Officially 8!

Audrey had a typical Callahan family extended birthday celebration this year. With her party and her birthday a week apart it seemed to be non-stop celebrating around here. She is a smart and happy kid who loves to run and play and laugh and have fun. She has grown exponentially at school this year in all subjects. She has a kind heart a giving spirit and is all around a great person to spend time with.

Her wish for the next year? "To go to Hawaii and see a blue whale tail!" She's an optimistic dreamer, this one!

 Audrey and her friend, Chloe, made mini cupcakes to share with her class to celebrate her birthday. 

 New Legos, clothes, stuffed friends and collectible goodies. 

It was a good birthday!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

8 is GREAT! Especially a week early!

Audrey officially turns 8 on the 27th but her birthday party was this past weekend. We lost Scarlet on Friday night and partied at Encore Gymnastics with ten giggly 2nd graders the next Saturday afternoon. If that is not representative of our busy, crazy life these days I don't know what is. Even though we were sad, celebrating our bouncy, happy kid was the best medicine and she had a blast with her buddies, doing activities all around the gym and eating ice cream cake.

because I may not always remember...

front row: Hannah, Illari, Audrey, Evie, Emma & Gabby

back row: Kira, Chloe, Lexi, Malia, Natalie and Riley

Goodbye, sweet girl

We had to put Scarlet to sleep this weekend. It about broke me. My sweet furry girl. There wasn't a day that I didn't snuggle her and not a night (until recently) that she didn't sleep up against my body. She was the most loving and patient little creature. And the best kitty any family could ask for. We miss her beyond words. She was diagnosed with lymphoma in March and we tried everything we could to prolong her life while still giving her a good and comfortable one. She didn't like the medicines and who knows if it bought us the time we hoped it would, but we had to try. Because she wasn't moving very much or very quickly we were able to let her spend her last few months mostly on the patio. She loved basking in the sunshine and watching the birds. I'm so happy we were able to give her that little gift. We miss her madly.

Choir

Our girls have been so lucky to have had an amazing choir teacher at their school. Mr. Abbott has taught for 23 years and I believe most of it has been at our school. He loves music, is a versatile musician and has inspired our girls (especially Natalie) to love music, too! This year the 4th and 5th grade choir did Songs of America with a few Michael Jackson numbers mixed in. It sounds like an odd combination of music but Mr. Abbott made it work. And Natalie did a solo of Man in the Mirror that made me cry. Such a fun night. Mr. Abbott is retiring at the end of the school year and we are so sad to see him go.

We're going to miss you, Mr. Abbott!

Field Trips Galore!

The girls both had field trips on the same day. The best part? Corey joined Audrey  and I  joined Natalie. All four of us traded in our regular day to hang out in the city doing super cool stuff. Corey and Audrey took a ferry to San Francisco where they visited the Aquarium by the Bay and Natalie and I took a big yellow school bus to the Cal Academy of Sciences. They definitely had cooler transportation but we all had fun.

 Audrey's awesome 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Swimme!