Santa Shoot 2015

Funny Things Kids Say

So Brie had the opportunity to go to a petting zoo during Thanksgiving break from school. She loves animals and is quite good with them. When she got home she told me that she saw a turkey at the farm and just when I thought she was going to get all sad telling me how we eat them for Thanksgiving, she looked me straight in the eye and said "it kinda looked like mommy's belly" Oh..thanks Brie. My little sweetheart.

Annie

Brie was Annie for Halloween. Even though the wig was itchy she was the hit of Mrs Rondeau's class. Every parent commented on how much she looked like her. It was very cute. A few weeks before we saw Annie at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Its always great to get out of the OC and see an old classic spot. Lots of fun!

Kindergarten

This week Brie started kindergarten at Castille Elementary in Mission Viejo. Castille is a great school and the Principal actually told the parents that people purposely buy houses to be able to attend. Brie was very fortunate and got Mrs Rondeau. She has been teaching for 27 yrs and she loves rainbows. So if Brie is good in class she brings home a rainbow ticket. If she collects 10 she gets a special prize. So she is in school from 7:45-10:40 and then she goes to the Mission Viejo Kids Club thru a church which is great because lots of her friends from Lakeside Academy are going there from other schools so they can all be together again. Even though Brie had tears at almost every drop off this past week, I am hoping things will get easier on her. Lots of change but good change. Cheers to Brie!

Alaska

We are going to Alaska! I know. Random but I seek cooler weather in the summer and this will be something new and exciting to discover! I have two weeks off between jobs and while searching for flights to (anywhere) I was thinking Seattle would be fun to explore and that's when it hit me..a cruise to Alaska! This child is well-traveled already, now her 2nd cruise. Exciting :)

Schools - never thought choosing would be so hard

In Mission Viejo, not only is our community top-notch but so are the schools. Luckily as newlyweds, Brian and I chose a home in a great district where our elementary is rated 8/10, middle school is 9/10 and high school is 7/10….not too shabby. Easy decision, right? Not so much. We didn't get into a charter school (missed the list by 21 students) right now Brie is enrolled at our neighborhood school but I am still entertaining the idea of having her in another school district (right across the street) which would mean less time in middle school and attending Mission Viejo HS which is known throughout our country for great athletics. Stay tuned….regardless she will start kindergarten in late August 2015!!

Aloha

Its been WAY too long since we kept up with the life of little Brie. We just returned from a trip to Kona, Hawaii. The big island! Brie is improving with her swimming and I predict her "floaties" will be gone soon. She loved our resort because of the wild kitties on the property. We fed them burger and chicken nuggets! Its pretty amazing to me that Brie is only 5 yrs old and she's already been to FIVE Hawaiian islands! Maui as a baby, Oahu last year and Kona this year! As preschool is winding down she will be graduating from Lakeside Academy in June. We don't know yet where she will go to kindergarten. We are #22 on a waiting list for a charter school, enrolled at Castille, the school we are zoned for but I am trying to get her into de Portola which is in a different school district. Luckily I own a condo in that district so we will see how that goes. Brie is doing great. She is starting to read small words and her penmanship and drawing skills are great! Just like mommy's!

Sleeping Beauty

Brie is obsessed with Sleeping Beauty. So much that her entire 5th birthday is being dedicated to her. We're hiring a real life princess to come, I am buying stuff on eBay (since Frozen seems to be selling to the masses) and we're inviting 10 friends. I plan on borrowing a malicifent head piece to wear as a surprise so it will be fun!