Happy Birthday Mr. B... Sturdy 30

That's what we called it. Sturdy 30. As one of the most stable, committed, focused and driven men I know, I could gush about his good qualities all day long. It would probably get irritating. I'll save you and sum it up. He's rad.

Hard to shop for and over getting "stuff"... we're celebrating though experiences. We took a helicopter tour over Long Beach and LA. Going up the coastline from Point Fermin to the Santa Monica Pier.

Yup, it was amazing. Yup, he was surprised.


Sunday morning we had Brunch at Lazy Dog with Fam and Friends alike. Lots of love for this special man.

I certainly dig him. Happy Birthday Mr. B <3

HS Baseball at Blair Field

Took the kiddos to Blair Field to watch Lakewood High School Play Wilson High School. They had a great time and it was crazy awesome to watch these boys (although some of them looked like they were grown men) play ball. Lakewood won 1-0.
Being in the stands at a high school game did not make me miss high school in the slightest. In fact I freaked out a little that my kids are going to be in high school in like 10 years.
Oh my gosh, JT is 7 now so he'd be a senior in 10 years.

I'm freaking out a little bit as I type this.

Shoot. That being said, it was a pretty cool night in Long Beach... ahem LBeezy

Witness the Fitness 2012

JT's Charter School (that we love so dearly) hosts an annual Fitness Day Fundraiser. This year the theme was "Witness the Fitness". Isn't that cute? Students submitted their themes and the PTA board voted on them.

In waves of 3-4 classes at a time, groups came out and spent 30 minutes going station to station. First they stretched, then they moved on to jumping rope. Third they came to my section, the long base running, then they zig zag "caterpillar " ran through cones and the handball courts. They went across monkey bars and down the slide, through two sets of tires, did ab work, pushups, worked their arms swishing ropes and did a 100m dash! After cooling down, they got popsicles and hung out in the shade.
We collect sponsorship donations at flat rates and the money raised goes directly to the school! Plus the swag you get for collecting your donations is pretty awesome too!
HeaBug and I (and Auntie Nini after her class) hung out on the kickball diamond all day. It was awesome to help out and encourage the students to be healthy and exercise!

Bounce U Birthday

 Happy Birthday Buddy!

We spent the rainy morning of St. Patty's day at Bounce U in Huntington Beach. JT's buddy was turning 7 and invited him to his party. Two hours, four slices of pizza, two cupcakes and about a gallon of sweat, I was sure he was wiped for the day and it was only noon! Serious work out, these bouncer parties. It was awesome though, birthday boy had a blast, JT REALLY enjoyed himself, I'd call it a success!

Lillo Girfren is getting bigger

Hea Bug has always been our baby but lately it seems like she's growing up. Not necessarily getting bigger, she's still our little shrimp but now she's not asking for as much help, she's expressing herself all the time whether it's through her words or drawing or singing at the top of her lungs or movin' and groovin' to the music of her life!

"Sewing" her build a bear

Pajama Day at School

Chalk Fun with Auntie Nini

a full month after her birthday, she got a special little cake from Uncle Chris and Auntie Yana. we had to turn out the lights and sing because the cake WAS for her birthday.

even this whiny girl. love her to bits.

she's the BEST helper. love my lillo girfren <3

The First Grade goes to the Farm

FINALLY got to go on a field trip this year! Woot Woot! As a room parent last year, and one not juggling so many tasks, I attended the majority of field trips last year as well as worked in the classroom once a week for a few hours at a time. Now I'm in the classroom occasionally to teach Meet The Masters Art Projects, which is always fun for me! (side note: we have crazy lucked out so far with the most amazing teachers. Little Shout out to Mrs. S and Mrs. G. LOVE you ladies)

This year, Rock Steady has grown so much and while I am still flexible with my schedule, I have to be there so much more because so much more is going on! Boss Lady has to do what she's gotta do. LOL.

Back to the trip. I jumped on the bus with some of the coolest 1st graders around. I must say, I didn't inherit my mom's Pied Piper gene but I do know how to represent for authoritative adults when outnumbered by small, energetic, crazy, whiny sensitive, funny, crazy... (oops, went there already) kiddos.  Seriously, I'm a foot down kinda mom. It's always with a smile though. We went to Centennial Farm at the Orange County Fairgrounds. We got there a little early and were asked to wait, 30 MINUTES! 100 6 and 7 year olds, asked to sit and just wait. Oh man. I busted out some M-I-L-K cheers, for those of you who don't know what's up, here you go:

ME: Give me a Big M (arms up Y-M-C-A style, making the M)
THEM: Big M (same same)
ME: Give me a Little M (cupped hands together making a little m)
THEM: Little M
TOGETHER: Don't want no pop, no pop (wagging fingers)
                        Don't want no juice, no juice (wag 'em on the other side)
                        Just Gimme that Milk, Moo Moo Moo Moo (<-squeeze your fists like your milking a cow)
                        Just Gimme that Milk, Moo Moo Moo Moo (it's really funny if a partner does two thumbs down like udders and the other person milks them. seriously, it's a little weird but the kids think it's hilarious and that's what matters)
REPEAT FOR ALL LETTERS. Once they got it, we were groovin' and there you go, 15 minutes taken care of! Woot Woot!

At the farm we saw the barn, some oxen, planted radishes, saw baby piggies, held baby chicks and all kinds of other things that our little city kids only get to do on a field trip. It was a great experience and I was in lovely company with our other parent and JT's teacher. After lunch we did a giant circle and attempted some "Down by the Banks" and I taught them "Concentration".
I might have myself a little pied piper after all... Nope, just bossy... in a nice way.

Auf Wiedersehen, Sister Mara Imbach

Mara spoke in church giving her farewell before her mission to Frankfurt, Germany. Our family crowded the pews and promised to do a reverent "wave" with our eyebrows and shoulders should she start to stutter. Of course she didn't need any help. My beautiful niece Mara has been bound and determined to serve herself a mission in Germany. Why else does a Hapa-Haole girl from Spokane, Washington living in the Inland Empire, CA take German in High School?
She was on a mission to go on a mission.

We know that she'll do an amazing job and as she serves the Lord, with be held closely in His love and share her marvelous spirit with everyone she meets. She'll also represent singing the birthday song as loudly and obnoxiously as only we do.

Go gettum Mari Bug... I mean Sister Imbach <3