An Isabel Summer Beginning

They were planning it for the entire last month of school.  It was going to be the best after school party ever! Isabel found a fun group of friends in her second grade class and they were determined to start the summer of right.  

Isabel B. was bringing the treats.

Brooke was bringing the movie.

Bella was bringing the games.

My Isabel was providing the venue.

It was one exciting party! These eight year old girls know how to have fun.

The next day it was Isabel's turn for a new smile. I think she looks adorable but she's so pretty she would look good with purple dots all over her face. These pictures were taken just a few hours apart.  Is it just me or had her teeth already come together? Keep that up Isabel and maybe you'll be able to get those silver jewels off your teeth faster than planned. 

Her Favorite Person

She loves her dad! This almost made me cry. I don't know how Papi does it.  Leaving has got to be harder than staying behind alone with five kids.

 



Big Day

It's here!  The day she has been counting down to since January. 

It's her baptism day!

I don't think I've ever seen anyone more excited.

Papi had to make a special trip back from the Dominican Republic just so he could baptize his beautiful eight year old daughter.

All of our AZ family was there to see Isabel's special moment.

 I am so thankful for my sweet baby girl.  From the minute she was baptized I noticed her trying really hard to be better.  That's all He asks of us, to just try and be better.  We don't need to be perfect.  He will make up for our weaknesses if we are trying. So I am proud of you Isabel and so happy for you on your big day!

Baptism Announcement

This is happening soon!  She is counting down the days.  We are super excited!

Still a Kid

Stella is one.  She likes to ride in carts at the grocery store.  She asks for them.  There's just one little issue we encounter.  As soon as she gets in she asks whoever is with us to sit by her.  "Ba, sit!" She'll say.  They always try.  It's a little cramped.  We get a few stares and smiles.  The kids think they're the ones doing the work to keep Stella happy but they don't know how heavy that cart is with them in it! But I'm glad that they don't think they're too old and they'll still be a kid.  Anything for the baby, right?

Grandpa's Guns

Isabel loves her Grandpa! She spends all afternoon over there after school with him often.  He gives her mints, lets her shred the papers, watch movies and teaches her about guns.  She's becoming a little expert.  In fact she probably knows more than the scouts in the house. I'm thankful that she has a Grandpa and that they have a close relationship.  I would have loved to be able to spend time with my Grandpas like this.

Mommy daughter night

As I was taking pictures off of my phone I realized I hadn't posted some of our fun times lately.  Papi took the boys for Father Sons Campout. The boys were super excited.  It was the first time he had been here to take them.  So while the cats are away the mice will play, except we aren't mice and the boys definitely aren't cats.  But we did all the girly stuff. 

 

Homemade masks for our faces using oats, strawberries and honey.

 

Painting our nails

Even little Stella got a pedicure.

I'm grateful for my girls and the fun time we have together.  Love you little ladies!

New talents

We have had a very loud house this summer.  The boys are working on learning new instruments.  They've got Mary Had a Little Lamb down and are working on concert pieces for the end of summer band.  The blue room has become the music room and it's always busy.

 

 

Then we have our beautiful ballerina.  Isabel is gorgeous on stage and she dances with so much excitement that you have to applaud.  Way to go chica!

Two Sunburns

Papi still calls her his baby.  She will always be his baby.  But the past few days have been more "babyish" than normal.  These tears were on two different occasions.  First leaving her teacher, Mrs. Rother was hard for her.  She gets so attached to people and Mrs. Rother won't be at Franklin anymore.  Honestly, I may have cried a little for her on that one.  But the other one, I had no sympathy for.  After swimming for six hours in Grandma's pool she began complaining about her cheeks stinging and hurting when she moved her mouth.  I soon realized that her natural SPF 500 had run out and she had a sunburn on those cute cheeks!  Once I told her there were even more tears.  At least DJ tried to help.  "What's wrong Isabel?" He asked.  "I'm crying because I have TWO sunburns!" Yup, this girl needed some sun experience.

Last Day

 

If it weren't for the fact that I love sleeping in over the summer I would be bawling my eyes out right now since this is the last day they will all get to go on the bus together and see each other in the same school.  Alexandria won't have another sibling with her until she is a Senior. in. Highschool!  This year there were tears.  Isabel cried because Mrs. Rother is leaving.  AJ cried because he's just a sweetheart and felt bad leaving his crying teacher, Miss Meek.  I've never seen so many tears on the last day of school.  I'm going to chalk it up to them being emotionally drained after working super hard and doing their very best this year.  Now bring on the sleep!

Conference Weekend

Did you hear about the stupid criminal who kept boxes under the hood of his car?  He robbed our flip house, stole all of Papi's tools then couldn't leave because his car wouldn't start probably due to the boxes under the hood.  So he called a taxi and a tow truck instead.  The thing was we got there before the tow truck.  He left his wallet, ID, everything we need to know who he is and where he lives. If it hadn't have ruined our long anticipated conference weekend I would have been laughing at the dumb guy's losing efforts.  Let's be honest, I am still laughing.  Such a fool!  But now I'm wondering who is really the fool because it's been 3 days and the Mesa Police still haven't arrested him. 

Fortunately, we were able to watch conference as a family on Sunday.  We love conference weekend!  My kids even watched it while we were talking to the police on Saturday.  And they were home alone!  Everyone has their conference binders.  We eat candy, lots of candy.  We make food that we only have on conference morning.  It's such a relaxing two days at the Cesar home.  I'm already looking forward to October!

Eating Chicken

There's a moment in every city kids' life when they realize that eating chicken means a chicken had to die, be plucked of all it's feathers, chopped up, seasoned, cooked and served. We harvested one of our older chickens for the first time ever. When I held warm freshly killed meat in my hands a few years ago I went home and threw up. Then, felt a greater appreciation for every meal I eat with meat. Isabel decided to become a vegetarian. Even the yummy goodness of In n Out hamburgers wouldn't persuade her soft heart to change her mind. Instead she had a cheeseburger with no burger. Finally, after a few days of vegetarianism she gave up saying, "I want to but being a vegetarian is hard."  Then went on to eat her backyard chicken. 

Isabel Disneyland

 

Grandpa and Isabel have something special.  When Isabel turned five they took her to Disneyland.  It was supposed to be a birthday present for her from her grand grandparents but the rest of the family decided to tag along.  Grandpa thought that wasn't really fair so he made sure that Isabel got a Disneyland trip all on her own. I'm thinking maybe we should have tagged along again then maybe she could have gotten a third trip. LOL! I love my dad! And I love that they have such a cute relationship.

Last Christmas Sing

So bittersweet!

They are all growing up.  While I'm having such a blast with their big kid personalities it's hard to say goodbye to what was.  This year is the last Winter Sing where these four all get to be in it together. Isabel was the only one who wanted to go but I made them.  It was the last one!

We couldn't leave out the selfie on a big night like this, in the car, on the way to get ice cream.  Don't worry, I was at a red stoplight when we took it.

Nutcracker

Isabel had a blast in the Nutcracker this year.  She got to be a mouse in the battle scene.

It was fabulous!  You did wonderful, Isabel!!

Happy Birthday Isabel!

My gorgeous girl just turned seven! This year she got her own friend party. The boys didn't want a Halloween party so we cancelled our annual tradition for something different. 

I'm afraid to admit it but I think it's getting easier. All of my kids helped to put the party together. It made it so getting everything ready was almost as fun as the party. Alexandria was in charge of the Gory Guessing Game. AJ helped clean off the patio. DJ and Isabel made the goody bags. And Stella was just happy to be a clown. 

Isabel here's some things I want to remember about you from this year:

You are a great big sister! You were so excited to have a baby in our family that you gave up your room and moved in with your big sister. Then once Stella was here you made up stories and played with her to keep her entertained. 

Your favorite color has always been and still is purple. 

Often I have to remind people how young you are because you seem so grown up. And you're really tall, as tall as your 8 year old brothers, so people think you are older. 

You like going over to Grandma's so you can hang out with Grandpa. He might be one of your favorite people. 

I'm so glad you were home with me for half the day during kindergarten. I loved having Isabel mommy time. You weren't demanding but you were always excited to do stuff together. 

I can always count on you for a hug and a beautiful smile. 

I love you! And I'm so super glad that you are a part of our family.

Happy birthday beautiful!!

Girl Time

I think they tried hundreds of different headband combinations on Stella after church today. She got the girly treatment and loved it. 

Last Day of School

Somehow time flew by and I never finished up the last day of school. Isabel got to have a speaking part in the Kindergarten Sing.  She was super excited and did fantastic.

 The boys had Mrs. Stradling and now Isabel got to have Mrs. Stradling for Kindergarten.  Hopefully, she will still be there when Stella is ready, which I don't even really want to think about yet.

 Mrs. Conrad was the Kindergarten aide for all of our children.  She's retiring and will be very missed.

 Thank goodness Alexandria had a wonderful teacher this year.  Her love of school came back and I was happy to see her back to her old self after her awful teacher last year.

 Mrs. Vilhauer is retiring too.  Alexandria and my boys got to have her.  We love her and will be sad to see her go.

They all had such good teachers this year.  It was sad to see it over.  Next year will be the last year that all of them are in the same school.  I love that they're all close in age and will all have sweet memories together.

Morning Play

Stella is going to be bored out of her mind next year when Isabel is gone all day in first grade. Who else is going to act out stories of queens, dungeons, castles and peasants for her?

Little Reader

She's trying to read 100 books before school's out, only 10 more to go. I'm pretty sure she'll make it.