Taking attendance and other stuff

Today was our last full day without Tom.  He's in Hong Kong right now getting ready to complete the last leg of his journey home. 

Today I helped in Leo's class briefly and it was his turn to take attendance.  

He was very slow about it and he had to keep recounting the kids raising their hands for hot lunch.  

After lunch, I took Serafina back to Ortega Park since it was a hot day and she liked it so much over the weekend.  

 When I was there, I realized that she is almost done with her midday, weekday visits to the park.  There were a lot of babies and toddlers in the water, and a group of developmentally disabled teens.  The teens had an incredibly loving group of aide and it was really sweet to watch them work with the teens.  Serafina is ready to move on to five-day-a-week school next year, but I'll miss our time together.

Straight from the park we went to pick up Leo from school.  He made this cute bunny.  

 I added it to my spring collection.

Afternoon swim lessons.  

 Leo and I found some entertainment outside the bubble.

 We were invited to Doug, Maia and Max's house for dinner.  It was a very nice way to spend the evening.

Youth Science Institute Field Trip

The preschool headed out to a field trip today and just my luck, I was assigned to work again.  It was my third time on the bus this year.  

Here's some sassy kids about to load the bus.  From left to right: Kembrie, Amara, Amelia and Serafina. 

 We headed down to Los Gatos to the Youth Science Institute.  Here are the kids waiting to see some animals.

 Checking out a box turtle.

 Leo has been to the YSI before and told Serafina there were going to be animals.  She didn't seem very keen on touching anything, but she was an enthusiastic participant.  Here she is touch a snake (ewww).

The chinchilla was cute, but let's be honest, it's just a big rat with nicer fur.  

 After the educational part of the field trip, we headed to a nearby park.  Serafina and Emilie played on some baby swings.

Silly girls. 

 Monkey girl.

Snack time. 

 I was in charge of packing individual snack bags for the kids.  The teacher asked that I provide a "substantial" snack so I made sure I put plenty of food in there.

 Serafina still got to be garbage girl.

 Group shot.

 Oh, there goes the diva.  She's done.

Then she came back.  

Super cute picture with Trey and Mia.  

Needless to say, the field trip was exhausting.  But the most beautiful thing appeared on my calendar... huge block of empty space!

 I laid down.  Leo made his baseball belt into a tool belt.

 Then these goofballs decided to lay down with me.

An ordinary Tuesday

I'm still trying to blog everyday while Tom is in India so he can check in on his family.  Unfortunately, our lives can be a little boring and routine.  Today was one of those days.  

Serafina had dance class this morning and Auntie Sheila came with us.  After class though, we had to say goodbye.  She was so helpful and the kids loved having her attention the last few days. 

Around lunch time, I had a doctor's appointment.  My knee has been hurting so I decided to see the same doctor that fixed Tom's knee.  My friend Aida texted me this picture of Leo at lunchtime.  She was on campus for another reason and stopped by to say "hi".  

 Serafina did some drawing while we waited for the doctor.

She said this was Auntie Sheila (on the left) and Nana.

 The wait for the doctor stretch to over an hour.  Thankfully, Aida was able to pick up Leo.  Serafina was a huge trooper and I was really happy that she did so well because being trapped at the doctor's office that long was not fun.  After all that waiting, there wasn't much to say except that I need a MRI.

There wasn't much time before we had to head to swim class.

 I forgot her goggles and cap, so she had to use loaners.  She was a good sport about that too.  She also didn't cry at all during her lesson.

 Because she was good at swim and the doctor's office and Leo was good about me not being at pick-up, I took them for some ice cream after dinner.  It was still very warm out and it was a nice little outing (until Leo started crying that he didn't like the flavor he picked after he ate most of the cone...sigh).

We're counting down until Daddy gets back.  Tomorrow is a field trip for school and I'm snack mom.  

Cousin Nikita

My cousin Nikita moved to the South Bay a couple of months ago and with Auntie Sheila in town, we decided to get together.  We decided to meet in downtown San Jose at a small but cool park.  

This reminded me of Arches National Park.  

 They were also big fans of this saucer swing.

The kids were busy on the playground so Sheila and I had a chance to catch up with Nikita since we haven't seen her in a while.  I tried to take a picture of her with the kids.  She looks lovely, but my kids can't help but make gooney faces for some reason.  

Water park fun

When I asked Serafina to let me take a picture of her in her new swimsuit, she struck this pose which looks like she just completed a Bend and Snap.