Wow...

Remember all that talk about whether or not we should put Alec into kindergarten? Remember how his teachers just thought he needed some extra time? Remember how much we agonized and prayed over the decision?

WE SO MADE THE RIGHT DECISION!!

Alec started reading today. It clicked in his brain. I don't know how the light turned on, but it did, and he is reading! I know it is normal development for a child of his age, but I am in absolutely heaven right now with how PROUD I am of him!!!

Alec has been progressively practicing his letter sounds and trying to sound out words for weeks now. He would see a word and say all of the letter sounds but was unable to put the sounds together to understand the word. He got it today. We have the Hooked on Phonics system that we have been using loosely for a while. I have brought out the books from it in the past but Alec was just not that interested or he would get frustrated quickly. I decided to try one tonight with him and he read it like an old pro! I went and got the next two books and he read those as well!! CRAZY!!!

SO proud of you Al!!!

Photo - Tag

My friend Liz from church tagged me last week! I am suppose to look in my 6th photo album, at the 6th picture on my computer...so here it is! It is from December of 2003. Alec is just 5 months old!! SO CUTE!!

I have to pass it on, so I tag the following people...

1. Michelle - She has a private blog.

2. Giselle - http://giselles2.blogspot.com/

3. Ashley - especially since I am sure she is bored with her hubby being gone right now http://mr-mrs-kawamura.blogspot.com/

4. Laurie - LOVE the new blog girl!! http://texaslaurie.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

Some October moments...

I always find it interesting how in the busiest times in my life when I have the most going on, is when I have the most to blog about. Of course, when it is so busy like that I don't have time to blog. Catch 22!! Well, here are some pictures and moments from October that I did not want to let pass by...

My sweet little Ashley has turned into a TODDLER!! When did that happen?? She is not quite walking yet but finally started cruising and even standing up randomly in the middle of the floor. She LOVES getting into the pantry and all the drawers in the kitchen. Her favorite things to play with is the Top Ramen packages and the plastic sandwich bags. I have an entire cupboard full of tupperware that she is welcome to play with, but apparently it is just not as exciting for her. Go figure!

In the middle of October Alec had a 4 day weekend to celebrate Columbus Day. Adam had been trying to take the boys on a camping trip since this summer but it had not happened yet. Because of the long weekend Adam finally decided to take the boys. Originally Ashley and I were suppose to go on the trip as well, but at the last minute I decided that a dirt camping spot plus a toddler who crawls and puts EVERYTHING in her mouth would not go well together. The boys had a BLAST with Daddy and still have not stopped talking about it! They can't wait to go again...maybe Mommy and Ashley will venture with them next time!

Daddy and Aaron camping. The spot they had found was on Palomar mountain in San Diego. Ashley and I took the train down to San Diego on Saturday morning and met up with Brian, Carrie, and Kasey for the day. That night Adam and the boys came the rest of the way down from camping and joined us. We had a wonderful visit with the Day family before heading home on Sunday night. What an adventurous weekend!!

Ashley is at that stage where every day starting at 5:00 p.m., just as I am starting to make dinner (I call it the witching hour) Ashley starts whining and crying. She wants to be held. It is next to impossible to hold a 13 month old child while making dinner so unfortunately most nights she just follows me around the kitchen as I cook fully crying her eyes out. Not so fun for anyone involved! In an attempt to entertain Ashley during this time period I put her inside a delivery box we had received with a couple of her dolls. Alec was kind enough to push the "choo choo" back and forth on the carpet in the living room. This entertained Ashley so much and kept her out of my hair while making dinner. THANK YOU ALEC for being such a wonderful helper! I really don't know what I would do without you!!

Adam and I's 8 year wedding anniversary was this October. Adam was up in Sacramento for training the week before it and then at the end of the week I flew up to meet him. We kept his rental car and drove up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. When planning the trip we were so excited to be able to go hiking, mountain bike riding, and possibly horse back riding. Lots of fun outdoor stuff. Well, all of those plans were brought to a dead stop when SNOW started falling while we were driving to the resort! We were SO not prepared for this!!

The resort we stayed at was called The Resort at Squaw Valley. It was absolutely beautiful and our room not only had a fully stocked kitchenette but also a dining room table and fireplace. Let's just say we did not leave the room very much! We did manage to find some outlets to shop at one day and head down to south Tahoe the next day after church to do some gambling but other than that we mostly sat in our room, snuggled, and read. Quite the relaxing trip!

Another baby? Alec's answer...

So we were sitting around the dinner table yesterday having dinner and chatting. Ashley was doing something funny, as she almost always is at dinner, and Adam said to me, "Look, you don't have a baby anymore! Time for another one!!" I just laughed (Adam would love two more and I say we are DONE!) Adam looked at Alec and asked, "Alec, do you want another baby in the house?" Alec just looked at Daddy and wagged his finger back and forth with a stern look on his face as if to say, "No, no!" This of course made us laugh. Adam then said to Alec, "But there is one empty chair at the table! Don't we need to fill it?" Alec responded, "Dad! That chair is for Jesus!!" There we go Adam, it is decided! hahaha!

What is most important?

Today was Lisa's funeral. I knew it was not going to be easy. What funeral where a young mom leaves 5 children and a loving family behind would be easy? I have to say though, it was BEAUTIFUL. Lisa's sisters Marie and Theresa worked tirelessly over the past 5 days making sure that Lisa's life was celebrated properly. There were balloons from Disneyland where Lisa worked for 10 years and loved visiting with her kids, there was a beautiful eulogy that so appropriately and eloquently summarized Lisa's life, and most importantly there were a TON of memories shared. I was truly moved by the Mass and have not had that strong of a reaction to the Eucharist in quite a long time. Maybe it was the fact that Lisa had such a respect and dedication to the Eucharist as well and it was reflected thru her? I think so.

As Marie was reading her eulogy she was listing many of the things that Lisa had done in her life. She traveled thru Europe for months, she went to the beach at any time she could, she loved poetry, theater, and art, and experienced the arts in any way possible at any moment she could. What I find especially remarkable is that most of these things that she did, she shared with her children. She was always taking them to Disneyland, to the beach, or on some other adventure all the while taking a million photographs. I was listening to this in church today wondering why I don't do this as much with my own children.

After the funeral everyone headed to the cemetery for the burial. Amy, Chris and I skipped the burial and went to the Spiers house to set up for the gathering afterwards. We were getting ready to set out all the food and we started opening cupboards looking for serving bowls, platters, serving spoons, etc. What we found instead was mismatched plates and cups. Nothing that looked like it cost more than a few dollars each. I know that Lisa sacrificed to stay at home with her children, especially with a husband that was not always there for them, but it really hit me at that moment just what kind of a mom Lisa was. She was the mom that would rather spend her money making memories and having fun with her children instead of filling her kitchen with all the latest gadgets and serving pieces.

What is my kitchen filled with? The latest gadgets and serving pieces. I think I need to take a lesson from my dear cousin. Thank you Lisa for teaching me something very important thru your example. We will miss you!

Happy Hawleyween!!

One of my favorite holidays of the year is Halloween. I love the fall weather. I love making Halloween costumes. I love trick or treating. Well, I got one out of the three this year!! It was SO hot when we were walking around trick or treating that Alec was sweating in his costume. There goes the fall weather! Then, with things being so busy traveling back to New York and the responsibilities that came with being a room mom in Alec's class this year I did not get an opportunity to make my kids costumes this year (can I hear a collective "GASP" in shock?) I know, I know. I purchased Ashley's costume in September knowing full well that I did not have the proper sewing machine to make a stretch bodice for her Tinker Bell costume. I was, however, going to make Alec's Captain Hook and Aaron's Peter Pan. The week that I had scheduled to make them was the week we were in New York. I decided to head to the Disney Store and just buy them. Good plan and took A LOT of the pressure off me...plus, by the time I decided this the costumes were 1/2 price, WOO HOO!!

We had a blast on Halloween night! As soon as we got home from school Alec and Aaron "helped" me carve our pumpkins. In actuality I carved with my big professional carving tools while they instructed me where to cut. We then made some homemade pizza just in time for Daddy to come home from work. After dinner we got suited up to go trick or treating!

Never-never land here we come!!

Our family getting ready to head out to find some yummy candy! If Mommy had her act together a little more then Adam was going to be John and I was going to be Wendy. Oh well, the important ones got their costumes!

Grammie and Papa with the munchkins. We loved that they were able to join us trick or treating this year! They were headed off to another party after they were done, hence my mom's black dress. Also, you can see our neighbors house in the background. They did a mini-haunted house with their front porch. Of course, my kids would not go near it...but then again, neither would I!

Grandpa and Grandma getting ready to trick or treat with us also!

Allie, Jason, Brooklyn, Melinda, Jason and Phoenix also joined us for trick or treating. Brooklyn was dressed as Dorothy and Phoenix was Tigger (not in this picture). We had a big group going around and it was so much fun!! The kids really got into it. By the end of the night their bags were so full of candy that Aaron could not carry his anymore!!

What a wonderful night it was!

Alec's School Conference

Alec has had 1/2 days at school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week due to school wide school conferences. Alec's was scheduled for 2:20 yesterday. At St. Joseph they want the children to be at the conference with the parents as to be involved with what is going on. Alec and I headed over and met Adam before going in. I have to say, I was a bit nervous going in. I did not think that there would be any problems, but it is always weird for me to sit there and have another person critique my child, especially on actions that happen when I am not there! Well, as we were coming up to the classroom Mrs. Knapp saw us an said, "Oh good, Alec! An easy one!!" A good way to start a conference in my mind and absolutely calmed me a bit.

We went into the classroom and the three of us sat across the little table from Mrs. Knapp (NOT easy for a 6 foot tall person!). She had examples of Alec's work from the beginning of school and then examples of where he is now. WOW what a difference in two short months!! His writing has improved tremendously and his drawing and coloring skills are so much better! Mrs. Knapp said that Alec is an excellent listener, he follows directions very well and is a self starter. She said that at the beginning of the school year he was quite hesitant about doing anything without asking a question about it, but now he is able to jump right in and do something. Mrs. Knapp made specific mention that he is doing SO well and that she could not imagine us having waited a year to put him in kindergarten. What a wonderful report!!!

Mrs. Knapp also gave us a sheet of paper with specific details of the conference for us all to sign (even Alec). It listed the following...

Strengths:

1. Very helpful in and out of classroom.

2. Makes good choices and develops relationships with all students.

3. Great improvement in area of confidence and independent work.

Needs:

1. Blending sounds into simple words and readying decodable books.

2. Writing numbers 1-20

We could not be more pleased with both St. Joseph School and Alec's teachers, Mrs. Knapp and Mrs. Rivers. The amount of spirituality and knowledge of his faith that Alec has already retained has made me a true believer of Catholic school!!

We are SO proud of you Alec!!

Saying more goodbyes

Part of the mystery of life is trying to figure out our purpose here on earth as well as God's plan for us. With all of the events that have happened in the past few weeks, these thoughts have been on the forefront of my mind.

Yesterday morning my cousin Lisa passed away. Lisa was 38 years old and had 5 children ranging in ages from 16 to 3 years old. Leah, the youngest, just had her third birthday a few weeks ago. Lisa found out that she had cancer when she had a large tumor removed from her abdomen just this last March...now she is gone...it happened that quickly. Now there are 5 heartbroken children and a very broken family left here on earth without her. I have to say, I don't understand. I accept it because I know it was God's will, but I don't understand. There has to be a bigger plan, but what could that POSSIBLY be?

Lisa was a VERY smart woman who could talk to anyone about anything. She was incredibly dedicated to her family, both immediate and people further down the bloodline. Lisa enjoyed good jokes and the noise level that many children brought. She was a devout Catholic who celebrated her faith and lived it in her daily life. Lisa was the social coordinator, always trying to get cousins and family together to hang out. Even in her final days while she was surrounded by her family, Lisa was able to bask in the attention and stories that all her family brought to her.

This next week will be such a trying time for Lisa's family, preparing for her funeral and burial. Please keep them in your prayers.

We will miss you Lisa.