First Browns Game... woof woof!

 We were extremely lucky that our first Browns game - in December, in no less- was met with pretty decent weather.  We stayed for the whole game... mostly dry... with full bellies.  And to top it off, the Browns won!  Woo Hoo! 

Tooth Fairy- where are you?

Gabby is the first of the trio to lose her tooth... it was an exciting day for us!

 

(and to cure your curiosity, the going rate for a first lost tooth is $1)

Happy 6th Birthday Trio!

 Tsk, Tsk... Jen... you missed your sweet trio's birthday on the blog!

We celebrated our 6TH birthday with SEVERAL birthday parties.  First, our good friend, Miss Cherryle, took us out for haircuts and a special dinner- complete with our own cakes.

 

 

Then, we had our special friends, the Higgins, Bryda's, and Keberdle's meet us at one of our favorite places - Chuck E Cheese for a night on the town.

 

Then, it was a party at playground world for our school friends....

 And finally... just last week we celebrated with our cousins and aunts and uncles as we combined a party to celebrate Joe turning 5!  How sweet six is!!!

the best part of Costco?

The best part of Costco isn't the savings from buying in bulk... it is the free samples of FOOD that we get to enjoy at each and every visit. 

movin' on up in taekwondo!

The trio have advanced to the green/black belt skill level in taekwondo!  I am so proud of how much they retain and how hard they work each week...

new age rock band

I love the hats and scarfs... the video is actually pretty funny but blogger is giving me a hard time uploading...

fashionista's!

gabs showing some sass!

check out the scarf... and the poise!

giving thanks

 Thanksgiving 2012 was a great time with the family... we especially enjoyed some warm weather and lots of fun with the Keberdle cousins!

Happy Halloween 2012

ooooohhh went the wind and OUT went the lights... and the four little kiddo's ran fast out of sight!

Keberdle and Garcia cousins sharing a pre-haloween treat!

oh my- what big pumpkins you have!

princess mary, captain cody, pretty ballerina, and monkey girl

Kalahari - indoor fun

A few weeks ago, a girlfriend accompanied me with the kiddo's to Kalahari - an indoor water park in Sandusky, OH.    Not only did they enjoy the water fun, and arcade... but I think they loved spending time with Miss Cherryle even more! 

 The girls in their "leopard"- a fav of Miss Cherryle

 

 Abby could not stand wearing her life jacket (a requirement of the park)

 - she said it was too squishy!

 Gabby, Mary, and Mateo also had to wear the life jackets

but they used them as an opportunity to 

"save & rescue" each other...

 How adorable are these four?!

The cleveland CAVALIERS!

Thanks to Daddy, the trio were asked to accompany the Cleveland Cavs players onto the floor during the National Anthem at a recent scrimmage game.  What an awesome and memorable opportunity!

 Gabby & Toe were really excited... Mary- not so much

 In fact, Mary was swayed to go onto the court at the very last minute...

 Giving the mascot "high-5's"

 

Apple Hill Farm... a Garcia tradition

We headed off to Millers Apple Farm the last weekend in September for our annual apple picking adventure.  Taking a hay ride out to the orchard, along with all the halloween festivities.. made for an enjoyable afternoon.  (The sweet, cold, fresh squeezed lemonade didn't hurt either!)

This wooden train has been with us through the years... 

check it out:

http://garcialmfamily.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html 

http://garcialmfamily.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html 

http://garcialmfamily.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html 

adjustments

As we enter our third full week of school, we are still trying to adjust to all the changes that took place so quickly.  For one, we actually have to wake up EARLY - even when we stay up the night prior..chatting away with our sister and brother.  Then there is the lack of tv time... how "not fair" it is that we have to do schoolwork when we get home and not have an hour to watch the beloved television screen.  But most importantly, is the fact that we are finding the balance between loving our siblings, yet making new friends at school.

The trio are split up- so each one is in a different class; with different teachers, friends, and homework assignments.  Sometimes this creates conflict, but for the most part, everyone is becoming more relaxed within their classroom surroundings.  And it sure makes for vivid conversation as we walk home from the bus stop, and during our dinner.

It is crazy to see how the other kids have started to influence my own, and the juggling act that I perform daily to keep the convictions (and manners) that I have tried to teach them vs. what they are hearing at school.  At this age, it appears that everything is an influence... and I just keep praying that "mommy" is the biggest one!

As for Abby...she has gotten away from staring out the window- waiting for sissies and "toe" to come home and seems to be okay with being dragged around town as I try to find my own balance between home, fitness, Pa, and fun time.

Let the games begin!

Kindergarten

 On Monday, August 27th, the trio started Kindergarten.  What a bittersweet day for me.  These precious three (plus 1) are my life... and I have spent every day with them.  I have dreams and aspirations for them... and I want them to succeed and have fun while doing so.  How far we have come from our little 4 pounders!

Abby has had the hardest time adjusting to her siblings being gone all day....