Summertime

It is hot hot hot outside. We have been staying cool by going to the YMCA pool, free movies that are offered for kids over the summer, trips to the mall, and the spray park. My mom started today by taking the girls out for the morning. She is going to do this on Thursdays during the summer. It was a really nice break for me this morning.

The girls are good girls, but lately have been driving me crazy. WHINING is a constant in my house lately. I keep envisioning what their high school years will be like, AUGH! I feel like since I have all these pregnancy hormones going on my patience isn't as great as it usually is. They are loving being cuddled by me since I can't pick them up anymore. I hate that I can't carry them, but it was hurting me too much when I tried that I didn't want to hurt Joshua, so now I hold them when I'm sitting. That is nice that they love it when I hold them. They are so so good about not asking me to hold them. When Nelson's around they immediately run to him and ask him to pick them up :). Mikayla said when she grows up she's going to wish to go back to being little, because she never wants to be big ;).

On Father's Day, we let Nelson sleep in, and then went to Lenny's for breakfast...his favorite. Then, we headed to play mini golf for the girls' first golf experience...they loved it! Afterwards we went to my parent's for a barbecue. It was a really nice day...the girls and I are so grateful for Nelson.

Imagination Movers

For those of you not familiar with Imagination Movers, it's a show on Playhouse Disney that my girls are a big fan of. It's one of their favorite shows that I like too :). There are 4 guys who sing, play instruments, and solve problems using imagination. It was on the other morning, and Mikayla was sitting in my lap, and Brianna was right next to me. Mikayla says, "I really like Rich, he's my favorite". Brianna then said, "Dave is my favorite, he has a cool red hat" (Dave's hat is like Mary Poppin's...he can pull anything out of it). Mikayla then said, "Mommy, who's your favorite?" I told them that I liked Scott. Brianna then said, "Then, Smitty must be Daddy's favorite". Because surely we must all like someone different right? It was really cute. They are definitely little girls now...no more toddlers...it's so strange to me. The past 3 years have just flown by, and yet it feels like my girls have always been a part of my life.

My Fish!

The girls are in refresher swim lessons, through ISR, since they haven't been in the pool since last September. Last year when they took lessons they basically just learned survival skills. How to float, and roll over and get the wall of the pool. No actual swimming was really going on. It was fine with me, because my big worry was that we have a pool, and I wanted them to be safe. Well, now they are actually swimming! Their last week of refresher lessons is next week, and it's just AMAZING how far they've come. We went to the Y's pool with friends yesterday, and they both were swimming for dive sticks!!! They are amazing me. A month ago Mikayla HATED to be in the pool, and now I think she likes it more than Brianna! Crazy. The other newest thing, is that Mikayla is OBSESSED with Belle (the Disney princess). She's always been her favorite, and has liked her, but it's an all new level now. The past two weeks I've had to do her hair so it's touching her shoulder like Belle's...and the other day she noticed a picture of Belle where one side touched her shoulder and the other side didn't. Mikayla freaked out that her hair wasn't exactly like Belle's. So I had to pin back one side of her hair. She immediately lit up, and ran to the mirror and kept spinning around saying she looked just like Belle. Oh my gosh. This poor little boy has such girly sisters ;).

Never a dull day...

Monday we had our usual day of staying home and recovering from the busy weekend, and doing laundry and all that. Well, the girls were in the playroom, and I turned on A Baby Story, and there were twin 4 year old b/g twins and the mom was having a baby. I called the girls out to watch, and they were glued to the tv, and kept asking questions, it was really cute. I really think their age is the best age to be pregnant...they are SO excited. Anyway, later I'm folding laundry in my room and the girls were in the living room right next to my room and I hear furniture moving. I walk out and Brianna was laying on the ottoman with a doll (and a ted) under her shirt, and Mikayla was moving her bed to the room where the Dr. had to take the baby out ;). It was really funny.

Then, after nap time I heard the girls' door open on the monitor, and they always come to my room after nap...no girls. I thought they must have gone to the playroom, and as I went to go see Brianna came in. I asked her where her sister was, and she said she didn't know. Hmmm...we looked in the playroom, family room, no Mikayla. I go back to the guest room...and there she was with my purple scrapbooking marker. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?!?!?" She said, "Mommy, I'm your little kitty." Oh geez.

So much going on!

The girls had a very big week.

They had their last week of school...their first year of pre-school! It was a bit emotional for me. Their teachers made beautiful portfolios of their year, and they ended the year with a class performance and family picnic. I'm excited about them starting back in August. I have really seen them excel this year.

Here are the girls on their last day of school

Mikayla and Brianna also had their dance recital this week. Which was one of the best things I've ever seen. They were so excited, and you could just see how proud they were of themselves. Neither one of them got stage fright, or was nervous...I felt so very proud of my girls.

Married...

So, on Tuesday I went into the girls' class to observe. The girls were in centers. Mikayla at art, and Brianna working on the small group activity. They can change centers whenever they want if there is room in other centers. I think only 5 kids per center, and they have to take their name with their symbol on it and velcro it to the center.

Anyway, Joseph, this boy who Brianna has been starry eyed for all year was in the housekeeping center. He had on a top hat and a suit jacket, and a little girl, Makenzie, had on a dress-up dress. Joseph asked Makenzie if she would marry him. Brianna heard this and left the small group activity to go over to housekeeping, and she put on a hat and a necklace, and said to Joseph, "No, ME!" LOL. Joseph, said ok, and they held hands and rocked back and forth like 3 year olds (and me ;) ) dance. It was SO funny. I felt bad though because the whole time Makenzie had her bottom lip out and was pouting. Brianna has since been telling everyone about how she married Joseph. She does go after what she wants ;). I so wish I had had a camera or video camera!!

Our vacation...

We left on April 26th and returned home Saturday, May 9th. So we were away with two weeks, and got home with so many great memories.

First stop, Pennsylvania. On the drive there I sat in the back with the girls during lunch while we were on the road, and Mikayla went to hand me her milk, but I wasn't paying attention and it spilt all over me. I freaked out, and Brianna very calmly says, "Mommy, sometimes things happen."...ah, yes, my 3 year old wise daughter telling me not to stress over the spilt milk! PA was great we had a lot of fun in Hershey and went to the Chocolate Factory, Children's Garden, and the Indian Echo Caverns.

Next stop, Jamestown, New York. We got to spend some time with Menash and Nichole and their girls. It was really great. The girls loved spending time with their friend! We went to a bouncy place, bowled, a princess breakfast, Madelyn's 3rd b-day party, and had lots of fun!

We then headed to Niagra Falls in Canada. It was so fabulous...BEAUTIFUL! We did all the touristy stuff, and I loved it. I got really sick...blah, and am still trying to get better. Blah. Other than that it was perfect!
Then, we headed home, and stopped at my cousin's for the night. I love seeing my girls play with their cousins...it's so sweet!
Such a great trip!