4th of July

Joel running in the Orange Stake's 5K.

At the playground before we ate breakfast with Joel's grandma's ward.

Rainforest Cafe at South Coast plaza. It's so dark in there!

Blake liked exploring the restaurant--Julianna did NOT. Let's just say it was a total sensory overload for her and she couldn't wait to leave. Conveniently, the Sanrio (Hello Kitty) store was right next door and that made everything all better. It was her first time in a Sanrio store and she went CRAZY! Wish I had a picture of her face.

Best picture I could get of them on the merry-go-round before my battery died!

We had a fun 4th. After the mall, we came back home to watch the fireworks. Fun family day!

T-ball over!

Blake had a great t-ball season. He loves his new trophy. At the end of the season, he said he still likes soccer better. We'll see what happens next year! I'm just glad to be done with sports and swim lessons for now!

Swim lessons--Blake

This kid loves to swim now! He has completed level 1 and 2. Level 1 teaches water safety, floating on back, doggy paddling, getting face/body wet. He moved on to level 2 which was much more diffcult--they learned different swimming strokes: backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke. At first I thought they were crazy teaching 5-8 yr olds these things, but after taking the kids swimming at the pool without a lesson and seeing Blake naturally do the strokes in the water to get around without floaties I was amazed. He is abut 90% swimming--still needs help sometimes getting up to take a breath, but we are proud of all his hard work!

Swim Lessons--Julianna

This girl has been doing swim lessons for a long time now. We used funding from the homeschool charter to pay for private lessons in April and May, and then in June we enrolled her in a group class. I think she has made some progress for sure, but still uncomfortable in the water. I am proud of her for doing what her teachers asked her to do. She went underwater by accident a few times, and it scared her but once she calmed down she asked what her prize was (we told her if she went underwater she'd get a prize). We hope swimming on her own is in her future, but it will take time!

Blake's kindergarten graduation

Blake with his teacher, Mrs. Leon. I love the diploma!

About to walk up on the stage. He was called first, even though his name was at the end of the program, so we were not ready!

Blake in his seat at graduation.

Getting his diploma from the teacher. Wish we could have gotten a better shot--we just weren't ready.

A video of both kinder classes singing a version of "Dynamite." It was so cute! Blake was singing it at home before graduation. They also sang a song about going to first grade that was to the tune "Start Spreading the News."

Blake did so well this year in kindergarten. He was the youngest in his class, but really excelled. I'm so glad we started him this year. He is advanced in all his subjects except for handwriting, which we will work on over the summer. We're so proud of him!

Blake's first time playing catcher

Blake's first run

 By the way, I have no idea why these videos have a green stripe through them--they look fine when I watch them on the computer. Sorry!