And as quickly as it started....

It ended!

Today marked the last day of second grade for this sweet girl!

We played hard last night to celebrate! We had an all evening swim party in the yard and decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies at 9:00 because... Well... We just could... 

 

Last night we went to bed as a second grader....

They were worn flat out! I sang them some songs about their year as a preschooler and a second grader! And just before you knew it we were all out! 

There is nothing better than a night of solid exhaustion from playing outside all evening!

And this morning we woke up as a rising 3rd grader! 

 

 

 

There was no work today to be done only homework was to bring a game to play with friends! Juliette chose "Connect Four." 

Some of her highlights of 2nd grade were:

Favorite part of the day: lunch and recess

What did you love about 2nd grade?: my awesome teacher Mrs. Martin and all of my friends

Did you have a best friend?: No Mommy all of the girls were my best friends!

Favorite memory of 2nd grade: the cute way Mrs. Martin blows her nose

Are you excited for 3rd grade?: No I'm scared that the teachers are mean. I heard one yelling once...

What are your summer plans?: playing at Tessa and Doh's house, swim parties with my family and friends in the backyard, staying up late and lying in my hammock and going to Monkey Joes with Trippy and Jaylin

 

We picked her up on her last bus ride home! She was so excited and all the children were jumping off out of the bus! Mr. Clyde there sweet sweet bus driver even brought Popsicles for the last day. As you could see she could not get enough of that red popsicle with red teeth and red lips! She was so proud of carrying her game home with her! 

 

We grabbed a quick picture with her great buddy Ava!

 

After school her sweet friend from her class Kate had an ice cream party. I don't think her day could have gotten too much more special! All her little classmates celebrated the beginning of the best time of the year! 

Happy summer! May we enjoy and cherish every day of it!

Last Mass of the year

All of the second graders got to wear their First Communion dresses and were recognized in front of the school. It is not often you see as sweet of a picture as this.

Congratulations again to all of these precious children on receiving this very special sacrament. 

And they took a stab at it... Literally!

Ever try to remember how it felt first holding a pencil?? These guys had thier first taste of it today...

Unlike Tripp, both seem to want to hold the pencils with their right hands. This baby batch produced no Southpaw.

 

They were a bit impressed with themselves for sure! 

On their way to painting and drawing like their big sister? 

Maybe not quite yet!

Mommy... That bird looks....

 

 

How would you describe these precious young? The first picture is of two owls which are 2 weeks old. The second picture is of a 6 week old owl. We found them at the birds of Prey sanctuary.

Tripp: "Mommy those birds look asinine."

Don: neck flips around in some serious surprise... "Tripp what did you say??"

Juliette: "Tripp, asinine is a very naughty word. Do you want to go the principal's office at the big school?"

Me: "Um, Juliette do you have to repeat the word?"

Juliette, "Repeating is the only way to get it across to him Mommy. My teacher just told me that."

Me; "Tripp we never want to use that word okay?"

Juliette interjecting: "Tripp remember to never say asinine again. It's the last time I want to have to tell you."

 

The hen in action with her little brother!

With all the multiple repetitions of the word, let's see how long before it's repeated once again!

She is becoming the designer!

So summer is here... And with summer comes good times, fun and some relaxation. Tessa and Juliette went to the fabric shop for Juliette to pick our her official first project she would like to complete! 

It was a surprise and so Juliette showed up with much anticipated excitement!

 

Five Eighth Seams it was! She hemmed and hawed over the patterns to find the exact skirt that she wanted to create!

 

I knew with her picking out everything, she would pick out a batik just like this!

 

And so we have it! The first planned activity for the summer! Tessa and Doh's house now includes rabbits, parakeets, a garden to work in, jump rope, cartoons and fashion designing!

We'll keep you posted on the developments!

And it looks officially like a little orphanage

An orphanage you ask?? Well look who joined rooms....

So the babies love it! It has been about a week now and they laugh and laugh when you put them down. Thomas typically would fall right to sleep when they were seeping separately. Tyler would talk for about 40 minutes before he would fall asleep. Tyler was always the early riser so we thought putting them together in a room with shades would help. 

Who wants to guess of the jokes going on now?

Thomas is now up babbling with Tyler for 30 - 40 minutes after bed time. He does not go right to seep now. Tyler the early riser is now talking (loudly) at 6:15 every morning and guess who he has up immediately then as well? You bet, Thomas! 

Tyler is the ringleader. He has the tricks and is ready to share all of them with Thomas!

 

This was their first night together! 

 

Perfectly happy and content with the world! 

 

When I grabbed my camera my heart could have not been any happier witnessing this little secret world a twin lives in!

Now here are the thoughts...  The babies love their new routine! Every night brings a new game. They had no clue I was watching them and just stuck my hand through the door. As for Mom and Dad and big brother and sister, we're not so sure... Squawks, laughs and crib jumping are all great but maybe better at 7:30 AM instead of 6:20 AM. 

So boys let's begin liking a little more sleeping and a little less playing!

Our beloved Ms. Theta

Juliette had a most special day when she was able to present Ms. Theta with a special Angel that she painted just for her. Theta is Don's medical assistant and has been with Don for 13 years. She loves angels and is a Pastor as well. We could not think of a more appropriate gift for such a special lady.

Juliette was so concerned she even wanted the skin tone of the angel to match Theta's skin tone.

Theta was touched and it made all of our hearts happy!

Happy birthday sweet lady!

 

 

Communion anyone?

In light of the excitement of just having made her Communion, Juliette and Tripp love to play "Communion." 30 years earlier and it was one of Ul'Nanny and my favorite games to play. 

Juliette cuts the strawberries ever so thin and prepares them to share with Tripp. They switch between being the recipient and being the Priest.

Every day Tripp asks, "Mommy when am I seven so I can make my first Communion."

Strawberries used today and wafer candies used by Ul'Nanny and me.

Love the excitement in her eyes!

 

 

 

No no say it ain't so!

Well there would have been lots of tears if I did not have one more crop to go through preschool! This is the second time for this Mama that preschool has come to an end. This little guy is ready for 4K. 

 

We started the morning off picking flowers for Tripp's teachers! He was so excited to bring them in.

 

Juliette even got to go into school late so that she could walk Tripp into his last day. He was so excited! And the last day of school brought a pet parade. Each child had to bring in their favorite stuffy animal. Tripp chose to bring in "Sprinkes"

 

Ms. Sharon had to come and give both of her babies a big hug and kiss! Juliette and Tripp just love her!

 

Each day for the past two years, their bags have hung on the fence with their goodies from the day to be picked up! The final hang up of 3k.

 

And if there is one thing that has been the same each day at preschool for the past two years, by pickup time this little guy is a hot sweaty little boy! He lives up his time playing!

The day ended with a going away play date for his best friend Patrick who is moving to Wisonsin. Tripp was driving them to his new home.

 

 

My favorite day of the year

These four precious babies have given me my ultimate purpose in life! Since their births, I have loved more than I ever could imagine! Each is so special in their own way. They are each so different and I could not love them more! 

 

 

 

I had the perfect Mother's Day! My perfect day request was a picnic on the back porch with cheeses, liver sausage with sweet pickles, olives and champagne followed by a little something sweet. 

The day included a two hour nap (just because) followed by an all afternoon play day in the pool. Dinner was as easy as having a 2nd picnic back outside with the leftovers from lunch!

 

My cup runneth over! 

The journey may not always be easy but I could not imagine my life on any other path! This is my world and my heart is beyond full! 

Can you believe these nuggets are 17 months??

The babies got thier first taste of a little putting green at the club at 17 months! They were much more interested in pulling the flags and running away with them than anything else.

They are both so animated now. They still say a few words. Tyler says, "Ju-iette", "Tyler", "Tessa" and that is really all. Thomas says "Tyler", "dog" and "Thomas." They interact with each other more each day. They call each other's name but more often call out their own name. It is so funny. 

Tyler is the adventurous one. He is ready to get out and see the world. He is busy, persistent, a climber and ready to run the opposite way of whichever way you would be going. With those traits also comes biting. We are trying to

Put an end to it but he still bites Thomas. Usually now we can catch him right before he is about to chomp.

Thomas enjoys being the baby! He wants nothing more than to be held 14 hours a day if possible. He is definitely happiest when he is eating and close to Mommy! He loves to pet the doggies and give them a hug. 

 

Thomas Daniel 

 

Tyler James

 

Notice the direction here - if one goes west, the other goes east... If you gones south the other no doubt will head north.  

 

Tyler here is taking a breather while biting his lip and plotting his next move!

 

 

Uh oh...

So all the he kids as well as Don recently got over the lovely "Hand, Foot and Mouth" virus. It was lovely let me tell you. If it was bad enough the kids got it, Don then got it and it was by far the worst of all of them. He was miserable to say the least. 

As the house is finally saying goodbye to this, this little pistol comes down the stairs and says, "Uh oh Mommy, look, it's back!"

Little Missy had actually painted the blisters on her face! She is something else!

 

The best one liner lately

Mommy: "Tripp let's go potty... you need to go potty"

Tripp: "Don't worry. I went yesterday."

Love from yours truly!

What does one buy at the Book Fair??

It's time for the book fair! Some one is so excited this morning and reminds me that it is "buy one book get one book free day..."

So it's the Book Fair... I am assuming Juliette will come home with two nice books to read. 

Ummm here is what she came home with...

Three receipts of three separate purchases, one penny left in change, one book for her brother (because as she says she is so kind to buy her brother a book and no book for her), a pretend phone which holds four markers, two pencil drumsticks, two pencils that change colors when holding them, a "beautiful" bookmark, a special pen that has crystals in it per Juliette, some colored smelling highlighters and two dum dums that she purchased in the magic quarter drop! 

In good Juliette fashion, every purchase she made and received any kind of change with she went back for another purchase. Three purchases later and what is she left with...

"Oh Mommy I have one penny in change for you..."

Me, "Juliette didn't you need to get a book for yourself?"

Juliette: "Oh no Mommy I thought it was so nice that I bought one for Tripp instead. He will like a book more than me."

This girl... a scholar for sure!

 

 

My First Holy Communion

We celebrated the most beautiful day today! Juliette made her First Holy Communion. We have the most wonderful parish and Father does an amazing job preparing the children for this most Holy occasion. 

Juliette woke up that morning a little nervous but over came that knowing what a very special day it was as Jesus entered her heart today. She was so excited to put on her special "Tessa Designed Dress" as she called it. She looked so beautiful inside and out.

Juliette, Father West and Tripp

 

Her little brother was just as excited for her. He was sure it was his day as well to make his First Communion.

 

Juliette and her Grandfathers

 

40 children made their First Communion in the parish.

 

Juliette and her classmates from school.

 

Juliette with the designer her Tessa! Tessa was a Eucharistic Minister for the ceremony and was able to offer Juliette the cup of wine on such a special day.

 

We were so happy that Uncle Jack and Ms. Pam joined us from Michigan for the special celebration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day was PERFECT! The weather was AMAZING - breezy 70 degrees and no humidity and most importantly this little girl when asked how she felt after receiving Communion replied, "Amazing!"

Thank you Lord for the gift of faith!