A first of many

A couple weeks ago, Haley had her end of school year music concert.  All the first graders sang songs about people who work in the school.  Secretaries, principals, nurses, and lunch ladies, hence the food tray.  Caleb made it quite difficult to sit through the whole concert and we ended up leaving during the 5th grade songs.  I didn't feel too bad because I know this will be our first of many music concerts. 

Garden Time!

My sweet husband created this little garden for our family.  He has planted green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, sugar snap peas, watermelon, and peppers.  They were all planted from seed, so it will be awhile before we have any fruit/vegetables.  So, this will be our before picture and hopefully we will have a great after picture come late summer/early fall.  I'm so glad he has taken this project on.  I like to think all things outside the house are his domain.  That is probably why we have no flowers in our pots yet.  He doesn't care about flowers.  

More Maya

Today was Maya's end of the school year preschool picnic.  She was nice enough to pose for a picture with her teacher, who she will have again next year.  I am going to have to find some things for Maya to do this summer, especially since Haley will continue on with year round school.
This was her last field trip, to a fire station.  She wasn't nearly as interested as I was.  I guess it is probably more of a "boy" field trip.  I loved that her school had a field trip every month. 

Here comes summer!    

P.S.  This morning during breakfast, Maya declared, "Mom, you are ruining my life!"  I didn't think I would hear that from her at age 4.   

Maya turns 4!

Maya's birthday was Monday, May 11th.  She is now a big 4 year old and I can't believe it.  I guess that is a typical parent thing to say.  No one ever mentions how slowly they think their children are growing!  She had a party with her friends on Saturday, her first friends party.  It went surprisingly smoothly.  No one cried!  And then Monday we had another little party with just our family.  She got lots of great presents that she had really been wanting and was happy to be the center of attention!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures of her younger self.

Maya as a newborn.  Super chunky cheeks and insane amounts of spiky blonde hair.

At about 5 months old.

About 18 months old.  She used to suck those 2 middle fingers, rub her nose with another finger and rub her ear with her other hand.  Thumb sucking was way too simplistic.

2 1/2 years old.  During the dress up phase.

And now a HUGE 4 year old.  I can't believe how much older her face looks.

The candles spell out Maya.

A table full of friends.

Who is this giant child?  I'm pretty sure he was a baby yesterday!

3 signs you are back from your trip to Grandma's

Haley was off track the last 2 weeks of April, so we headed to St. Louis, MO to visit my family.  We had a great time.  I forgot my camera, so I don't have any great pictures of all the fun stuff we did, but we did have an awesome time.  We got to spend time with my whole family.  Grandma stocked the kids up with new summer clothes and shoes.  We went the the zoo, the arch, the botanical gardens, the magic house, the movies, a state park called Elephant Rock, a fun trampoline place, and I'm probably forgetting half the stuff we did too.  The 12 hour drive to and from was long, but the kids weren't too bad.  Maya did get carsick and puke on the way back, but amazingly it was a small mess (and not too stinky).  

It has been quite a reality check being back home.  I've had to do awful things like weed our yard for 2 hours.  I filled these 2 bags and got quite the sunburn.  And, even 2 hours and 2 full bags didn't quite finish the job.  Maybe I'll finish today.  Maybe I'll pass it on to Mike to finish.

Our sink is filled with dishes.  What is this?  It was so nice being at grandma's.  I think every home needs 2 women to get all the work done.  

My hands are super dry.  You really can't tell from this picture, because we don't have an awesome camera and I am the worst photographer ever.  But, my hand looks kinda red, right?  Well let me tell you, in person, my hands are scaly and rough and red.  Man, humidity does wonders for your skin.  But, I hated what it did to my hair.  In St. Louis, my hair was limp and flippy.  So, I guess I'll have to deal with the dry skin here in CO so I can have my hair back.

Easter

This year Easter was pretty cold.  We had a whole weekend of celebrations.  On Friday we dyed eggs and on Saturday our neighborhood had an Easter egg hunt.  It was raining, windy, and freezing, but we attended anyway.  So did the entire neighborhood!  Haley went to the older kids area with Mike and totally filled her basket.  

I stayed with Caleb and Maya in the little kid area.  Caleb got a total of 2 eggs and was thrilled.  Maya got less than 10, but one of her eggs had a dollar bill, so she considered her loot a success.
Sunday we had very nice church meetings and then a delicious Easter dinner with the Millers.  It was a great weekend.

P.L.S.

My youngest child has developed a horrible condition called P.L.S.  Otherwise know as Pant, Leg, Sock.  This is a condition usually present in adult men who cross their legs and let their pants ride up to reveal some leg between their pants and sock.  However, P.L.S. can exist in young children who grow like weeds and have mothers who are unwilling to buy them new clothes for a season that is about to end.  Luckily, Caleb has new clothes waiting for him in his closet, but the weather needs to warm up just a bit before he can wear them.  Until then, he will have to wear his current clothes out in the world.  Maybe that will help bring some awareness to P.L.S.

He has also developed another condition that has yet to be named.  Maybe this awful case of forearm nakedness could be called H.A.S. (hand, arm, shirt).