A Quick trip to PA

Operation Christmas Child

We have a lot of practice packing boxes for Samaritan's Purse.  We have filled our own boxes for several year now, but this year we helped pack boxes at our scouting group and at church.

Happy Halloween!

   

Irish Dance Class

Irish Dancing

Chinatown

Did you know that the French built the first 
hospital in Los Angeles?  

This statue of Joan of Arc is in front of the 
Pacific Alliance Medical Center, 

the first hospital in LA.  

There were three French mayors in the 1850-60s.  French was the third most spoken language.  We are studying Medieval history and Joan of Arc, so we came down to check it out.   

 And also do some shopping in Chinatown.

And get dessert at the Phoenix bakery... 
home of the most delicious Strawberry Cake ever!

    

Soccer Season has Begun!

This year, the girls are playing on the same team.  

Alyssa was thrilled when her name submission of Lightning Bugs was selected as the team name.  

The uniforms are the same color as Alyssa's uniform last season.

Apple Picking with Johnny Appleseed

 

We miss our next door neighbors...

Our dear, sweet neighbors left today for a cross country move back to New York.  We are all sad. Hannah, however, had an especially difficult time dealing with their departure.  She was sobbing as they got into their truck, not able to even give them one last hug, and stayed off in the shadows as Alyssa and I waved good-bye from the curb, watching them drive off into the distance.

Hannah was not to be consoled, sobbing loudly, and often reaching to the level of a wail.  That is, until momma offered a bit of cream soda and a Magic School Bus DVD.   

It was later at dinner that Hannah took this picture down from the wall, and handing it to me, said something to the effect of not being able to bear seeing Achilles picture right now.  Achilles belongs to our neighbors and is the sweetest dog in the world.  I set the picture down next to me and began to eat again when Hannah asked me to turn the picture over... she could still see Achilles' face... it was too much.  

Alyssa has joined the Lost Tooth Club!

Alyssa"s Ballet to Mozart's Rondo in C Major

Official First Day of School!

 Heading out to our new CC campus right here in Monrovia!

A smaller campus (only 4 families right now) means more willingness to participate.

Dolphin Show at Westward Beach

This is only a taste of what was a spectacular show! There were three dolphins that spent their time playing and dancing about in the water and riding the waves close to shore. You can even see some other dolphins waaaaay out in the distance in this clip. I missed getting Booty, the seal, on video, but he made several appearances today as well.

Hannah Irish at Dance Class

http://youtu.be/YBQIRK6-ftU

Now We Are Six

The End, by A.A. Milne

When I was One, 

I had just begun.

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

When I was Three,

I was hardly Me.

When I was Four, 

I was not much more.

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

LA Zoo with C & E!

How do we get back in to the swing of things after a busy weekend?  We go to the zoo!  

It had been too long since we got to hang out with C & E!  So we made the most of it.

Braffe Wedding - Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse

A little something to calm the nerves...

The soon-to-be cousins getting ready to make their grand entrance!

Out of nowhere pirates appeared!

The happy couple enjoys the cake cutting tradition.  Cake made at the farmhouse by the bride's sister.

Happy Independence Day!

Delicious BBQ, homemade ice cream, dodge ball, fireworks overhead and a grand finale of our own, with sparklers and legal fireworks.  Hope your Independence Day was just as fun! Click here for more pictures

First Summer Beach Day

Never fails, we always see dolphins at Westward Beach in Malibu! It remained overcast the whole time we were there, but that didn't matter!

The Girls Doing Gymnastics

Fun in the Sprinklers!

What better way to enjoy the summer than the age old tradition of running through the sprinklers!

We also read, Ice Cream Cones for Sale, by Elaine Greenstein and enjoyed waffle cookie ice cream sandwhiches.

Swim Lessons

Learning the safety rules of the swimming pool.

Learning how to save drowning people.

Alyssa loves swimming lessons this year!

Alyssa bravely jumped from the second step of the lifeguard stand.  She got water in her nose again... 
she still doesn't like getting water in her nose!

Last day and Alyssa jumped of the diving board!

Hannah dove off the board!