Gimme Five Bottling 2010

Saturday was the third annual (and last) Gimme Five bottling. Why the last? It isn't because we don't have a good time (we have a great time!). It is because my next year there will be six grandchildren! We'll definitely have a bottling next year, but we are still thinking up the name. What is your suggestion?

The "real" pictures are coming soon. These are a few I snapped with our camera.

All the principals and their parents and grandparents.

left to right: Tracy Pina, Mays Pina, John R. Pina, Dallas Pina, John C. Pina, Rickie Pina, Grace Donoho, Cooper Donoho, Emma Donoho, Trish Donoho (and little bean), Jason Donoho

Grammie and Grampa with four of the Gimme Five. Mays was not in the mood for pictures.

Emma Jo and Cooper playing with a ball waiting for their chance for pictures.

We try to give everyone a chance to do every job on the bottling line. Corks, Foils and filling bottles are usually the favorites.

Cooper wasn't interested in bottling, but Grampa showed him how the pallet jack could be raised and lowered. After Grampa had to go back to work Cooper convinced Grammie to play his new game.

Gracie has been the chief labeller since year one. She takes her job seriously.

Cooper also convinced Grammie to take a break and share some Doritos.

The kids had fun playing Bocce before and after the actual bottling.

Tired Boy

Spending the day at home with Mommy and his sisters makes for one tired little boy.

But he sure is cute when he is sleeping.

Kindergarten Graduation

Today Gracie graduated from Kindergarten! She is so proud of herself. She has learned so much this year and is very excited to be going to 1st Grade next year.

For Kindergarten graduation every year, Windsor Christian Academy puts on a Nursery Rhyme play. The kids are each assigned a nursery rhyme character to act out and the entire class recites the rhyme. Grace as Little Miss Muffet. She was especially dramatic when the spider sat down beside her.

Grace also had a reading part in the graduation ceremony.

Last week we learned that Grace had been named Kindergarten Good Samaritan for the 4th Quarter and she received that certificate at the end of the ceremony.

Last weeks of School

The girls are busily gearing up for the last couple week so school. I was looking at our calendar the other day and realizing just how busy May is and June isn't much better. Before we know it the baby is going to be here!
Last week I was lucky enough to chaperon both girls on their end-of-the-year Field Trips. I was waiting to post until I had the pictures downloaded and edited, but I just don't have the time or energy for that these days. It seems as soon as I get home I'm ready to lay down. Unfortunately I can't do that since I have three little people to take care of.

Tuesday Grace's Kindergarten class had a field trip to the Windsor Town Green. We played on the playground until the Library opened at 10am. Then the Librarian told us all about the library including the types of things they carry, where things are located and the rules of the Library. Did you know you can check out 30 books at a time for up to 3 weeks! That sounds like 25 lost books in my house! After our tour each of the kids got there very own library card and were allowed to check out a book (we limited them to 1 on their first visit).
After the library it was back to the playground for lunch and then Powell's brought over Gelato for dessert. Grace loved it! I'm not sure how she tasted it because when she was done her bowl was still full and her entire body was covered in chocolate, from her eyebrows to her shoes!
On our way home Grace declared that she wants to move to Italy since they have the best pasta and gelato! I told her maybe we could visit there someday.

On Wednesday it was Emma Jo's 5th grade trip to Sacramento. We left the school at 8am and didn't return until almost 7pm. It was a long day! We started our day with a stop at the Sutter Fort. I was surprised by how small the fort is. I only had Fort Ross to compare it to, but I'd say Fort Ross is twice as big. The kids liked looking in each of the rooms, but the highlight was a tie between the gift shop and the man, dressed in period attire, who fired a real musket.
After the fort we headed over to the Capital building. We ate our lunches on the lawn before entering the building. The kids had a list of questions that needed to be answered so we scoured the halls, stairwells and galleries looking for information about the capital and the state. The architecture and details were amazing and it was fun to remember that the last time I was in Capital was on my own school field trip.
Our next stop was Old Town Sacramento. We headed over a little early and managed to find ice cream before the rest of the class came over. We didn't have much time for shopping before our tour of the Railroad Museum, but the Ice Cream was worth missing the shopping. By this time I was exhausted, so I welcomed the 20 minute movie at the museum. (Thankfully I didn't fall asleep like one of the other parents). The Railroad Museum is pretty cool and I'd love to take the whole family back later this summer. I think Cooper would love it! The kids had a great time scouting out the trains and I pretended to be a weary traveler and watched from a bench.

It isn't often that I get to do one-on-one things with the kids and I regret that. I'm sure it will only get worse once the Little Bean is born. For now though, I'm enjoying the time I have with them and trying to spend as much quality time with them as possible.

Awana Awards Night

Last night was our last Awana meeting for the year.

Grace was very excited to get an award for finishing her Hanglider book.

She actually finished it three times!

How many times can I look at them and feel so overwhelmed with love?

Tonight I was cleaning the kitchen counters when I glanced out the window and saw Grace and Cooper playing outside. They were laughing and swinging on the swings side-by-side. They were having a great time just the two of them. I stood there watching in amazement. Amazed that they were having such fun together. Amazed that they were mine. Amazed that each and every day I love them more and more. You'd think that after time I'd get used to it. I'd know they are mine. I'd know that I love them. There would be no capacity to love more. And yet, it seems that the love swells and swells and it never bursts.

Later, Cooper was playing ball while Emma Jo watered the garden. Cooper bent over to get his ball and whacked his head on the edge of the table. Emma immediately ran over, scooped him up, kissed his owie and made it all better. She hugged him, kissed him, loved him. It made my heart swell again. How did I get so lucky to have such great kids? I love them, they love each other. There couldn't be anything better.

I'm one lucky Mommy.

Ready for Swimming

Tonight when we got home Cooper promptly changed into his swimming suit and new arm floaties. He is now begging me to go float in Grammie's pool.

I asked him if I could take a picture and he instantly started saying "cheese!"

After I snapped this picture he found Grace's pink cowboy boots to add to the outfit.

Grace's Pink Jeep

One of the highlights of Grammie & Grampa's house is the golf cart that can be cruised around the property. Emma Jo is old enough to get to drive it on her own but Grace is still too little. Grampa felt bad that Grace didn't have a vehicle of her own so a couple of weeks ago when we arrived for dinner we found this little Jeep sitting in the driveway.

I'm not sure who likes it more Grace, Cooper, or Grampa!