It can't possibly be... my Veda is in the First Grade?? That sounds so old. I'm not ready for her to start flying through the grades. Before I know it she'll be going to junior high. Sigh...

Today was her first day. She was so excited and so brave and SO cute. She came out of school with a gloomy face and I got all worried. I said "How was it Veda?" She flashed me a huge smile and said "I loved it!!" She is such a tease. I am so happy she loves school and is so eager to learn. I love her energy and zest for life.

Our first challenge...learn to say "Mrs. Kakinami" (pronounced Kock-ee-naw-mee) :)

We made it home.

Thank you Benedryl.

visiting "home"

Me and the girls rented a car and drove from Las Vegas to Redlands where we lived for 3 years while Travis did his ER residency. It still feels like home whenever we go back. We stayed with our great friends Amber, Tim, Sydney, and Mason.

Even though it was terrible timing due to a move and a family crisis, my dear friend Chanel made some time for us and let us bring Veda's pal Lucy to the "jump zone" with us.
Amber, Sydney and Mason
Veda and Lucy
Lucy gave Veda a best friend charm...Veda hasn't taken it off since.
Three princesses - Sydney, Veda, Eve
Veda and Mason - she loved having a little brother for the weekend.
I love this girl! When we lived in Redlands we were fellow "resident widows" and would do everything together. Now years go by without seeing each other and when we do, it's like a day hasn't passed. Every girl should have a friend like that.

Doing Vegas

We are vacationing Vegas style. This is the girls boogying to Beatles music while me and my mom wait in line to buy tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show Love - a Cirque show set to all Beatles music. (it was UNREAL...but I'll talk more about that next time).

While at the Mirage buying the tickets, we went to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden where they have every type of lion and tiger you can imagine...along with llamas, swans, leopards, and dolphins. It was pretty cool and I can't believe we've never been before. The pictures of the animals aren't great because of the chain link fences. The lions and tigers were amazingly beautiful...and spoiled! If I was a tiger I'd want to live HERE!






We got to see 3 dolphins. A grandmother, mother and baby. The baby dolphin, Bella, was 7 months old and SO cute!

Father's Day

We celebrated an early Father's Day with Travis this year in Kauai, and then got to spend the actual Father's Day with my dad/Papa in Las Vegas. We are mighty lucky girls to have these great men in our lives! I'm grateful that my girls have such an amazing dad and a Papa and Grandpa that love them dearly.

All I want for Chrithmath...

My dad has always loved pulling our teeth, so when he saw that Veda had two very loose front teeth he got right on it. She was ultra brave and let him go to town.

Here's after the first one came out... wicked!
And number two came out two nights later. I've never seen a cuter toothless girl.