Audrey's Last Day, and Teacher Gifts

Today is Audrey's last day of her first year of preschool. She had a fantastic year. She's really grown up a lot. She loved her school, and would've loved to go every day of the week if I'd let her. How could you not love school when you're a four year old little girl and your teachers look like Disney princesses?

Audrey and Miss Amanda.

We made "Kick-off to Summer" bags for Audrey's teachers, loosely based on this idea I found on pinterest. Beach bag filled with beach towel, reusable water bottle, crystal light, gum, sunscreen, a magazine.

If I'd thought to go to Grandma Tait's yard and pick them this week, these freshed picked strawberries are a cute gift, too. You could put them in these farmers market baskets.

Tyler's teachers are getting plants/flowers this year, I think. I also need to do something for his room mom. Not sure what, yet. She worked so hard for his Kindergarten class.

I also love the idea of these monogrammed mugs for a gift (only $6), filled with whatever you'd like. One of my Ladybug families gave me one once, with an Anthro candle - such a great gift. Use the mug all the time. (Have them wrap it up in an Anthro box to make it extra fancy).

Gifting to teachers always overwhelms me a bit, but when I think about - teachers are priceless. Especially for us this year. Amazing teachers all around. So grateful for how much they loved my kids!

Summer Is...

Sunscreen

Baby pools and sprinklers

Popsicles and lemonade

Swim suit shopping

Flip flops

Flowy skirts

Hair up

Shimmer everywhere

Beach
Tyler's favorite - Watermelon!

Hurricane Harbor
Family reunion
Lauren's wedding

Farmers markets

Summer Olympics!

Playing in the yard all day.
Staying up late. Movie nights.

Picking strawberries galore in Grandma Tait's back yard.

Evening walks with these three.

We are hoping for a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. Shopping for a washer and dryer (such grown ups!), and a way cool kiddie pool and sprinklers for the new yard. Hitting some sales, and hoping to grab a good burger. Happy summer kick-off!

Quote

"If you're not yelling at your kids, you're just not spending enough time with them." - Mark Ruffalo

I laughed when I read this today while catching up on my US Weekly. Makes me feel a tiny bit better about those bad mommy days. Haha - thanks Mark Ruffalo!

Dear G-Mom

Thank you for making me this beauuuuutiful dress for my birthday. It makes me feel so pretty. I love whirling and twirling in it. The jewelry and head band are perfect, too. I wore them all to church today. Love, Audrey.

Friday Love

I love a girl who wears her birthday crown all week. Happy Friday!

Movies

We took these two to see Pirates! Band of Misfits today. So nice! Adam and I picked them up after school and we headed to The Americana. Had the movie theater all to ourselves. As much as I love my baby, it was nice to spend the afternoon with just the big kids. Tyler and Audrey really are best friends.

Don't feel too bad for Cole. He spent the afternoon with his favorite babysitter, playing in his new toy.

At the House Today

We started painting Tyler and Audrey's room. It's basically going to end up a mini-version of the room they have now. They keep saying they're going to miss their room when we move. After painting today, I feel like this new room - albeit smaller - will end up feeling just as special.

 We finished painting this room. Now all the main rooms are complete. Hurrah!

Audrey ran and ran in the sprinklers.

We are moving so soon. As I drove around up there with Audrey, running errands to Target and Tyler's new school, I found myself getting really nervous about the move. I know it's right, but that doesn't make moving (and change) easy. A new adventure is definitely on the horizon.

Today She's Four

My girl is officially four. Audrey has surely made her place in our family. She amazes me on a daily basis. She's funny, strong, opinionated, sharp, athletic, smart and sneaky, fancy and frilly, loves her brothers more than anything, a great friend. Going to school this past year has really helped her grow. It amazes me that she's my girl. That I'm lucky enough to raise this little one. Man there are times she challenges the heck out of me and I feel like I will never figure her out. Other times she's staying up late with me, cuddled on my lap watching American Idol, or singing around the house, or showing her sensitive side and I see myself in her. Either way, I'll keep her. Forever and ever. A precious gift that I'm oh so grateful, is mine.

Audrey on her first bike. A birthday gift from Mommy, Daddy, Tyler, and Cole.  Love this girl.

Mothers Day

Being a mom is the best job I've ever had. Hands down. So grateful for the opportunity to love these little ones and be their mom. For life beyond my own. Grateful for all the moms I know. The ones who helped me become the mom I am today. Especially my wonderful mom. I have so much to learn, but on Mothers Day, it's nice to take a breather and give yourself a pat on the back. I hope all my favorite moms get to take a break today. Put your feet up. Sleep in. Let someone else make breakfast or dinner. Rest from the to dos of motherhood. I know Adam and the kids are letting me sleep in and making breakfast, and that's a pretty good start to any day.

In honor of Mothers Day, here's a  picture of me and my mom. I think it's my from my first birthday. She's so pretty, and I miss living close to her a little more than usual - especially today.

Celebrate Four

Audrey's party was a success! We are pooped. She is happy (woke up sooo excited this morning she could barely stand it). Now she's fast asleep with two new Lalaloopsy dolls tight in her arms. Grateful for friends and family who helped celebrate (and spoil) our favorite girl. She sure felt loved. More pics to come.

Prep

I am up to my elbows in pink cupcakes and pink icing. Adam's still at work and my kids are still awake, (except Cole)! Party prep is underway for Audrey's 4th birthday party tomorrow. Audrey and I have been butting heads pretty bad today - please say that's not an indication of what four will bring. Now to throw these kids in bed and keep frosting, (and finally put away the last of my folded laundry that's been sitting on the living room floor since last night!).

Half A Year

Mr. Cole is six months old! Can't believe I've been able to hold this sweet little guy in my arms for half a year already. We celebrated by taking Cole to the doctor this morning. 17 lbs., 27 inches long. 50th percentile all around, although a little on the tall side. (Just for perspective, Audrey was only 15 lbs when she turned one! That is why I feel like Cole is the chubbiest baby).

Cole is rolling over, loves to stand if you hold him up. Working on sitting up, and I think for his six month birthday we'll bust out the exersaucer. He found his feet (love when they do this), and enjoys chewing his toes.Waiting for the doctor this morning:

Audrey was the best help at the doctors office. So sweet, she held his hand when he got his first shot, but couldn't handle it and covered her eyes for the next two. Such a tender heart. She and Tyler are both obsessed with the Fly Guy book series. I brought home four Fly Guy books from the library yesterday and Tyler read them all in about 10 minutes flat. Audrey read to herself at the doctor's, making up the funniest Fly Guy stories.

Happy half birthday to our sweetest Cole.

Teacher Gift

Audrey helped put together these little gifts for her teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. She's in the  Bumblebee class at her school, so the buckets were a good find. Filled with chocolate, Tic Tacs, and a love note from Audrey. (Tyler's class did a group donation gift - Starbucks gift cards and flowers).

Both schools held teacher luncheons as well. We were so lucky this year - Miss Amanda, Miss Vanessa, Mrs. Gasper, and Mrs. Jenny. Great teachers all around!

Lovely

Oh my - this day has been crazy. The apartment building has been nuts. I knew it wouldn't let me leave quietly. I just knew it! Also, I have mastitis. Thankfully caught and treated early, but it hurts! And baby is not sleeping well. Oh how I'd love ten hours to lock myself in my bedroom and sleep. Ahhh. One can dream.

On to the lovely. My kids are big Disney Channel fans. This past week I've heard (and seen) this poem over and over. The reading along with the images totally get me. With Mother's Day coming up it's especially touching. (There's a little intro to this video first, and then the poem. And why does Dumbo remind me of Cole at the end?) Very sweet.

Party Prep

Preparations are underway for Audrey's birthday party, which is actually quite simple because we're just meeting friends and family at the park to play, picnic, and eat cupcakes. She did request Hello Kitty as her theme, though, and I'm doing a few things to incorporate that.

Did you know they sell Hello Kitty duct tape? Thanks to my friend Hillary (who throws awesome kid parties), I found out how to transform regular old kids water bottles into Hello Kitty water bottles. Pretty cute.

There are a few boys coming to the party, so I didn't want the favors to be too girly. Since we're parking it, I picked out sand toys and bubbles, with a few stickers inside too (Hello Kitty for girls, boys are The Avengers). I dressed it up with Hello Kitty thank you tags and pink bows, though.

Besides that, everything is pink, pink. Hello Kitty and pink balloons and party supplies. We'll be chowing on pizza, veggies and dip, and watermelon. Still deciding on cupcakes (which will be pink of course). Either pink lemonade, or strawberry jello cupcakes. We'll see which ones look easier as the party date approaches. Excited to celebrate our favorite girl!

Friends

One of the things we will miss most when we move is our friends. We will still see them of course (we're not moving that far), but it won't be the same as sharing our neighborhood. Audrey and one of her favorite friends Sadie, who lives just three blocks away:

Beautiful girls. Lucky for us Sadie's grandparents live just miles from our new home, so we're expecting the occasional visit.

Sweat It Out

We're a pilates family over here. Audrey doing her Hundreds:

 Cole even looks like he's trying in the background. He definitely has some chub to work with.

First of May

It's May! That means we officially move next month! Crazy. You would think I'd be super organized having so much time to get us to our new place. Ha! I'm sure Adam and I will be throwing all our stuff in a truck the week before need to be outta here. I feel slightly in denial that I need to pack this whole place up.

May also means I'll soon have a four year old. Party plans are underway for Miss Audrey. She was quite excited this morning when she realized her birthday month has arrived.

I am using Adam's lap top, and coming to the conclusion that I really do love Macs. This PC is a pain the butt (I'm sure I'll get used to it, and the price tag saved us at least 700ish dollars or more, depending, so I'll forgive the annoyances). Apple! Why are you so expensive?

Poor us, we have cold germs over here that won't quit. Tyler and Audrey recovered. Baby Cole is taking a beating. It's so sad to see him sick because he's usually the happiest baby. Even in sickness he manages a smile now and then. Adam and I had one of our top five worst baby nights ever last night, as Cole could not settle himself to sleep. He didn't zonk out completely 'til 4am. Audrey wandered in our room around 5am saying she "can't sleep", and Tyler's 7am school alarm came way too early. I will not confess how much Coke Zero I've drank already this morning.

Being a sick baby isn't so bad when you have a live-in babysitter like Audrey. Or maybe it is - but Cole is in love with his big sis. She's definitely taken on the role of little mommy, (and probably passer-of-germs, since I'm sure her constant in-his-face-ness is the reason this guy got sick).

Sibling love. Off to do a ton of laundry and lysoling while Cole sleeps and the two big kids are at school.