilarious ride.  Almost as bumpy as the waterslide at Patrick Willis' house.

Emily's Fort has Rules!

These are the rules that Emily asked me to write down today about her fort:

1.  EMILY is in here.  Only if you come in, then you can see me through the blanket.

2.  I'm going to be there at all times but I might go to the bathroom.

3.  Matthew can come without asking through the window.

4.  I might walk around for a bit.

5.  Michael and Claire cannot come in- except Matthew.

And there you have it.  You want into Emily's fort . . . follow the rules!

Emily's Preschool Orientation!

Today was Emily's preschool orientation at Giving Tree Montessori!  She was so incredibly excited for the chance to see her new school!  The orientation consists of the kids meeting their new teachers and then going on a scavenger hunt in the classroom to find all of the supplies and tools they will be using in the classroom.

As soon as we parked the car, Emily got out and started walking towards her new school . . . without us.  After all, who needs those annoying parents anyway!  It was a true indicator that Emily is ready for this new step in her life.

This year, Emily will be taught by Miss Naheed.  Miss Naheed taught Matthew when he was in his first year of preschool and she is so incredibly fabulous.  We are excited for Emily to feel the nurturing effects of Miss Naheed and know that she will thrive in preschool!

Emily loved the scavenger hunt and felt so special while doing it.  After all, she is finally doing something that a 'big kid' would do.  She will finally have something of her own and will be able to share her experiences and stories with her family.  This year will be so validating for Emily.  Although she is an extremely bright and confident little girl, this new chapter of her life will fulfill Emily in ways she didn't even know she needed.  Only two more days and she will have her first day of preschool!

Labor Day in Truckee

We love to go Truckee with Mark, Jocelyn, and the boys!  So of course we jumped at the chance to spend the holiday weekend in the great mountains of Tahoe!  In a nutshell, we played games, ate Popsicles, swam, fished, played in the clean mountain air, hiked, explored, and the repeated all of the above!

In all seriousness, we really wanted the kids to unplug.  No devices, just good old fashioned fun!  They did great and really got to enjoy the great outdoors!  The kids loved playing games with their cousins.  It is a very competitive group, so it is always loud and rowdy!  We went swimming at their pool and just kicked back and relaxed.  Honestly, so wonderful.

We hiked down a trail and watched the sunset and also hiked and swam in the Truckee River.  Yes, there were water snakes.  Yes, I got out as soon as I heard about the one that slithered by.  There were crawdads and other fun little creepy crawlies.  The water was really cold but everyone braved it and had a fantastic time!

We also went for breakfast one morning in downtown Truckee.  After we ate, we explored the city and came upon the town jail!  Of course, it is no longer open but it was really cool!  The kids couldn't decided if it was more cool or more creepy.  It was so fun to check it out!

We had a wonderful, long, holiday weekend.  Many thanks to Mark, Joc, and the boys for opening up your mountain home to us!  Ugh.  Now back to school.