Preschool Graduation

Yesterday MiniM.E. graduated from preschool.  She also "graduated" from preschool last year, but this year was a much bigger deal since MiniM.E. is now officially NOT a preschooler and is excited to tell anyone and everyone that she is now a kindergartener.

Many of the parents at graduation were sad that preschool is ending and their kids will be off at kindergarten next year.  Some will be sending their kids to pre-K at the same preschool next year.

As much as I would like to say it was a tearful event, I have been counting down to the end of school for months now.  Not that I don't LOVE MiniM.E.'s school or her teacher, they are both wonderful and I couldn't have chosen a better place for MiniM.E., but I have been dragging her (often times crying or kicking and screaming) to school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since September and there is not even a tiny part of me that is sad not to have to do it again.  I'm sure she will miss school sometimes.  I know she will miss her teacher.  And maybe some of her friends.  But it is time to move on to a new adventure.

big squeeze from her teacher

handing out flowers to her classmates

snacking solo

After our exciting morning we celebrated "graduation" with a trip to the toy store and dinner out at the Lake Local.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Our long weekend started out as a blank canvas. In fact I it took me a few days to realize why everyone kept asking what I was doing this weekend because I forgot it was a long one! Since we had zero plans from the start we decided to be spontaneous and just go and do things!

We started Saturday at the Great Escape. The plan was only to do the waterpark since this was our third weekend going up, but though we thought the waterpark opened at 10 (when we arrived) it actually opened at noon, giving us two hours to bake in the sun and ride some rides in 80+ degree weather. By the time the waterpark actually did open we were pretty tuckered out and only lasted an hour or so.

We got home from Great Escape and prepared to go to a BBQ in the evening.  Had a great time there and got home a little late.

Sunday after church, we headed to the spray ground downtown.  After being out in the sun and heat all day yesterday we were all a bit tired.  The girls had a great time for a while...

But it was soon obvious that we all just needed a nap...

LittleL.G. took a nap and we prepared to host an improptu BBQ at our house.

It was a late night, both girls were up way past their bedtimes.

So maybe we should have figured that a trip to the beach Monday would have been too much. But we tried it anyway. The hour we spent there was very pleasant, but I think what we all needed was a relaxing day at home, swimming in the inflatable pools in the yard and sitting in the adirondack chairs. And that's how we spend the rest of the day.

Bathtime

Who can resist a bath time photo shoot?

End of the Year Picnic

In some ways it feels like school just started yesterday.  And some days as I'm dragging the girls kicking and screaming out the door at five of nine for 9:00 school and MiniM.E. is begging me not to make her go it feels like an eternity.  But let's not focus on that.  Looking back the school year has flown by.

Last night was MiniM.E.'s "End of the Year Picnic," which was her most favorite event of her previous school year.  So we were definitely looking forward to it. 

We arrived with pot luck dish in hand (homemade bread), said hi to teachers and friends and ate some pizza and snacks.  LittleL.G. saw the cake pops and that was it.  She ate dessert for dinner.

She also caught a glimpse of the door OUT.  It being a beautiful evening and us being in a gymnasium must not have seemed fair to her, especially when there were puppies and slides out there.

Foolishly, I didn't realize that she had decided on an exit strategy and let MiniM.E. take her for a walk.  Before I knew it they were out the door.

It was a beautiful evening to be outside...

I had to coral them back in because I knew MiniM.E. would be sad to miss the music portion of the evening.  I'm sure LittleL.G. would have rather stayed outside picking flowers but MiniM.E. had a great time dancing a "square dance" with Daddy.

After the music we stayed and played and helped baby sisters to walk.  It was a really enjoyable evening.

Looking forward to another End of the Year picnic when it's LittleL.G.'s turn for school in a couple years.

Swimming and Swinging

It has been so nice out that we took out the backyard pools.  MiniM.E. would probably swim all day if I let her.

And even though LittleL.G. is my swinging girl (preferring it to all else), MiniM.E. is pretty excited to swing high enough that my heart skips a beat.

And of course all that swimming and swinging makes a girl tired.

Frozen Yogurt

Nothing says, "good job at the dentist!" like going out for frozen yogurt!

Playgrounds, Lake Local and A Day At School

After strange cold snap we enjoyed as much time as we could outside last week.  Lots of playgrounds!

This weekend we went to the Lake Local.  What a great place to hang out with your kids!  It reminded me of Germany: beer and adirondack chairs for the adults and something fun for your kids to do.  We sat and chatted on the grass while the kids played on the beach.

Today I helped out at MiniM.E.'s school and couldn't help taking a couple photos of the girls out on the playground.