Fun with Friends

Our former neighbors and good friends came to visit for a week, then went to the desert and came back for an evening.  We invited several of their friends to join us for a fun Friday night.  Here is L and "Aunt" Issy with Jordan.

Drumstick treats after dinner.

The next day, we had an all school play date at the beach.  We swam in the water and built castles and other fun sand creations.

Then, in the afternoon, we went swimming with the "Js" and to the beach a second time.   All that followed by a trip to Islands.  Gigi was in heaven.

Our Kindergartener!

Gigi started kindergarten on Tuesday, August 14th!  Of course, LAUSD moved the start to before Labor Day when we start school.  Ah well....we get out early!

After a breakfast at Noah's, the whole family escorted Gigi to her first day.

Gigi's teacher (Miss P) has been teaching kindergarten for a LONG time.  She was probably teaching kindy when Mama was in kindergarten.  She has a great energy and is well loved by all.  Gigi was giving her hugs on her first day.

This is the classroom where Gigi will spend the next 9 months (or is it 10)?

Our neighbor, I, is also in her class and her sister, R, is in 3rd grade at our elementary school.

Gigi's backpack is the one with the horses and the lunchbox attached.  Mama and Grandma spent a long time researching just the right pack for our first kindergartener.

Blowing Mama a kiss goodbye.

And a hug from little brother.

Second day...

Jordan went with his unusual outfit of mixed jammies and firefighter boots.

Last Sunday fun before school!

A few days before school started, we had a BBQ at our neighbor's house.  First, we played in their new "treehouse" which is actually a house on top of their garage.

Even Jordan climbed up.

Then we had a BBQ and ended the evening with yummy roasted marshmallows on the grill.  You can tell that Jordan and I are concentrating hard to get the perfect melted mallow.

Happy Birthday Nyla!

We had a wonderful celebration for Nyla's 5th birthday at the Wizard of Oz play in Santa Monica.  Friends since 8 months old....friends for life!

End of Summer Cut

Right before school, Gigi and Jordan went to Mama's stylist for a cut.  She has a cool skateboard seat.

Jordan dit great, but looks afraid here.

Farmers Market

The Farmers Market is so inspiring.  We did a lot of gardening this year and look forward to growing new things next year.  We even had tomatoes from last year pop up (we know because they are much bigger than the baby tomatoes we planted).  They aren't ripe yet!

This was a Saturday Santa Monica Farmers Market this summer and Kelli joined us.

Always stop to smell the flowers.

Summer Camp

Summer flew by this year.  Gigi graduated from preschool at the end of June and went to kindergarten last week (that's for another post)!  In between, she spent most of her days at the beaches and in the mountains at camp.  Grace and Jordan joined her sometimes and even I joined her when our old neighbors came to visit.

Building with Richard in the sand.

Many of Gigi's friends both from the school year at both schools and from other times in her life came to camp.  They had some wonderful times.

Jordan chasing a seagull.

The day Zoe and family came.  We went to Leo Carillo.

We made some watercolor paintings mixed with sand for texture.

Gigi tried the boogie board and really liked it!

Bye summer!  See you next year!