Zoomars with the Murdents

A few weeks ago, we took a little trip to Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano with the Murdents. As always, the girls were excited to see each other.

 We could've stayed at the guinea pig / bunny petting zoo pen the entire day and the girls would've been happy. Drew kept telling us she heard them say "take me home with you."

 Lauren really wanted to feed them carrots, but they just weren't hungry. Could it be the 50 other kids force feeding them carrots and lettuce? Perhaps.

 Drew felt right at home with this goat, he bore a strong resemblance to how Nikki looks when she gets pet.

 She wasn't scared at all. But a goat is a goat and they have teeth, we don't want her learning the hard way.

 Thanks for smiling Lauren and Lewie! Thanks for nothin' Drew!

Maui

After a 5:30am wakeup call and a quick ride to the airport, we had 3 flights to catch: OC to San Fran, San Fran to Honolulu and Honolulu to Kapalua, Maui. This is leg #2, we're all fully into our digital entertainment at this point.

 Same Woody, slightly bigger girl.

Yes, we're checking emails and watching iPods in Hawaii. To be fair, we waited about 4 days before doing it. And it's 8am and we've been up for 2 hours already.

 Hammerhead!

Drew and her friend Bella, this year.

Drew and Bella in 2010.

"I want to live in Hawaii forever!" 

Treehugger 2011

Treehugger 2010

 Getting a little cranky waiting for dinner, and also amping it up for the camera.

 My favorite picture of the trip

 Learning the hula with all the other single wahine (and some boys too).

Drew quotes: the Maui version

Jeremy, Drew and I got to Maui a couple days before my parents' timeshare officially started so we stayed in a more modest hotel for a few days.
Drew: When are we going to the other Hawaii?


me: Drew, do you see Daddy and Boppa out in the ocean? They are boogie boarding
Drew: I see Black Hair and No Hair.

Drew is eating a granola bar for breakfast while I am teaching her how to play Go Fish when her granola bar breaks in half and falls to the floor.
Drew: Blasted granola bar!

As she was giving kisses last night, my mom was last to receive hers:
Drew: And now, a kiss for the person who buyed me my Subbies' River Rascal, my new book and my card game. My Grammy.


To the woman working in the jewelry store when she asked how Drew was doing:
Drew: Do you know what I got for Christmas? A kitchen with food in the refrigelator.

Open House and art work

Here is a little piece of art Drew made earlier this month, titled "Me in Hawaii." She has already surpassed Jeremy and my drawing skills.

 Last Thursday was our first Open House and MLS really knows how to put on a show. There were pictures and artwork everywhere. The 2 pictures here are of Drew holding a shark's jaw and a snake...she is much braver than her mom.

 Of course it's total chaos with all the kids on the playground at the same time. Since school began, Drew has become an expert on the monkey bars, totally unbeknownst to us.

 Here is Drew's jellyfish she made during ocean animals month.

 Drew and Miss Ursi, her very first teacher. Drew has already told me she does not want to leave the purple room next year or Miss Ursi. We are very thankful to have Miss Ursi as her teacher since she doesn't seem to mind Drew's regular announcements during class. Usually they occur during Circle Time and pertain to her birthday party - which she has told everyone they are invited, that we are going to Disneyland and that everyone should get her a present, specifically a bike, a car and a spaceship.

this morning's conversation

Drew (looking at a picture of Christina Aguilera): She's on The Voice.
me: What's her name?
Drew: Christine Perra.
me: Close, it's Christina Aguilera.
Drew: I don't like that name.
me: You can just call her Christina.
Drew: I think I will just call her Christine Perra.
me: OK

Let the sunshine in.

The first weekend in June brought sun (finally), strep throat for me (awesome), and Just Dance for Drew (seen on Facebook).

Spring pictures

I totally forgot I had taken these photos in April.

Lately she has only wanted to wear dresses. I even bought a couple of "play dresses" on clearance so she would stop pulling down the nice ones to play in. Today she told us we were her agents and she was going to tell us what to do. She enjoys making up words and repeating those she doesn't understand. Drawing is a new favorite hobby, we'll have to post her work soon. We do still enjoy watching TV, but more and more we are playing outside as it stays light later and watching movies as a family. Our most recent was Kung Fu Panda 2, which was awesome.

Memorial Day Weekend

We finally had some sun this May. But we also had wind. Notice the North Face jackets progressively appearing. We had a nice BBQ at the Sporleders with the usual suspects.

Lyrics by Drew

Song: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People
Actual Lyrics: All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.

Drew's Lyrics: All the other kids with the pumped up kicks better run, better run, outrun my mama.

This is what I'm talking about!

Some days as a mom are reeeeeeally long. And some days are like this. 

 Drew's school had a Mother's Day Tea in each classroom. It started with each kid giving their mom a carnation and taking them into the classroom to sit at the mini table and chairs for tea.

 She showed me the Best Mom Awards they all made. 

 And the home she made with a picture of her family at Disneyland.

 Miss Ursula read all of us a Mother's Day story about a Memory Box. Each of the kids had made a box for their moms. It included a teddy bear to show how we love to bear hug, a piece of gum to show how we stick together, a nut to show how silly we can be, a bandage to show how moms come to the rescue and a chocolate kiss to show how good it feels to be loved.

The best part was the class song (posted on Facebook). Drew also got to be up at the altar to help with prayers during chapel. She thanked God (aloud) for the flowers and the jets. I don't know why we're thanking God for jets. Nevertheless I teared up no fewer than 8 times during the 45 minutes I was at school with her.