Getting the Jump on Summer!

 

  This first year of Preschool just seemed to fly by!  It really seems like just yesterday I took this first picture and was so nervous about how nervous HE would be...and then he just walked through the door and said "See ya Mom" like he'd been going to Preschool his whole life!  The picture below of his last day is such a true reflection of how he's grown.  He has gotten bigger physically and has learned so much as well as made such good friendships.  He calls his best buddies Landon and Levi his "crew" and talks about how they will all be New Prague Police officers together one day.  He will be 5 soon and is so sweet and responsible.  He showers all by himself now and is starting to sound out words and do some reading!

And Sissy has grown just as much!  Lots of big things happened to her this school year like learning to use the big girl potty and getting dressed by herself.  She can say anything she wants to and thinks everything should have a mommy and a daddy and loves real and pretend babies.  She is also very fond of Daniel Tiger and can sing most of the Transformers theme song thanks to her big brother. 

This is Jodi Tupy.  She was new to our school this year and although we were sad to lose our former teacher Miss Britt, Jodi has been a great fit for us!  She is so loving and kind and the kids adore her.  I get a chance to visit with her during Sister's class and I am always left with a good feeling that my children are well cared for.

Towards the end of the school year there were some fun activities such as a field trip to a play called "I Love You Stinky Face" (I didn't go but Peanut assured me it was hilarious) and a visit from 2 fire trucks!

Miss Jodi invited Sister to come join in and that made Peanut so happy.  I am always so touched at how he genuinely wants her to share in the fun.  They are quite the team those two!

After school let out our good buddy Noah had his annual end of the year cook out and we were so happy to attend.  Burgers and smore's and  lots of open space to run. 

And then the next weekend we went back over for his birthday party!

 When it hasn't been raining we've spent our time outside.  Although Best and I are anxious to have these huge mulch piles moved, the kids are having lots of fun with them.  We scored some Tonka trucks at a garage sale and Peanut had a whole crew working in no time!  He makes up elaborate stories while he plays and I'm always fascinated by his imagination.  This day he was the foreman and he told me one of the workers didn't show up.  I asked what was wrong with the worker and he said it was actually his wife named "Seiza".  She was sick.  He said she usually drove the small dumptruck.  He went on to explain that she had attempted to drive the big dumptruck but had wrecked it so now she could only drive the small one.  When I asked later on if she was feeling better he said, "I don't know.  I'd better go kick her...I mean knock on the door."  I kid you not.  At least he corrected himself...So he goes to knock on the pretend door and returns to tell me she is still sick but she has one more day and if she doesn't show up tomorrow he will fire her.  Um, that could kind of make things uncomfortable at home if you fire your wife...but I didn't mention that.  So later we're eating our pretend lunch and I ask what he has.  He says ham and cheese.  I ask "Did Seiza make that for you?"  He looks at me square in the eye with a serious face and says, "I make my own sandwiches."  OK, got it...

Sissy loves the flowers but has learned the hard way about thorns.  Unfortunately when I tried to warn her to stay out of the rosebush I worded it incorrectly saying, "Watch out! There are stickers in there!" Well...the only kind of stickers she knows about are the ones the cashier at the grocery store gives you to put on your shirt...uh oh...bad mom.  I felt so bad as she climbed farther in to look for the stickers I had promised and got poked with thorns.  But she has forgiven me and now we collect the petals on the ground to put in our bath and maybe we will make some potpourri.

 

 

We've had a few playdates and here are the kids mixing up some chocolate chip banana muffins to share with some friends from brother's preschool class. 

 

 

 

 We also attended our town's Memorial parade and it was such nice weather while we were there!

We've even already been to the zoo twice!  This summer the dinosaurs returned.  They were here one summer when Peanut was about Sister's age and he was scared of them but now he loves them!  Sister just asked me matter of fact "They not eat me, right Mommy?" and when I assured her they wouldn't she waltzed right into the exhibit and didn't look back.  Now that's trust folks.  Smile.

 

And the bird show is back at the outdoor amphitheater which we love because it's a great place for our picnic lunch.  So far we haven't had any birds snatch our food.  Summer also means the return of Coconut, the 18 year old sulpher crested cockatoo that we've become quite fond of.

 

Then we come back to our own nature center and do some backyard birding.

 And record what we see in our bird journals.

 

 I think one of my favorite memory making times so far at the new house was our first campfire.  I had wanted to do this for so long and having the space to do it surrounded by our own pine trees really made it so scenic.  I am looking forward to many more of these nights!

And our first official summer sport is T-ball!  Best is coaching and I am so happy he has offered to do it.  He is so great with the kids and knows how to help them but keep it fun at the same time. 

My boys are the most talented and best looking on the field obviously...

 

And lucky for Sis there just happens to be a playground nearby!

She is on the big girl swings now.  And she says "Faster Mama, Faster!"  when all I can think about is how fast it's all going.  And how I wish I could slow it down.  But I know I can't.  All I can do is love each moment and watch them grow.  So that's exactly what I'm doing.  Have a great week friends and family!