{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!

Fire and Ice, Ice {Baby}

It's still shock and amazement that we are now less than one week from having baby Abby join our family!

a few more tweaks to personalize the room

ready for their new roles...I couldn't talk Alex into the Biggest Bro shirt!

washing little clothes...we just increased our laundry load!

But even having nine whole months to prepare and adjust to adding another little one to the family...there never seems to be enough time!  And the last week especially seemed to speed up the days to her arrival! 

 

Last Friday, Elizabeth had her first field trip with our MOPS group to the local fire station.  She seems to love big trucks, so this was a really fun trip for her!

 

When we first arrived, we were able to experience a true fire emergency call first hand...one of the trucks left with sirens blaring and lights flashing headed to an electrical fire!

"There it goes!"

The kids were allowed to touch the fire truck, check out all the equipment and have a turn to sit in the driver's seat!

showing the kids how a firefighter looks in all the gear

 

Ellie and I had a fun morning and lots of respect for those who keep us safe and also take the time to talk to us about what they do!

 

That same day began the first of Emily's four performances for the annual Ice Show!  This year marked her fifth show...her very first when she was just 4-years old!

 

It's always the highlight of her year...especially the costume reveal!

great skaters and friends...Emillie, Tiffany, Maddy and Emily

The first routine included all the girls {and boy} in the A level group of skate club.  This is her first year in skate club and she was excited to be in not just one, but two routines...which also meant two dresses!

 

The second routine featured just the four {smallest & cutest} skaters in level A...

 

They did such a great job!  We are so proud of Emily and how far she's come from the very first time she stepped out on the ice!  It is one of her loves and it shows when she performs!  She truly shines!

 

It takes a lot of practice and dedication for a successful show...and as with any sport...it can affect the whole family.  And after a full week of rehearsals and 17 hours spent at the ice rink over the weekend...I am just so thankful to have been a part of a great dedicated group...and that I made it through with Abigail's full cooperation to stay put!

 

{Now, just one more weekend until we are a family of six!  We are so excited, anxious and a bit overwhelmed...but ready to meet Abigail!}