T.G.I.F. Sleep Over

Yay! For Sleepovers! 

ESPECIALLY when you have 6 kids sleeping together in a big pile.

Young to Older: Kai, Rae, Via, Red, Avi, & Mia

It is definitely special (on my heart) that I got to give my friends a date night and the kids got a sleep over. Score for everyone. Especially the kids.

Peter and I worked together back in Berkeley, California. Our families obviously became very close.

We moved out to Washington D.C. (I know, shame on us) and it changed how much we obviously got to see each other. Then the best news ever-- they were moving out to Pittsburgh, PA where he is a student. Woot! That means that they were closer to us and a good excuse to see them!! Although, my sister, who lives in Texas, would love me to go just to see the Steelers football team. I go for my friends. :D

We were very blessed to be able to spend a very low key day with them Friday.  Started off by doing an afternoon in the park, even as cold as it was. 

Kai and Rae loved playing together. Kai was just super stoked to have other kids around. It is amazing to think that these two were both University Village babies and now they are toddlers!

The boys-- Avi, Kai and Red enjoying soccer. Or as they say in most the world, football. They were playing so much that they starting kicking the ball onto the ramp you see that is above, that was far away. They could not even hear us calling them at one point. Of course, this is the "My-friend-is-here-what-did-you-say-again?" selective hearing syndrome. LOL

The girls had fun and Kai loved being the center of attention- literally. Peter sporting his Cal wear, of course. No other way to represent Cal on the East Coast.

 

Anastasia walking back with the girls, who were so excited they were inseparable.

 One of the best pictures yet- I love this picture of the kids, walking on the way back to our place. So excited to be getting from the cold and also just to be able to walk together.

After Avi had his cub scout meeting, and Red got to see him rank- we walked a mile home.  The kids did an amazing job, not one peep. Via got pushed in the stroller by Mia and I got the toddlers. Kai fell asleep so fast. I now think Red wants to do cub scouts. What an influence. (And don't worry, we are good influence- I am proud to say our pack is open to everyone.) I just wish that Red were here to join and grow up in with Avi. They would have so much fun together.

We got home. The boys played games. The girls has their own spa going. Finger painting by me, foot massages with Ben speaking French to them. And then a movie to follow by sleep. 

We definitely don't see them often enough, never know what the future holds, especially since they are moving back to the West Coast soon.

What a beautiful end to a great day :D

Cause to Celebrate the Weekend!

This weekend is unique. 

Not because my kids are very sick and we all have fevers, nope.    

Not because our weather is finally screaming fall (and decent).    

 Not because that was the best family picture, but this was the best when we were at the Takoma Neighbourhood Block Party this summer- I think Ben is practicing his crossed eyed look here! Ha ha. 

It is something we have been awaiting for so long! Something that gives more stability, something that gives reason to our recent chaos. Something that finally makes more sense.

It is OFFICIAL! 

Ben has been offered a job: moving his job from a part time temporary job, with no benefits, doing Legal Advocacy to Senior Manager, Legal Advocacy-- making the same as he does now hourly (but now it is salaried) and with benefits (mainly medical- even though it is still a big bite to have it, it is still a must have for a family of 5).  

What does he do? He helps field calls that come in from all around the country in regards to legal advice due to diabetes and their work/school. He helps try to work things out before legal action is required and helps them know what to do if they do have to go the legal route. He does not represent anyone but is able to help every day people. As well, he helps do education to families and schools about their rights and their responsibilities. And of course, the is the mundane work as well.

We could not be happier and I could not be more proud of him!

Avi's First Day of 1st Grade!!

Today is the first day of first grade at K12 CAPCS (Community Academy Public Charter School). I am so proud of him. It was a rough start to the day but he did it! 

He started the day by picking out his favourite pair of pants and of course his favourite team shirt (which I believe Nana and Papa gave him), the San Francisco Giants! He is ready to go! 

The hand motion he is doing, he says, is making the sign of his school. Nice!

Today he did History, Language Arts, Phonics, Math, P.E. & Science. He will soon start Art, Music, and French- ooh la la!
Did well on all his subjects and tests. Today's favourite is Language Arts.  

He learned about the globe and how to spot the continents and name them. Also, he coloured pictures of animals and identified which parts of the world they came from- you can see the picture at the top. He was so proud to show me where California was and where he thought his Nana & Papa lived. And his friend Enzo, who was in Brasil for the past year, who will be starting 1st grade in a few weeks in California. Oh California, we miss you. He drew North America and Australia as his favourite parts of learning about the continent.

Take me to your Ruler! (Don't you love the name?) For science, he learned about centimeters. He got to measure things, such as shoes, books, picture frame, in both centimeters and in his own units, using paper clips. He called his units "nche". We figured out "nche" was so super secret no one would know how to measure that way, so centimeters were the way to go. If you are wondering how it's suppose to sound, "nche" sounds like knee-chi. :)

For Language Arts, he read a Japanese story called "The Tongue Cut Sparrow". It was about an old couple who loved this little sparrow and took care of it. It in turn sang beautiful songs every morning for the couple. The mean neighbour cut the birds tongue out and the bird left. The couple was sadden and try to find the bird. They found the bird and his family and the bird was happy to see them. In return, he offered two baskets to choose from. A large one and a small one. They chose the small one and when they got home they opened it and it was laden with treasures (silk and gold). The mean old lady saw this and decided in greed to sought the bird out. When she got their she chose the large basket and when she got home, she was chased away by the insects and bugs and was never seen again.
Such a cool story to not share.
 He got to draw his favourite part and he drew when the nice old couple opening the small basket laden with treasure. 

All in all, Avi, You DO Rock! Mama and Daddy are SO proud of you! You definitely did well today son! We can't believe you are growing up so fast! 

All In A Name

So, someone asked me the question why our blog is B2@V2 Fam Bam.

When we had Avi- which is his nickname, his name starts with a B. It quickly became B2V in 2006.

Avi, or Benavi- it was important to have a meaningful name. This means, the son of my father, or the son of promise. He definitely has lots of promise- he is definitely a mini-Ben, brains and all.

Avi when he was a baby.

A little more than one and half years later, we welcome Via into the world- It became B2V2 in 2007.

Via or Via'Shalaine- means the way of the light. For sure this girl is full of light and not just because she has some of the brightest hair around! The funny story behind that, was that we were not thinking, okay, V names are a must so we can balance out the B's and the V's. Ben grandfather, Papa Rex, called us and joked that we were going to name our daughter VaVonka, just so we can have another V. Well, VaVonka did not sit well at all, plus it was a joke, so the name was out the window, but the idea was not. We ended up inverting my mum Shavonia's name and Ben's grandmother's name Elaine and put them together- for her full name.

Via in the hospital with NaNa and PaPa.

Three years later, Kai, which is his nickname, his name starts with an A, came. So it became what is known today as B2@V2 in 2010.

Kai or Amakai- means love as deep as an ocean, or endless love. We decided on this literally minutes before we were suppose to leave the hospital. We had been tossing around names for such a long time and when he was born we had such a hard time. I liked Amakai the best. It seemed to fit him, amorphous- something that can not be defined. Plus, he is a water baby.

Kai in the hospital. 

That is our family's logo for you!

Auntie Monica's Surprise

Auntie Monica was awesome!

She sent the toys the kids left behind when we saw them last- which was August 2011, before coming on our trek to D.C. That feels like so long ago- it is hard to believe that we have lived in D.C. for a year now! 

Let us just say, they LOVED it! 

Thank you Auntie Monica!

Kai with the tractor!

Avi with his tractor!

Via with the Halloween Kitty!