Memorial Day Weekend

Every year we spend Memorial Day with Jeremy's family. We attend a memorial service in the morning to honor the troops, and then head out to Grandma and Grandpa's house to play with cousins, have a cookout and celebrate people who have a June birthday in the family. Audrey really enjoys playing with Hannah, and her older cousins, Andy and Ellie.

This year, we had a neighborhood fish fry to attend on Memorial Day, night. I don't have any pictures of the fish fry or bags tournament, which is what the adults participated in.

Audrey and Hannah eating patriotic doughnuts

Miss Allie. She's wearing a dress that I wore when I was 3.

Miss Ava, three and a half months, in a red, white and blue dress that you can't see....

Sarah

Audrey's new hair

FINALLY! She agreed to cut her hair. Wanting to have long hair like Rapunzel has lost it's glimmer and the daunting task of brushing through her long hair every morning, resulting in screams and cries, has finally changed her mind. She was begging me to get her hair cut. I have heard of conditioner  and de-tangler, people. No matter how much of that stuff I put in her hair, she still manages to rat it up.

I told her she had to wait until after her dance recital in May, and we'd have to check with the Bride, who asked her to be a flower girl in July. The day after the recital she was begging to get it cut. The Bride approved so I made her an appointment.

I'm pretty sure the best part of the whole experience for her was getting a ring pop at the end (given by the salon). She for sure looks older to me. And I'm holding my breath that tomorrow morning when we brush her hair, it's pure bliss. No screams. No tears.

Before

Before

Sarah

Last day of Preschool

I cannot believe that Audrey's last day of preschool was today. February--May really flew for me. Maybe it was because I was a little busy adjusting to life with three, but it truly was a blur! Today her class met at McDonalds and played. They got their end of the year books and it was really neat to look back and see how much Audrey's changed from day one.

Audrey loved preschool. She will miss it this summer but will go back in the fall for one more year before heading to Kindergarten (tear).

We originally debated sending her this year. This was her first of two years of preschool.  I don't think I look back and say "Oh my goodness I'm glad we sent her."  I certainly don't regret it, but in the end, I really don't think it was a right or wrong decision either way. I think her life was enriched for going. She met a lot of new friends, learned a little about friendships, and certainly did more crafts and activities than she would have if she'd been home. It was fun for her and she learned more socially than I could have taught her here. Honestly, I was surprised how much she already knew academically--colors, numbers, letters, and the skills she had already developed that they assess at parent/teacher conferences. It was easy for me to piggy back on what she was learning at school when we did activities and celebrated holidays here, and that was nice. They had "days" where they learned about butterflies and caterpillars and that included letting their little butterflies that they'd watched in class go outside and fly away. I got to witness that and it was fun to see the kids so excited. That's something, for instance, I'm glad she got to experience. I liked the curriculum and her teachers--they were great. I think we as parents learned more about Audrey observing her outside of our back yard that will help us parent her in the coming years. On the flip side of all that, it made life here more stressful than it would have been, especially February--May, if we'd kept her home. But that's just something I can look back and say--yes, I successfully got her to preschool in the snow, wind and rain with her little sisters in tow. 

Looking at the comparison photos below I cannot believe how much she's changed in one year! Holy cow. And how odd is it that on the first and last day of school she's wearing the only shirts in her closet that aren't pink, her favorite color!

Audrey with Mrs Schulz and Mrs Trumbell

Sarah

a dress fitting

Audrey and Allie have been asked to be flower girls this summer in my cousin Abby's wedding. We asked Grandma S to do alterations on Allie's dress because it was too long. She came over this evening so she could take measurements. If tonight was any indication of how hard it's going to be to keep Allie still for hair and pictures the day of the wedding........well, let's just say it's going to be challenging. This is the second time that the girls have tried on the white dresses. Each time I made sure their hands and faces were super clean and this time I even gave them baths and kept them inside for two hours before putting them on. And of course, my Allie couldn't stay clean for just a minute. She found a lone marker (because of her earlier antics they have all been put up) and colored all over her hands, arms and legs. (sigh)

Luckily, it was a washable marker that she found. 

I hope they choose to do pictures early  the day of the wedding! 

Sarah

Mother's Day

Blood and Vomit. 


Nothing says Happy Mother's Day quite a bloody nose and puke all over me and the family room carpet by 7:00 a.m. That proceeded the formula vomit from Ava later that day that soaked me, her and her bouncy seat. Just a typical day for a Mom. Oh and did I mention my washer isn't working??? If you smell something sour and gross, it's probably my laundry room. I thought we may have to make a trip to the ER too, but alas, we dodged the bullet there. What caused Allie's bloody nose? Not listening to Mom, of course! Audrey and Allie were doing "backflips" over the arm of the couch. Even though a minute before I had told them to stop, they continued and Audrey didn't wait long enough before she flipped over backwards and landed on Allie's nose.

homemade breakfast

My husband tried to make up for the fact that he/we didn't call early enough and get a reservation for Sunday brunch. He attempted to make homemade hash browns, fried some bacon, made an awesome omelet and remembered fruit. I am happy to eat Sunday breakfast in my PJ's at home with a hot cup of (good) coffee. It sure beats the stress of making sure Allie doesn't knock the table over at the restaurant, or get gluten all over my plate of food. It was however interrupted by the said bloody nose incident, above.

a vase of flowers from Audrey

Starbucks gift card from Allie

no cooking all day long

mimosas on the patio after church--made me wish for more mimosas, warm breezes and bright sunshine, with the only interruption is my husband, offering to get me another drink. Maybe a trip to Jamaica isn't too far away...

I love my girls. And there's nothing I hope for more than to see with a (sound) mind  their children's children's children grow up and marry and have kids. Three dramatic girls under the age of five are at times hard to manage and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tired most of the time, but I wouldn't trade these young years when Allie is still content to let Audrey read her a book and Audrey makes up new imaginary friends every day and they both LOVE to make Ava laugh. Although the day I don't spend the majority of our budget on formula, diapers and overnight pull-ups, will be a happy day indeed.








Sarah

Dance Recital 2012

Audrey did a wonderful job today at her second dance recital. Her class danced to "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. Her dance was classic and elegant. (well, as elegant as it gets when you're 4 and in ballet). I would have said her favorite part was twirling around on her toes. She said though it was when she smiled and pointed her toes to the side.

Last year I was anxious she wouldn't even go out on stage. This year I was afraid Allie would want to run out on stage. Allie's class (2-3 year olds) learned the dance that the another class the same age performed, "Good Ship Lollipop" but before we enrolled the parents opted out of the recital. Halfway through watching this other class perform today my mom taps my shoulder and I turn around to see Allie, sitting peacefully on Grandpa's lap, doing the motions right along with them. Even though we tried to explain it to her, I don't think she understood why she wasn't out there, and I think it made her a little sad. Afterwards she told me she wanted to be in the recital like her big sister next year.

Audrey says she wants to do dance again next year. But I'm not sure she really loovvveeesses it. She doesn't understand she needs to go to rehearsal during tech week instead of playing outside with her friends and doesn't love to put her hair in a bun or wear make-up. It's probably just her age. We'll see what next year brings.

this is supposed to be first position....or their interpretation of it at least. 

Audrey took her Polly Pockets to rehearsal and they were a big hit as the girls waited their turn.

Sarah

Oh Allie.

She's always coming up with creative ways to entertain herself. Recently she looped a Dora jump rope around the garbage can and proceeded to pull with all her might to try and drag it across the concrete driveway. Later, I caught her grabbing handfuls of pea gravel (muddy pea gravel) and loading it into her outside shopping cart. She was on her way to the back yard when I stopped her. Oh the irritating mess that would have made. Mud, grass, water, dirt have her name written all over them. She is for sure, a hands on type of girl.

Sarah

Dance Recital Pictures

 Tonight Audrey had pictures for dance. Full make-up, full costume and a totally hot day, so her cheeks are a little rosier than normal.

Sarah