May 2013 Part 1

May kept us pretty busy hence the multiple posts.  The first part included  friends' birthday parties, Mother's Day, more work in the backyard, Annabelle's last weeks of preschool, with some other fun mixed in.

 

 

One exciting aspect of May was finally getting the news of where Annabelle would be going to school in the fall.  We have lots of choices in our district and Annabelle's name was drawn in the lottery for our first choice.  We attended an open house where we visited the kindergarten teachers and rooms.  

This girls is ready and excited for kindergarten

 

 

The birthday parties continued this month one for a preschool friend and on for our neighbor.  The kids had a great time at both.  

 

Hello Kitty glitter tattoo

Tulip in a vase

Dinosaur tattoo

 

Don't know if I should be proud or worried that my kids were the only ones who really hit the piñata and seemed to enjoy it.

 

 

 

Even with everything else going on we found time to have some fun on our own.  We visited a cookie store in town that has free cookie decorating for the kiddos.

 



 

 

 

We spent quite a few afternoons at our neighborhood park and were lucky enough to run into some firefighters driving through the subdivision.

 

 

Annabelle got herself a pet caterpillar; she carried it around a bit too much and it didn't quite make it to the butterfly stage.

 

 

 

We  often woke up on weekends to hot air balloons in the sky, always fun to see.

 

 

The next stage of the backyard got underway: clearing sod, moving sprinklers, putting in rock and placing the raised beds.



 

In process

 

The next part took place over Mother's Day weekend.  Putting dirt into the beds and planting the garden.

The pile of dirt Sam moved to the beds

 

What the kids did while we worked on the beds

 

Doing tricks for me on Mother's Day

 

 

Kids helping Daddy plant

 

Finished-A great Mother's Day gift

 

The sandbox has a home

"Mommy" Mrs. Potato Head

(we have one for most other holidays so Annabelle came up with this one)

 

 With dinner we had an artichoke, Annabelle's first one.  She loved it. 

 

 

 

Annabelle's last month of preschool was full of fun.  We had one last field trip to a indoor trampoline park followed by pizza, she had a bike parade, and finished it off with preschool graduation.

 

Jumping

Bike decorated and ready to go

Riding in the parade

The whole group

Ready to graduate

 

Our Kindergartner

April 2013





This past month things didn't exactly slow down, but with no guests and no trips we enjoyed staying close to home and getting some things done.  The kids did start a new adventure: swim lessons.  

 

Annabelle at first swim lesson

Hudson after his first swim lesson

We continued to enjoy the nicer weather and being outside more.   We were able to walk/ride home from school, try a new park, and have some fun in our own yard.

Riding bike home from school

Enjoying the new park

 

Being bunnies

Having a petal fight

 

This happened

 

 

The kids also had a blast making messes inside the house.  We had pizza and root beer float night.

 

Flour everywhere

Making his own float





 

Annabelle's class had their spring field trip and all four of us were able to take part.  We headed over to Star, ID where we visited the fire station, library, and Pizza Hut.

Walking in line to fire station

Checking out the fire truck

 

 

Sam helping out

Photo Op

Visiting Miss Joy at work-the library

(she usually comes to the school)

Enjoying pizza

It was a packed house, Hudson managed to find a seat

 

 

 

The kids played a bit with their style this month.  Hudson dressed himself and Annabelle followed suit.  Annabelle has also been styling her own hair; all this is entertaining for me and I hope for you as well.



Shorts over pants

 

Butterfly hairclips (all of them)

 

 

We did manage to get away from home.  We took a day trip to Twin Falls to see Shoshone Falls, we enjoyed the drive, a hike, and a picnic before heading back home.

 

 

Daddy and Annabelle in front of the falls

Mommy and Hudson

Hiking

 

Hudson couldn't resist the puddles

 

 

Taking a break

Kiddos in the "bear cave"

Enjoying a picnic out of the wind

We also continued to cross some things off our house list.  We had curbing put in the backyard around the house and in preparation for our garden beds, which Sam also managed to finish.

Around house before curbing

Backyard....just grass

Curbing in...still have the dirt

 

Sam working on raised beds

 

Annabelle helping Daddy finish raised bed

(Hudson got fired from the job early on)

 

While we didn't have any house guests we did have a visitor: a snake.  Annabelle was quiet excited about it and didn't want to let it go.  Hudson "enjoyed" it from a distance.

On the hula hoop

Annabelle pointing it out

(not touching it yet)

Hudson telling the snake to go away

Daddy joining in on the fun

Annabelle (in new outfit) worked up to holding it

 

Placed the snake in one of the raised beds....Annabelle was determined to keep it

(it got out of the bed, and the yard)

The last thing we managed to get done this month was plant our front flower pots....something I look forward to every year because it means the warm weather is here to stay for a while.