Sun, sand and a little tan

While the big kids were at school today, Lila and I met some friends to play outdoors.

We started out playing in the sand area.  I was so happy to see how much Lila enjoyed the sand since we are going to Florida for a week this summer.

She shoveled that sand right along side her two buddies, Cowen and Sawyer, but her favorite thing to do with it was bury my feet.

She helped Sawyer load up his dump truck before it was time for us to change into bathing suits.

Miss Thang would have nothing of holding her bud's hand.  When I suggested doing that she just turned around and pranced on down her cat walk!  Such sass!

It was her first encounter with a spray park and she was a little unsure of the whole thing.

Even after she warmed up to the idea of it, this was as close as she got to the water.  She told me that it was, "too cold!" 

We dined alfresco at the Purple Cow and even got to enjoy a purple milkshake for dessert.  Yum!

As we were walking out of the restaurant, all four big kids held hands.  How cute is this?  Lila was next to her new BFF, Teagan, who cracked her up for the entirety of lunch.  I'm not sure what jokes she was telling Lila, but Lila thought that she was hilarious, and helped me out so much.

We had such a fun time with all of you today and look forward to going again sometime soon.

Raingutter Regatta

This week I got to attend not one, but two, Raingutter Regattas.  On Monday night, I went up to school with Miss Madison.

We built this cool sailboat...

and then took it outside to see how well it would sail.  Turns out we're a pretty good team!

After we sailed our ship, we got to go back inside and decorate a cookie.  They were delicious and definitely our favorite part of the night.

Tonight, it was time for J and mom to head up to school.  We began the night just like the one before and made our sailboat.  By this time I was a seasoned pro, so no need to even get out the directions:)  We had our boat assembled and decorated in no time at all.

We took it out to sail the high seas, but it didn't fair so well!  This is what happened whenever Jackson tried to sail it.  Hmmm--did I miss a step??

After a few failed attempts with the boat, this is where I found Jackson.  Possibly the highest place in the playground.  The kid loves to climb on anything.  Ahoy!

At least we were successful at decorating and consuming our cookies:)

After our dessert, we went back to his classroom for my favorite part of the night.  The kids presented their parents with these lovely bouquets, full of crafts that they had worked hard on all last week.  My little guy made me a butterfly pin (on blue paper because he knows that's my favorite color) with his picture in the center, a painted butterfly made out of his hand prints (it says "Happy Mother's Day Love, Jackson" on the back), and a book.  The book is illustrated and written by him.  Impressive! 

Here are few exerpts from his first short story, My Mom:

My mom cooks the best...pasta.
My mom and I like to... throw a baseball.
My mom always says... I love you.
My mom is beautiful because she... wears dresses.
My mom really loves... quiet.
My mom's favorite clothes to wear are... pj's.

How cute is that?!
I am blessed to know him and get to love on him every day.  I should probably do more of it now, while he'll still let me.

Mohawks and Mayhem

Today was Crazy Sock and Hair Day at school for J...



so we searched the house for the craziest socks that we could find.  My halloween and Christmas socks were the big winners, so he wore one of each!



The hair-do was easy to come up with.  This kid has asked for me to put his hair in a mohawk all year long!  Today that dream finally came true.



For a first time mohawk, I think this is pretty impressive! Rock on, J man!



Baby Love

When the big kids were sick this week, we were stuck in the house all day long.

Lila found all kinds of ways to entertain herself.  She gathered up lots of her babies and lined them up very nicely in my bed.  Then she laid down next to them so that she could sing them some lullabies.  Just look at that huge smile.  She was so proud of herself.

Summer, is that you?!

It's already 90 degrees this week.  Summer, is that you, my friend?

Bathing suits?  Check.

Baseball?  Check.

Popsicles with friends? Check!

Yes, I do believe that summer is almost here!

Kindergarten Round-up

It's so hard to believe, but this week it was actually time for Jackson to go to Kindergarten round-up.

Yes, that's me, with a 5 year old almost-kindergartener standing next to me.  Ay caramba!

About to step foot inside his new school.

So glad to see two of his friends from school.  Maybe he'll get in the same class as one of them:)  When they asked for all of the kids to line up and go check out the kindergarten classes, without us parents, I teared up!  It was all I could do to not let a few tears fall.  This was totally unexpected.  I know that the first day of school will be tough, but I wasn't ready to almost cry at round-up! 

Miss Thang

Lila pretty much missed her nap yesterday and did surprising well all day.  She was this close to falling asleep in her high chair at 6:30, but an iced sugar cookie saved the day!

Even though she slept for 11 hours last night, without interruption, she is still struggling today.  All of that tiredness made her sassy side come out and stay out.  She was such a little diva that it just made me laugh.  Here's a few quotes from Miss Thang today.

While driving in the car:
Lila: Don't talk to me.
Me: Why not?
Lila: Just cause.

Lila: I want this snot out. It's buggin' me.

When we got home, she asked me to lay down with her in my bed.  It was only 9:30am.  Think she was tired?  I told her that we could do that and then we snuggled up in my bed and I laid my head (gently) on her shoulder.  She patted me for a minute and then said, "Get off now.  Pat me.  You're too big for me hold."  She was done with laying down after about 30 more seconds, so we left my room in search of something else. 

When she suggested turning on some music, I did.  We danced and sang for a little while and she was all smiles.  A few minutes later, though, no good. 

Lila: I don't want your singing.  That's enough.

Needless to say, she fell asleep at 11:20 with not much fight at all.  Hopefully she'll sleep for a few hours and wake up in a much better mood!