What We've Been Up To!

We've been busy but not taking pictures!  Here's a list of what we have been doing:

• Anna Elise had field day, an awards ceremony, and finished up school.  She got a trophy for Art, apparently she was the best art student in the whole Kindergarten class.  Her picture was displayed at the mall.  That is certainly not a talent she got from me!

• Buying Bikes!  Calvin and Madeline got new (used) bikes.  Madeline's doesn't have training wheels on it yet so she hasn't done much riding.  Calvin's bike is bigger then he is and he can't touch the ground when he is on it - but once someone helps him get started, get out of his way!  We also attended a Summer Safety Fair and got free bike helmets for all four of the kids!

•  Exercising!  Mike has been riding his bike and working out at home.  When dad works out so do all the kids.  Madeline is the most faithful of his little partners - she puts on her leotard and is there from start to finish!

• We went to the beach and used our half-off membership pass at the aquarium for the first time.  What a great day - but so exhausting! 

• Playing!  We had company for a whole weekend, a college friend and her 4 kids stayed for a few days and my kids had a GREAT time playing - especially Calvin, he had boys to play with! 

• Lilah has been busy perfecting the many ways she says no!  Her different tones of voice, iterations, and expressions almost make the no's cute!  She is talking more and more.  I think I have a harder time understanding her then any of my other kids at that age, but she is definitely talking and very proud of herself for it too!

The Music Truck

In our neighborhood we have a 'music' truck that comes out in the springtime. He drives around the neighborhood in his van and plays music for kids to enjoy. We've listened to the 'music' truck for years and the kids have never questioned why. Anna Elise went to kindergarten this past year and made an interesting discovery. Anna Elise:"Mom, did you know that the music truck sells ice cream?" Mom:"It does? How do you know that?" Anna Elise: "It has pictures of ice cream cones on it and someone at school told me" Mom:"It's a secret so lets not talk about it." She hasn't told the other kids and it's been almost a month. I really thought that when my kids found out that the "music" truck sold ice cream they'd be angry at me, but not Anna Elise, she was more fascinated. I have a feeling Calvin will be angry. Whenever they hear the 'music' truck they all come running. They gather at the front window to watch the truck drive slowly up and down our street. Yesterday Calvin came running down the stairs when he heard the music. He was so distressed when he realized he'd missed the truck. "Dad, I need to go outside to see the music truck". Mike:"Calvin it's already gone, why do you need to see it?" Calvin:"I want to buy a CD!" Mike:"What CD do you want?" Calvin:"I don't know, but I want to buy one!". Today we learned that he wants a CD of the "music" truck's music sound track. Do you know how annoying that music is? Will he be more upset to find out that the truck doesn't sell music CD's or that the truck has had ice cream this whole time and we've never told him?

Gotta Love the Girls!

For Memorial Day weekend all my sisters (and our one sister-in-law) and my mom got together in sunny southern CA for some girl time. We had 4 days to shop, talk, and eat! I had a much needed break from real life and got to reconnect with my girls! It's amazing to get together and I love all my sisters (sisters means you too Jana). I love spending time with them. I learned that Trina is on a healthy new diet, she was able to cook us some really good food and she and Trent are looking so good! I learned that Jana is an amazing shopper and knows where to get the good coupons! I got to see what a great mom Stephanie is and meet my adorable nephew. I saw Betsy in action making crafts, she is very talented. I saw how skinny Janet is and how good she looks with hair extensions! I discovered that Nancy can make dresses without a pattern and she is so good that a boutique wants to sell her dresses. I already know what an amazing mom we have, she raised 7 kids and she is still there for us even when we are all grown up. They are all so amazing. However, it also made me so sad - I realized how much I miss out on by not living closer to them and that I could feel so much closer and know them so much better if I was physically there more often. Someday I will be! For now, we have our girl's weekends and blogs! Here are some pictures of all of us together at my sister's amazing new house!

Trina, Betsy, Nancy, Mom, me, Jana, Stephanie, and Janet

The cute aprons my mom made!