they are so cute

Today we had to run some errands...we are doing a service project with our Sunday School class this weekend so I needed to get some items for the project and today was a perfect day to do this since we got a little too much sun yesterday.  Apparently I wasn't reapplying the sunscreen often enough...oops!

The kids were great today and were eager to be my little helpers.  The Mayor even scanned the items at the self-checkout line at the store.  He is most definitely just like his mommy...as a kid, I was obsessed with grocery shopping and loved it when the cashier would let me scan an item, it was cute watching him do the same things that made me so happy as a kid.

After the errands, we got back in the car and the kids wanted me to take pictures of them "sleeping".  They love to pretend to sleep, have us take a picture of them and then they want to look at themselves.  They crack me up!  We came home for lunch and then The Mayor had a play date.  The kids played great together and they even included Love Bug.  I wasn't sure how the dynamic would be with the two 5 year old boys and the 3 year old sister, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Jackson's mom picked him up and then we had to get to karate.  The Mayor is doing really well...I can't believe he gets to test for his orange belt in just a few weeks.  After karate, we headed to our Friday regular...Mexican then it was home for bedtime.

We have a fun weekend planned and I am happy that our first official week of summer was a success!

posing in front of the machine D's company makes

The Mayor "sleeping"

Love Bug "sleeping"

pool crazy

The kids LOVE the pool...unfortunately, I don't.  Well I do like the pool but I do not like going to the pool by myself with both kids especially since neither of my kids can swim.  Oh, I really wish they would learn how to swim.  Obviously with each passing summer it gets easier...but if I could just get at least one of them swimming!  But look at this cutie...

...I just can't say no to taking cuteness like this to the pool.  Today we went to the gym so I could get a workout in (I ran 2.5 miles today!) and then I picked the kids up from the kids area and we went to the pool at the gym.  We spent 3 1/2 hours at the pool and then came home for baths and to rest before dinner.  Those kiddos were TIRED!  I was almost certain Love Bug was going to fall asleep so rest time was pretty short...needed to keep her moving and awake!

Tomorrow will be a low-key day.  I have a few errands I need to run in the morning and then The Mayor has a play date with a friend from his PreK class (his parents are closing on their new house tomorrow).  I haven't told The Mayor yet but when I tell him in the morning he is going to be so excited!  After the play date, The Mayor has karate and then our weekend will officially begin! 

running

So I am far from being a true runner, but I have started running lately.  I actually ran 2 miles non-stop outside over the weekend...and I didn't die doing it!  I actually enjoyed it and have gotten to the point where I look forward to running.  So I am registering for my 2nd 5K...ahh!  I have 3 weeks to add another 1.1 miles to my running.  I think I can do it!

We had a great time running...D pushed the kids in the stroller while I struggled pushed myself to get through 2 miles.  Afterwards, the kids hopped out of the stroller and started running themselves.  My favorite part was when The Mayor walked next to D and started holding his hand.  He has such a great heart.  I love that boy.

Tomorrow I am going to try and run 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym.  If I can do it on a treadmill then it will be a good start to push myself to get through 3 miles outside.

After the gym, we will be heading to the pool to soak up some sun and work on our swimming.  The goal for the end of the summer is to get The Mayor swimming with no floats!

sweet hand holding

running their hearts out!

my sweets

memorial day

Today was by the far the best day of the long weekend.  We woke up, had breakfast and went outside to play in the backyard.  To say the weather was perfect was a complete understatement.  The temps were in the high 60s low 70s and although they didn't stay that way we enjoyed every second of it this morning.  After we played for awhile, we came inside for a quick lunch and then headed to the greenway.  D loaded the kids up in the double stroller and I decided to work on my running.  I have been running on the treadmill for the past few weeks but running outside is completely different.  I ran 2.1 miles today without stopping!  Pretty proud of myself.  And by this time the temps were in the low 80s so it probably wasn't my best decision to run at that time of the day but I made it!

After I ran, I walked a bit to get the heart rate down so D and the kids ran a bit.  They ran back to the car where I did my best not to pass out and they kept on walking to the playground.  We let the kids play at the playground until their cheeks were red and their hair was wet from sweat and then we went to get icy drinks to cool off.

We hit Publix to get food for dinner and to make s'mores later and then came home and got into our bathing suits.  D filled the cooler with water and we had a water fight.  It was so much fun...the kids had a blast squirting each other and especially getting D and me wet.  D and I of course got in on the fun and started getting each other wet.  Love Bug loved getting people wet but did not like getting wet herself.  We were nice to her this time...next time it is every man for themselves!

After the water fight, we dried off and rested for a little bit.  We put the movie Brave on and watched the first hour and then stopped to eat dinner.  After dinner, we played for a bit and then ventured into the backyard to build a fire in the fire pit and enjoyed some s'mores.  Love Bug just ate the marshmallows and the chocolate but wouldn't eat an actual s'more.  The Mayor would have eaten his weight in s'mores if we had let him.  After s'mores, we came back in and watched the last 25 minutes of Brave and then the kids actually started walking upstairs.  When I asked The Mayor where he was going, he said "I'm going to bed".  Guess that means it was a successful day if my kids are putting themselves to bed!

Tomorrow D goes back to work and the kids and I will be going to the gym and then to the pool.  The weather all week will be in the 80s so we will definitely be hitting the pool a lot this week!  Hello summer!

loading up!

battle of the boys

ganging up on daddy

couldn't wait for the marshmallow

cute marshmallow roaster

cute marshmallow eater

messy but cute

baseball

Yesterday was the kick off to our weekend.  We took the kids to the pool (they had a blast although the water is still too cold for my liking) and then we had a babysitter and D and I had a fun night out playing tennis and having a cookout with 4 other couples in our neighborhood.  Around 10:00 D started feeling sick, so we actually left early.

He still wasn't feeling well this morning, so I took the kids to church and then brought Love Bug home and The Mayor and I spent the day at the Gwinnett Braves game.  A couple other families from our Sunday School class were going, and although I hated D and Love Bug weren't going to be there, I had a blast with my boy.  I knew Love Bug wouldn't be entertained and willing to sit through 9 innings and I just wasn't brave enough to tackle both at the game by myself.  Therefore, she had one-on-one time with her daddy and The Mayor had one-on-one time with me.

This was my first minor league baseball game and I was pretty impressed.  The ballpark was beautiful and we walked right up to the ticket window and got seats right behind the batter's circle on the visitor's side.  We were in the shade the entire game and had a great view.  After the game, the kids were allowed to run the bases.  Of course, this was the highlight of the day for The Mayor.  That and the giant size waffle cone he ate during the 4th inning.  And the best part of the minor league baseball games are the prices.  Sitting behind home plate was $15, the giant waffle cone (seriously - had 3 scoops of ice cream in it) was $5.  If we had been in Atlanta, that cone would have cost me twice as much and would have been half the size.

The Mayor and I got home around 6:00 and the kids ate outside at their table on the deck.  Summer is here so that means they get to stay up later.  Thinking 8:00 will be their normal summer bedtime...although Love Bug didn't quite make it.  She was falling asleep around 7:30 - which is crazy considering she slept until after 9:00 this morning.  I think she is catching up from having such horrible sleep last week as she transitioned into her big girl bed.  So happy her sleeping in is coming back.  Now if only her brother would do the same.

our view

my favorite boy

ice cream face

running the bases

all the kids...a great day!

first day of summer

Day one of summer was a definite success.  We took the kids to Catch Air this morning where The Mayor, Love Bug, Trey and Luke played and played hard for over two hours.  We took the kids to Taco Mac for a late lunch and then came home and played outside for the next 2 1/2 hours.  The boys threw tennis balls at the throwing trainer, Love Bug played bubbles where each of the boys took turns playing bubbles with her and then I helped Luke and The Mayor with their tennis game in the driveway.  Once the neighbor kids came home from school, The Mayor, Luke and Trey joined them for a game of kickball in the cul-de-sac.  Around 4:00 we had to come inside to get cleaned up because The Mayor had karate.

Aunt Nat, Trey and Luke came to karate with us and got to see The Mayor earn the first half of his yellow stripe (for stranger danger skills).  He should earn the full yellow stripe next week.  Aunt Nat was impressed with The Mayor during karate, he is really showing great improvement with his focus and discipline.  After his class, D and I met with one of his instructors and enrolled The Mayor in the Black Belt Club and committed to a year of training.  The Mayor really loves karate so we are going to stick with it and see where it takes us!

After karate we went out for Mexican and by the time we got home, it was after bedtime.  The kids went to bed and Aunt Nat, Trey and Luke loaded up and have headed home.  We loved having them here and are looking forward to spending more time with them over the summer.

I am so excited about the long weekend.  The weather is going to be gorgeous, we have fun plans for tomorrow and Sunday we are taking the kids to a minor league baseball game.  Going to be a great weekend!

Love Bug and Luke

the mayor was pouting because he thought we were leaving

nothing a little tickling can't cure

at lunch...love these kids!

the mayor's graduation

Today was the day I had been dreading for the past year month.  The PreK graduation.  I started tearing up in the carpool line because I realized it would be the last time I would be dropping him off at preschool...ever.  After drop off, we headed into the sanctuary to wait for the graduation to begin.  Meega, Bennett, Walker, PopPop, Aunt Nat, Trey and Luke all came to watch the graduation.  

Graduation was so adorable and really well run.  Each class stood in the back and were called one by one to walk down the aisle to the front to receive their Bibles (their "diplomas" came home with them yesterday).  Then each class stood at the front so the parents could take pictures of the entire class, then that class would leave the stage and the next class would do the same.  Once all the classes were "graduated", the kids came back into the sanctuary and sang 5 songs.

After the ceremony, we went back into the classroom for a reception of cake and punch.  The teachers presented the kids with their ABC book (each week they worked on creating a picture that started with the letter of the week and their handwriting of that letter - it's awesome to see how their handwriting progresses over the course of the year) and a memory book with pictures of the kids from each month of the school year.  The Mayor didn't change as much as Love Bug over the course of the year, but you can definitely tell a difference in him.

It was a pretty emotional day...for me.  Preschool was a roller coaster ride which was really stressful at times.  And as painful and emotional as it was some of the time, I really wouldn't change anything about our experience.  It lead us to The Mayor getting his diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder and receiving OT much earlier than we would have had he not been in preschool.  And The Mayor of today is world's different than The Mayor from even the beginning of this year.  Today was really emotional for me because it honestly was a day we weren't sure we would ever see.  We are so proud of the accomplishments he has made in such a short period of time.  And kindergarten doesn't panic me like it did back in August.  I am actually excited for him.  But I am happy I have him home with me for 2 months.  No need to rush it!

about to walk down the aisle

his class

singing "America The Beautiful"

waving to us

The Mayor and his awesome teachers

Mamie and PopPop gave him a throwing trainer...he really likes it :)

the graduate and Aunt Nat

the graduate with Luke and Trey

the graduate with PopPop and Mamie

the happy parents with their graduate

J, Meega, Bennett and Walker with the graduate

Mamie and Love Bug

someone needs to teach this one how to eat

our monkey in a cage

the end is almost here

Tonight was The Mayor's end of the year ceremony for Cubbies.  For 34 weeks, he has gone to church every Wednesday night, memorized a weekly Bible verse, learned more about Jesus and made some great friends.  And tonight was the last class for the school year.

I teared up when he walked in and especially when he walked across the stage of the sanctuary and received his certificate.  The tears were mainly for tomorrow...just thinking about his PreK graduation.  It just made me so sad, and happy, to think of this being the end of preschool.

D was in Chicago all day today so he missed the ceremony tonight but thankfully he will be here for the big day tomorrow.  As will Aunt Nat, Uncle Tom, Trey and Luke, who are currently on their way to Atlanta!  Meega, Bennett and PopPop are coming tomorrow too!  It is going to be an amazing day and tomorrow night we will have a little pizza party so J and Mamie can join us with the festivities and we can celebrate a great day for The Mayor.

waiting patiently for his name to be called

just received his certificate

waiting for the rest of the Cubbies to be called for their certificates

singing their Cubbies song

love bug's end of year party

Today was Love Bug's end of year party.  The party was at Monkey Joe's from 10-1...which in my opinion was entirely too long for a two-year old class (even though they are all 3 now) to play.  By 10:30 Love Bug was asking to eat and by 11:15 she was cuddled up on my shoulder ready to sleep.  No one lasted until 1:00...we pushed it by staying until 12:40 but regardless of 12 tuckered out cuties, they all had such a great time.

Ms. Julie and Ms. Karen (Love Bug's teachers) made all of the kids t-shirts.  They made caterpillars with each circle of the caterpillar's body being a different color with one of the munchkin's names in it.  They were absolutely precious and the kids looked adorable with their matching shirts.

The teachers also gave each of us a memory book for each kid.  It is a laminated bound book with a page for each month of the school year.  On each page, there are pictures they took of them during that month.  Oh my, on the September page, one of the pictures is Love Bug from her first day of school.  And she looks like such a baby!  I can not believe how much she has changed in just one school year.  Ms. Julie told me Love Bug is the one who has changed the most...a lot of that change is due to her hair.  Wow...did her hair really grow this year!  I absolutely love this gift.  I will look back on this book with such fondness and see how much my gorgeous girl has changed over the course of 9 months.

Tomorrow is a busy day.  The Mayor has school, Love Bug and I are going to the gym, The Mayor has karate and then we go to church for his Cubbies end of the year awards ceremony.  Then Thursday is the last day of school and PreK graduation...bring on the tears!

hate this is blurry...but she looks so cute!

sporting her dress, I mean t-shirt :)

my monkey climbing

pretty girl

a year ago she couldn't do this alone...such a big girl!

weeeeeeeee!

girl is serious about her pizza...she ate 3 slices...

Ms. Karen, Love Bug and Ms. Julie