Matt's Graduation from the Police Academy

Congrats on your Graduation Matt!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!!!

Our men in uniform.  Uncle Tim, Uncle Matt & Uncle Jason. 

Matt and Vanessa (who is pregnant by the way! Alex is requesting a girl...please.)

 

Cali...Redwood park, Beach & Tidepools

They loved hanging out with their cousin Rogan all week!

Luffenholtz Beach

Alex was too squimish to walk on the seaweed covered rocks herself.
Uncle Matt was nice enough to carry her over so she didn't miss out on the tidepools.

Johnny picked up almost every rock he came across and his bag got heavy fast.

Alex spent her time looking for pieces of sea glass and pretty little rocks.

Then we headed up the road to Trinidad where we found some pretty cool tidepools with lots of starfish

(Alex worked up the courage to touch one) as well as hermit crabs, sea anenomes and other sea creatures.

SIX YEARS!!!

Johnny turned six on Sunday, but we celebrated with friends the day before we left for our trip to Cali.

Pinkalicious!

 Alex has been wanting this for a couple of years now.  She's pretty excited about it.

The end of another year

It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the school gym watching Alex sing for her Kindergarten graduation and now it's Johnny up there standing tall and proud (Watch him here).  He has grown so much this year being in school and has developed a confidence that affects his every day life.  His hyperactive side has dwindled down somewhat to let his sweetness really shine through.  He still loves to wrestle with his Dad and can run laps around us all when he wants to.  But he makes me smile everyday with his thoughtfulness as he takes other's feelings into consideration when making decisions.  He is always quick to serve or compromise if he knows it'll put a smile on someone's face.  He is an example to us all and I'm grateful to have him as a part of our little family.

Alex is trying to figure out her role as a friend, daughter, sister and individual.  She wants to stand out and be in charge of her life and show that she can do it on her own.  She also wants to make sure she's supported by those she loves and looks up to.  I think I know her ins and outs, ups and downs and then she surprises me with decisions she makes.  Like choosing to do her end of year project on bats when most of the other girls were picking dolphins, snow leopards and pandas.  She insists of making the treat for Activity Days all by herself but still gets excited when I come to help out in place of a missing leader.  I hope I can find the medium between friend and disciplinarian that will help her develop into a strong yet meek young woman.  Maybe we can make that journey together as I am learning from her every day.