May 2026

I'm a little behind on my posting lately. 

May started off with Mia and a friend working on their Japanese project of making a bento box!

Everything was made from scratch and looked and tasted fantastic!

Oliver celebrated his 11th birthday with his friend Sid by his side. They just don't stop getting older!

I took Kinga to Irvine Regional Park.This is where the girls used to have their homeschool coop.

The train was a big hit!

Miss Sassy Pants!

The peacocks everywhere were so fun!

She couldn't get the idea of not putting her head all the way through the hole. 🤣

Those goats sure do get a lot of brushing!

But her favorite  by far was the pony ride!

Anna had her Japanese class friends over to make omuraisu.

They decided they weren't being serious enough so they taped up the 

parts of their faces that were causing mischief.

Of course we told them that the one with her eyes covered could not use the stove!

Finished product!

On Mother's Day we all went out to lunch followed by the movie Sheep Detective.

Once the popcorn ran out she got a wee bit restless.

Anna had a successful track season and enojoyed the end of season banquet!

Our neighbors aren't our neighbors anymore even though I think that they will always have that label.

We still see them often - fun night at our favorite Mexican place!

We went to a Dosger game with my friend, Chris, and her husband, Michael.

The Dodgers won big time!

Dan made a quick trip to Texas.

First, he got to see Avery play in a soccer game.

He at least got a picture of her back. lol

The next night he got to see Benji in a performance.

And on the third night he drove down to Houston and went to one of Landon's games 

and had lunch with Karen for her birthday.

On to June!

April 2026

We "won" a night in a box at a Mighty Ducks game during a silent auction last December. 

We split it with two other families. The kids all knew each other and had a blast!

These kids are loving it!

And the parents had a pretty good time too, despite my face.

We went out for our first meal of Korean barbecue. I thought it a little strange that they give zero instructions for cooking the meat, considering we had some pork.

Everyone is ready for the Easter Egg Hunt!

From toddlers...

to high schoolers...

...and everything in between.

We don't have the motorhome anymore ore but we still like to visit Kelly and Melissa at the campground. This time we rented jet skis for the first time!

Anna had to ride on the back of Mia's because she wasn't 16 yet.

Everyone had so much fun, including me.

Mia turned 17!!

Her birth mom bought her a sword! (She asked us first)  There is something to this nature vs nurture thing as Dan and I have zero interest in swords or knives and Mia and her birth mom are obsessed.

Anna got her something she's been asking for for years - a Soda Stream!

We gave her money towards a snake. Again, it's in her genes apparently.

That weekend she and a few friends went to an escape room to celebrate.

And then came back to he house, with a few more friends, for a party that lasted for...

...eight hours until I told them it was time to wrap it up. 😂

For the second time in eight years we have ducks in the pool!

She loved birding! But especially loved the caterpillars and lizards we saw on the ground during our walk.

I leave you with this. Good Bye April!

March 2026

Mia gave the bird business her all but it just wasn't meant to be. 

As a last ditch effort she set up a pet and hold station in front of the house to make a little money.

Oliver came with Kinga and I on a field trip to the Santa Ana Zoo.

Beth came down for a moms and kids weekend as all the dads were out of town.

We went to a fun barbecue place for dinner Friday night with lots of play areas.

Even the very tall teenager could stand up in this vintage bus on the playground.

Saturday was an all day pool party!

And then we celebrated Chase's 9th birthday! Big sister got to light the candles.

What should I wish for....

No blowing candles out when Grandpa is home. You gotta clap em.

Presents are the best...

Good bye March!