Face Painting

We decided to head to Chick-Fil-A on Monday night, and were lucky enough that it was face painting night.  Much cheaper & faster than the zoo face painting!

Cat?

I love how he's looking at her

A pirate without the eye patch

Wedding Weekend!

We had a great weekend in Bloomingdale, IL, celebrating my cousin Erica's wedding to Paul Lyons.  We got to spend time with family, and of course get some swimming time in!  Julie and I drove the girls there, and had no idea how pleasing it is to hear "Are we there yet? Are we in Chicago? I wanna see Gigi" six million times over the course of three hours.

Molly always has the goofiest faces

The bride (Erica) with Melanie, Molly and Lily

Enjoying the reception!

I can't really tell where her hair stops and mind starts.

Mel was getting sleepy, but still dancing

Hollywood Molly

How we all felt by the end of the trip

Preschool Graduation

Melanie had a great year of preschool this year.  As part of her daycare schedule, she would cross the hall every MWF for two hours and have a preschool curriculum.  I credit this program with getting her out of her shell more and more, the gained independence, in addition to all of the things she learned :)  They did a "graduation" ceremony at the end of the program, and it was a nice way to mark the end of a great year!

Mel & Grace with Mrs. Laffoon, the head teacher of preschool

Mel & Grace with Mrs. Jenny

Mel with her two buddies, Courtney & Grace

Mothers Day

After Spring Fling, we continued our Mothers Day tradition by going out to dinner; this year was Biaggi's in Clay Terrace.  It was the start to a great weekend, which included a nap all by myself while all of my family was out of the house :)  Melanie had a mothers day song for me, both the kids did crafts for me at school and at Grandma's, and Jeff made filet & lobster for Mothers Day dinner! I feel very blessed to be a Mom to those two crazy kids.

Out with the moms after Spring Fling!

Julie with her "date" for the evening (literally, eating a date)

Mom rummaging around in the wine cellar!

Happy Mothers Day!

Spring Fling

This year's Spring Fling was Disney-themed, and was another success!  This was my kids' last Spring Fling, and so it was bittersweet!  They practiced for months and months, and a common "practice stage" was the landing on our stairs (see video).  The pictures from the event aren't great at all, but I'm glad that each year, the program is recorded and available for the parents!

Joey is on the right, in the green shirt (Buzz Lightyear jammies)

Both kids are on the stage, but this picture is horrible

Melanie is toward the left, next to the blue-dressed princess, in a pink princess dress.

Crazy start to May

We are all moved!!!!  This was how moving week went:  Monday, both the kids had doctor appointments (3&5 well-visits), we closed on our "old" house, and Melanie started swim lessons.  Tuesday, we spent the day packing, and then closed on our new house.  Ron & Diane watched the kids in the evening while we took multiple car/truck loads of stuff to the new house.  Wednesday, the movers got nearly everything else, and we had cable & internet installed. Another swim lesson.  Thursday, we had an electrician out to install five ceiling fans, got a water softener installed, had the new couch delivered, rearranged all the furniture, and had nearly everything unpacked by the end of the day.  Friday, on what should have been a more relaxing day, Jeff and I went to what seemed like a million furniture stores for bar stools and end tables.  We still don't have either.  It was a crazy week, and JUST NOW seems to be slowing down a little bit.  The move has been great for all of us, and we love the neighborhood!

Melanie was NOT happy to learn about her kindergarten shots!

Both kids took swim lessons at the start of May.  Melanie took group lessons on M/W for three weeks, while Joey had private lessons.  After 2 of the 4 sessions, we pulled him out and decided to take a different approach to his swim lessons :)

Suddenly, both the kids want to pet every dog they see.

Joey is now in a big-boy bed (transitioned from his toddler bed).  He made the transition seamlessly, and it's much more comfortable for me when I have to go in and lie with him!

View from our back deck

Just being goofy

This is how we all feel after the move in general - Joey cashed at Target.

Random pictures

Fun in the shower

Snuggling

Mel fell down the stairs and Joey was an excellent doctor

Seriously, it was a bad fall.  Quick recovery, though

Reading

My Grandkids

EVERY time Melanie plays school, or "plays pretend," she has Kara and Reagan in her cast of characters.  Kara is her top name choice, and Reagan is always right there too.  So this was last night's discussion in the car on the way to swim lessons:

"Next time we move houses, we should look for a pink one.  We're not moving ever again?  Will you live in our new house forever and ever and ever and ever and ever?  Well, I'll move when I'm big.  When I am a Mommy, I'm going to have two girls.  Their names are going to be Kara and Reagan.  I prolly need to figure out who my husband is going to be.  It can't be Joey, because he's my brother.  He's my brother now, and he's still going to be my brother when I'm a Mommy and he's a Daddy.  So I can't marry him."

"When Kara comes out of my belly, you can come to the hospital and visit me, and I will let you meet her.  When Kara gets big, and Reagan comes out of my belly, I will bring her to your house to meet you.  Will you still live in the house we just moved to?"

Always a fashionista

Preschool field trip to Traders Point Creamery

First ride in Poppy's truck - her favorite part of the move!