Ella's Birthday - May 24

Ella and her cupcakes

Abby and her "nail polish" cupcakes

Ella opening her presents

Andrew and Becca both claiming the football

For Ella and Abby's birthday, we went to the Lawes house for an afternoon BBQ.  It was a lot of fun to eat and visit.  After we ate we had them open their presents.  Abby receiving all clothes and shoes and Ella opening outside summer toys.  Such a difference!  Then we went over to the baseball field by their house and played a game of softball.  We ended in a 12-12 tie.  It was a lot of fun!  Then we came back for cupcakes/cake and ice-cream.  They are getting ready to seed their back yard and had just rototilled it, so the kids came home filthy dirty!  Andrew and Rebecca were both determined to get the football in a game of monkey in the middle!

Ella's Class Treats and Dinner Out - May 23

Ella had cupcakes and watermelon for a class treat today!

Spumoni ice-cream for her bday! - Love Andrew's "photo bomb"

Sean, Andrew, Ella and Kaitlyn

I brought in "watermelon" cupcakes and my friend brought in watermelon for Ella and Abby's birthdays. They share the same birthday on May 24, 2003, and they are in the same class in school.  This is the last year of bringing in treats for her birthday :(  Then in the evening we went out to a nice Italian restaurant in the village in Claremont, with the Shibasaki's for dinner.  They treated us to celebrate James' graduation and Ella's birthday.  It was a fun night out.  And surprisingly Andrew ate all his food!

Cub Scouts - May 21

Andrew was working on his bicycle belt loop in scouts today.  They had some extra time and they were able to walk on stilts too.  He really loves learning new things!

Band Performance - May 20

Ella - ready for her performance

Brianna and Ella - both clarinet players

Ella played in her school band tonight at the Church of the Brethren.  She has shown so much improvement this past year.  She was approached by her band teacher who told her that she should move up to the symphony band when she goes to Ramona Middle School next year.  She wouldn't need to be in the entering 6th grade band.  It really goes to show that all her practicing has paid off!  In order to be in choir and band, she had to practice the clarinet an extra 30 minutes each week since she alternated each week between band and choir.  Way to go, Ella!

Choir Performance - May 19

Abby and Ella

Emma, Abby, Ella and Kaitlyn

Singing in the choir

Ella has juggled school choir and band this past school year.  The performances were on back to back school nights.  This was her last choir performance, as she has chosen to go on with playing the clarinet in the band in middle school next year.  It was fun to see her dress up two nights in a row.  She didn't even put up much of a fight when I picked out the clothes for her to wear!

Kittens - May 18

The girls with all the kittens

After having the mom cat spayed last week, the vet told us that she was "no longer a mom cat." And that the babies should be permanently separated from the mom.  Well, in our tiny place this really isn't feasible.  We took a gamble on the fact that she was a really good mom before her surgery and she would remember them and still mother her kittens.  Turns out that she is still a wonderful mom to her babies.  She came home and licked them all and has done fine with them ever since.  She plays with them and still allows them to nurse.

CDA Convention - May 17

Made it to the last few hours of the CDA convention in Anaheim

Wedding in Huntington Beach - May 16

James and Travis

Eating some yummy food!

Tony, James and Tuan

James and I and Travis and Jen

All the dental students attending Dustin's wedding

Tuan, James and Travis

Beautiful view

One of James' friends from dental school got married today.  The ceremony was outside and performed in both English and Korean.  It was a nice fairly small ceremony.  They had it at the Waterfront Hilton Hotel in Huntington Beach.  It was a warm, beautiful day.

Late night swim at the cousins hotel

Beach Day in Newport! - May 15

Boogie Boarding

Ella catching a wave

Getting warm in the sand

Brogan, Landon and Andrew

Kaitlyn loves to swim in the waves

Riding on the ferry

Dinner at Mike's Grandma's house

More swimming!

James' Graduation - May 14

Getting his diploma!

Hooded by Ma and me.

Running through our tunnel!

Yay!

Our family and our home-teacher, brother Cattin.

Kaitlyn, Temperance and Ella

Kaitlyn with the DeHarts!

James graduated today!!!  It was a crazy busy day!  It was so nice to have so much family and friends that made a trip out to for James' graduation!  Thanks for all of your love and support!  James couldn't have done it without you all!