May Recap

With summer right around the corner May was a busy month wrapping things up from the school year and also getting the itch for the end of the school year.  Church school, wrestling and soccer both ended for the year and we loved the experiences that each of those brought.  The beginning of May started off with some serious May Gray but it was actually a nice change and nobody seemed to mind knowing that summer is quickly approaching.  Here is a recap of the month:

Brian got us tickets to Frozen on Ice through his work so we enjoyed a girls night out on May 4th.  It was such a fun night and we loved watching the girls excitement and the show was actually really entertaining for us as well!  They absolutely loved it all though!! 

We had a few chilly days/weeks at the beginning of May but nothing that stopped us from doing anything.  One Tuesday the girls asked to have a picnic lunch at the park after speech so we bundled up and off we went. Love spending my mornings with these sweet girls.

The next day it was still chilly and actually a little rainy but the little girls and I braved Stroller Strides in the drizzle and then stuck around for the playdate where they made Cinco de Mayo cookies.

I sometimes dread Thursday mornings since we spent over 2 hours at the Swim and Tennis club with back to back dance lessons but I remind myself that this is a good time to spend uninterrupted play time with the girls and they love having the separate 1 to 1 time with Charlotte so it all works out well.  

Even though I just said it was a little chilly at the beginning of May, by the 7th we had all of the neighbors over for an after school swim so the "cold" spell didn't last long.

Charlotte is really showing an interest in going to the bathroom on the little potty so we've been going with it and letting her do it.  Basically when we are home she is naked most of the time and will go by herself on the potty.  She always comes to find me after and gets the biggest smile on her face and cheers for herself after I congratulate her.  She even pooped for the first time this month (see picture below ;) Daddy and Joseph said that doesn't counts as a real poop (just a dingleberry) which they had a good laugh about but we're counting it as her first poop on the potty!!  

With all of this potty business it means we have a naked Charlotte for the majority of the day which results in fun ensembles such as the one below!

And when she does wear clothes she sometimes accessorizes!  

This picture from soccer made me laugh-the girls are such troopers for the games and I think by the end of the season they may have had it!  This was from the last day of the season on the tournament day where Joseph's team ended up playing 3 games so we were there for most of the morning.  

Joseph had a great season with a really nice group of boys. 

The night before Mother's Day Rich and I went to the Padres game with our friends, Lynn and Tom. Rich's company gets season tickets for work and the seats are amazing...less than 10 rows from the field!  I wore my uggs that night so it is just crazy to think how cold it was for May!  We had such a fun night though and it was nice to get to a game!

Daddy took the kids to the Westwood Club's 50th birthday party celebration for a few hours on Saturday May 19th and they had a great time.  Rich said it was really impressive and they just all had a blast.  I spent the morning with Charlotte buying dance tickets for the girls' recital and then ran Lake Miramar so missed out on the fun but am glad that they got to go.

Daddy took the older three kids out one Saturday to run some errands, which included a haircut for Joseph, and I received these sweet pictures along their way.  A trip to Home Deport normally also means a stop at the hot dog stand out in the parking lot.  Daddy is the best!  

Since Joseph made the all star team we had one more week of practice after regular season was over.  Daddy met us at practice so he could stay with Joseph and I could go home and get dinner started but not without throwing Charlotte in the air a few times before we left.  

On May 18th. the girls had a community performance at Midland Elementary School.  They were so excited for it and it was a perfect opportunity to practice their dance before their recital next month.  Unfortunately Joseph's all star soccer game was at the same time so he and Daddy were unable to make it but Aunt Laura, Syd, Cole, Aunt Hollie, Aunt Lindsay and Finn all stepped up and came to support the girls.  We are so blessed to have our wonderful family.  The girls did great and they both brought tears to my eyes watching them perform.  

I seriously can not handle Julia's cuteness in this doggy dance!  She has totally gotten into it and her little doggie face, especially at the end of the dance when they are supposed to stick their tongues out just gets me every time.  So stinkin' cute.  

Joseph really worked hard this season at soccer and made the all star team.  We are so proud of him!! The all star team only played one game on a Friday night (of course the same Friday night that the girls had their dance performance) but they won and he loved it so it was a great experience for him.  

Charlotte has been loving being pushed around in this stroller lately and I crack up every time they come walking by!!

This came home with Joseph one day this month and I just loved it.  

It was Red Nose Day at the end of May at Westwood to support the children's hospital so this is how these three arrived at school pickup that afternoon.  

This is our last month for Stroller Strides and although it has had a very different feel than Baby Boot Camp from Texas I am thankful for what the class has provided and the people that I have met.  I'm looking forward to trying something new in the summer but have enjoyed being a part of the group for the past two years.  The girls have grown up so much since we began and of course I have loved (most days) having them work out with me!  

Sweet Jules made herself some pretty cool shoes one day.

Purple week for awareness for MPS for our buddy Will was in the middle of the month so we all wore our purple one day and sent a picture to Will.  We love being able to support him and the Byers' family from a distance still.

The kids made a fort out of the breakfast table one afternoon and asked me to leave it so the next morning Julia and Charlotte hung out under it and had breakfast there once the big kids went to school.  

Charlotte alaywas wanting to be like a big kid and looking mighty big with her backpack and necklace on.

This little girl just loves dance class and for the past 5 weeks has been obsessed with this Minnie tutu.  She insists on wearing it every week and although it wouldn't be my first choice as to what to have her wear to dance I just can't say no to this sweet face so here she goes wearing it for the fifth week in a row...

Morning shenanigans with these two!

Love that the girls play so well with our neighbor, Julia.  We are so lucky to have the neighbors that we do on our street.  

She requested a picture of herself.  

On this day, too! 

Hanging outside with Charlotte one afternoon while the big kids are playing.  

 Although the beginning of the month wa sa bit chilly we were in the pool pretty regularly by the end and all of our new pool toys from the Easter bunny are a big hit!!  

She is ready to go.  She LOVES the water and has no problem getting in by herself, jumping in, putting her face under water, going down the slide...all of it!!

We finished out the month with a fun Memorial Day celebration but that will be the next post.  

Happy May!! 

Mother's Day!

So, so, SO thankful to be the mother to my four biggest and best blessings.  The days are full but not a day goes by when I am not so thankful to be their mother and my heart is filled with so much joy. 

I didn't remember until that night to get a picture of me with them all and I didn't have the best luck for the "perfect" picture but they all pretty much sum up life with these four!  

 They made my day extra special and my favorite part of the day actually happened the day prior when Ella told me, "Daddy is going to be really tired tomorrow since he has to do all the work."  Ha. 

The kids actually spent the night at my parent's house on Saturday night since Rich and I went to the Padres game so waking up Sunday morning to peace and quiet was such a treat and a nice way to start the day! I went on a run while Rich went to pick the kids up.  We then celebrated at home with the kids giving me their sweet gifts that they made in their classes (Ella gave me a beautiful canvas that she painted with her picture on it and Joseph made a wonderful painting.). I also received a card from all of them, flowers and some fun "spa" things.  We then went to church and grabbed bagels on the way home and then got ready for everyone to come over.  We had a great afternoon celebrating with all of our family, as well as Heather Kiffe and her boys since her husband was out of town.  The kids swam and we just hung out and relaxed-it was such a nice day!! 

Charlotte was loving the ice cream pie!!  

 

I am also so blessed to have such an amazing mother, who has turned into an even more amazing Nani.  She is the most selfless, generous, kind and loving person I know.  She is always putting others before herself and always, always, always makes others feel so great about themselves and spreads so much love. Everyone just simply adores her and we are all better people because of her.  

Love this picture with all 7 grandkids around her!  

Ella's preschool put on a wonderful Mother's Day program the Wednesday prior to Mother's Day which was so special.  Nani came to stay with the two little girls since Ella requested that I go by myself and I'm so glad we were able to have this special time!  Her class sang 4 songs and then there was a potluck.  She was so excited and did a wonderful job.  

I LOVE being a mom to my sweet kiddos and couldn't ask for anything more in this world.