First day of preschool!

Big kids... about to become part of "the system" :(

Everybody say "preschool"!

Yeah, we're excited :)

Ready to take on the world :)

Baby bears are growing up!

Cutest photo... big day for the keiki's...

Last weekend of summer!

We drove up to Holy Jim Canyon because all Kai and Daila have talked about since getting back from Ohio is going on a nature hike. The drive in was pretty cool but the clouds were looming the whole time so not much actual hiking done. We still managed to hike around the river a little. They loved watching the rain start while having snacks in the back of the truck!

First tuck in on a school night... Kai of course was already asleep!

Daila was so excited to start school, she wore herself out getting prepared :) I have to admit I got a little teary this night thinking where has the time gone?!

Ohio summer visit 2012!

Kai and Daila love hanging out with their cousins and spending time at Mimi and Papas house. This summers trip was full of roaming the land on golf cart and motorcycle rides, nature walks, picking apples and blackberries, helping mimi take care of the garden, swinging on the tire swing, playing with the neighbor girls, watching lightning storms, going to the Blueberry festival and even swim lessons. I love that they have this place to experience all of these things. We can't wait until next summer!

Daila was always Mimis little helper in the garden :)

Kai on one of many of his motorcycle rides with Papa.

Clay catching some air!

Sid showing the boys how it's done :)

The little kids love fishing with Papa.

Kai and Daila on one of their many "nature walks" down the Indian Trail.

Hanging out on the top of the hill.

Daila loves the tire swing.

Kai begging for a push :)

Moto girl ready for some action!

Mimi and I took the kids to Malabar Farms. This was one of the first all organic farms in the country and was originally owned by writer Louis Bromfield. It's also the place where Humphry Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married. It's a beautiful place to visit and Kai and Daila loved all the farm animals.

About to go see the animals.

Daila loved this pony. The first thing she said when she woke up the next morning was that she had to go to the farm to check on her. Next time Dai Dai, I promise we'll go back!

They got to play with a calf and a baby goat who were romping around the barn.

Swim lessons!

Mimi has signed all of the grandchildren up for swim lessons at this pool since Sid (the oldest) was old enough years ago. She even has a tradition of taking them for treats afterwards at the local market. I use to swim at this pool when I was a teenager on swim team too!

Motoman Kai boy...

Daila hanging out with the neighbor girls Logan and Morgan.

It turned out Logan was signed up for the same swim class.

We went to the Blueberry festival in Lexington. Kai and Daila scored at the parade and got tons of candy and trinkets to take home.

Mimi and I waiting for the kids on a ride.

Carnival rides!

Joey and Kai being tough guys at the festival :)

Daila too cute for words.

Fort build team :)

Sid, the big brother to all the kids!

Sid and Clay started to build a fort in the woods and worked on it for many nights. Kai and Daila loved going down to help them and insisted on wearing their "worker hats" every time!

Kais Sports

Kai warding off his apponent :)

With his coaches. Coach "Quick" the one directly to his right was his main coach all 6 weeks.

Kai and Billy after recieving his award.

Kai insisted on doing an extra lap at the end of each class. No idea why, he would always just take off running down the track every time. Since it was the last day Daila decided to join him. This is them walking back after we finally convinced them it was time to go home :)

Overdue cuteness...

Before Daila's first ballet recital...

Beach day!!!

Daila loves to host neighborhood tea parties :)

Kai and Billy before Kais first MLB game, the Angels and the Blue Jays...

Ballerina girl wearing the tutu I made for her :)

Cassie, Daila, Kai, Bella... neighborhood conga line!

Kai's Sports and Daila's Ballet

Kai LOVES going to his sports class. They focus on a different sport each week. So far he's done soccer, football and basketball. He loves his coach "Coach Quick" and loves hanging out with his new friends.

We love watching him. He's so into it and listens really well.

Hanging with the dudes :)

This photo speaks volumes to me. This was taken right after his first class and I was just so proud of him I couldn't stop hugging him. He wanted so bad to be out of my arms and back on the field :)

Dai Dai Ballet :)

Daila has been going to Ballet for a few weeks now. We started just going on Wednesdays in our town, but then we signed her up for the recital and she's been going on Saturdays to Lake Forest to practice with the class there too. We didn't really intend to get this involved right off the bat, but it ended up that way and she seems to love it. This was from her first class.

She insists each time that I put her hair in a bun. I keep reminding her that she doesn't have to wear it that way, but I think since that's how the "prima ballerina" from the Nutcracker had it, she thinks it's the only way. She is so dedicated to this right now :)

Daila and her new friends.

The girls.

This little girl loves Daila and from thier first class together she keeps reminding Daila that she's her best friend. Aside from the dance part of ballet it's so cute to watch little girls interact with each other at this age.

Happy ballerina girl :)

Kai and Daila :)