Pony Pics

I'm such a sucker! I saw a sign at a local fast -food restaurant that said "Pony Pics $3"... so of course I had to get them. I thought Sierra would be the most excited since she loves animals so much... but to say that she was nervous is an UNDER statement. I was thankful to get any pictures at all. These are the keepers.

This is my favorite because she looks so confident & happy.

Elijah is a total cheese-ball when it comes to pictures. He loves it and never acts shy at all.

Can you tell? I love this picture because he looks like a little chivalrous cowboy man... without front teeth... pretty authentic I think.

Yee-haw!

Trick-Or-Treat 2010

Halloween 2010~ The same kids (Tafoya's & Strycula's) but wearing costumes to express their new interests.
We had a queen, a cat, a snake, a cowgirl... and a GREAT night. The biggest "treat" of the night was a goody bag filled with vampire teeth, fake eyeballs,

Halloween-themed rubber duckies, and full-size candy. The kids hit the JACK POT at that house.

Sierra was happy to model for me(:

Sierra made a last minute wardrobe change from her Lady Bug costume to Jessy from Toy Story. I went with my Greek costume that I wear every year to school for the Greek Day Festival... it's an oldie, but a goody.

Harry Potter... his new "IT" character & story series. Eli wants to watch the movies, to hear us read him the stories, play the new HP Lego sets... and now he's putting spells on us daily as this costume is getting some serious mileage.

Hope you all had a Spook-tacular night!

Oh Happy Day!

Anyone who knows me, knows that the last 6 months of my life have been wrapped up in this event... the day of all days for my family. Rich was sworn into a California Sheriff's department in front of our whole entire- super proud- family. We have all, in our own ways, tried to support and encourage his dream of being a law enforcement officer, but in the end- he did the work. He made his dream come true and I am thrilled. It is a true blessing to work in a job that makes you feel happy, challenged, and fulfilled. He has that.

And just between you and me... he looks great in uniform! (;

Thanks to our Tafoya & Reagin family who traveled from New Mexico for the event.

These cousins could pass for siblings any day. So cute!

Eli wore his uniform so that he could participate in saluting the flag as a man in uniform... just like his dad.

My sister & Rich's brother- that is pretty cool if you ask me.

Take a look at the bottom of the picture and you can see Eli. He was so excited when Rich walked out to be badged, that he ran down to the stage to cheer him on. He wanted Rich to look at him so badly as he called, "Daddy! Daddy!", but Rich had to be at full attention- his eyes straight ahead. After a couple seconds Eli goes, "awww, come on and look Dad". The first couple rows started cracking up and we have since had so many people say how cute it was to see a little boy so proud of his dad.

The icing on the cake-

As any boy does, Rich has always looked up to his older brother, Ryan. So what better moment to share with an older brother than a long-awaited accomplishment.

So the "icing" for Rich was having his brother- a sergeant for the department in New Mexico- pin on his badge in his formal ceremony. I don't think that there was a dry eye in our family. It was so special.

Just a Little Fairy Dust...

Turning 4 is Magical! My little Sierra's birthday just passed and my mom & dad went ALL out. They got us tickets to see the new Tinkerbell movie at El Capitan... which is awesome all by itself, BUT they surprised my girl with a Tinkerbell breakfast as well. Laura and I were of course all over that as well. Sierra was so excited by the whole thing that she even got nervous... meeting one's Hero can be daunting.

Sierra told her during picture time that she loved Tinkerbell so much that she named her dog "Tinkerbell". She (T-bell) smiled, but I'm sure she was wondering what exactly the dog looked like.

What could be better... girl time for breakfast and a movie...Hollywood... shopping... and then lunch at Cheesecake Factory. So special! Didn't you know? Girls Just Wanna Have Fun...

Made My Day

On the long ride home from school the other day Eli & I had a conversation that I will remember forever...

Elijah: Mom, it's getting CRITICAL in here!

(I'm thinking, Wow what a great teacher. She's already teaching him about CRITICAL thinking)

I say: Wow, that's a big word. Where did you here that? (again, giving props in my head to his new teacher)

Elijah: I heard on "Jonas L.A.". It's in a Jonas Brothers song. (he then starts to sing the song)

I can't help myself, but to burst out laughing. My 6 year old is quoting pop songs to me. Hilarious! But then it gets better...

He says: Laugh it up fuzzball.

I'm thinking what in the world? Is he making fun of my crazy curly hair? How rude, but still it struck me as funny and I ask him where he got that saying.

He says: Han Solo says it to Chewbaca in the Empire Strikes Back.

Again... I had to shake my head and laugh...

Only could this all have come from Elijah. My little media sponge. If it's on TV, the computer or in a video, he's all over it.

Has It Really Been A Month Already??

August flew by so fast... it was the time I had hoped would last the longest... the time when I wasn't "officially" working. I wanted it to be the BEST mommy-time ever. Alas, it is long gone now and as of last week we are BACK TO SCHOOL! We are back to packing lunches & setting out clothes the night before, back to fits and crying when it's time to get up in the morning (and the fits aren't just the kids...) and back to RUSHING, RUSHING, RUSHING....

What are the plusses in this situation? Well, new things to learn and new things to teach, a fresh crop of students for me, the kids telling me all about their day on the hour-long ride home each day, BUT most of all was the confidence I saw in Eli on the first day of 1st grade. He was ready early & gave thumbs up to ease MY fears all morning.

So I say, HELLO fall and good-bye summer... I'll miss you):

What a special treat! Rich got to take a break from the academy for the morning so he could be on Daddy Duty.

Busted Grill

Elijah just had another major tooth loss... it's a biggy in kid's life to have both front teeth missing. So the tooth fairy brought him a little $$ and he's been trying out all the fun things you can do with a big hole in the front of your mouth. You can push your milk through it (ewww) or your tongue, or you can even put little toys there (legos anyone??). The cutest moment came at Eli's kindergarten teacher's wedding. All the kids were invited and they stayed after to take a class picture with her & have cupcakes... all the kids started comparing their mouths. I laughed so hard as they were oooohing and aahhhhhing over their new missing teeth & their new grown in "big teeth". It was super cute.

Official tooth loss count: 4

Roughing it... AGAIN

With Rich busy in the academy and me teaching summer school, time for a vacay is hard to find. We did, however, take advantage of the extra day off given for the 4th of July and head to the Sierra Mountains & Kern River to get a little family camping in. We didn't get our usual spot, but it turned out well because we found a new spot that had a access to an awesome part of the river. We were able to fish and swim right next to our camp. Eli caught his first brown trout, which he told everyone when we returned home. In all, it wasn't a long trip, but it's always really refreshing to be outside & hang out with each other. Roughing it isn't always so rough(:

someone who stayed at the campsite before us strung up a swing on a tree branch. it was a hit with the kids!

To Infinity and Beyond!

Summer is in full swing... I'm teaching summer school, the kids are going to summer camp & preschool, we're trying to squeeze in sprinkler running, watermelon eating, beach going. BUT to start off the summer, we hit Toy Story 3 at El Capitan in Hollywood for a SUPER FUN Father's Day. My parents, sister, and our little fam went to see the highly anticipated movie - Eli being (in his words), "a huge Disney-Pixar fan." The movie was hilarious! Mr. Potato head as a tortilla & Buzz speaking Spanish were our favorite parts.
Eli lost his first BIG tooth on the top that morning, so it's official, he says he's on his way to being a man(:

After the movie, we were STOKED to find that our tickets to this awesome theatre included a Toy Story themed carnival behind the theatre at Hollywood High School. There were so many activities for the kids to do... so FUN!

First stop on the activity list- Bungee jumping on a trampoline. Are you kidding? I was so jealous of the kids (I wore a dress that day- not trampoline friendly). They dove in head first- no fear and jumped for all they were worth!

Sierra was the real dare-devil of the day. She was loving it- yep, that's my 3 year old in the air doing flips. Look at her in comparison to the building behind her- YIKES!!

In the movie, the characters dance... ballroom style, so they had a live show version. My kids especially liked this part, since Monday nights in the fall & spring means "Dancing with the Stars" together on the couch.

That is one truly happy little face(:

Eli was content going in the bouncer & the video gaming tent. Sierra had her sights set on the Ferris wheel. Honestly, they aren't my favorite- I get kind of freaked out during the loading of passengers when the little seat is wiggling in the air, but how could I resist her?

There we are at the very top. I'm the one holding on tight. She's the one with both of her hands in the air screaming with excitement.

Meeting a few of their heroes. You can't really beat a high-five from Buzz and Woody when you're 6 & 3.

Sierra got a little squeeze from Jessy, who is currently her favorite character (sorry Dora & Diego, you've been passed up).

Her smile pretty much sums it up... and I think the Dad's had just as much fun.

Thank God for family, fun night's out together... and SUMMER!