End of the School Year Madness

I can't believe this school year is over. What helps to believe it is to see how much Sweet Pea has learned during this year of kindergarten. She loved going to school each day and would many times not turn around to say good bye as she strutted into her classroom ready to get the day going. She is such an extrovert and social butterfly that it would bring her to tears when she had to stay home on sick days. She could do without much of the school work, but she was always looking forward to being with her friends. There were nine girls and six boys in their class, and all the girls and boys were so sweet and got along all year long. Isabella never really had a best friend, like she did the year before, but this year she had many great friends.

The school year ended with a class party at the Boy Scout lodge just a short hike away from the school. The mommies worked together to make this "festival" themed party as fun as possible. The party was over four hours long so we had to have plenty of games, activities, and munchies to get them through it. The kids all get along so well that there were no problems keeping them entertained.

Centerpieces were adorable

Drinks were ready

Prize buckets were eager to get filled

Here come the kiddos!

Games were cute and clever

Faces were painted and repainted.  You'll notice hear that Sweet Pea was Hello Kitty.

Ready to chow down!

We will miss Mrs. Bartnett!

Ready to head home with her goodies.  Now she's sporting a butterfly face.

Lauren and Sweet Pea

The gorgeous graduate

She sung her hear out, recited her lines in the microphone and received her diploma and bible.

What a great year!

Our Ballerina Beauties

Well the girls have taken ballet for an entire year now. It was their first year to take classical ballet. They had taken ballet folklorico last year and had loved it, but we were ready to have our Saturdays back and they were ready to put on leotards and ballet slippers pretty much since they could walk. Isabella has been begging to take ballet since she could talk but we didn't want to start her before she could understand why it was so slow. We knew her idea of ballet probably would not match with what she'd experience this year in class.

Well, class was on Tuesday afternoons, and as soon as we'd leave class, she'd say "Mommy, how many more days until next Tuesday? I can't wait until my next class!" Victoria on the other hand, wasn't as enthusiastic to go each week, but with some bribery (aka lollipops) she was able to finish the year strong.

The year ended with a performance entitled "Museum". Each ballet class danced to a song that reflected a famous painting. It was very impressive, and very long. Sugar Bear behaved herself in the extremely well despite the two and half hour perfomance. God answered our prayers there. The girls danced their hearts out. We were all so proud of them. Neither one had any stage fright.

Primping before the performance

Getting gorgeous

Ballerina #1 is ready to perform

Ballerina #2 is eager to go

So excited to get on stage!

Nana came into town to be in the audience

Also ready to witness the show were Papa and Grandma

Ready for an encore were Mimi and Mack

So proud of my budding ballerinas

Baby sister was proud as well

The girls with their besties

All the girls

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This year's garden is out of control. We have had to give many of our vegetables away to our neighbors because we can't keep up with the amount that are harvested. We can all only take so much zucchini bread, summer squash saute, and cucumber salad. Are we fertilizing? Heavens no! I can't imagine how big they'd be if we had fertilized! "What's our secret?" the neighbors ask. I guess it's the sweet nothings we whisper to them when we water them. You've got to talk to your veggies.

An Easter Brithday Celebration

The big day finally arrived! He is Risen! We celebrated in Austin with family from both sides. What a treat it was to have such a big gathering of family. We are so thankful to The Bumbas for hosting us all in their beautiful new home that was just perfect, especially for an Easter egg hunt. Their yard is so big they will probably be finding forgotten eggs for weeks to come. The dinner was delicious as were the desserts. Not only did we get to celebrate Christ rising, but it was a double celebration with Mimi's birthday. Which cake should we have? Both of course, as most did. What a fun day it was beginning with a great church service and ending with an egg hunt. How delightful it is to watch the kiddos so excited to find their eggs and open them. Love it!

Pink was the color of the day.  A big thanks to Mimi and Mack for everyone's Easter outfit!

Look at this beautiful outdoor feast!

She sure does love her Papa.

Auntie Marissa and cousin Avery

Auntie Brisa, cousin Noah, Uncle Rick

Mimi and Mack

Superman himself

Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Zack

Opening her first Easter egg ever!

Taking a break

Happy with her findings

Comparing contents

All the cousins

The hostess with the mostest and the birthday girl

Easter Parties

We had our own fun here at home on the days leading up to Easter with crafts during the day and family devotionals at bedtime. But the girls were eagerly counting down to the big day. Their school parties helped make the days go more quickly. Each class had their own egg hunts followed my a party in their classrooms which involved games, crafts, and chowing down. By the end of it, they were both sugared up on Peeps and cupcakes. So almost as soon as they got home, their Easter baskets suddenly disappeared for a couple of days. Hmmm...I wonder what happenend.

Playing Easter bingo

Punkin with her two best buds

Sweet smiles

Sweet Pea and some of her pals

Cute girls