OtterPops: Kid Update

I think I have not been good at taking notes on all the kids, but here is what I remember from the past couple months...

Last day of 2nd grade

Jocelyn was excited to dress up with a couple of her girlfriends on the last day of school. One of the moms bought them these matching t-shirts and the girls told us that we needed to do double french braids so they could match. They had a fun 2nd grade end of year picnic. Jocelyn also went for several days to my parent's house for some special one-on-one attention. We met grandpa at San Jose City Hall one afternoon when we was leaving to go back to Dixon and Jocelyn was able to have some quality time with them and pick up the Mangums from the airport. Jocelyn also participated in a youth triathlon here in town. I was so proud of her for trying something new. She was pretty nervous about it and I was so thrilled she went for it in the end. I didn't get a picture of her during the biking part in the middle but she finished about mid-range for her age group. She had an awesome cheering team. Greg and Maren came to cheer her on along with my friend Katrina and her daughter. Such a fun morning!!

After finishing the triathlon

The family cheering Jocelyn on during the biking portion of the triathlon

Jocelyn's Cheering section during the swimming

Before the triathlon

In Dixon after picking up Mangums from the airport

Lillian and Jocelyn are participating in a Sports Camp at the local high school this week to learn about 10 different sports from the coaches and student athletes. After having to pry Jocelyn off of me screaming and crying (for the whole first hour) and telling me she was going to hide in the bushes for the entire day I had to call Jared for some emotional support. I left her there and haven't received a call from the school yet so I am assuming no news is good news and she didn't cry the entire day. Lillian, on the other hand, woke up early and was super excited to try something new. Lillian also started piano lessons this summer which she is (mostly) a good sport about. As her special treat while Jocelyn got to go to Nana's house, Lillian was allowed to dye a section of her hair pink. Her good friend Lenora has a mom who is a hair dresser and she called me and told me she had some extra dye after doing Lenora's and her cousin's hair. I figured it is summer time so we might as well! Lillian was thrilled with it during the 2 weeks it lasted!

Lenora and Lillian getting their hair colored

Lillian showing off her "pink" hair

The older girls and I also had the opportunity to go to a couple shows this summer to support their friends. The first was an aristocats play that Jocelyn's friend Kendall was in at the local theater. The second was a synchronized swimming performance for my friend's daughter. We got to support Frejya and had a blast listening to "Chicks who Rock" music and watching a sport that I knew little to nothing about. She did awesome and it was so fun to learn more about synchronized swimming.

At the synchronized swimming performance

At the Aristocats play

Jonas, Emma and I spend time at the neighborhood park while the girls are at their piano lessons. Sometimes the Bedell boys join us and it is especially great when they do because they are the best at catching frogs near the pond. Jonas loves those Bedell boys and they are so kind to include him in their "boy" games and wrestling. Jonas also loves doing playdates with his boys. He will be starting Transitional Kinder (TK) next month and as we were talking about it one day he asked me "If my friends won't be at TK with me, how will I make a new friend?" I responded by asking him what he thought. He answered "Well, I guess you can play with them, fill their bucket then ask them their name?" I told him he had exactly the right formula!! I am nervous to let him go, but at the same time think he is probably prepared and would feel like I was holding him back to keep him home. Wish us both luck!! Jonas has enjoyed helping Jared with the kitchen remodel and was so thrilled he was old enough for MAD camp this summer.

Collecting frogs with the bedell boys during piano

Jonas and his pals at a playdate here one afternoon

Emma has been a champ with potty training. I am not trying to brag. This one was all her. I was probably the least emotionally involved out of all of my kids so far in the potty training aspect and she has been great. She is getting so big now. Claiming her independence and doing "big girl" things. She still loves a good nap and being held by me but she has enjoyed hanging out with the "big" kids since they are all home this summer with us.
Unfortunately I think she has been getting ear infections when we go swimming. She fevers all the next day after we spend time in the pool and I think that is why she has had several "double ear infections" over the past few months. I am still trying to figure it out but I hate to keep her from swimming because she loves it so much! She gets so excited when she sees the older kids putting on their suits. We'll have to see how it goes in the future but this little stinker will not know what hit her when all the older three are back in school soon. Luckily, we will be doing a home-based preschool co-op for her two days a week so she can have a little social outlet.