disney days

we went to disneyland to celebrate the end of school, the beginning of summer and to spend some time together - just the five of us.

we were able to score a room at the disneyland hotel thanks to our personal disney travel agent ; ).

it's the original hotel and has that disney feel that i remember when i would come here with my family. the room was perfect for the five of us with two queen beds and a daybed.  we loved all the magical disney touches.

our first stop was the pool. the kids went down the water slides and swam in all three pools.

bobby and i sipped cocktails, read books and hopped in the jacuzzi for some much needed relaxation time.

then we went to downtown disney.

 a very cool display for the movie inside out.

not taking it too seriously.

we saw fireworks, ate ice cream and went into a bunch of stores. it's a fun place to hang out on a friday night.

we dropped the kids off in the room and turned on the fireworks headboard.  it was so pretty.  then bobby and i went downstairs to check out trader sam's enchanted tiki bar.

we waited outside for a bit because they were over capacity. when we finally made it in we enjoyed the fun vibe.

we sat with a couple that was in line with us. they are teachers in san diego just like some of our cousins. we chatted and had a couple of tiki drinks with them.

the next morning jord, sofia and i met grandpa tom at disneyland at 7 am to get into the park early. we  wanted to ride matterhorn, then we zipped over to big thunder and pirates before the crowds got there. the early entrance is such a great bonus to staying at the hotel.

bobby and andrew got to sleep in because they weren't going to the park. we met them at goofy's kitchen for breakfast. this was a little over priced and not really a must for our kids who are older but it was still a fun thing to do. and now i have to dig up photos of the boys when they were younger and we came here.

sofia had to get one more swim in the pool before we checked out.

then we said goodbye to andrew and bobby. they took the train back to chatsworth so andrew could play in the championship baseball game. he was really bummed to have to leave but he also didn't want to miss the last game of the season. and he's so happy he didn't.

they won the game and were the tournament champions!!

 back at the park the kids and i went to california adventure and rode california screamin'. i've been trying to convince anyone to ride with me and finally they did.

we did toy story, soaring over california and the little mermaid ride.  then we went to the wharf for some soup in a bread bowl.

our goal was to go back to disneyland and watch the parade and fireworks, but it was so crowded when we went back and we were exhausted from getting up early. we just wanted to go home.

next time around we need to book two nights to have more time and get some rest in between.  we'll have to contact our travel agent to see if there is room later this year.

2015 weekly menu #26

veggie spring rolls with peanut sauce

this week marks the half way point to the year. wow!

last week i had to change up our menu because of last minute opportunities, like going to the dodger game on wednesday and a pool get together that took us into the evening.  it means i need to stock the pantry and the freezer with easy meals for those spontaneous moments. one night i made spaghetti and meatballs for the kids, one night we had cheese, crackers and fruit for dinner. on friday we had salmon instead of pizza just because.

so, this week looks similar to last week and none of us seem to mind.

weekend eats
saturday: mexican food
sunday: deli sandwiches at the dodger game

making this week
monday: crunchy ahi tuna slad
tuesday: grilled sausages, pineapple, veggies
wednesday: chicken tacos, salad
thursday: flank steak, mexican street corn salad
friday: pizza

we'll see what fun we get into this week.

wrapping up another year

first day of school

yesterday i was printing pictures for my project life album and it hit me how fast this school year went by.  i remember the first day as if it happened last week.  bobby and i were getting ready to go to toronto for the film festival and the kids were excited about starting the school year and being with their friends again.  

i also remember what we hoped for this year, more peace, trying new things, being consistent and committed, being on top of it, having fun and letting go.  

their friendships grew stronger and said so much about who they are; honest, caring and supportive beings.  there was a mix of drama and emotion but they learn to get along and more importantly care about each other, so they work it out. big life lesson for sure.

 they were serious about studying. even if they left some things for the last minute. andrew learned about not just doing what is required but going beyond that to explore and learn and get the most out of the experience.

he worked as the teacher's assistant in humanities when they read the fellowship of the ring. along with his two friends he wrote tests and lesson plans using his extensive knowledge of tolkien and history.  this was a highlight of the year for him.

sofia worked hard on her reading and spelling.  it takes her a bit longer and she has to be patient and consistent but we saw a lot of growth this year.  what mattered most was that she wanted to improve and she worked hard at it this year. she would get frustrated sometimes but she never gave up.

this was the year sofia did a moon journal. she observed and recorded the phases of the moon for a month. i love that i have all three of the kids moon journals to look at now.  it's fun to see the differences and similarities in their work. 

they enjoyed going to school dressed up for halloween and having fun at the carnival.

she came to school as walt disney and nancy drew for her book report presentations.

and they showed their school spirit at sports day, super hero day and crazy hair day.

he concentrated on baseball but also stood out as a fast runner. we are considering switching him to track or cross country since it looks like his baseball career might be over.

she played soccer and volleyball for school. she isn't afraid to try anything and enjoys being a part of the team, even though it meant a lot of practice.

 sofia also spent her time participating in the school musical as young shrek. although she didn't have any lines, she took her part seriously and was excited to be on stage. we know this is something she will continue doing.

andrew went to all of the middle school dances and game nights. he took fencing and a gaming class as electives. he stepped out of his comfort zone a little bit more this year and i think found it's not such a scary place.

he went away for a week to catalina where he kayaked, snorkeled and hiked. 

she went away for the first time, closer to home and for only a few days. it was an adventure that she really enjoyed and can't wait to go back next year.

they presented their unit of inquiries at the end of the year as part of the ib program. this is going to happen a lot next year and we can't wait to see what they discover and learn.

the kids each got to spend time with their teachers. andrew had a game night with his friends and the technology teacher and she got to go horseback riding.

they spent a lot of time in the car together. when they weren't fighting they were playing cards, singing songs and making each other laugh.

 

it was a pretty awesome year for her. she is growing up into such a special person. i love how interested she is in school and how hard she works at doing her best - even when it doesn't come easy. i admire her outgoing personality and her genuine care and respect for her classmates and teachers.

 

and it was an awesome year for him. he is a quiet young man but a deep thinker who will take on any challenge. one of his teacher's wrote: He is always positive in class and his fun sense of humor makes the atmosphere better for all. 

next year will be his last year at cha and then he moves on to high school. hard to believe. but i know he's ready. the question is, am i?

2015 weekly menu #25

i had so many food photos to choose from this week. first because i take a lot of food photos, and second because we ate a lot of pretty food this week.  this bread bowl is from the wharf at california adventure this weekend.

i'm feeling all of the calories we've been eating lately and it's time (after a good breakfast out with bobby) to cut the calories and get back on program. do i say this every week? it's a struggle but i'm at that point where it's a must! and what a perfect time to load up on fruits and veggies.

weekend eats
saturday: clam chowder and broccoli and cheese bread bowls
sunday: chinese food

making this week
monday: italian chopped salad
tuesday: shrimp lettuce wraps, veggie spring rolls
wednesday: grilled sausages, pineapple, veggies
thursday: flank steak, rice, salad
friday: pizza

drinking lots of water this week too. flavoring it with oranges, strawberries and limes.

hope you have a good week.

today & to do 6/11

today

• is officially the first day of summer for all of us - doing the happy dance.
• i looked through the kids' yearbook and got sentimental. 
• we did breakfast at 11 am. does this mean i don't need to worry about lunch?
• is a do whatever you want to do day. it's a reward for working so hard all year.
• we are wearing pajamas until we need to go out.
• i'll do some organizing so we can have fun next week.
• my sister and i are going to the ingrid michaelson concert. so excited!

to do

• clear out backpacks and school clothes.
• order some inserts for my traveler's notebook. now that it's summer and our schedule isn't so hectic i can carry something a little lighter. this notebook will house a weekly calendar and a journal to keep track of our summer adventures and lists.
• go to school to pick up a little gift to sofia from her teacher.
• figure out lunch, they're already asking.
• wash andrew's baseball uniform. his team is playing for the tournament championship this weekend. what a season it has been! #gododgers
• take andrew to the batting cages. see above.
• get some tuscan melons from trader joe's.
• laundry and pack for a mini disney getaway.

today is going to be ridiculously amazing!

goodbye school, hello summer

it's graduation day today.

we attended the commencement ceremony at school this morning and celebrated with graduates and their families as they move on to high school.  this is always an emotional time full of excitement and sadness. our school is a second home to students, many of whom started here at pre-school and will be moving on to a new school for the first time in 11 years!  it's tough to say goodbye. but it's exciting to see where they will go.

as chair of the board of trustees, bobby got to deliver a speech during the ceremony. my favorite line is the one at the end:

"Today, you are leaving CHA with more than a diploma.  You will carry the experience, the support, and the spirit of CHA with you, as you take on the next chapter of your life."

a unique part of the ceremony is that the teachers get a chance to introduce each of the students and say a little bit about who they are. it's a reminder of the connection they have made with the faculty throughout their years at cha.  and it makes the ceremony more personal.

then it was time to party.

this time next year we will have our own graduate. andrew is officially an 8th grader and sofia is a 4th grader. YIKES!

for now we will enjoy the first day of summer with friends and tomorrow we sleep in!

congratulations to this year's graduates and good luck in the future.