Ally's swimming...

Here she goes...Ally loves swimming with Miss Dee at Swim to Shore Swimschool.

Wheels!

One adorable little girl who just finished Pre K - gets her first set of wheels!

"permotion"

According to Natalie she has "permoted" to Kindergarten. I think it is so cute how she is so insistent on using big words pronounced incorrectly...I think Ben would say she gets that from me. She is all of 4 and a half and I still say this is my FAVORITE age so far (aside form the newborn snugly nursing all day long age, but does that really count for an age?)

4 means a lunch date- not a lunch struggle,

4 means a friend to shop with - not a snack machine belted into the cart,

4 means a story hour - not a story minute with pages torn,

4 means a session of insightful questions - not figuring out which stuffed animal she is calling for,

4 means I get to hear, "I love you mommy" ALL the time!

4 means getting to soothe hurt feeling from friends,

4 means hanging out, not stuck "babysitting",

4 means a glimpse... that so far, you haven't done that bad as a parent,

4 means freedom from diapers, wipes, pacifiers, sippy cups, water wings, and other crutches,

4 means almost 5, and then I have send her out into the big world of elementary school - and I finally understand why parents are scared...I am too and I used to work there....

Permotion was last night, she doesn't look any different, she isn't acting any different, but I know it is coming. I know sleep overs, catty girlfriends, and maybe a swear word are coming before we know it. How does this happen? I know Ben and I aren't getting any older so how is it that Natalie is stuck in a whirlwind and growing up so fast???

A friend of mine several years ago when Natalie was only 2 shared a story about her oldest turning 5. She said they went to the mall to see a movie and have lunch, they went shopping and stopped in Bath and Body Works to let her choose some lotions and such...she said she cried in the store, watching her baby smell and inspect the different scents and colors - making her selection carefully. This 5 year old she spoke of seemed so old, MUCH older then my 2 year old toddler...well now it is my turn - and heading to a movie and lunch and some Big Girl lotion sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate my BIG GIRL'S day.

However, I have ALL summer to enjoy my 4 year old, ALL summer to build sand castles, ride bikes, eat ice cream and enjoy her still being 4...(please tell me I get to these things for years and years to come)

Here are some seriously BAD pictures of her permotion...bad camera!

Tea Party Friends

This month we celebrated Mother's Day but part of celebration for me is enjoying my girls and realizing that they too will be a mother someday. I thought I would invite a few mom friends over with their girls and host a true tea party. I turned it into a lesson in etiquette and hostessing. We folded napkins, set tables, garnished finger foods. We found all the right accessories and dresses to get just the right look and here is what we ended up with.

A table for the girls...

A table for the moms...

A Tea Cake done by Jackie...

Mother's Day Bunco

What a fun time to dress up and have Tea and Roll for Buncos! Mom and Me Style...

Float Test

Natalie has been in swim lessons for almost a year...she is an independent swimmer and we have been told she is "water safe". This weekend, her swim school offered a float test to show the parents, the kids and the swim school that these kiddos are actually "water safe". Natalie was so excited because she got to pick out an outfit to wear into the pool! The school provided shoes and Natalie was set to float fully clothed!

Float she did and giggle and laugh her way to the edge of the pool two times. She PASSED! She earned a medal which she is soooo proud of! She also got a cool Float Test cookie!

She is one silly swimmer - can't wait for summer!

Tea with Aaron

I think this may be my first post to acknowledge Aaron our amazing friend and special sitter for our girls. Living so far away from grandmas ad grandpas, aunts and uncles we have found a savior in Aaron. She LOVES the girls to pieces and in return they love her too. She knows the in and outs of their schedule, has taken them to the library, for haircuts, to the doctor, the mall, out for meals, and most recently on a family trip (where Natalie threw up ALL over her).

I appreciate her so much and she was cemented herself into our family so strongly any changes to our "system" would be catastrophic. Here is a special lunch just for Aaron. She is a huge fan of all things old, fancy, and Victorian...her favorite place - Truffles and Lace the Temecula Tea Parlor. Here we are and Shannon too enjoy a "spot of afternoon tea".