Saturday, April 20, 2024
Cienna - 16 Years 3 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 10 Months Old!
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Cienna - 16 Years 2 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 9 Months Old!
Great friends organized a late "Galentines" for Cienna the weekend before Presidents Day. That night after gym the girls made dream boards as the first fun event leading up to Nationals come the end of June. Dad and Mom got to bring Kaylee Togo's for 8th grade lunch on the lawn to end the week before another fun weekend.
Planned a visit with Scott after way to long and all went to the PotHolder for breakfast. We all loved hanging out and catching up. The next day the girls got up early with Mom to come assistant coach the Level 4/5 girls at a gym meet in Lake Elsinore. It was a quick drive with great company. Selena drove and Kaylee did her first French braid on Emery for her competition. It turned out pretty awesome.
The gym got a visit from Nanette Barragán (U.S. House California District 44) and took plenty of pictures and even talked with the optionals. Had a well needed 3 Musketeers visit, followed by a family game night. Cienna and Dad went to a Lakewood Hall of Fame event which featured the Lakewood gymnastics team for their Nationals win where Cienna got to be their spokesperson! She was praised by everyone and deserved it!
Cienna took her last driving lesson, Kaylee did 8th grade panorama pics. Next up was Heart of The Champions. It was both of their first Level 9 USAG gymnastics competition. They did amazing and had many first accomplishments. Getting to not hold back on tumbling passes and other skills that are above the Level 8 requirements.
Just before Cienna's driver's test she had fun celebrating her friend Steph's 16 at El Dorado park with a great variety of food!
Then on March 4th, Mom and Cienna had a great time full of anticipation at the DMV. We found our way through pretty easy and had fun sitting and waiting in the Test line wondering which Tester she was going to end up with. She didn't need anyone in particular because she's a pretty great "beginner" driver. Needless to say, she passed!
Mom and Dad are still nervous about the others on the road. But, Cienna is rightfully so, a licensed driver. It's scary and weird, but she knows to make sure and get experience on roads she is comfortable with to look out for others. Although she took extra hour long practices on the freeway!
Cienna's buddy down the street, Addy's 16th was next which was at the same time as Erin hosted a party for Mom's friend Minda also just a block away. After gym that Friday, we walked together, had fun with friends, then walked back.
Kaylee's Musical performances came the next week as well as the first time Cienna drove alone. She even drove her sister home after dad dropped her off at gym practice after the musical run through. Mom and Dad watched the Thursday performance, and Cienna joined for the Friday.
Next Gym competition was in San Diego. It was the "State Games" at Toby Wells. We were very happy to get to spend time with the Sklenicka's! We met for lunch after we supported/coached the level 4/5's and before Cienna and Kaylee competed. Great food and company. In case anyone was wondering Kaylee got a soft pretzel! Just after the girls had a great competition. Funny that the meet did not have a high bar tall enough for Clara originally, but we worked it out. There were overall some great accomplishments physically and emotionally from the last meet at the same location!
Then St. Patrick's weekend. Mark had Roman over for a full day of brewing for upcoming Birthday and homebrew festival events. Was great to have Roman's cousin Misha and Courtney join. Cienna went to volunteer for a Car Show fundraiser for her Child Cancer Club with a few of her friends. Meanwhile mom took the Bronco for some errands before picking her up, then the Waters came over for more entertainment. St. Patrick's day we made plans with The Marshalls. Made Corned Beef, Buffalo New potatoes, and the Marshalls brought delicious salad mixings and some mint Oreo cookie ice cream! The girls also wet around the neighborhood to find lemons to make Leprechaun Pee. (Delicious Lemonade)
Enjoy the photos and videos
Monday, February 19, 2024
Cienna - 16 Years 1 Month Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 8 Months Old!
Both girls had a great time at the Great Destinations competition. First one of the season and both walked away with 1st place all-around! The next day, we have a 16 year old. But the coolest part is that we couldn't be more proud of Cienna. We had a great day together riding bikes along the beach, getting smoothies, dinner at CPK followed by ice cream!
Mom got to hang with friends for an evening to celebrate Selena, then most of that week was spent preparing for Cienna's birthday party. She has always had such fun party ideas and lucky enough to have parents that help make them happen. Ended up with a 15 passenger van after plenty of trips to LBX to make sure that happened since one friend awesomely was able to come which made the 12 passenger with too few seats : ) After some window painting on the van we all headed off to Mt. Baldy for some incredible views, super cool waterfall hiking and climbing, Togo's picnic, and just a lot of laughing and rocking out to good music. It wasn't quiet in the van, but we wouldn't want it any other way.
Cienna got a lot of support including Clara, Julia, and others for her duet with Francesca at schools Backstage Bistro. They did an incredible mash up of Rumor Has It and Someone Like You. Totally volunteer school event putting themselves out there and nailed it.
Dad then got a chance to visit the main Menlo Park campus of Meta. He got spoiled with all the amenities, but we were a bit disappointed that he didn't take advantage of the free mani/pedi.
Mom then drove up north to Vera's home in Berkeley. It's pretty great to know that even if you don't see your high school buddies everyday, they're always there for you. Just saying, the food was great. The company was the best! We had a super muddy but beautiful hike and a lot of catching up.
Meanwhile back in Long Beach Dad took Cienna for pictures in Seal Beach and dinner at an Irish restaurant with buddies before her Winter Formal. Cienna even let Kaylee put mascara on for the occasion. The dance was in San Pedro at "Crafted".
We got the pleasure of doggy sitting Lula, Kaylee went to Zach's Movie night Birthday party and the girls finally got their new leotards that their team designed before the 2nd meet of the season. We headed to Ontario. It happened to be Super Bowl Sunday. And the 49ers were in it. At the exact time that the girls were competing. What to do...... We actually recorded it and managed to keep our ears and eyes away from all broadcasting. OK, so most importantly the girls had another successful competition. And then we got home and made delicious super bowl snacks and watched it 3 hours later than everyone else. Still completely enjoyed the game (although the outcome) and our time together!
We completely finalized the Bronco for road ready! A couple of trips to AAA and one to the DMV besides the time spent at ACA (local mechanics). Smogged and ready to go. Kaylee even enjoyed driving it without stalling once. On that note Cienna has her drivers test scheduled and has been practicing every time she gets the chance.
Honorable mention, Cienna did a beach clean up to end the month.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DYT4wrzQVYuWNFzv7
Friday, January 26, 2024
Cienna - 16 Years Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 7 Months Old!
Holiday's are very excited and full of fun and adventure! Love the time we get to be with each other, more family and great friends who take us in as family as well! Every blog is a lot, but ok... I may have to take some verbiage short cuts on this one.
Visit to gym from Shoenberg's led to a fun visit with Sadie at home. We then visited neighborhood Christmas decorations including coach Denise's house. We took family walks and wrapped gifts for family and friends. We finally installed our new dishwasher which we had fun doing together! Cienna also made a winter painting of Snoopy and Winchester to bring to our next adventure to Greg and Jackie's cabin in Big Bear.
Prior to that we went to the Snow's for a big Christmas Eve party. There was a cookie contest and a white Elephant Gift exchange for the adults. Great time as always with a cheese-less lasagna for Mom thanks to Auntie Kimmie!
Christmas morning was as magical as ever. We love being together in the morning cuddling on our bed and watching a movie before the big day of excitement and cheer of Christmas with us and friends. After the morning we went on a walk together and then went to Auntie Kimmie and Uncle Keith's for a gift exchange. Cienna went with mom to walk around the neighborhood giving out hand made paintings that she worked hard on to those out and about. We also made our way to Heartwell Park where Cienna got to meet Balloo. The parrot we had previously talked about and they had a great time together on our walk! Later that evening we went to Joan and Larry's to enjoy being part of their family as always for so many occasions! It means a lot for us to be invited to such special times with them!
The next few days we enjoyed some of the gifts we got from each other and enjoying each other putting things together, playing games and making food. The girls had one last night at gym before we left to our next adventure in Big Bear! Both girls did their bar release skill on bars without a spot from a coach for the first time!
Dogs were again in the back seat of the truck with the girls...poor puppies! They all had fun and the road trip was easy. We loved getting to Greg and Jackie's cabin playing cards, learning card tricks, and making tortilla soup! We were preparing for a fun day of Snowboarding. It turned out to be a bikini wearing shorts type of snowboarding but we made the full day out of it! We all mastered the skill of snowboarding the way we want to and went home for pasta and meatballs! The puppies had a great evening walk with all of us and a fun night. Dad took them home the next day as Mom and the girls took a 5 mile walk to the village to get ice cream and enjoy the scenery! On the way back to the cabin Daddy was on his way back as well and picked us up to get back to the cabin for the evening for more family time and to set of for the next adventure in the morning.
We were cleaning the cabin and off to see The Sklenicka's! The New Year was upon us. We started with picking up pine needles, replacing air filters, showing off card tricks that we had previously learned, and all the kids, and adults, playing together. That first night ended with fun bedtime stories and Joe and Daddy staying up late as always enjoying each others company! Then it was New Years Eve! There was chocolate bombs, long walks, pickle ball, park time, and Kan Jam in the back yard. We did movies, VR, then Mom and Cienna passed time taking outside pictures just to stay up till midnight while Kaylee decorated Dad and Joe. We made barely made it to midnight but had a great time together.
After packing again in the morning we had an easy trip home on New Years Day (Grammy's Birthday) one more week of vacation we had so much fun! After one day back at gym a 6 person sleepover was in the works to finish up the Holiday show that they have kept as a tradition. This included a night time neighborhood adventure as well as the next day adventure to Heartwell park. They even took in a seventh member (Auralia) part way through the filming. The finale included a video at the Main Y that their gym is affiliated with!
Meanwhile Dad had been diligantly working to restore our amazing BBQ/Smoker! It looks like it is brand new! Next up was a Three Musketeers sleepover just to keep us all busy. Then the girls were super excited to take Jen up on her Christmas present to take them shopping! They had such a great time and came back with some new clothes that they love!
Time to go back to school and work, but fun continues. We had family visits to look forward too! For Ashley's graduation she got to bring her friend Emily along with Trevor and Sam to Disney for a couple days. We started with just the Marty's and Poppa, amazingly the Natal's were also here since Megan was doing the Disney Marathon. So all of us got to spend time together with lunch at LBX and then dinner at home. Natal's went back to the hotel to prepare for the run and more fun at Disneyland and before Emily and Sam got here the next day the rest of us went for a beautiful day on the bay renting a Duffy Boat. We brought lunch and enjoyed the sun before heading home. The next day Ashley, Emily, Trevor, and Sam headed to there Disney Adventure.
Mom worked from home since the girls had the holiday off and Dad, Poppa, Mike, and Dana went to the LA car museum. Crazy looking cars and they enjoyed them all. Meanwhile Kaylee got to hang out with Amiah for the day and Cienna with Francesca to work on their Backstreet Bistro for school as well as just hang out together.
As family departed in the RV, we were getting ready to replenish the kitchen : ) and get ready for the next week before finals and a 16th Birthday!
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Cienna - 15 Years 11 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 6 Months Old!
Monday, November 27, 2023
Cienna - 15 Years 10 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 5 Months Old!
Long Beach Octoberfest with the Marshall's, Adam's, and a Donlon (Selena) was a great time. The band was a favorite with their clever twist on lyrics. The pretzels were also a hit. Cienna had a fun sleepover with friends at Peta's house before her choir performance. She also got to celebrate spirit week which she and her friends organized in ASB. Homecoming was the finally after they won the football game and some dancing in the quad.
They continue to have fun holiday gym days, including a dress up Halloween day. Then some of the girls teammates came over to make signs to put up for the compulsory Home Practice Meet.
We got the pumpkins carved and costumes figured out in time for Halloween. Mom and Dad had the best Run DMC costume. Girls had buddy costumes. Cienna and Julia were Fire and Ice, and Kaylee and Nickie were Angle and Devil. Three of us went to the Marshall's to give out candy. Cienna started at Julia's and made their way over trick or treating. Kaylee got plenty of candy around the neighborhood. There was a pretty great haunted house that some of us really enjoyed as well.
We all went to the High School of Choice event even though Kaylee seems to be pretty set on going the Millikan where Cienna is, and Nicki will most likely be going :) There was a multi children sleep over at our house that included Julia and the Three Musketeers. Cienna and Julia went to volunteer at the Ronal McDonald house while Kaylee, Nicki and Adi played and went to Starbucks.
The following week Cienna got an amazing opportunity to go on a college tour with her FLA friends along with other high school FLA clubs. She got to see UCSB, Pepperdine, and Channel Islands (which apparently was built on an insane asylum)
Girls and Mom had an early practice on Veterans Day and then went to help coach the compulsories that evening. Then on Sunday Mom and Dad had a great dinner with friends at Taco Beach. Dad then went into LA to meet co-workers that he'd only previously met online. He did have a new experience with Axe throwing and had plenty of delicious food throughout the day.
Us girls all had a great time with Clara's very clever scavenger hunt 16th Birthday. She grouped up a bunch of friends and they were let loose to find and do some interesting activities on Atlantic. Then all the pictures were shown on the big screen after burgers later that evening.
Bring your parents to gym day came back as one of the fun gym days! Dad won the show for sure! Actually it was a huge success and everyone that participated had so much fun. Although we're not sure how many of us parents were walking the next day.
We had lots of art activities as well including finally making the handstand stilts that Cienna had been asking for for SO long, we also added epoxy to the gymnastics signs that Uncle Joe made the girls a while back. Kaylee made a pinball Kiwico and we got the girls to pose for some (at home) school pictures since they don't do them as school anymore.
More gym fun with a game night and karaoke. Then Mom took Kaylee and Nicki to surprise Adi and watch her amazing school performance. And of course it was followed by a 3 Musketeers sleepover which was mentioned earlier when Julia also was sleeping over, but I don't want to go back and re-edit :)
A couple extra additions is Mom getting to hold an awesome parakeet named Balloo while on a walk, Kaylee went for her front tuck on beam, Cienna and Francesca impressed again at the Marines pull up competition, and we watched the middle Donlon (Bennett) perform a piano recital at our neighbors.
Next up, the holidays!
Check out the photos:
Friday, October 20, 2023
Cienna - 15 Years 9 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 13 Years 4 Months Old!
Cienna - 18 Years 7 Months Old! ... Kaylee - 16 Years 2 Months Old!
Had the cool crew over for world cup to start off the month. Big work week for mom but enjoyed having Oakley to play with us and Roaklee : )...
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Camping in DogWood party of 20, +five four legged ones as well! After confiscating Chum Chum from the Netter's backyard and packing up t...
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Freya got to enjoy the Easter preparations with us. We dyed eggs, and since Cienna found the big bunny last year we were in charge of fillin...
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Pictures speak volumes. Time is precious. High school open house. Great school, interesting teachers. Most good, so that works. The girls bo...

