Summer is Here!

this has truly seemed like the l o n g e s t school year in history!  with all the snow days/make-up days...we didn't think the last day would ever come!

...but it finally did!

 i think we were all just a little excited!  

i am so proud of both Alex's and Emily's accomplishments this year!  they've grown so much right in front of my eyes...in shoe size and maturity!  it sure makes for a proud momma...especially since i can't take all the credit for who they are becoming.  with so many changes this school year--taking a back seat most of the time to a new baby, to elizabeth's toddler demands, and adjusting to all the chaos of a major house remodel...they've proven that they can handle it all and come out on top!

alex receiving his award for academic excellence-honor roll!

alex's award for showing responsibility throughout the year in his 5th grade job as gate keeper - emily's award for receiving all a's!

f i n a l l y giving into a nap...after a barbie destruction and a few major minor meltdowns-she should receive an award for most stubborn!

evening swim--starting to feel like summer!

the last day of school tradition - alex and emily love to have their shirts signed by friends and staff at school!  it sure was a great year!

be back next year--my 5th and 6th grader!  {gulp!}

these two have also grown up during the year!  abby's not so much a baby any more...a bittersweet time!  she had a great one-year checkup {13 months} weighing in just over 18 pounds!  she's growing well, and just needs some motivation to begin crawling, pulling up and onto walking!  she's getting stronger each day...

elizabeth is a great big sis...never far from abby!

happy just to be sitting on the floor surrounded by her sibs!

so happy for longer summer days and nights!  we started off the summer with a visit to grandma's house!  we don't get to visit as much as we would like...but when we do, the kids are always spoiled!

emily spent the first weekend of summer with grandma--manicure/pedicure, new shoes and eating out!

alex and i had a fun date shoe shopping too {fun for me, not for him!  he finally let me take him to buy new crocs...since he has worn the same pair of shoes every day since the first day of school!} dinner {chile's} and a movie {godzilla}

picking out jibbitz with alex--my favorite, world's best brother 

summer sure goes fast!  we are looking forward to no homework, no schedules, late nights, lazy mornings and spending lots of time together making memories!  

grilled cheese, pizza burger, marshmallow cokes and ice cream at musillami's

so happy for summer!

{May} Day

We are counting down the days until summer {un}officially begins... until the last day of school... until no more homework... until no more alarm clocks... until we hit the beach... until the only thing on our schedule is time with family...campfires...swimming...evening walks!

May has gone so quickly...starting the month with Abby's first birthday...closing with end-of-year school projects and programs and finding a place for all the papers, notebooks and 'things' that come home in the backpacks!

new shoes...they just won't stop growing!

Love seeing these two littles play and love each other!  Elizabeth can be such a good big sister...maybe just a little bossy!

sharing a cup of coffee with Emily in the morning...mostly lots of creamer and whipped cream...but just the way I like it!

Emily has really improved her volleyball game!  She loves playing and it has been a fun sport for her in the Spring!

first-year preschool graduate!

We've been excited to start the swimming season now that the pool is up and running!  With the house a mess and covered in sawdust during the remodel...it's been a nice escape into the back yard for swimming and s'mores around the campfire during the nicer weather!

letting the fire die down as the sun sets...a gorgeous night!

A definite sign that it's May!  Race Day has always been a tradition for Dan since he was little and he has taken Alex and Emily since they were little!  Looking forward to continuing the 500 festivities with Elizabeth and Abby too!

up close and personal with Kevin Gregory from channel 6 news!

End-of-the-school-year excitement is getting close...

Elizabeth and I surprised Emily with Subway for lunch one day!

Alex and his classmate were chosen as one of the groups to present their science project at the all-school Science Expo!  They did a great job!  So proud of them!

5th and 6th grade Field Day!  Alex had a lot of fun with his friends and I had a lot of fun watching him in the sack race, the relay and the class marathon!  He does not enjoy running that much, but I was so proud of his effort and excitement to give his best!  

run Alex run!

We were able to escape to a cabin in Brown County for a night and enjoy the water park!  We love spending time eating at the lodge, hiking and skipping rocks here, so any chance we get...we go!

water baby!

I ended another year in MOPS...next year will mark a decade!  What?!  It's hard to believe that's how old I am many years I've developed great friendships and been blessed by so many other wonderful moms!

We were so blessed to end this month with celebrating with family celebrating my {2nd}cousin Taylor's high school graduation.

It was a fun day with cousins, aunts, uncles and Grammie!  The kids loved catching fish and crawdads in the creek and playing on the playground!

After the party, we spent more time at Aunt Nicole's house and the highlight of the day became shooting a root beer can with Uncle Randy's bb gun!  It was a lot of fun!

May seemed like a blur...busy, fun and best of all...memorable!

Welcome June!