June 2013 Recap

Well, we were pretty busy with graduation parties and a visit from Beth's mom.  So busy that it has kind of been nice with the BART strike and me working from home this past week.  I will keep this post short and sweet but include a lot of pictures ala Beth style.

The Kids Party at the Henwoods:

The Henwoods and Vitale's put together a begining of summer / end of school party.  It was pretty much awesome and with the kids playing  on the water slide to their hearts content.

Borges Ranch and Rock City

While Jackie was here, we took her local to nearby Borges Ranch and up Mount Diablo to Rock City.  The kids had their usual fun climbing the sandstone!

Jackie's Visit - Learning to Crochet
 

 I love that the girls love to do this type of thing.  Especially  when you think that it was the girls idea for their grandmother to teach them.

And Lots of Running

We have been running a lot in our neighborhood.  There is a little bit of single track on a part of the trail.  I have been running this for a few weeks now and have been aware that this would be a prime location for rattlesnakes.  Well Beth took the kids out a couple of days a go and low and behold this lovely lady was waiting for them to come back. As with most rattlesnakes, they want very little to do with humans and they gave her a wide berth.   That week we saw quite a few deer, rabbits and other non-venomous type snakes.  Pretty cool!!!

Pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks.

Emma's 5th Grade Graduation

Today was one of those fun life changing days.   Our oldest daughter Emma graduated from elementary school today.  What was even more fun was to watch her represent her class by saying a speech about the 6 years (kindergarten through 5^th grade) she had been at Woodside.

 

Emma recieving her 5th grade promotion certificate.

She has grown up to be such a lady!  She was very well composed on stage and I would be lying if I didn’t say I shed a tear or two when she was handed her promotion certificate.  I am taken back a bit that middle school is right around the corner.

Emma opening a card from a brother and sister in our congregation.

Emma's first grade teacher Mrs. Holmes.

I never went to one school straight through, attending five different schools by the time I was finished, so for her to relate her experiences with kids and teachers (some who were in the audience) for each grade at Woodside was pretty awesome.  

Emma's friend Jasmin since 1st grade.

Unfortunately, next year we have decided to move Myles and Sophie to an elementary that is much closer (1 block away instead of 5 miles away).  This will mean getting used to new teachers and reestablishing a good parent –teacher-student relationship that we had done at Woodside.  The good news is that the middle school is right across the street from the elementary so the kids will be able to leave at the same time.

Myles' Kindergarten Promotion

I can’t say enough about how awesome the kids teachers have been, from Mrs. Holmes and Hutchenson, to Robinett, Mrs Brandt, to Wilmoth, and not to leave out Mrs. Cattalini.  They have been great partners in teaching our children at Woodside.

Emma's 5th grade speech:

You can also find it on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/Nj2lDaIOLVA

And Beth's recap is found on her blog here.