conversations with a flower girl

Avery: Mom, what does a flower girl DO?
me: You walk down the aisle with flowers in your hands.
Avery: Then what?
me: Then you turn and smile at everyone while Lisa comes down the aisle.
Avery: Can I make an angry face at everyone?
Me: That isn't a good idea.
Avery: Oh, yeah, then they might have bad dreams.

Let's hope for the best.

Don't worry Aunt Lisa...

...We really are doing our homework this week. We are reading all about San Francisco... a little each night to get excited about our trip in 5 days. At this point we are most excited to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, see Alcatraz, and maybe there will even be time to jump on a cable car?

Oh wait, what are MOST excited for is your wedding of course. The other stuff is just a bonus. We can't wait!

These books are the best: Picture books that highlight the most important places in the most important cities around the world. You can find them here.

little people: big hearts

On Friday night we headed to Dusan's school for a Grad Night fundraiser. The teachers, coaches, and administration were playing basketball against a very talented team of people.

"It's not how BIG you are... It's how BIG you play" shirt worn by the teachers and administration.

I could not get a blog-worthy action shot of the game. Ever single one was blurry. Here are a few teachers waiting for the game to start.



The game was filled with alot of exciting stunts and antics by the L.A. Breakers. They were not messing around. They stayed after long enough to sign autographs and take pictures with all of their fans.

The stands were packed. They raised a ton of money and had a great time while they were at it.

sure shot

I snapped this picture at Davin's last basketball game two weeks ago. I am always longing for a better camera, and then occasionally I come across an action shot like this one, and think my little old point and shoot isn't so bad.
And just for the record, here are a few things I loved about basketball season:
1. Dusan being Davin's coach
2. Hallelujah for indoor sports!
3. I love the glass wall at the La Mirada gymnasium.
4. 1 practice/ 1 game a week/8 games...
5. At this level there was no score-keeping.

until next year...

Pinewood Derby

This past Saturday was the Cub Scout big event...the Pinewood Derby. The boys were given blocks of wood a few weeks ago. They had to draw the design for their race car on the wood. The leaders then cut out the designs. the boys then sanded, painted the cars, and added the wheels. The final step was to make sure the cars were regulation weight: 5 ounces. After all the craftsmanship, it was race time...

Here are all the custom cars ready to race.

The track was a computerized system to ensure accuracy. The results were projected on the wall for the crowd to see after every race.

Here are the Tigers anxiously awaiting their first race.

I loved watching all the boys faces as the cars came speeding down the track towards them.

Davin ended up with a 3rd place medal for his den and an award for "Most Original" race car.

He already has plans to make his "snake car" for next year's event.
Gotta love that creative mind of his.

ready, set, soccer...

The Warriors season opener was a "make your face hurt from so much smiling" kind of a game. These 4 to 6 year olds ran their hearts out (as well as fell to the ground and bunched up into a big cluster ALOT!). It was a blast to watch Avery in action. The first quarter her fingers never left her mouth, but by second quarter she warmed up. Just after half time she began asking her coach when would the game be over? She tucked her arms into her jersey for the fourth quarter... the fans enjoyed every minute of it.















Go Warriors!

close call.

After coming home from doing some 31 Flavors-style, report card celebrating last night, Avery found her hamster cage like this...

She had left the doors OPEN. Understand we had been gone for 2 hours. She screamed, "My hamster got OUT!" We all went into immediate excavation mode. Davin grabbed the flashlights and started yanking everything out from under the beds. Hunter logged onto Google and typed in "How to catch a hamster"and started yelling out things like, "put granola bars all over the house" and "set up a trap!" I went running room to room reminding everyone to "watch where you step." We looked everywhere...

Of course Dusan was the only one who remained calm. He heard scratching between the refrigerator and the cabinet in the kitchen. We set out some bait...and lucky for us, Coffee Cinderella, aka "Hammy", was hungry.

I am sure it won't be the last time. Here is one happy and very relieved 5 year old.

manners

Over the weekend Avery worked on her Thank You cards to send out to family and a few friends. She was stubborn to get started. Here's how our conversation went...

Avery: Why do I have to write thank you cards?
Me: Because it is the nice thing to do.
Avery: Didn't everyone WANT to get me presents?
Me: Yes, but they also took the time to go pick something out and buy it for you.
Avery: But I said thank you already.
Me: Yes but when someone gives or sends you something, it is always nice to send a thank you note to them.
Avery: ok...how many of these things do I have to do?



When she got tired, she enlisted a little help from someone with a very good work ethic.

Later that day after we put a few of the cards in the mail she kept checking the mail slot in the front door.
Me: What are you doing?
Avery: I am checking to see if anyone sent me a Thank You card for my Thank You card!

One day it will all make sense to her.

lucky trap.

All the first graders at Scott Avenue have been assigned to build a leprechaun trap. The students could make it as fancy or simple as they liked. Today was the day to turn them in and present them to the Kindergarten classes. The day the assignment came home, Davin got right to work. He knew exactly what it should look like and he could not wait to use every last Lego in the house to build it. Here is his finished project (and yes, that says "GOLD" across the top...)

Inside sits a pot of gold, and a trap door could be dropped at anytime by the Lego "guard".

He was so proud and excited to take it to school. He couldn't wait to see what the other kids came up with as well. I was thrilled he did it all by himself. We'll have to see if it catches anything tomorrow...

connected

There is no denying the bond between Davin and his cousin Joseph. From day one, they have always shared the same interests, played endlessly without a single squabble, and they both prefer their underware to wearing clothes anytime. I snapped some proof of their fun at Hunter's game on Saturday...





Later that night I went to review the pictures I had taken at the game, and found that my camera's memory card was full?? As I scrolled through, this is what I found...





There were 72 pictures of these Del Taco kids meal toys, and as you might guess, they were not taken by me. Those two were very sneaky indeed.

wish me luck

This is my first ever attempt at getting published. I have submitted this simple layout to 2 different magazines...we shall wait and see... keep your fingers crossed.

sick day

Davin started his day by throwing up in the bathroom sink and fighting a fever of 102. So while he did this...

I did this.

And made this...

Oh...and scheduled a hair appointment, registered for swim lessons, refilled a prescription, reapplied for inter-district transfers, filled out Kindergarten registration forms, 3 loads of laundry, and cleaned out a hamster cage. I would be helpless without the internet. Phew...now I need a day off from my day off.

back in action...

Hunter's baseball season has officially begun...





2 games down...18 more to go...Let's go Reds!

meet Coffee

Avery had just one big wish this year...
and she must have wished hard and good, because it came true...

A hamster of her very own in a bright pink cage.





I have the pleasure of introducing you to the newest member of our family...Coffee, the hamster.


She has not wanted to put the little cutie down ever since. The only problem is that hamsters are nocturnal. The little guy is quite industrious at night time. It sounds like he is in a little workshop from about midnight until dawn. I'm hoping he will do something productive with his night time energy...perhaps he can build an addition eventually on the back of our house?