The Great Duck Race

Every year in Old Sacramento, the Special Olympics hold a fundraiser called the Great Duck Race. They throw hundreds and thousands of rubber ducks in the river at one bridge and the first several ducks that cross the finish line (the next bridge down the river) win prizes.  We have always donated money for ducks but never actually went to see it.  This year we did and it was fun - although VERY warm.  

Mikayla and Delilah giving the big duckie a hug

Thousands of ducks already tossed into the river... slowly going down the river.  We think ours was towards the back.  :-)

Caitlin emptying the purse - obviously, we didn't win anything at the Great Duck Race but it was for a good cause!!

Latest Update of the Family

We are okay and still here.  :-)  Michael came down with a yucky cold/flu thing and missed a day of school.  Mikayla and Delilah missed school too as they got sick and then Caitlin got a yucky stuffy nose, chest congestion thing.  Mommy is fine.  Mommy didn't get sick - thank GOD!!  I was for sure that after everyone went back to school, I would be the one coming down with something.  Especially with all the broken sleep - I was sure I would get it.  But thanks to lots of prayers, I escaped it for the meantime.  However, we will ALL be going to get the flu shot in the next couple of weeks.  Even Michael who thinks there is a government conspiracy going on with the flu shot.  :-)

Just to update everyone:  Michael has now been back to school for one month.  His school went from year-round to traditional schedule this year.  Besides the normal day-to-day craziness, his work has been going well.  

Mommy has started up the new year of MOPS, and my last year.  I do publicity for the group and am enjoying it as well as enjoying the fellowship with other moms.  However, with Mikayla and Delilah starting Kindergarten next year, I really want to focus on them and give them all my time to help them become organized and start good study habits (even in Kindergarten).

Mikayla and Delilah are enjoying preschool.  We have been considering taking them out just to save some money during this crazy economy but we will keep them there for a bit and go month-to-month.  

Caitlin is crawling around - both army crawl and on all four.  She sticks with the army crawl when it is long distance crawls.  She is also pulling up on EVERYTHING!!  Slowly she is cruising.  I wouldn't consider it cruising yet but she is slowly moving on furniture while standing.  She definitely loves dancing while standing up though.  And she finally got her 1st tooth in last Tuesday night.  A couple of more are about to follow but haven't broke through her gums yet.  

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Caitlin Crawling and Talking

A Surprise Trip to the Zoo

So now I know when to go to the zoo. I used to always go in the mornings. However, some mornings, we would be invaded by field trips. Well, after MOPS on Tuesday, I came home, had lunch with the girls, and then we headed to the zoo. It was completely EMPTY!! I loved it. The weather was beautiful - maybe 85 degrees and the girls just had so much fun running through the zoo.

Mikayla pointing at one of the lizards (or iguana - can't remember)

Delilah the happy spider

Mikayla the butterfly

Caitlin enjoying the zoo too.

Visit from Nana and Ms. Barbara

Nana and her best friend, Ms. Barbara, came up for a quick weekend.  Caitlin loved showing them her new independent self.

Ms. Barbara and Caitlin

Nana, Caitlin, and Ms. Barbara

Caitlin thinking she is a big girl, standing for a good couple of minutes on her own.

Caitlin trying to pull herself up on her toy bin.

Where's The Ice Cream?

Besides for sharing an occasional Dairy Queen or McDonald's cone, the girls have never had their own ice cream cone.  Usually, mommy or daddy let them eat the ice cream off the top and then we have the cone with the yummy stuff in it.  Well, they wanted their mint chip ice cream in a cone tonight - and they got it.  However, Mikayla wasn't too sure about eating the cone at first.

Delilah enjoying her ice cream cone.  Mikayla not liking the idea that she has to work to get her "treat".

"I can't get the ice cream out!"

After mommy explained to her how to eat the cone so she could get it out, it was back to pure happiness.

Who Do I Play With Now??

Today was the first day of the preschool year for Mikayla and Delilah.  They were excited to go back and see two of their old teachers as well as lots of old friends and some new ones.  Caitlin was lost without them.  She didn't know who to chase after so she decided to have a stare down with Popcorn!  Obviously, Popcorn won as soon as her tongue came out and started giving Caitlin a bath.  She is very protective over Caitlin and basically lets Caitlin do whatever she wants to her.  Maybe it is that motherly instinct.  As much as I say I can't stand Popcorn (because of her shedding hair everywhere), I must admit, she is the 2nd best dog we could EVER have (of course, next to the best dog ever - Harmony!!)

Stare down!!

Popcorn giving Caitlin a bath - either that or licking the left over breakfast off her face.

Caitlin finally having enough of the dog slobber.

Labor Day Visit

Nana and Papa came up for Labor Day weekend. The girls gave them their birthday presents and they enjoyed all their grandchildren, especially watching Caitlin go around town! She is moving and shaking. And even 2 weeks has made her go from amateur to Mario Andretti (so keep in mind this video is 2 weeks old - now she can chase after the girls in a sec.

Nana getting help from Delilah

Papa showing Mikayla how to open gifts. 

Caitlin got a hold of one of the girls' toys (well the door to it, at least)

Caitlin and Nana

Papa giving good-bye tosses.

Girls watching Nana and Papa drive off.