First day of school

August 17th was the first day of school. We spent the whole day before at school doing PTA stuff and I think the kids were ready to be back. Sarah seems happy with her schedule except that she can't take the journalism class she wanted. It is only offered one period and it is when she take Honors History. She could switch to the other period of history, but that is when she has Concert Band and there is only one period of that! She has regular Honors English instead and is happy with the teacher, so it will be fine. She also has the same math teacher as last year which is good. We had heard horrible things about the other one and were happy she didn't end up there.

Joshua is in sixth grade and is staying at Big Springs. He has two teachers that he will rotate between.  He can't take band, but there are only 28 kids in his class, which is unheard of. Even Lizzie in 1st grade has 28 kids! Usually by the upper grades they stuff 36 or so in the room! I'm hoping he will get through lots of good things and also get leadership opportunities. He has already been asked to put up and take down the two flags on campus. He and another buddy are doing that each morning and afternoon.

Lizzie is in first grade and super sad that her best bud, Pepper, isn't in her class. Most of her friends aren't. She will adjust, but look at the sad face she gave me the first morning sitting at her desk! No smile! I think her teacher will be good. She used to teach 4th grade, but said a long time ago she taught K and 1st, so hopefully it will all come back to her.

Here's hoping for a great year!

Joshua- 6th Grade (he isn't unhappy, it was just too bright for him!)

Elizabeth - 1st grade  She was happy until we got to school.

Sarah - 8th grade  She had a great first day and a great attitude.

Joshua and Alex putting up the flag on the first day of school.

The sad way I left Elizabeth is class!

Happy 42nd Birthday to Sheila!

Donald took me away for a night for my birthday. We went up the coast and spent the day in Solvang. It was nice to walk in shops and tour the mission with out being worried about kids touching things. It was a beautiful drive up and after we spent most of the day there, we headed back down to Summerland where Donald had us booked at a bed and breakfast. It was just across the street from the beach, so before dinner, we walked down to the beach and just sat and watched the waves. I do wish we made time to go to the beach more often! It is so relaxing to just sit and listen to the waves! The next day we went in some furniture stores to look for a new kitchen table. I didn't find anything close to what I wanted, so we ordered one on line and it should be here soon!

When we got back, we went over to my parents house and Brenda and Wayne came over for dinner. Ash couldn't make it and Jolene was in the hospital have just had her appendix out! It was just a quick dinner, but nice to see everyone. It was a very nice birthday and I was happy to spend it with so many people that I love!

Sarah got glasses!

At the end of the school year, Sarah was complaining that it was hard to see the board in some classes. We had made an eye appointment, then it had to be cancelled. We kind of forgot about it until about a month ago when Donald took her to get her eyes checked. She needed glasses! She wasn't upset at all, but quite excited. She really only needs them when watching tv, or in class, but I can tell she likes them and has been wearing them a lot. I think she looks super cute in them!

Elizabeth and her Gem Show

Elizabeth has always been a collector. And an organizer. She has this wonderful collection of sparkly things that she keeps neatly organized on her nightstand. She recently saw some toys at Target that she wants to buy and decided that a way to earn money would be to sell tickets to a "Gem Show". She took some paint samples she had from the store and sold them as tickets. I talked her down to fifty cents from a dollar! When you arrive at the show, she uses the hole punch to validate your ticket. Then the show starts. She brings out each item and tells you it's history and it's worth. I'll let you know that they are all thousands of years old and, they cost, at a minimum, thousands of dollars each. She is quite dramatic in telling about them and just loves to have an audience. It is sweet things like this that I miss the most about Sarah and Joshua as they grow up. They are wonderful, of course, but I miss this kind of thing and so, for now, I'll treasure it in Elizabeth!

I can't stop staring at it!

I love how good it looks! Here are a few more, just because I love it. Donald wants me to redo the kitchen table now!

Bathroom make over complete!

Here are the before and after pictures for our mini bathroom make over.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  It isn't perfect, but unless you really look at each drawer or door, you don't see the drips and bubbles.  I love the hardware we got and Donald did a fantastic job putting them on!  We even got new towels and a new bath rug.  

"Before" 

"After"

4th year at the Ventura County Fair.

We went to the Ventura County Fair again yesterday and it was an anniversary of sorts.  It marks the fourth year of being back in Simi Valley.  True at this point, we were living with my parents and Donald was still in Chico, but it was the still the beginning of our time here.  We have been here for three complete years and are beginning our fourth year.  It is actually a bit scary since after 19 years of marriage, we have never lived anywhere longer than five years.  So, if we make it past that five year mark, it will really be a milestone!  

This year we decided to take the train to the fair.  It is a bit more expensive, but I know how tired I am after being there all day, so I think it was worth it.  The fair doesn't open until 11:00, but we got there just before 10:00.  We walked down to the beach and watched the surfers, then went and got in the incredibly long line.  We were close enough to the front to hear parts of the opening ceremonies, which I didn't even know they did.  The fair directors all spoke and no one could hear, but then they had a color guard present the flags and I think they did the Pledge of Allegiance, although I couldn't hear that.  Then someone sang the Star Spangled Banner and then someone said a prayer.  Then, they finally opened the gates and let us in very slowly.  They added metal detectors to the fair this year and it really slowed things down!

Isn't this picture great?  The Ferris Wheel with the palm trees, taken while standing on the beach!  Then here we are on the beach.  

The first stop was the Home Goods Pavilion.  I think this is our favorite.  Elizabeth was first in line to get a free top from the Channel Islands Wood Workers.  Then Sarah and Joshua got theirs and the line really started to grow!  I'm so glad they did that first!  

We walked around and saw a bunch of vendors and then ate lunch and went to see the animals.  I decided the problem with always going on Dollar Day, is that it is always the same animals there.  If we waited and went later, then we would see something besides sheep!

Our last stop was ice cream.  I was worried that we scheduled too early of a time for the train, but I didn't.  Everyone was beat and ready to head home.  The train was about half an hour late, but still so nice to just get on and be a passenger!

Joshua even fell asleep on the way home!