Memorial Day

We headed to Idaho for the long weekend. On our way we stopped in Paul, Idaho to visit Mike's great aunt Barbara. She is always so sweet and funny.

 Ahhhh... home.

The girls headed straight for kitty Ozzie. She had been in many prayers and conversations leading up to the moment.

The kids all in their designated places eating mac n' cheese. Don't mind that Ty is a pink ballerina!

Ty was initiated to a favorite pass time on the wood floors.

Saturday was rainy so we mostly stayed indoors doing glitter toes and coloring, but later we went out to dinner and then Dad treated us to a night at Skateland!!!! The sights and smells took me right back to our 5th grade field trip when I skated with my crush, Chris Scott. Not a thing has changed!

Ella was a bit slippery and silly, but I was proud of her for not being scared.

Maddie has had lots of practice on her own roller skates and took off like a champ!
 

I'm doing it Grandma!!!

Practicing for shoot the duck... or at least trying to bend over in my jeans. :)

Ty couldn't come out with us but he was a good sport hanging utt on the sidelines.

Dad was a trickster, going sideways and backwards! It was definitely a memory maker for everyone.

Some other favorites and G&G's are the marble track and the floor puzzles.

 

Sunday night finally cleared and warmed up, so Grandma went out to check on her seedlings. 

The rest of us enjoyed the beautiful yard and sunshine.

 

 Love this man in the fence.

Grandma found this cool old book (Harry the Dirty Dog) and Grandpa was excited to read it to the girls, but first he had to smell it. 

Memorial Day was bright and warm so we spent most of the day outside! (Mike didn't get the memo to wear red, white, and blue.)

Maddie toughened her fingers on rose thorns and rode the tire swing.

They blew bubbles and rode their scooters. There is something to be said about a finished, fenced back yard where kids can roam and play without constant supervision!

Grandma & Grandpa planned a weanie roast for us before we headed home.

Fire burned hot dogs, Mom's famous potato salad and baked beans... doesn't get much better than that to kick off summer!

 

These faces may look a little worried about the bumpy brown stuff on the marshmallows, but believe me they were happy when they realized how gooey and delicious they were inside!

There is nothing better I can think of than going to my childhood home and spending time with my parents. It still feels like a place where all is well with the world, and I feel re-aligned and centered when I leave. Just wish I could stay a lot longer.... but back to real life, I suppose.

Graduation Dos

Maddie had her second preschool graduation on Friday. Ms. Jen has been equally amazing and Maddie loved every minute.

This class also donned caps and gowns. As darling as I think it is, Mike kept saying, "Now what does she have to look forward to? She already got cap, gown, and diploma." But that's not what is important to Maddie... she has everything to look forward to because she loves to learn!

 

Ms. Jen provided Maddie with lots of creative time and encouraged her in her dreams to be an artist when she grows up. She also got gave us lots of tools, books, and time to get Maddie reading! She empowered us to dive in and now Maddie is a reading whiz!

Here's her awesome teachers, Ms. Jen and Ms. Janelle, who also happen to be our across the street neighbors. We weren't sad about leaving this school because we still get to see them all the time.

And Ella is up next! She is so excited to go to Ms. Jen's next year!

Yay for Ty!

Tyler climbed a step for the first time today. Not sure I'm excited about it, but I sure love this look like he was pretty happy with himself.

This boy's birthday is in less than two weeks! He may be walking by then... he absolutely loves holding my hands, and sometimes walks on his feet even though his hands are still on the floor, like a bear walk. It's pretty cute.

Friday Fun

Maddie had her preschool graduation on Friday (from one school, the other one is this week!). The theme was patriotic, so they made their own flag shirts.

 

They started with the Pledge of Allegiance, then did the Month Macarena with star shades.

Maddie's nursery rhyme was Mary Had A Little Lamb. The picture was shaky and I can't get the video to upload, but she was so darling!!! She was really bashful and scared at Christmastime when they talked in the microphone, but this time she was brave and clear. It has really helped her confidence!

Here's the little graduate getting her diploma from Ms. Tina! She was beyond amazing, and we are really going to miss her!

Seeing her like this made her seem so grown up. I was so filled with pride and gratitude for my little girl. She is becoming a beautiful, thoughtful, responsible girl. Ms. Tina said she will truly miss Maddie's sweet little heart.

These are her two favorite friends, Alex and Karlee. It will be fun to go to kindergarten with them.

I almost forgot to include pics from her preschool party after their program practice. They went to a park and did science experiments...

...had snowcones...

...and did a water fight!!

The water balloons lasted about 2 seconds, but after that many of the kids kept filling up cups.

Ms. Tina was brave to keep giving them water--most of it ended up on her! By the end she was soaked head to toe. What a good sport!

After graduation, Mike took the girls to the Fathers & Sons campout. Maddie remembered going last year and got so excited about it that Ella wanted to go too. We figured they can go until Tyler is old enough. Maddie is still quoting our Bishop for saying they were the "roses among thorns."

Apparently Mike didn't sleep much with Ella in his sleeping bag, but I had a quiet and peaceful evening for reflection and reading. It was great!!