2012 scavenger hunt

we started off summer with a sacavenger hunt.  with 10 clues . . . the kids ran to every room of the house and outside too!  the "booty" was a collection of summer fun - floaties, a giant sprinkler, goggles, diving stuff, a trike for b, and new swimsuits!  let the summer fun begin!

kam's birthday celebration

kam was set on celebrating with her two besties at build-a-bear.  the girls had lots of fun picking out their animals and dressing them up!  rainbow bears for m and k, a pony for e!  they ate lunch at chick-fil-a and splurged with pink lemonade cupcakes (YUM!!!!)  kam had an awesome morning . . . even grammy and big sisters got to come along! 

our ghetto pool!

our ghetto pool has been quite a hit this year.  the kids love it and have so much fun playing around in it.  only problem is it makes me realize how much we NEED a "real" pool!  maybe next year.  for now all six of us are piling into our 4 foot deep pool!

kam turns FIVE!

not sure where the time has gone.  five?  already?  kam, you are so adaorable, amazing, and funny!  you have a sparkle in your eye and a contagious laugh!  you make us smile.  you are emotional and stubborn, strong and silly too!  can't imagine a day without you!
our sweet baby girls awoke to her birthday book and outfit wrapped in pink and a birthday breakfast pink sprinkle donut!  we had a great day playing and having fun.  then presents and a special dinner out at a hibachi grill (the cookig was a hit . . . the food, not so much!).  we all enjoyed watermelon ice cream cake and played some more! 

1 year anniversary

this year we have another anniversary to celebrate.  daddy's kidney anniversary.  it's so crazy how much our lives were turned upside down . . . and crazier still to think that we have a completely normal life again after only a year.  we are so amazingly lucky.  from an angel donor, to a great team of doctors . . . we have a lot to be thankful for . . . everyday.  bailey will have to take medicine - a lot of it - everyday for the rest of his life, but he is healthy and able to do all the things a dad with four kiddos should be able to do. 

thank you angel s.  there isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about you and your selfless gift.  we are still in awe of your generosity.

welcome to summer!

after last day of school parties and WAY too much sugar, the girls ran in through a "welcome to summer" banner and cotton candy lemonade!  not sure who is more excited about no more school . . . me or them?!?!?!?  can't wait for a summer full of fun . . . and a little bit of down time too!

"workerman"

b says this is his favorite outfit . . . his "workerman" outfit.  love the hard hat and tool belt . . . but check out the shoes.  yes, those are kam's patent leathers!  gotta love it!

kam's pre-school graduation

sweet little kam had her pre-school graduation . . . complete with several ADORABLE songs and receiving her "diploma"!  the program was so sweet . . . and of course made me tear up several times!  we have had such a positive experience at learning tree . . . awesome teachers, wonderful friends . . . it's so hard to believe kam will be leaving this little safety net . . . and heading to "sister's school".  uh.  saddness.

it's official!

kam proudly walked her kinder paperwork into school this morning and turned it in.  it's official.  my baby girl is going to kindergarten.  boo.  she is so excited.  me, not so much.  hate that everyone is growing up!  hard to believe i have been home with the littles for five years now.

ken's spring concert

ken really enjoyed choir this year.  she loved learning new songs . . . and even loved performing!  we loved watching her.  the music was great . . . and lots of fun!  mck and kam sat watching the entire time . . . b was a different story, but we're working on that!   

no more thumb-sucking for kam

we took a trip to target this morning to pick a prize!  kamy has not sucked her thumb for 5 days!  AND she made this choice all on her own . . . one afternoon she just said, "i want to stop sucking my thumb.  because i am about to be 5.  i want to do it before i turn 5."  so, we painted her nails with the yucky stuff, she slept with a sock on her right hand . . . and she did it!  she is now the proud owner of a silly hair lalaloopsy . . . yes, we resort to prizes and bribery in this house!

mommy's first tri!

after a month of training with some amazing girls, i completed my first tri!  a 300m swim, 11.2 mile ride, and 2 mile run in an hour and 24 minutes!  the morning started off a little rocky . . . POURING rain and rather chilly temps.  we were soaking wet . . . and freezing cold before anything even got started.  there was a 30 minute delay for lightning . . . and then it was ON!  the swim was awesome - better than any open water practice i had had!  the bike was tough . . . hilly and wet to say the least!  at every point i was getting tired, someone along the way said something encouraging.  it was really cool.  the run was tough . . . only 2 miles, but through a wet field, mulch, rough pavement, and a little mud . . . not exactly what i had been practicing with!  it was such an amazing feeling to cross the finish line.  what an amazing morning.  the littles and hubby cheered me along all the way!  seeing their bright yellow shirts made me smile!  can't wait for the next challenge! 

poppy fest dancing queens!

ken and mck danced away to "play that funky music" at the poppy fest . . . in preparation for their summer recital!  they love their hip hop class and did really well in front of an audience!  gotta love those funky outfits too!  kam and b were such good siblings . . . watching every move their big sisters made!

mck's story time

"story time" was presented by the first grade class of ford!  it was sooooo adorable.  we are so lucky to have such an amazing music teacher!  each class presented a story and participated by singing songs/playing instruments that went with other classes stories!  it was really just great! what a wonderful way to end the school year!  mck was all smiles!  and she had some special guests . . . ms. s and her family came to watch!

she's an artist!

ken's art work was displayed at the library for the g'town art show!  this is the third year something of ken's has been picked.  wow.  we are so proud of her!  we can't wait to mount her owl and frame it along with her other pieces!

mck's family celebration!

not quite sure how all this growing up is happening right before my eyes!  what a difference a year makes!  mck doesn't look like a baby anymore . . . she is so smart, so silly, so sassy, and such a great big sis!  she is becoming more and more independent everyday!  we still love that she has her goofy side . . . and can still be a little bit clumsy!  she is sensitive and beautiful in every way! :)  happy birthday sweet girl!
we celebrated with dinner at and an ice cream cake from shake's . . .  YUM!  mck loved all of her gifts . . . including a new desk, dresser, and bookshelf . . . so she got a mini-room makeover!  she sat and read through her entire birthday book before opening the rest of her gifts.  so sweet. 

a field trip with mck

daddy stayed home so i could go on mck's first grade field trip to inner space caverns.  it was fun, but so sad to see how incredibly independent she was!  she really wanted me to come . . . but didn't want much to do with me on the tour.  she just liked knowing i was there.  she hung with her little girls friends and giggled and laughed.  then it was to the wooden playscape for a picnic and LOTS of playtime!  i had to drag her away!  what a fun treat to hang with my girl!

mck turns SEVEN!

doesn't get much better than a field trip AND a birthday party on your REAL birthday!  mck has so excited to take three friends to build-a-bear and have a sleepover!  we ate pizza, cupcakes, purple sprite, and lots more junk food!  the girls were all so sweet and got along so well!  she had such a great celebration! :)

easter 2012

nothing like starting off the morning with a chocolate bunny . . . times four! :)  the kids made out pretty well this year . . . lots of fun goodies from e.b. and fun swimming goodies from mom and dad.  we had a little easter hunt, got all dressed up, and headed to church with the fam!  then it was time to play with cousins and eat a yummy meal . . . and more easter goodies from grammy!  a great end to the weekend!

mommy date with the girls

this mommy date started out a bit rocky . . . we shoudl up for the movie based on the movie time on an email i had gotten, bought our tickets and popcorn and walked in to a movie that was HALF over!  oops!  the time on the email was wrong . . . so, they gave us tickets for a later show and we got to shop and go to dinner and then go to a late movie!  it ended up being really fun . . . and five hours long!  the movie was great and it was fun to have dinner with just the girls!