Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser

A couple of weeks ago, Ryan and Charlie's preschool had a fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese. Every parents' favorite place! Ugh! Anyway, the girls had a blast. It took Charlie a little bit to warm up but she came around. You will see that since Ryan is in the "oldest" class now she acts like she rules the school!

Here's Ryan acting silly.

Ryan with her boyfriend, Josh. They spent practically the whole time together.

Charlie is still feeling a little bit shy.

Not anymore.

Mommy and Charlie steering the train through the tracks.

Ryan on top of the crazy maze with her friend Cole.

Ryan dancing with Josh.
(Saved the best for last. This was so much fun to watch. They would dance and they could see themselves on TV. So cute.)

It's About Time!!!

Charlie finally got a big girl bed!!!

Well... she got the toddler bed (Dad is still not quite ready for her to grow up that much yet for her "real" big girl bed.) I have been a big advocate of keeping her in her crib until she was three which was great advice I got from a friend, and completely opposite from what we did with Ryan. It worked out great but when she turned three, a certain someone still wasn't ready for her to get out of her crib... that someone was daddy! It took Charlie's well-check appointment and the pediatrician to help me ease Steve into this new transition. I understand... he is so worried about them getting up and around in the middle of the night, but at some point, we gotta let go a bit!

As you can tell, she was the happiest little "big girl" in all of California!! Just look at that smile.

She spent all afternoon playing in her new bed. We even reorganized the furniture so they have a little secret cubby back in the corner of the room now. They love it, it makes for a great place to play with their castle.

Thank goodness that she actually took a nap that day because that night was a different story. I planned for it by putting them to bed super early but Charlie was so, so excited to have the ability to get up whenever she wanted, that she took full advantage. I swear, she must have 15 different reasons to get out of bed. Maybe more, I lost count!
"Mommy, I need to go potty."
"Okay Charlie. Go ahead and then get back in bed."
-Back to bed... 1 minute later... pitter-patter little feet-
"Mommy, do you think I can have one of your brown pillows?"
"Sure Charlie. Here you go. Now go back to bed."
-Back to bed... 1 minute later... pitter-patter little feet-
"Mommy, I'm think I'm thirsty."
"Okay Charlie. Can I get you some water?"
-Drinks water...Back to bed... 1 minute later... pitter-patter little feet-

This went on and on and on and on! It was precious. I hope I remember that moment forever.

Family Night at Balboa

Last weekend Steve did not have to work Friday night which means he had more energy on Saturday. We love those weekends because that means we get to see more of daddy! He took the family down to Balboa to stroll around, ride the ferry, and go out to dinner. With Steve's hectic work schedule, the girls and I cherish these moments so much!

Robyn's Bridal Shower

Last weekend, the girls got to attend their very first bridal shower! They loved being with all the "ladies" and of course, all the ladies liked to watch them be the cutest littlest princesses ever. They were perfectly behaved and just had so much fun. The shower was for Robyn Coleman, Steve's cousin and Liz's Goddaughter. All the family was there to catch up and Ginny was a dynamite hostess!

Rocking back and forth on this couch was the favorite part of the day.

Charlie sat so intent for quite a while just doodling away. So grown up!

There very own bistro table that they shared with baby Kyla.

Robyn opening all of her loot! Charlie's job was to hand the ribbons and bows to Kendra who was in charge of making the "bow"quet!

OMG! Another New School!

About a month ago we got a call from the CDC (Child Development Center) associated with the school that the girls will attend during their elementary years. They had been on a waiting list for quite awhile. Well... their names finally came up on the list and they had room for them at the CDC in the Tuesday/Thursday slot we had wanted. This came as a surprise since they had already started their other NEW school only 2 weeks before this call came. Steve and I had the weekend to discuss it and decide what we were going to do. After all the crying we had been through in the previous weeks at the other new school, I couldn't imagine trying to transition them yet again. But, I had to consider that this new transition would be to their future elementary school so at least I wouldn't have to transition them again before Kindergarten. They would already be there and use to the people, environment, and friends. Plus, Ryan truly, truly HATED the other school. Her class had probably 10 class pets and she was afraid everyday. She does not like animals one bit and during naptime everyday she could hear each of them rattling around in their cages! Poor thing was hysterical all the time. There were a lot of factors both for and against, but we finally decided that it was worth it to transition them again. I honestly thought it would be Christmas before the crying would stop at drop off. It was heart wrenching to walk away on the mornings they would cry. Well, we had to wait for them to start until Charlie turned three (CDC does not allow any children under 3 to attend) so this past week was the magic week. Charlie turned 3 so they started CDC on Tuesday. It was amazing. There were tears for sure but not nearly what I had encountered EVERY morning at the other school! Their teacher got them engaged right away and the girls were fine (for the most part)!
We made a great decision and are so happy!

Here is Charlie talking to her teacher, Mrs. Crawford. I let them each bring a photograph of their family to keep with them all day. Charlie told the teacher all about her picture with no tears! It was unbelievable!

Here Mrs. Crawford is telling the girls about their cubby. If you click on the picture to make it larger, you can see a big crocodile tear under Charlie's eye! So cute. She's not totally convinced about this place but this is tons, tons, tons better than the way she'd cry at the other school.

Look, Ryan is as happy as a clam! Charlie is having to fake the smile a bit but on her way.
The teacher was taking pictures for their cubby. I'm pretty sure that this is the "smile" that made it on the front of Charlie's cubby! LOL

Aloha!

Last weekend, our littlest princess turned three! She is getting so big! We celebrated with a small luau party! It was supposed to involve some pool time but the weather did not cooperate! That didn't phase Charlie... she had a great time being the cutest little hula girl I have ever seen!

Charlie and Ryan posed with Mr. Tiki Guy in their hula outfits.

~~~

Mahalo to our guests for helping little Char-Char celebrate!
Here are some snapshots of Charlie's guests!

Lots of Kudrons - Mike, Cameron, Nancy, and Sandy
and a Coleman too - Aunt Marzie

Little Cameron Kudron

Colleen and Ryan

The Cloughertys - Vinny, Erin, and Wyatt

Gigi and Papa



Joe, Steve, Liz, Vinny, Wyatt
Celeste, Claudia, Lori

Claudia, Lori, Erin, Colleen, and little Wyatt

Claudia, Celeste, and Michelle hangin' out.

Wyatt is trying to talk me into having another baby! LOL!!!

Steve asked, "Who is having a hula birthday today?"
Charlie raised her hand with an enthusiastic, "I am!"

We were taking too long to start singing Happy Birthday to Charlie so she started herself. Because of her little birthday party the day before at her school, her version went like this...
"Op -en, shut them, Op- en, shut them. Give a lit-tle clap, clap, clap.
Op -en, shut them, Op- en, shut them. Fold them and put them in your lap, lap, lap.
God is great, God is Good, and we thank him for our food.
Happy Birthday to you. Hap-py birth-day to you...(this is where everyone else noticed that she had already started and chimed in for the rest)!"
At snack time every day, they start with the "Open, Shut them" song and a little prayer before they eat. I think Charlie just assumed that this is how the whole birthday thing is supposed to go!


Once she had a captive audience, Charlie showed everyone how to hula dance!



Here is the cupcake picnic!

Carson is enjoying her virgin "foo-foo" Hawaiian cocktail! All the girls toasted to the little birthday girl!

Nonna poses with Ryan and Charlie.

These outfits weren't planned!! Nonna and Grandpa had gotten these bathing suits for the cousins last Easter. I knew from that very moment that they would be perfect for this party and saved them all summer! I wouldn't even let then wear them very often. But we didn't know Katie would wear hers too! It sure did make a cute picture!

The babysitters - Aubrey above and Tara below. The did great!

The bounce is always a hit! Especially when it is too cold and rainy to get in the pool! This didn't keep our girls from staying in their bathing suits ALL day long!

A kiss for daddy!

The hula in hula party! We had lots of hula hoops on hand for the kids to go along with the theme! It should come as no surprise that the grown ups had more fun with them than the kids! Must have been those Mai Tais talkin'

Charlie on her "shell phone" thanking everyone for coming to her hula party!

Happy Hula Birthday Charlie!

Charlie's Birthday at Teddy Bear School

Last Friday, we celebrated Charlie's birthday at Teddy Bear School. I think she was the first one this school year to have a birthday party in their classroom. The little 2 1/2 and 3 year olds looked absolutely in awe to be having a party in the middle of the morning. As you can see, it was a luau theme (just like you'll see in the next post for her family party). Charlie LOVED being the center of attention in front of her new school friends! And mommy LOVED to watch her "strut her stuff!" It was adorable.

The party table complete with little umbrellas in the doughnuts!
(That's about all that works at a 10:15 a.m. party! They certainly weren't going to go for lattes and scones!)

The birthday girl posing for her shot.


Charlie ready to blow out the candle on her "cake!"

Charlie never met a sprinkled doughnut that she didn't like.

Afterward, Charlie got to be the teacher's helper and told the story of the 5 Little Pumpkins.

And then she happily sang the "Scarecrow Song" for mommy!

It was a very successful school party. Happy birthday Chuck-Chuck!