Happy Father's Day!

There's been a lot of celebrating these days, starting with Audrey's birthday, continuing with Corey's birthday and, finally, Father's Day.  Corey ended up spending most of Father's Day with the girls as I went to visit a friend in SF.  I think he actually preferred it that way...which makes me feel a bit guilty because I've been known to spend Mother's Day on my own and loving every quiet minute of it. 

 These girls are beyond lucky to have him.  

He's such an awesome dad!

Last Days of School

The end of the school year was crazy and fun and busy and exhausting and everything in between.  Both girls had end of the year celebrations in their classrooms which seemed to last the entire last week of school.

 Natalie graduated from her Apple Valley School in a cute ceremony and then celebrated the end of a fantastic third grade year with a movie and root beer float party.  Natalie had a great teacher this year and an exceptional year of growth in writing, music, art and math.

 On the last day of school, as if scripted, the luna moths they'd been raising from tiny caterpillars, emerged from their cocoons.  Natalie got to carry one outside and release it as she left for the year.  So cool.

Audrey and I sort of celebrated the last day of school together. I substituted in the kindergarten classroom next door to her for a few hours that morning so that the teacher could attend her son's 5th grade promotion ceremony.  As soon as she returned, I switched my substitute badge for a parent volunteer sticker and joined the kinder celebration as a mommy.  It was a fun, many-hats-worn kind of day. I've really enjoyed substitute teaching, especially in the kindergarten classrooms at our school.

The last day of kindergarten celebration echoed the entire year of kindergarten: awesome!  The kids rotated through stations of bubbles, hopscotch, chalk art, picture frame making, and hallway bowling and ended with a chance to soak four very brave parents with wet sponges.  These four moms were such troopers and dressed for the dunking in masks, floaty tubes, flippers and fins.  A few came up to me afterward and said, "your daughter is a great shot!"  Perhaps we should have signed her up for softball instead of soccer!

What a fantastic way to end a great year!  

Audrey's Littlest Pet Shop Party

I'm about a month behind here, but I wanted to post a few pictures of Audrey's birthday party a few weekends ago.  The girls have become hooked on Littlest Pet Shop toys recently. We purchased a bunch from a teenage girl and inherited a bunch more from a neighbor.  So what started out as a collection of five or ten is now a collection of almost one hundred, seemingly overnight!  The girls can play with these little critters for hours and they love that their hand-me-down Pet Shops are rare and unlike any of the ones available at stores currently.

Of course, Audrey insisted on a Littlest Pet Shop themed birthday party and once Natalie heard that she pretty much ran with it and planned most of the party.  She made the sign, helped me come up with the games and pretty much led the little craft activity

It was a sweltering hot day but the kids had a great time.

 Each guest adopted a little critter and Natalie and her look-alike friend, Brooklyn, helped by giving the pets veterinarian check ups, exercising them on a backyard obstacle course, and helping each kiddo build a little pet house.

  .

 Thank you, Nana, for helping with yet another birthday party.

I think she's only missed two or three!

 Natalie and her look-alike helper, Brooklyn.

Love this sweet, smiley, six year old so much!

Nana & Papa Visit

We enjoyed having Nana and Papa Franc in town a few weeks ago.  Corey took them on a few adventures while they were here but, as I was in the middle of final projects, final exams and birthday party planning,  when he was at work, they helped me hold it together during an exceptionally crazy week.  Thank you, Nana and Papa...I honestly don't know how we would have managed without your help that week!

In addition to lots of trips to school to drop off and pick up kids, we managed to fit in a visit to the Shadelands Museum, a grand old house near our neighborhood that we've driven by at least 100,000 times since living here.  Natalie recently visited during a field trip as part of her Apple Valley Days at school and did so well on the quiz at the end of the tour that she became a junior docent and earned a free admission for her and an adult.  Score!  She would have been a better tour guide than the one we ended up with and was frustrated the whole time that we couldn't just do a self tour as a family.  She wore her Apple Valley dress and the older docents in the house just about ate her up.

Nana and Papa were also able to see Natalie perform in the 3rd grade song flute concert and join Audrey on her playground for recess afterward. Audrey thought it was pretty cool having her grandparents on the playground for a few minutes.  And because they had to leave town a few days before the spring Open House and Art Show at school, Audrey's teacher let her show them all of the art that would be displayed in the kindergarten room that night.  Pretty cute considering the cover of Audrey's journal that would be on display was an entry she wrote about going to their farm.

Thanks for visiting, Nana and Papa!