First Day of School

Back to life, back to reality...  we returned from Maui and now a few days later we are back at it. Micah is in Orange Cluster, now a big 3rd grader and a leader.  Noah is in Yellow Cluster, a 4th grader, with new teachers and curriculum.   I feel very blessed to be working at the same school, so I can see them throughout the day.  What will this year be like???

Bros

Noah and Micah are so lucky to have one another.  Since they are only two years apart they have similar school friends, interests, and experiences.  Now don't get me wrong... anyone who knows the boys well can see that they are different in many ways... but it's also nice that they share interests.  As we were vacationing, they only had each other to play with... no other cousins or friends nearby.  And they got along very well.  They talked about their favorite games, they built sandcastles together, and shared shave ice...  they even held hands as they walked through the rainforest.  It's nice to have a brother and friend, don't you think???

Snorkeling

The boys were able to head to the beach and snorkel everyday.  They were so comfortable in the water.  We saw some amazing ocean animals and we were lucky enough to see sea turtles!  When will we visit the Great Barrier Reef???

Deathly Hallows

Even in Maui, you can find Noah getting lost in a great story.  He is reading, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book in the Potter series.  Will he finish before his birthday???

Lahaina

  We enjoyed walking around Lahaina and getting a sweet treat at Ululani's or Locol Boys.  The boys liked switching up their shave ice flavors but mostly stuck with cherry and lime.  Will they remember these walks when they get older???

Brothers

Here we have two sets of brothers that enjoy spending time together.  They share similar interests but they are gifted and talented in their own ways.    I hope they remember these special times together.  Will Noah and Micah be as close as Jawsh and Zach when they get older???

Aloha

We made it to Maui.  It's such a beautiful place!  Although we are staying at the same resort as our last visit, it is much different without their cousins.  We went walking down the beach and we enjoyed relaxing mornings and snorkeled filled days.  The boys have enjoyed eating their shave ice every morning and we are enjoying all that the island has to offer.  What we will do tomorrow???

What's different???

Noah's teeth look great!  I can't believe that he's out of his braces!  But it's not for too long... now he has a retainer he has to wear!  All this work to correct his bite and straighten his teeth has been a lot of work, so we will have to celebrate with a Candy Party.  What type of candy will he choose?

Candy party

Noah has been dreaming about this day.., his candy party!  Since he's had braces he wasn't allowed to eat certain candies.  He's been waiting for this day to eat marshmallows, jelly beans, licorice, and Mike N Ike's.Noah invited friends over and they had a fun time playing Pie Face and watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  But I think the biggest hit was Micah's school project:  The Claw Game.  The Claw Game was filled with Push Pops, See's Lollipops, gum, and Spray Candy!  The kids loved playing the game and they had a great time.  When will Noah get his retainer???

JPL

We had a great day touring Jet Propulsion Lab this morning.   We learned so much about what JPL works on and we had the behind the scenes tour of Mission Control (pictured here).  It was pretty amazing to see all the rovers, modules, and research being conducted.  This is a tour that I would love to take again next year.  I wonder if this experience inspired Noah or Micah...  will they want to attend Cal Tech when they are older???

Preschool buds

 Today the boys went bowling with the W boys.  They had a great time.  Noah and J Really enjoyed bowling and played two games.  But the younger brothers were done after the first game and spent time in the arcade.  When will we head back???

Happy 11th!

Our annual photo on the terrace of Shutters on the Beach was taken the day before our anniversary this year.  Since we take this photo every year, the boys are starting to remember stories that we have shared and it's been such a fun reminder of the love and time that has passed since 2005.  What will our 11th year of marriage bring???

Apple Camp

Noah had the opportunity to participate in Apple Camp.  He had the opportunity to use an iPad Pro with the stylus pen.  He made a great comic about a character named Timmy against a volcano.  He set it to music, added sound effects, and he presented it to the other campers.  It was a fun opportunity... and it was free.  Will he want to do this again next summer???

Boba Boys

These boys love boba...  when will they try Taro with boba???

Louie CK

Tonight Jawsh and I had a rare opportunity to see Louie CK...  and we were watching from the 4th row!  It was a great show and we had a nice time.  When will we do this again???

John's Incredible

The kids had a great time at John's Incredible Pizza.  They rode the Twister and Micah won several prizes playing the claw game.  Even though a year passes, when they see each other they just pick up from where they left off.  What will we do tomorrow???

Hi Myles!

We finally met Myles!  He is such a snuggle bug.  We met for lunch at Gordon Ramsey's BURGR.  Although it was pretty loud and crowded, Myles was super chill.  He didn't cry when I held him and he just sank right into my arms.  It was nice to catch up with Adam and Claudia too.  When will we see them again???

Las Vegas

The boys love going to Las Vegas very summer to see their cousins, Sophie and Daphne.  We enjoyed swimming and hanging out at my aunt's house.  The kids especially liked going to the lazy river and they loved playing Marco Polo.  What will they want to do tomorrow???

Magic Mountain

Today we made a quick trip to Magic Mountain to celebrate the boys' reading accomplishments.  They received free tickets for completing their reading goals.  The first ride we went on was Roaring Rapids followed by Ninja.  That ride proved to be too much for Micah.  He looked terrified.  So we shifted gears and went to Bugs Bunny World.  The kids had a great time dabbing for the cameras and riding rides again and again and again.  When will we return???

Happy 4th

We stayed back in the neighborhood for Westchester Fourth of July Parade.  It was a few blocks long of local organizations, politcians, and clubs that walked the parade route.  The kids had a great time with the W family.  Later tonight, we head back to Cheviot Hills to watch the fireworks light up the sky.  This has been a tradition that we have enjoyed because we get to see our old preschool friends.  Who will we see tonight???