This was Austin's first time with his new racing bike. He did pretty well on it considering it is to big for him. We could not find a micro at a decent price so we went with a mini. It may hold him up in the beginning but, he will get the hang of it.

He is the youngest and the smallest at both tracks that we have gone to, but not to far behind. There are a good amount around the age of 5. Some are in his class and some are above him.

The week of this video, he got a trophy for his first time competing. It was a surprise to all of us, but we were all equally excited about it. The following week we were preparing him of the possibilities of not getting a trophy the next time. To our surprise he actually almost had a trophy, he lost it at the finish line. He stops peddling before the white line and the little guy behind him caught up. I don't think that will happen again. He handled the no trophy thing pretty well until Valerie got in the car with one. The funny thing was, he said "but her trophy is even cooler than mine". Because it was her first time and she placed, she got a bigger trophy than he did the first week.

He is excited for this week (3rd week). We are trying to prepare him for all possibilities so he doesn't get discouraged. When you ask him what happens if he doesn't place he replies, "than I jut keep trying, because I will soon."

Valerie's 1st race

Here is a video of Valerie and her 1st race last week. Sorry about the time of the video, I have no idea how to edit and make them shorter.

The races are broken into "motos" each moto is made up of at least 3 riders in certain levels (Valerie and Austin beginners). Each moto races 3 times to get the top 3 to run the final race. The 1st person across the finish line in each moto moves on to the final race. When there only 3 people competing you do 2 motos before the finale.

For this race, they placed Valerie way out of her moto. Notice the other two are all decked out in "gear"? Valerie would not have been able to race and neither would the boys do to the lack of people in their level so they combined them.

I am sure I am missing some rules and such, but we are learning as we go. I know first experience, then age, and gender come into play.

She got a trophy for finishing 3rd and for competing for the first time. Each person can chose a trophy or stamps if you place in the top 3. Stamps are traded for money to use on the web site to get gear to wear or for you bike.

Austin's movin on up

Austin's movin on up to Kindergarten that is. The school had a cute little graduation ceremony for the graduating class. The school that Austin attended was brand new as of October 2010 so this was the first graduation class.

They put on a little performance for the parents, then they called each child buy name and handed them their certificate, with refreshments afterword. They even got to keep the tassel on the cap. To cute!

We took a tour of his elementary school last week and he seem to love the idea that he gets to eat lunch at school. I can pretty much bet Austin will be down 10lbs the 1st month.

note: I have to say I am sorry about the pictures. I am trying to learn how to use my camera, it is a slow process, but I am getting somewhere. I have no idea what happened with some of these, and others I couldn't get it to focus on the right object.

Walking out...I was a mess

One of the songs they sang...Sunshine day

The only picture of him getting his diploma

They taught the kids The pledge of allegiance of in Sing language

Savannah's boyfriend Josh came to sit with us for a little. Austin and Blake (Josh's brother) are attached at the hip and have several play dates a week

the garden

at the begining

back when we planted our orange tree I got a few plants and the deal was...if I could keep them alive we would do a bigger garden without pots.

We ended up with 4 tomato, 3 watermelon, 2 spaghetti squash, 3 zucchini, 1 min, 1 parsley, 1 sweet basil, 3 strawberries, 1 red pepper and 1 banana pepper.

I will have a picture of the current state. But it is on Valeire's computer. I have stopped downloading pictures on our computer since I totally messed up the colors.:(


The kids really enjoyed Helping. They really seem to enjoy picking something everyday. Well most every day. They seem to love zucchini right now, but by the end of the summer I am not sure how they will feel about it. We have enough to eat zucchini about every other day. I have gotten a few banana peppers. We given away 1 spaghetti squash because there were to many growing and I must say nobody is to excited to try it. I am hoping to cook it (we have 3 at about the same stage) one night this week. I think it is just about ready.

Several times a week the kids pick basil and mint for me and seem to enjoy it. they pick the mint try some and then spit it out.:(

Savannah pulled a very young unripe watermelon the other day, I must say it did make us all very sad. We only have 3 growing and I believe it is the most wanted item out of the garden.

We also decided to do a blue berry bush, which is starting to produce blue berries. The kids each got 4 this morning. I was killing it in the beginning. I research how much water to give it and followed, but it was loosing all of it's berries, then found out that I was not giving nearly enough water. Now they are coming in full swing.





back when we planted our orange tree I got a few plants and the deal was...if I could keep them alive we would do a bigger garden without pots.

We ended up with 4 tomato, 3 watermelon, 2 spaghetti squash, 3 zucchini, 1 min, 1 parsley, 1 sweet basil, 3 strawberries, 1 red pepper and 1 banana pepper.

I will have a picture of the current state. But it is on Valeire's computer. I have stopped downloading pictures on our computer since I totally messed up the colors.:(

WOW

WOW, so sorry it has been such a long time since the last post. I am not sure how to go about all the time we have missed. I am sure I will miss somethings, but get the most important stuff.

Lets see I think I will give you all a quick run down of what has been going on then, try to come back with more details and such.

1st one of the main reasons I have not blogged is I dropped the computer not long after my last post. It still works, just the colors are all off, and it is hard to look at the screen. I can blog from my phone, but with no pictures. I have fallen into the habit of posting things right away to facebook. Only because it is so easy to do. However, I don't want to get in the habit of that.

Since the last time, we have had several visitors, Granny, Grammpy, Weezy, Aunt Mel, Papp and Ama. It was a fun time to have visitors. It makes you really miss being around family and friends. We do love it here, but having everyone come so close made it so we really miss the closeness when they are gone.

School is almost over for both Austin and Valerie. Valerie has done a good job at getting her grades up to passing, we were scared for a while. We are hitting the end of the school year activities. Last week, Austin's school had a recital for all the kids in extra activities, and he got to show off his karate. This week is his graduation and pizza party. We have no idea what is going on at Valerie's school, because she doesn't tell us until it is over. They end on the 9th. Then the "group" is heading to the pool for the afternoon.

Valerie is growing up so fast!! Last week she went to the pool without an adult and just with friends. Then this weekend we barley saw her. She had a friend sleep over Friday, and then a bunch of the "group" spent the night at another girls house. She even chose to just "hang out" with friends yesterday instead of doing a day trip to the beach with the family. And dare I saw we have hit the "boy stage".

Savannah is growing like a weed. Not that that is anything new. Her new things are: 3 word sentences, swimming with a vest and no parent, of course being miss independent. If she needs a diaper change, she will go get a diaper, wipes and cream and bring them to you. I think after Austin is done this week, we will give the potty training thing a shot. I am not sure how it's going to work, but she does seem ready. From a medical stand point, they always told us you have no control over your bladder until you are two. So we shall see. She is trying to climb out of her crib. This is much earlier than Austin, and I don't think Valerie ever attempted to climb out.

Austin has addicted to biking about 1 month ago he asked if he could race bikes. I tried to find something for him and was having a hard time. The neighbor told us to try BMX so off we went last week. And dare I say he is in LOVE! this is all he talks about now and when can he race, is it practice day. And of course daddy is a nervous wreck. I must say Daddy is handling it a little better after the first day. After Valerie saw Austin on the track she now wants to give it a try. So tonight is her first night. I am not looking forward for Valerie trying it because, she gets hurt so easy. I am praying she makes it out without to many bumps and bruises.

For now that is all. I will leave you with a few pictures. However I am using Valerie's computer so I only have what was on the camera for the past week. I will come back and give more details and pictures later.

At his recital

a must wear, full face helmet

Weezy and Savannah enjoying the water

Captain of the boat

Orange anyone?

For Christmas, Beam and Poppy got the kids a fruit tree at our request. We held off for a little bit and this week I took the kids to the nursery to pick our tree out. Of course it was a citrus tree (orange). Rob went right to work when he got home with a little help from the kids. While we were at the nursery we got some vegetables and strawberry plants. For now we just put them in pots. If we have success we plan on doing a raised bed.

Austin keeps asking when oranges. This type of orange will bloom from Nov-Feb. Not sure if we will get anything the first season, we shall see.

getting ready, reading the instructions

Savannah doing her part

Valerie showing her muscles off

Mr muscles

Almost there

Family fun

The only picture he would let me take all day

Until June I am working every weekend, then I am cutting back to 2 weekends a month...I can't wait. However the last 2 weekends I have worked from 8a-8p on Saturday, then Sunday is pretty easy for me, so we have been able to enjoy a little of the weekend together. Which has been a nice change.

Today when I got home Rob offered to take the family to dinner, you have no idea how happy and excited I was. Rob hates eating with the kids and especailly hates going out to eat so it was a big surprise. Then he mention about our favorite place Harry's in Saint Augustin. I couldn't get dressed fast enough.

We even got to eat outside, it was a little windy but the kids were great and everyone enjoyed their meals. It was a big success in our book

After dinner we walked across the street to watch some boats. While we were there a guy was fishing and he happened to catch a fish while we were there.

Here he is bringing it in, he had 3 lines going at one time

He was trying to show Austin and even offered him a chance to fish, but Austin played shy and didn't want anything to do with it. He was just throwing them back in.

trying to get a nice photo


Rob was a nervous wreck the entire time the entire time we walked down this path. Savannah was determined to walk by herself

On the other side of us were all these horse and carriage in which Savannah was obsessed with and at one point she just planted her butt down and would not move. She just wanted to watch them

I made that skirt for her, she couldn't wait to put it on

The have a park on the North end of Saint Augustin with a carousel, it coast a $1 (not bad right). Austin Refused to get on, so it was daddy Savannah and Valerie. Savannah didn't like it at all, right after this picture Rob had to take her and hold her the rest of the ride.

And Valerie having a blast. I sure wish I could get my hands on a photo of me at this age, I am sure I gave this look often.