We are still alive!!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted anything! Our lives are so busy and I guess I haven't made it a priority to sit down and update our blog. Some of you may know that for Jacob's kindergarten year I decided to try homeschooling. It was a VERY tough decision but let me tell you.....with about 8 weeks left in the school year I can say for certain it was one of the best decisions I've made!!!!! We've been doing school through the California Virtual Academy. I love the curriculum. They send me everything I need for the year, books, workbooks, phonics letter tiles, phonics readers, paint, everything for math (blocks, shapes...). We do math, phonics, language arts, and spanish everyday. We do history, science and art 2 times a week. Chloe isn't in Kind. until this fall but she has been unofficially doing it with us and she is reading and writing right along with Jacob. We don't always plan to homeschool. We're planning on doing it for a few years and then we'll see. We do want our kids to have the school experience and also play sports in school. We'll just take it one year at a time.
Well because of homeschooling basically each weekday consists of me cleaning, and doing school. We make sure to keep the kids social by having them in a couple of activities each. Right now they are both in gymnastics and they are both playing baseball. Chloe has taken a break from dance but she'll probably go back next month.
David has been really busy with work (thankfully) and I've been trying to get back in shape!!! Any free time I've had for blogging has been now occupied by exercising. With Bella and all of her ear problems the first year of her life I struggled to make exercising a priority. About 2 months ago Bella finally got tubes put in her ears and it has been so wonderful!!! The doctor said when he made the incision in her ears that fluid poured out of them!! She is finally feeling better, sleeping better and TALKING!! I feel so much better now that I'm getting sleep and I'm 10 lbs. lighter!! Still have some work ahead but at least I'm on the right track.
Chloe turned 5 on the 31st of March!! I can't believe she is 5!!! A couple of Chloe's friends, Chloe, and I went and got manicures and pedicures. My friend Nicole took pictures so I have to get copies from her before I can post them.
Here is some pictures from the last 6 weeks.

Basketball finished up for Jacob. He had so much fun playing basketball. Here he is with his coach Rachel. (she's my sister in law's sister)

Jacob started coach's pitch baseball and Chloe started t-ball. David is coaching both Jacob and Chloe's teams.

Here's a picture of my dad(3rd base coach), Jacob on second, and David(pitcher)

Chloe's 5th birthday!! We went to the movies that morning. Later Chloe and I went shopping. That evening had some family over for cake and ice cream. I'll post pictures from the manicures when I get them.
David and I had a chance to get dresses up and attend a friend's 30th birthday party. She cooked the best meal for all of us!! It was sooo good!! Thanks Dawn for the great evening!!
Easter morning. I would really like this picture of the kids if Jacob didn't look like the bush was going to eat him!! I'll have to retake some pictures!!




Easter egg hunt at my grandma's house. It's fun to have easter egg hunts there. It's where I always did it when I was a kid.




A picture with their cousins. Gotta love the brown paper bags to put their eggs in!! :)

Chloe's Dance Recital

Chloe had her first dance recital on Saturday. It was so fun and cute to see her dance!! She did a great job!!



The pretty ballerinas coloring and waiting patiently for the recital to start






She was so excited receive flowers!! She made sure to put them in vases and put them in her room to enjoy!!

Proof that reading helps you fall asleep...

Jacob and Chloe always read their school books before bed to practice reading. The other night I walked into Jacob's room to check on him and this is how I found him. Asleep with his book over his face!! I was disappointed because the day before I came home to find Bella asleep in her high chair (David had the kids). I didn't think to take her picture before I pulled her out. Her picture would have fit right in with this post!!

What we've been up to...

Growing up...


Bowling for Jacob's birthday party...




Having my 4 year old daughter show me up! (If you are able to see the top score of this picture my score is 99.(Hey, it's hard to concentrate while watching kids) The next picture Chloe's score is at the top with her group and her score is 110!!!




Having not so flattering pictures taken of us bowling...


Wishing Jacob a Happy Birthday again...


Playing basketball...


Getting our ears pierced and ballet... (Getting her ears pierced happened on a whim. I never cared how old she was as long as it was what she wanted. Well we were at Libby Lu because they were closing down. :( She wanted one last makeover and somehow we left with a makeover and earrings!! I didn't come prepared for the occasion with a camera so I bought a disposable one. I have to go develop the pictures still...)



Goofing around in mom's shoes...

Happy Birthday Jacob!!!

Five days after Christmas we must make sure to not overlook a very special boy's birthday. A boy who can go from being incredibly shy to be people he doesn't know (he will NOT say a word!) to incredibly active when he is comfortable. He is a wonderful big brother to both of his sisters. He has a BIG heart and a sensitive personality. He loves all sports, video games, star wars and playing with his friends. We love having him as part of our family and we are so thankful for him!!
Jacob turned 6!! We kept his actual birthday to a low key day. His Grandparents stopped by throughout the day. He got to pick what we were having for dinner. in the evening he opened presents and we enjoyed cake and ice cream. He's really excited because soon he is going to take some friends bowling and have a little party!


Star Wars and Transformers all in one...


A slot car track like daddy used to have...(David loves shopping for this kid!)


I am not a big fan of Power Rangers but it was the cake he wanted. I'm pretty sure because it was the cake with the most toys on it. He skipped over The Hulk, Darth Vader, Spiderman....yes pretty sure it was because there were more toys on it!!

Christmas

Every Christmas Eve, since I was a little child, we would go to my Grandma and Grandpa Monroe's for dinner and presents. We still follow the tradition to this day.
Here we are opening presents. Jacob loves these camouflage clothes, and, he thinks because they both have camouflage on them that they match! It drives me crazy :)


Bella eyeing Chloe's present


Later... Bella loving her present from Great Grandma!


So, all year I have been wanting to get my kids new bedroom furniture for their rooms and I've also wanted to decorate them. It was very needed since I gave away the bunk beds Chloe and Jacob used to share. Their mattresses have been on the floor ever since. I decided early on that no matter how much it drived me crazy that I was going to wait until Christmas. Chloe was so excited she would tell me everyday exactly how she wanted Santa to do her room! Jacob wanted a Star Wars room and Chloe wanted a pink room with little pet shop animals. It was a fun idea, but let me tell you, as 3:30 am was nearing I was telling David I really wish there was SANTA!!!!! We loved doing their rooms but because of my lack of sleep I wasn't really 'all there' when morning came. I was just happy to make it through the morning and unfortunately I wasn't on top of taking pictures or filming.... I'll just have to savor the images in my mind!! The kids LOVED their rooms. I think they turned out really good.
Here's some pictures of the kids opening presents..



Bella loved this present. A little roller coaster.. At first she loved walking all over it. Now she loves to ride it.


Later we headed to David's dad's for breakfast and more presents. Amanda made these cute Santa pancakes for the kids. They loved them.





Everytime we go to the store and Bella would see this Elmo she would get soo excited. So when she got it for Christmas she was excited!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!!