Congrats Derek & Gabby!

Uncle Derek and Auntie Gabby tied the knot last weekend.  They picked an outdoor venue surrounding the Oakland Redwoods.  They both are into camping and the great outdoors. The venue fit perfectly with their interests and personality.  The girls sat down with some of the guests and took a picture with Mommy before the wedding started.  Mommy and Daddy walked down the isle together during the procession followed by Katelyn and Bella holding hands.  Katelyn was a little nervous seeing all the guests and walked closely behind Mommy and Daddy.  It was no sweat for Bella, on the other hand.

Auntie Gabby asked Mommy to read the children's book, The Gift Of Nothing.  Auntie Gabby used to be a teacher and loves children's books.  The book had a cute message.

Congrats to the newlyweds and thanks for including the girls in your wedding!

Aunt Suzy posed the girls for a sister photo.

Family picture- Katelyn got tired of taking pictures very quickly.  Lately she gets overwhelmed by crowds and becomes very shy.

Po Po invited Daddy's side of the family to the celebration.

Some of the guests brought an extra change of clothes.  Auntie Gabby said there was a big park and baseball field for the kids to play in.  The girls put on socks and changed their shoes since the forest had pine leaves that got into their shoes.

Bella wanted to be in the picture as the photographer captured the sun setting in the trees.

Mommy is so happy to gain such a wonderful sister-in-law and now have her officially part of the family!

The next day Bella got a haircut.  This was the first time she sat by herself in the chair.  She climbed up right away when it was her turn.

The best part of cutting your hair is of course the lollipop.  She looks so much older with her new do!

After the haircut, the sisters went to the Pace Gallery.  There was a kids room with many fun things to do like this hopscotch.  Katelyn worked up a sweat hopping at least 20 times.  Whenever she jumped on a shape it would disappear.

They both loved the sketch aquarium.  First they colored a picture of an animal in the sea.  Then they went to scan the picture.

Finally, the picture showed up on the wall and came to life.  Katelyn colored the turtle green with purple legs and put her name on it.  It was so cool to watch it swim.

Last Days of Sabbatical

The last days of Mommy's sabbatical was pretty low key.  Mommy caught up on her sleep since Katelyn still wakes up 3-4 times a night.  She sits up in her bed and calls for Mommy.  She wants Mommy to stay in her room until she falls back asleep.  

Mommy volunteered in Katelyn's class.  The project was to create a poster with the school rules and help each student make a handprint to show unity and support of the rules.  She had fun getting to know Katelyn's classmates.

Mommy also stayed for Math workshop and story time with Mrs. B.

Bella has been sitting on the potty and peeing more often at school.  Daddy figured it was time to have her sit on the potty more regularly at home.  She sits, but has not gone at home yet.

Mommy recently was introduced to Usborne books and became a consultant.  The girls love the books especially the Wipe Clean series.  Katelyn is practicing writing words.  She is learning to sound out and read more words these days at home and at school.  Bella likes tracing the animals in her letter book.

Bella wanted to copy her sister and have her hair in braids for schools.  The girls were twinsies one morning.

Auntie Diane got a new puppy called Mocha Mochi.  Michelle threw the dog a little party, so he could meet everyone.  Bella thought the puppy was so cute.

Uncle Derek and Auntie Gabby had their wedding rehearsal at the Oakland Redwoods.  The girls practiced walking as flower girls.

Mommy had one last date with Katelyn before returning back to work.  They went on a frozen yogurt date.  Excuse the blurry picture.

 

Life Recently

Katelyn caught up with a few of her old classmates.  She had a play date with Zuri. They were both happy to see each other and it was like no time had passed between them.

Shyam had his 5th birthday party at Acrosports.

He was nice enough to invite Bella to his party.  The girls LOVED playing on this bucket swing.  The coach would push them pretty high up.  Daddy called it the "mini revolution" like the ride at Great America.

The sisters have been playing quite often with their neighbor, Jamie.  She is really good with kids and would make a great babysitter one day.  Jamie is pretty strong and can hold both girls.  Her gymnastic skills of strength have been paying off.

Bella is pretty set in her ways.  When she doesn't want to do something she will plop herself on the floor, pout and not get up as shown in this example outside of Target.  She was upset Mommy tried to put on her jacket.

Mommy describes her as bipolar.  She can be super sweet and so happy and well behaved at times.  She can also be silly.  She got a stamp from a party and decided to put it on her nose.

She loves going to preschool and has a great time with her class.  They practiced drumming with a drumming group that did a demonstration at her school.  The students got to follow the beats on their own drum.

Po Po and Gung Gung are the best grandparents!  They watched the girls while Mommy and Daddy went to New York City.  They drove the girls to school and picked them up.   Bella and Katelyn really missed Mommy and Daddy at night and would cry.  Po Po ended up having to sleep with Katelyn.  Po Po would tell Mommy to stop texting and just enjoy and have fun.

Daddy and Mommy walked the Brooklyn bridge in 90 degree weather!

The girls were so happy when Mommy and Daddy came back and went to the  San Francisco zoo the next day.  If you look closely, there is a polar bear in the background.

Katelyn wanted Bella to sit on her lap before going on the merry-go ride.

Katelyn earned her level 3 ribbon last week.  She worked really hard on her dives and passed her surface dives.  She also passed treading water for 1 minute, under water swim for 16 feet, pencil jumps, side kicks with kick board, boiling water back kicks with kick board over her knees and up faces for 38 feet.

Labor Day Weekend

A couple of weeks ago, the girls met Courtney, Natalie, Mason and Sam at Uncle Larry's restaurant. 

The kids love Uncle Larry.  He swung each of them by their arms and they had a blast.  Thanks, Uncle Larry!

Katelyn is loving Kindergarten.  She especially loves her teacher.  She says she is very nice and says funny things like, "hocus pocus, everyone focus."  The first week of school, her classmates had to look for clues Clifford left for them in the classroom.  They baked Clifford a big bone and he took a bite out of it.  Her teacher shares class pictures on a Shutterfly site for parents to download.

Although she loves Kindergarten, Katelyn had a tougher time adjusting to her after school program.  There were not as many of her classmates there.  The first week she was staying by Teacher O's side most of the day.  Each day is getting better and she is slowly getting more used to it.  She no longer takes naps during the day.  She is fine during the day, but wakes up at night now.  Daddy thinks her body is adjusting and regulating itself.  It's been a tiring couple of weeks with the the middle of night awakenings!

Mommy set up a play date with Lucia who is also in Katelyn's Kindergarten class and after school program.  Lucia was crying every day at the after school program.  Mommy thought Katelyn and Lucia could help each other by becoming friends.

Uncle Albert and Auntie Lety had everyone over for a BBQ.  Auntie Suzanna curled Katelyn's hair.  She loved it and was sad when the curls came out.

Bella tried to mess with Christian when he was taking a nap.

The girls went to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for the first time.  Their favorite ride was being co-pilots on the helicopter.

A picture with a beach view.

The girls got a special treat and stayed over night in a hotel and headed to Monterey Bay aquarium the next day.  The great outer bay tank had hammerhead sharks.   Bella took a seat while the sharks swam by her.

Katelyn thought these fish were funny looking.

The girls played in this clam for quite awhile being silly and laughing.  Mommy enjoys moments like these when they are not fighting over things.

Bella wanted to take a picture with Mommy since they were both wearing sunglasses.

Auntie Jill and Millie FaceTimed the other day.  It's so hot in their area,  Millie got to wear just her diaper.

Katelyn has been doing crafts at home like making felt animals.

First Day of Kindergarten

Last week Katelyn started Kindergarten.  She and Mommy had orientation the day before to get familiar to her new classroom.

Katelyn had a list of things to find like her cubby.

She had to find where her seat was and draw a picture.

She explored the book shelf.  She loved having so many new stories to read.

 She took a pic with new teacher, Mrs. B.

She got her first homework assignment to decorate and cut out a paper t-shirt.

Mommy took an obligatory first day picture.  She can't believe her little girl is off to Kindergarten.

Katelyn was excited the next morning with her big backpack walking to her classroom.

Before the kids enter the classroom each day, they stand on a mat and choose how they would like to be greeted.  Either a handshake, smile, high five or hug.  Katelyn picked the heart for a hug.

Mommy, Daddy and Bella peered inside the classroom before they left and Katelyn gave a big wave.  No tears from her.

Mrs. B emailed each parent that night to tell how their child's day went.

Bella has been busy at school as well.  She is learning about traffic signals.

This rotation of Fitness class she is participating in soccer.  The kids warmed up by doing drills of going over the cones with a partner.

Bella is learning about different plants and planted some seeds.

The girls met Aiden's new puppy, Chase.  Katelyn held his leash and walked him.



Mommy is not a big dog lover, but couldn't help holding Chase since he's so cute.  This will probably be the last time she holds Chase before she gets super big.

The girls went to the Sausalito Children's museum.  Bella made some music.

Katelyn built a fort for her sister.

The girls and Daddy had a photo op on a replica of the Golden Gate bridge.

Darla, Katelyn's old classmate invited her for a play date at the park and lunch.  They were so happy to see each other.