JUNE 2008 UPDATE

Crap! I didn't think I was that flaky until I see the late post was for April. Oh well. Let me catch up now. The first big news of June 2008 was the extreme heat wave we had. We spent each afternoon and all weekend in the pool. We put Brayden in the little pool in the front yard during the hot morning hours. It was easier than trying to take everyone in the big pool and holding all of them at the same time!

Lauren plays a little peek-a-boo at poolside in the backyard.

Bella goofs off with the inner-rube.

Lexie tans so fast. Not as fast as Brayden, but here's her tan from a week long of swimming.

My cutie-patootie!

For the last day of school, Bella gave her teacher, Mrs. Moirao, a handmade recipe book. Mommy spent the entire evening the night before creating this cute little book. Thank goodness her teacher loves to cook!Close up of the finished product.

Bella accepts her Kindergarten graduation certificate and Recognition for being an outstanding helper throughout the year from her Principal at Fredericksen Elem.
Showing off her "papers" as she goes back to her seat.

Is that the Princess wave of what?

The next week we headed to Sacramento for the Croatian Extravaganza. Bella & Lauren stayed at Michelle & Dave's house for the day while Lexie & Brayden went with us.

Bake and Brayden

Lexie just glows.... Oh yeah, it's like 105 degrees outside!

Debbie's favorite boyfriend!

Milenko's favorite wife!

Jasna & Tom show off a cute smile.

Kristina & Steve goof off with Lexie.

Melissa & Adam came to celebration the Extravaganza this year!

Baka and Deda - doing their favorite thing in the world - dancing together.

Lexie and Tete Sherry. Lexie absolutely adored her Teta (Aunt) - soon to be Kuma (godmother)

Milenko celebrates his 5th Father's Day with his favorite girls!

Our family headed over to Baka & Deda's house to celebrate Father's Day. We had a BBQ and were joined by Kum & Kuma (Godparents Anita & Dusan).

The ever so loving picture of the kids posing for a great Father's Day photo.

Kum & Kuma giggle at the kids as they dance with Deda (grandfather).

Milenko and his Kum (godfather) Dusan.

Princess Lexie

Beautiful Bella

Lovely Lauren

Debbie and her favorite son!

On June 21st, we participated in Relay for Life, a walk for cancer. Bella & Lexie registered to walk with me this year. Their shirts were a little too big for them though.

Clockwise: Debbie, Lexie, Bella & Brayden

That evening was Luminaria. It's a picture slideshow outside that is broadcasted on a huge screen so that everyone can see. It highlights the walk , the cancer survivors and dedicates the entire event to those who have passed on. Here's our favorite neighbor Meena and her pup, Frank the Tank. (We call him Tank.) Hanging out with the Larsen and the Satariano families to watch Luminaria and the fireworks display afterwards. If you highlight the picture you'll see how much fun Brayden is having.... NOT! Poor Laura!

SCHOOL'S OUT - SUMMER'S HERE

On Thursday, May 24th, Bella & Lexie had their last day at pre-school for the year. Lexie finished her 2 year old class and Bella finished her Pre-K class....which means: KINDERGARTEN in August!

Here's some cute pictures of the girls with their teachers. Remember, you can click on any picture and it will enlarge in another window so you can actually see the detail (and their cute eyes!)

Bella & Ms. Clark

Bella & Ms. Karen


Lexie walks with some of her classmates & Ms. Carol


During the last weeks of school, the kids get to have a car wash and help wash all the toy cars! Bella is having so much fun with her friend, Kira.

Now that the school year is over, summer time is just around the corner and the weather is certainly telling us that we're ready to jump in the pool. While the big pool in the backyard was "getting its medicine" (Milenko was cleaning the pool with chemicals), the girls used the little blow up one. It's perfect for Lauren anyway!

They're not always like this - honestly!

Practicing the "runway walk" for Ms. America!

There's a hilarious story to this one. Bella had to go "potty" really badly. Leave it to a man to recommend peeing on the grass. While I was inside, Milenko was watching the girls and I came out just in time to snap a shot of Bella going "potty" in the outdoor toilet that Daddy recommended. They don't do this anymore and they will run across the floor wet if need be. I guess having that boy couldn't come at a better time!

Lauren's attempt at eating an Oreo cookie!

Lauren is actually impressing us with her little smarts. At 15 months, she is already trying to grow up and be just like her big sisters. The girls have a refrigerator magnet from LeapFrog that plays the alphabet. The girls have used it for the past few years at learning the ABC Song. Lauren is already walking round the house trying to sing the alphabet along with the magnet. She can do ABC and then the rest is P P P P P. She's also is attempting to do her numbers. As I try to get her to repeat ONE, she chimes in with two, three.... Nothing after that, but I sure will be proud when I get her to actually say ONE with the TWO & THREE. :) She's up to about 40 plus words. The latest and funniest is shu-up. I know it's not the best thing to teach her, but it keeps us in stiches when we hear her yell shu-up! (She doesn't know what it means though.) She's also pretty good at telling us to STOP at the stop lights. That's all thanks to her sisters who love to tell us how to drive through the red & green lights.

We're going to start off June at the Croatian Extravaganza in Sacramento. We'll be staying up there with Milenko's sister & parents for the weekend. Should be a fun one. Between that and Fathers' Day, the next round of pictures should be pretty fun!

See you in June!