Bowlin' Babes...

We love bowling!

Unfortunately, we haven't had a ton of time to go since becoming parents...

However, the pictures below will demonstrate that we're determined to change that...

and with the help of these cool bowling rails for kids, we're in it to win it!

Here comes Team Orozco...

Muffin Tin Mondays... or ANY day for that matter!

With preschool out of the way, it gives me more of a reason to be fun and creative with the kids... with the help of other moms of course!

Many of the moms I know do more of a homeschooling approach for preschool, and we're shooting to find a balance that works for us... preschool or Mommy & Me a couple of days a week and then I'll teach the other days... I did go through many years of college to be a teacher right? Who better to teach than my own love bugs?

With that said, we love scouring for new fun and creative ideas! That's how I came across Michelle over at Her Cup Overfloweth. She does this awesome thing called "Muffin Tin Mondays". We've totally jumped on board... and even have fun with the concept on other days of the week as well!

The whole concept is to put snacks or even whole meals in muffin tins to excite the kids. Sometimes they use regular muffin tins, sometimes silicone muffin tins, sometimes cupcake liners, and so on. Sometimes there is a theme... sometimes not! The possibilities are endless!

I decided to use silicone Halloween muffin tins for my first try and made no attempt at actually theming the food this time around... I just decided to jump in after nap one day, so I kinda threw it together! I definitely plan on participating with this group to teach the kids all kinds of fun lessons through food!

Here are some photos of our Muffin Tin Monday!

Below are some samples from this week's Muffin Tin Monday created by other moms who did the literature theme over at Her Cup Overfloweth!

I look forward to joining in the fun next Monday! Sorry I didn't link to the Mom's who created these FABULOUS muffin tins, but their sites can be found

on the Mr. Linky for Her Cup Overfloweth...

Blake's First & LAST day of preschool...

Blake was officially pumped up for school! So much so that he waved as I walked to the exit of his classroom and said, "Bye Bye Momma!" We had rehearsed this moment for weeks and weeks to help prepare Mommy Blake for an easy separation. Success! All went surprisingly well...

Until it came time to pick-up my happy preschooler! There were a million different "worst case" scenarios that played out in my head during the whole THREE hours he was at school. What if some other kid bullies him? What if he falls and needs immediate medical attention (such as Mommy's kisses)? What if... What if... What if... right?

Well, let's just say that out of all of the "What if"s", I clearly missed one!

I show up 30 minutes early to pick him up... pathetic, I know. I wait in the van with Addison and Cousin Massimo and watch through the fence to see if I can see him playing outside. After a few more minutes I decide to go in. I sign him out and speak with the director of the school who tells me how fabulous Blake was and how much fun he had... and then I'm shown digital pictures to prove it. At this point I am just thrilled! :) The director then tells me that they're finishing up their recess time and I can watch him frominside the classroom window while gathering his materials from his cubby.

So, I look out the window and do a quick scan of the playground...no Blake. I assumemy view is probably not the best and wander the classroom and grab his materials from his cubby. 10 minutes go by and I stillcan't seeBlake out on the playground and decide to head out there and improve my view.

Upon entering the playground I am still unable to see Blake, but I immediately take note that both of his teachers are present on the playground. I immediately approach his teacher and say, "I'm here to pick-up Blake" (keep in mind that I have Cousin Massimo in an Ergo on my back and Miss Addison on my hip). The teacher looks at me with a cocked head and says, "Blake? Yes, Blake... where is Blake?" My euphoric nostalgia of school quickly diminished with her response...

and the hunt was ON!

For TWENTY MINUTES the hunt for Blake continued while every staff member, and myself, tore through that school like tazmanian devils.

It was the worst 20 minutes of my life! Despite my panic, I was very calm and collected with one purpose in my mind and heart... find my son! Anything that stood in my way was demolished. Uncontrollable tears gushed down my face. After 20 minutes of everyone searching high and low, I sat down (a total mess) and demanded the police be notified.

Just seconds after my request to contact the police, one of the school staff members came down a slope with a very distrought Blake in tow. It turns out he was left behind in a separate play area on campus and the gate was locked as they returned to the lower playground without him.

Blake was literally sobbing... and so was I.

So, for obvious reasons, that was Blake's first & LAST day at preschool!

And did you forget that Cousin Massimo was on my back and Miss Addison was on my hip during this entire ordeal? Let's just say that their patience was running as thin as mine. ;)

UPDATE: Since this awful ordeal, we have found an awesome program through the school district I teach, where parents attend preschool WITH their child and their child's siblings! We're easing our way into the program... Blake & Addie both LOVE it already!

Kiddos & Mommy just BEFORE Blake's first day...

Daddy & the Kiddos BEFORE Blake's first day...

Blake with Daddy's lunch box from way back when! (Thanks Abuelita!)

Mommy just after leaving her son at what she thought was a safe place...

Oh, and I took this picture to prove to Blake that leaving him at school was one of the hardest things I've ever done... one day he'll be old enough to look through this blog and know that I wasn't lying :)

Time to get "Pumped Up for Preschool!"

It's true, I'm not a firm believer in preschool... unless of course one is fortunate enough to have my mother-in-law as their preschool teacher! Not only does she have a bachelor's degree and lifetime teaching credential, she does an OUTSTANDING job and kids just adore her... including my own!

So, you're probably thinking this is a no-brainer... Blake goes to Grandma Orozco for preschool. WELL, that would be the case, but Grandma Orozco's program requires that the child be 3, on the verge of 4, years old. Blake is 2.5 years old... but could truly benefit from some peer socialization, like any other outgoing toddler!

Anyhow, we were fortunate enough to find a private school nearby, and after a tour of their campus, decided it was a good fit for the Blakester!

To prepare him for his first day we decided to have a "Pump Up for Preschool" party... not a celebration of accompishments (as nothing had been accomplished yet), but more of a celebration of schooling in general! It's a tradition we want to have with our children... where the start of school is welcomed... even celebrated! As they get older we can use this time to set goals for the year and get "pumped up" for the challenges ahead. But I digress, this year was merely to excite him for school in general and present the topic in a light-hearted manner... so we partied in the name of SCHOOL!

The "Class Treats"...

The Food Table...

Alphabet Cookies...

Time to frost and sprinkle the Alphabet Cookies!

Is this face ready for Preschool or what?

Our favors/frosted Alphabet Cookies :)

Grammie & Grandpa Blake play with the kiddos...

Grandma Orozco & Tia Sandra chit-chat before the "entertainment"...

All of the grandparents clap along as Blake performs for the crowd...

Quite the show! Miss Addison got shy and gracefully/tearfully bowed out...

A special extension of Summer!

Okay, so summer was filled with ALL KINDS of fun, but I had to post this slideshow separately, as it was a pretty important "first" for both Blake & Addie!

Go ahead and laugh...

We're embarassed, it's true...

WHY?

Well, we live in Southern California near miles and miles of beautiful, sandy beaches... and have we taken our children to enjoy the marvels of God's oceans... NOPE! Not even close! I'm pretty sure we've never even pointed it out in passing!

So, we've asked for forgiveness...

Behold... Blake & Addie's FIRST trip to the beach...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Summer of 2009!

Our summer was jam-packed with lots of friends, family, and fun... but that certainly wasn't obvious on our website! :)

So, given the fact that we're pretty much an entire summer behind on our website, we've decided to put the whole season into a slideshow and call it a day! :) Without further adieu...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Welcome...

to our new site!

Our old website www.easysite.com/babyorozco2007 will remain up and running for a while longer until I get the free time to back-up ALL of the information from the old site on to an external hard drive for safe keeping!

If you're new to this site and you want to see where our family of four started, take a trip to the above mentioned site where we've documented just about every moment of growth from the time I was 5 weeks pregnant with out first child! And if, quite frankly, you could care less... then by all means, keep moving! After all, these records are for us and our children... and of course any family or friends that wish to partake! :)

So, once again, welcome to our new stomping ground! We hope you'll join us from time to time!