Preschool graduation

Maddie's last day of preschool!!

First up, some songs.

Then a play: the Gingerbread Boy. Afterwards some nursery rhymes were recited.

And finally, a graduate!!

May 12 in 12-or Mother's Day

My little folk "waking" me up together.

Mmm, breakfast-bonus: helpers setting the table.

It's a homemade gift-train :)

From Maddie: a fingerprint flower tea towel

From Eme: a painted tin with paper flower and a cute card/letter

From Davin: a funny "book" he put together

(my favorite: Mom if you were a color, you'd be orange because you're awesome)

From Aidan: an origami Princess Leah

After church-looking good (mostly)

Sunday afternoon at Eric's parents' house, getting ready for dinner

The girls are checking on the progress of the grilling,

while the boys found some cousins to play with upstairs.

The final countdown to dinner, come and get it!

(this was also the last big family dinner before Eric's dad passed away just a few weeks later, I'm glad we were all there, and that I've got this last picture of our "typical" get togethers with him in it)

My Friend Robot

Poor Eme, her "big" end of school year project was due the Monday she got hit with a killer stomach bug.  So she brought her robot, Emma 1000, in on Wednesday when she was feeling better.

Meteor Crater

After spending a less then stellar night's sleep at the hotel, we headed over to Meteor Crater-the last of Eric's Christmas gifts. At first we thought our longsleeves were a bit of an overkill, it was, after all a nice start to our day. But then the infamous wind kicked up, and we were all wishing for windbreakers too.

Walking along the trail with our guided tour.

At the trail's end: the top of Meteor Crater-quite a view!

Eric and Eme enjoying the view (while Aidan was freaking out quietly further back about how close to the edge people were)

Walking up to the observation decks-the opposite side from the tour hike.

Smile girls :)

Maddie's not sure what she wanted to see, she just wanted a turn to look too.

One last look before we headed back down...

April 12 in 12

Lunches-they requested I use the leftover dinner rolls from last night for their sandwiches :)

Every road trip success or failure balances upon the snacks packed: I hope we're well prepared.

Eric took the day off work so he could get some Saturday work done today, I do love that hat.

Maddie had a play day with a good friend (whose parents were off signing on their new home, sniff)

Getting the netting trellis in for the cukes.

These little beauties arrived just before we left! I am so excited, I'm not sure what I'll put in them first. Thank you Ball for celebrating 100 years!

Road Trip! Everyone has a "travel buddy"

On our way, just on the backside of Usery.

We needed to stop and stretch our legs, and find some pine cones. 

Time to look for our geocache.

Found it! We also had to scrounge around the car for some random "treasures" to trade for the better "treasures" in the cache-FUN!

All the little monkeys tucked in for the night-we slept about as well as anyone could with Madeline in the same room, I don't know how Eme does it every night!

District Art Show and Scout Advancement (in one night)

Davin had his cicada selected to be in the district art show.  They select one entry per class, and he was thrilled when we received the letter home telling congratulating him on it a few weeks before.  The funny thing is, his cousin also had a piece selected.  And their school's night was the same night and time as our's, without either of us knowing. Nice job!

Immediately following the art show we had to get over to Aidan's Court of Honor. He had finally earned not one, but two advancements.

Aidan is now a First Class Scout, and has about half of his MB done for is Star.  Now he just needs to wait for the proper amount of time. Good Job kid!

I can't believe my baby is 5!!

My sweet little girl turned 5 a week after we celebrated our 5th anniversary in this house-I can't believe how fast the time has flown.

 To start off her day, Maddie chose her breakfast and got to open one gift. This time it was a lovely outfit for the bear that she for her 4th bday (her constant companion and best friend).

I got to bring in treats and read Maddie's favorite story: Press Here by Herve Tullet (one of the best preschooler books EVER), they also gave her a big group hug :)  After school Maddie and I went out to lunch to Joe's Farm Grill for pizza-hey, she get's $10 worth of free food on her bday, might as well take advantage of it! We had a great date and afterwards headed to Barnes and Noble for a new birthday book and treat.

After school the kids gave her their gifts: Tinkerbell from Aidan and Eme; 

and a Littlest Pet Shop swan from Davin. She was in heaven knowing that they all loved her so much.

 

After dinner it was time to really open some gifts! Maddie even got 5 lovely roses from a dear friend for her 5th bday-she was in heaven over her flowers!

At last, the long awaited apron! She has been wanting her own apron for so very long-long enough that for Christmas she asked for a sewing machine so she could make her own!

A fairy tea set (which also comes with a fairy-sized tea set);

and of course, Periwinkle! Maddie's favorite, she was so happy :)

Nana and Papa brought wonderful new clothes (this is one girly-girl who loves to get clothes), a new book, some more play food sets, and Merida from Brave-that is one happy girl

Time for cake-make a wish.

A family tradition (that I'm stuck with), the first bite of cake-and my kids take really big bites of cake too.

All in all, a great day for a wonderful little girl. We had a lot of fun, and she's already looking forward to kindergarten next year (in fact, she's a little upset that she has to wait until August).