*2011/2012 School Year Happenings*

Since I'm not on top of blogging, here's a recap of the 2011/2012 school year. 

We moved closer to DC in October, switching schools for Katie just a couple months into her kindergarten school year. It was a nice change for Mike to lose his long commute and we definitely enjoyed having him around more. Katie transitioned well into the new school with a wonderful teacher! She had two first days of school. 
                                  
We had wonderful birthdays at the beginning of the school year. Ethan turned 3 and had a Pirate themed party at grandma and grandpa Padilla's house complete with a scavenger hunt! There were balloons to decorate into different faces, a bbq with great food and lots of fun. I made Ethan a Pirate themed cake.

 

 

Pirate birthday party photos by www.racheljonesphotos.com
  Katie turned 6 wanted a party at Chuck E Cheese. We went there with family, played games, ate pizza and then headed to grandma and grandpa Padilla's house for cake and ice cream. I made Katie a Princess Castle cake.

For Halloween 2011, we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. Katie was a Vampire, Ethan was Batman, Alicia was a witch and Mike was Clark Kent.

For Christmas 2011, we went and cut down our Christmas Tree at a tree farm. The kids enjoy picking out trees although I think they have more fun just running up and down the tree aisles. 

 Katie lost so many teeth this past year. Once one came out, they all started. Ethan has surprised me on his video game and computer smarts. He does a pretty good job with both and of course he finds them to be so much fun.

                    

Ethan is my little Sunbeam!

Katie loved Kindergarten. She went on field trips-a nature hike, nature center/farm and to the National Zoo. I went with her to the zoo, it had been a long time since I'd rode on a big yellow school bus. She enjoyed me being there, it was sweet :) 

This past summer we enjoyed swimming, going to the park, visitors-grandma Bigelow and aunt Brooke. While grandma and aunt Brooke were here we went to Hershey Park in PA, Inner Harbor Baltimore, Lexington Market, Ocean City, Museums in DC-National Geographic-Natural History-Ab Lincoln's house/the theater, Georgetown, Space Museum in VA where we saw the Space Shuttle which is huge, an old plantation house, Harper's Ferry and more!  We all had a fun time. The kids had been looking forward to them coming out for a long time. They came on Katie's last day of school just in time for Katie's dance recital-tap, jazz & ballet! Grandma and grandpa Padilla & aunt Elizabeth were also able to come to the recital. It couldn't have been more perfect. It was the perfect ending to the school year and beginning of the fun happenings of summer!

Weaving

 

Three Generations

We ended our summer in the Outer Banks with Mike's whole family! It was great that all seven siblings with spouses and kids could be together. Katie and Ethan had a blast with their cousins. The house was amazing, room for everybody. We went to the beach every morning and found something fun to do in the afternoon. Ethan's favorite part of the trip was swimming and Katie's favorite part was swimming. They liked swimming! The swam in the ocean and in the pool at the house. It took the kids a while to "warm up" to the ocean but once they were in, you couldn't get them out. And NO sunburns! It was wonderful. We're excited to go back next year :)

 

 

Katie really wanted to see the sunrise. She loved it!

Aunt Rachel took family pictures
www.racheljonesphotos.com