Laurel Park Elementary

While Grandma Mindy was visiting for Kylee's baptism we went to Laurel Park Elementary so she could see where the kids go to school.  This was the first year for the school to be open.  It was renovated out of an existing manufacturing facility.  It has a multi-track year-round calendar.  The kids go to school for 9 weeks and then are off for 3 weeks with one of their breaks being 4 weeks.  I really like the schedule because when the kids are getting tired of school it is time for a break, and when they are getting restless at home it is time for them to go back to school.  The school start time is 9:15 and goes to 3:45.  My dream schedule since I am not a morning person and it means not having to wake the kids up too early.

Kylee had to go to 2 different schools for the 2 years in North Carolina.  Her 1st grade year was at Briarcliff  Elementary with a traditional school year and a daily schedule from 8:30-3:15.  The Wake County school system likes to change the boundaries often.  Our neighborhood attended a different elementary school the year before we got there so the neighborhood kids went to 3 different elementary schools in 3 years.  Luckily the Gaspar de Albas were in the same zone as us so we changed together.  It was great for the kids to go to school with their cousins for 2 years.  

homeless children

Before I had children, I remember seeing families at stores with children with uncombed hair, stained clothes, runny noses, and dirty faces. I thought to myself, "my children will look nice and be clean when I go places with them." It is not a matter of wearing fancy clothes. It is just having children that don't look neglected. Well I now realize I am one of those neglectful mothers. Yesterday was a busy day with lots of things we were trying to get done. I took Kylee to get her ears pierced and then I met Matt to get the rest of the kids from him. Then, we had to continue running more errands. I had not helped with getting the kids ready that morning. As we were running (literally) through Target, I looked at my children and realized how homeless they all looked. The first thing I noticed was that none of my children had their hair combed, Brayden looking the worst with his hair standing straight up like he had just gotten out of bed. Kylee was wearing a white shirt with chocolate milk stains on it from the morning. Brayden had a splotchy face and green crust around his nose with mocos coming out. The only one that looked decent was Blake, and he was hidden in the stroller. As I rushed to get things done quickly, I thought, "please don't look closely at my children." I am sure people were thinking "that mother shouldn't have 4 children if she can't take care of them." The one bright spot was that they were all pretty obedient because they knew I was on a mission and needed their help.

Pretty ears

Kylee has been asking for a while to get her ears pierced. We told her after she was 8 she could get it done. Kylee and her cousin Paloma decided to do it together. This weekend we were finally able to find a little time to go and get it done. The 2 girls that got their ears pierced in front of us had a hard time. One girl had one ear done and did not want to do the other one. This made Kylee and Paloma a little anxious about getting their ears done. Kylee and Paloma ended up being very brave about getting their ears pierced. They got it done with just a few little ouches. Those ears look so pretty now.

shoeless Brayden

I want to remember all the funny things about our children. Brayden tends to have a lot of them. One thing that Matt and I have noticed about Brayden is that he is pretty lazy. When he takes off his socks and shoes he can't seem to finish the job. He usually ends up with one sock still on. It doesn't seem to bother him and usually spends half the day lopsided.

Brown eyed boy

Here is a little about monkey #4. Blake is 5 months old now. I think that we can officially say he has brown eyes. He is following in his siblings footsteps of measuring long at his appointments usually being in the 90th percentile. That means he grows out of clothes quickly. He is at the grabbing stage. He especially likes to grab at long hair that comes within arms reach, the girls don't really appreciate it. Blake slobbers a lot. When I hold him facing out I will hear his drool splatter on the ground, or I feel it when I step on it on the carpet. My left shoulder is usually wet because he sucks on my clothes. Blake is a content baby. He likes it when people talk to him and often, when he is fussy, he will will cheer up if you give him a smile and a little baby talk. He also likes to be held. He doesn't last very long hanging out on the ground by himself. Blake is a quiet boy and does most of his smiling when he wakes up in the morning. Blake is loved by all his siblings. They are all willing to play with Blake and help him to be happy. I love the touch of his small soft hand, his toothless smile, and the sound of his little deep voice. A final note for all those who say that 4 is the same as 3, it is a lie.

Tribute from Camille

(From Camille's Blog for my birthday)
Oh! NO...I have not forgotten!
Sister # 3




Kristel and Katrina.....too cute.

Dear Kristel, Kristella De ville, Kristelitas, brown-eyed girl, Turkey Monster.



Why do we love you?...this is why:

YOU LOVE..


and..

(minus the monks)

you especially like it when this:



is inbetween your..


(you love feet in general even without hair)

You have an unmatched ability to sniff out invisible hidden scents like a puma..



You,sister #3 are the best at ORGANIZING and anything involving meticulous tasks that send the rest of us CRAZY!

You are an AMAZING preschool teacher and especially with your four ones... not forgetting the new an improved darker model..the 1stBROWN CALDWELL!


p.s is there such a thing??


All of us would agree you WON the best husband award..




because he enjoys playing with these:



plus he is also..



your LOVE LANGUAGE is physical touch..



You are the best mom,wife, phone chatter, house cleaner, TV watcher,newley americanized, treat-eater, daughter n law, sister, preschool teacher, ward secretary, newsletter editor, college swimmer, friend to many, sea-world lover, project finder organizer, sister missionary,spanish speaker, lover of life and all thats great...


one-of-a kind SISTER # 3

HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY!

p.s if I am 27 how are you 31????!!

ballet, ballet, ballet

Julia loves to dance, and she dances all the time. If you ask her what she is, she will tell you she is a princess. If you ask her what princesses do, she will tell you they dance. I caught this short video clip of her practicing her ballet in the kitchen while Kristel prepared dinner. Brayden interrupted Julia, and she gave him a little of her ballerina attitude.