it's officially summertime! i now have a kindergartener, 5th grader, 8th grader and an 11th grader! this time next year will be emotional- as caleb and cam will be promoting from elementary and middle school. eeeek! this was a few weeks ago. little elsie climbing up to her brother's bunk, wanting to keep up with him. they play so well together. love it. it will be strange to see this summer- how once i had a house full of 4 children wanting to go on forever adventures, where the summer seemed so long. now the older 2 will be busy with friends, sports and work commitments. strange. this growing up thing. makes me wish i could go back a few summers ago where i was pulling my hair out wondering what am i going to do with these kids today?! sigh.
as we get closer
to the end of the school year, it's a reminder of what lies ahead at the end of summer for her. 
she will start kindergarten. we had her screening last week and it was so crazy to see her in the old classroom of her siblings, to sit in those little chairs, to be nervous over the questions they asked her. we've opted for afternoon kindergarten, as we did with the older kids, me wanting to hold on to our mornings together for as long as i can. (not to mention the both of us are not morning people) i love this bottom picture of her. one of her favorite rituals. vegging out. blue blankie. summer, please don't go by too quickly! tonight her big sister is going to prom. how is it that in 10 years we could possibly be doing the same with els? yesterday i realized, as i was sitting outside with elsie as she painted watercolor pictures, her big sis was out getting her nails done/painted at the same time. ten years apart. i love my girls.
go soleil
our kira soleil is nearly 16. 
she's made captain of the flag squad. and today PR'd at the 300 hurdles, qualifying for finals for her league! she does hurdles, long jump and pep. she's worked so hard, we are so proud! she also does prom and makeup and heels. but she also loves being surprised with fresh flowers in her room, a handmade card and watching disney princess movies with elsie. sometimes i shake my head in amazement at how different we are. she's a breath of fresh air. (when she's in a good mood! haha) we love her so! (always!)
came across this
the other night when chris and i had gone out, left the oldest sis in charge of the little kids: 
i love this age of artistry! and free babysitting, haha! 🙂
it’s been grey
our gorgeous 2 weeks of amazing weather came to an end when the grey clouds and rain came arrived. wah wah wah. with it, also came sickies…. these 2 were home with me all last week.
thankfully, a tiny break in feeling not so great came when she got happy mail from my aunt. she loved these cute little hair coils. 🙂 she's not a fan of putting things in her hair (no matter how much we plead with her) but she loved that these barely tugged at her scalp.
she was also so sad to miss her valentine's day party at school, after working on her valentine's for weeks! 😦 i ran and delivered them at the start of class, then returned after class to pick up her stash. the tattoo came with it and we quickly put it on. funny what a little bit of sprucing does to the spirit!
double digits times 3
caleb joins his older siblings in the double digits today. he's ten.(here he is with his little cousin jeremy in december) ten years ago we were living on the east coast, a new little family of five. my goodness.
cam turned 12 last november. i was totally off the blog updating at the time so both boys get this post 🙂 to say the boys have changed so much is an understatement. cam is at the brink of teenagehood. amazingly it's brought him and kira closer, we are so thankful. caleb continues to be a studious young man with a flair for drama and a passion for sports commentary. cam just finished his basketball middle school year and is looking into joining a club basketball team. both take after their father in different ways. to say we are proud of them is also an understatement. i watch these boys develop daily into these young men and i am overwhelmed with happiness.
in a blink of an eye
she's off to another dance. 
note that father here will protect young daughter by all means necessary 🙂
above shot was one of my faves of her. 🙂 the two below were my favorite candid shots i got. so sweet and classic!
from last year to this year: from getting her first make up done to doing it herself. from curling her own hair to getting her first updo. from flats to heels. from cardigan to 'i won't be cold!' from getting dropped off to a limo. from forever 21 jewelry to juicy couture and tiffany's jewelry.
sigh. it goes quick people!
picnic weather
it's been high 70's this past week, and will be so (hopefully!) for awhile more! perfect weather for trekking her crew on the porch for lunch. sundresses and elsie have reunited. headband has made an appearance. she's been sporting them when she thinks it's a fancy occaision. she looks gigantic to me lately. sniff sniff!
new baby in the family
my brother and lovely sister in law gave birth to my handsome nephew in december 🙂 
this moment makes my heart skip! so happy for their family 🙂
and now she's not the youngest in the family anymore 🙂
proud big sister 
the oldest of the cousins with the youngest! 🙂 
and now he's one month old. time flies! 
i am so excited to have him in our family! he's such a little sweetie. and on saturday, i get to babysit him. i cannot wait to have auntie bonding time with him, heehee.
jump
to be filled with endless energy and curiousity, i cannot remember what that's like. she looks at my bed and sees a trampoline. my bed is my refuge. it's hours of rest. my haven.
this year is a big year for our family. we face work situations that constantly make us think about where we are now and where we want to be. in september kira will start her most important high school year. elsie will start kindergarten. though it's only a little chunk of time daily, i will start to think about where i want to be, where my dreams are headed. the thought of them all in school makes my head spin and my heart hurt a little. when els goes i will have been a stay at home mom for SIXTEEN years. so then to think of me and where i want to be while they are busying their minds, sometimes makes me want to crawl into that bed but then again, at times, i want to jump. i will embrace both emotions 🙂
watersix 