Dance recital

Allie had a min-dance recital the last week in May. She has taken tap and ballet from the same instructor for the last few years but this past year her teacher decided to go out on her own so they are not able to have a formal recital, but they do have a mini one at a local nursing home. It was really cute to see all the classes and I think she had fun getting to perform in front of people. Plus she got to wear make-up which is even better in her eyes. I only have one picture from the actual dance that does not show the other girls face's so it is posted below. Since it was at a nursing home, we had to stand in the back so the residence could sit up front. Hopefully next year they will be able to have a more formal recital because I know she loves her dance classes.

Sprinkler fun

Well since I am doing multiple updates in one night I thought I would combine some from the last week in May. On Monday, memorial day we just did stuff around the house, so that Allie could play with some of her new birthday presents. Later that night we decided to go out back and let the kids play in the sprinklers. So we all go out back and then Heath's mom decided to go back in and get her camera, but some how the door got locked on our way out. So there we were in the back yard with no keys, no phone, and the back gate had a pad lock on it, so we were literally locked in the back yard. I made Heath climb the fence and go to the neighbors to call my parents, unfortunately no one answered at first but my dad got the message and about 30 min. or so later he came over and let us back in. The kids were so excited just playing in the yard it would not have mattered if he had taken 3 hours, but the rest of us were hot. Austin is so funny he does not like to get all the way in the water or even run through it. he will get close enough to feel the water on him and then runs away smiling, so it is hard to get any good pics but I think these are pretty cute.

After we were able to get back in the house we did Austin's birthday presents from Heath's mom since she was not going to be back for Austin's birthday. He got some cute stuff but by far his favorite gift was his very own Hannah Montana microphone. She had run out to target that day to get Austin one after watching him with Allie's the night before, he is too funny with that thing. He just loves to sing and dance and is actually pretty good, so Heath and I wonder if he might have some musical ability one day.

Field Trip- Zoo day

I got to go with Allie's class on their one and only filed trip to the zoo today. We were supposed to go a few weeks back but the swine flu cancelled the trip so I was glad we still got to do it. The kids were so excited to get to ride the bus since none of the We walked around with one of Allie's best friends who's mom teaches Kindergarten at their school, and then 3 other little girls and 2 other parents. The first thing we had to go see was this strange (nasty) little animal called a naked mole rat. Allie's teacher had told them about it and how she just loves it and had told them if they saw it they would get an extra ticket (they get these for doing something special). We also went in this one area where they have zoo staff that will tell you about different animals and let the kids put on little zoo keeper outfits. One of the guys was telling them about the snakes they had their and got one out of it's cage. I think it was a boa, but can not remember for sure but after he told the kids about it they each got to touch it. Allie was not to sure about it but I told he if I did it would she do it and she agreed. I got a shot of her touching it and was so proud she was so brave. We did not get to see all the animals but I think the girls had a great time and were worn out by the time we got home. I know a few of them fell asleep on the bus ride home. Heath worked from home that day so I did not have to worry about Austin.

Allie is the one right in the middle- sorry there are not more pics but they all have her classmates in them.

I Blinked

OK so I wrote this almost 2 months ago (May 15th, and totally forgot to post it because I wanted to add pics- oops, but I think it still rings true ad I am trying to do several posts below

I realized this week that Allie is almost done with her 1st year of school (like less than a month to go) And I thought where did the time go. I swear we were just starting Kindergarten a few months ago. I feel like I just blinked and the 1st year is over and the bad thing is I will have to blink again soon, and several more months will have gone by. How is it that my kids will be 6 and 2 in a few weeks- that is not possible. I feel like they should both still be babies, especially Allie. She has grown up so very much this past year. She is now reading and writing doing math and comes home every day telling me something new she has learned. She has made a ton of new friends and is becoming more independent. She is still my sweet little girl who will not walk across the street without holding my hand but she is growing up and I am seeing her change. Don't get me wrong I love the idea of her learning new things and making new friends but it also feels like she does not need me as much as she used to which as a mom is very hard. I mean she's my girl, my shopping buddy. How can it all be going so fast. She is no longer my baby, and will repeatedly tell me that if I call her that- when did that happen- I think she will always be my baby girl. I have even told her several times lately that I was going to put a brick on her head to keep her from growing to which she reminds me that I can stop her from growing she is going to be in 1st grade soon. Oh time you are going to have to slow down because I am not ready for my girl to grow up this fast. So for the next few months I am going to do my best to enjoy all of my days off with them and to not close my eyes, because we all know what will happen if I do, I will open them and she will be another year older.

Allie's 6

Wow where does time go, it is hard to believe But Allie turned 6 today. She has grown into this smart caring little girl. She always wants to make other feel included part of the group. She often tells me how some of her friends don't like some people in her class but she likes everyone, and I know she does. She is just so caring and loving. She is the best big sister around, she is always helping out with Austin and loving on him. I think sometimes she wants to love on him to much because he gets tierd of being loved on becuase he will scream and push her away but that is my sweet girl. She still says she wants to be a vet when she gets big and loves animals so we will see what the future holds for her. No matter what she does I can't imagine she won't be great at it. I am excited to see how far she had come in the last 5 years and can't wait to see what the future holds. I love you so much baby girl, you are my special girl.

Now back to the birthday fun. This year we did her party at the local pool and Allie even invited 2 boys from her class. This is the first time she has had boys besides my friends kids so that was cute. Since it was al the pool we did a beach theme and I made the cake again which I always like to do. The main cake looked like a huge sand bucket with shells and the cupcakes look liked a beach scene with water, sand and little umbrellas. I am going to post a few pics but can't post to many becuase they rest have other kids in them and I don't like to post pics of other kids without first asking their parents.

Here she is with the main cake. I don't think we got any pictures of the cupcakes - oh well.

We had great weather- it was surprisingly not to hot, but it was windy at the pool so we had a very hard time getting her candle lit and staying lit.

Here is a picture of her opening presents. The ones below show her swimming with her friends and Heath and the kids.

These pictures are from the family party we had later that night back at the house. We grilled and did presents with the family. Sharon, Heath's mom, got Allie this Hannah Montana micraphone that plays music and you can record yourself singing. Well Allie let Austin look at it and he would not let her have it back. He LOVED that thing. He kept singing into it saying "best show, best show" In the last picture below you can see Allie behind one of her gifts and part of Austin is in it and he he is holding the microphone singing into it. The next day we did Austin's birthday presents with Sharon becuase she could not be in town for his birthday so she got him his own Hannah Montana Micraphone. I am sure one day he will hate that I have ut this out these but we all thought it was too funny, and Allie being the great big sister that she is was willing to share her gift with her baby brother.

Field Day

Allie's school had field day today so Austin and I went up to watch. It was so much fun to watch her whole class run around and play together and just have fun. Here are a bunch of pics- they are not the best but I think you can just see the pure joy on her face in them. She was having so much fun. The first picture is of Allie attempting to jump rope. They also did tether ball, tug of war, wet sock races, an obstacle course, hula hoops, and basketball, bean bag toss, snow cones, tattoos, and colored hair spray. As you can see by the pics Austin also had a good time and got a snow cone. I love that I am able to work part-time and be involved in the kids school activities, it is so much fun to see them interact with their friends and grow-up.

1st Popsicle

I had a great day with the kids today. You know one of those days where the weather is great and the kids listen and cooperate and actually play really nice together. We were supposed to finish our refi paperwork today but they are still looking over stuff so that was cancelled. I wanted to get out and let Austin play but was not ready to go to the park yet so instead we went to the mall so he could play and I could do a little shopping- I was pretty good- I did buy a few things on sale at gymboree but they were all on sale for cheap and then I had a 30% off coupon so they were great deals (like an outfit for next fall for Austin for $3.50) I really try not to go into gymboree to much because I could do serious damage but there stuff lasts and washes better than anything else we have so every once and a while it is nice. After the mall Austin had a short nap then t was time to go get Allie. I had decided today would be a perfect day to let the kids play in the sprinkler in the back yard because Allie keeps asking to swim at my mom's but it is still too cold. Allie was really wanting to go to the park again so we did that for about half an hour and then went home which is where the real fun began. I wish I had pictures of them but my camera is dead and I was having so much fun watching them play I did not want to worry about it. I am sure there will be plenty of time for pics again soon. Anyways Allie has this hopscotch mat that hooks up to the hose and shoots out water. So we hooked it up and I let the two of them have at it. The had a complete blast. Austin would just squeal with joy every time the water would get on him and the Allie would jump on the mat making the water splash even more and he would squeal all over again. It was so cute. I will really have to try and tape them next time. After a while in the water I noticed the yard was getting swampy (it was still wet from all the rain we have been getting) so I decided to turn of the water and give them both Popsicles. This was Austin's 1st time and he was so cute. He was not to sure at first but quickly realized it was good. He had red Popsicle all over his mouth, hands, arms, and stomach, not to mention the table. It was great, after the Popsicles I hosed them both off again and we went in to clean up so we could go out to eat for dinner. Anyways it was a great afternoon. I am really looking forward to this summer to having them both home with me on my off days again. I am sure we will be doing this again, and I will try and get pics then.