Catching up....Chloe finishes school & the Dogwood Festival

This time of year has suddenly jumped into fast forward!  School is winding down so quickly that I can hardly keep up with all the activity!

In the middle of May, Chloe finished up preschool  for the year.  Unfortunately, she was sick for most of the last week and missed out on her spring concert.  (Actually, she probably doesn't care too much that she missed it but I sure was sad!)  Fortunately she made it for the very last day of school/school picnic.  They celebrated summer birthdays so she got a special crown, cupcakes, and a birthday balloon that day.  She was very excited.

Next year she will be in preschool 4 mornings a week.  Audrey & Carter will be in elementary school.....so guess what that means?  3 hours of time all to myself, 4 days a week.  Boy will that be weird.  They sure are growing up.  I still can't believe that Chloe will be 4 in about 6 weeks!

Mid-May in Phoenixville also means....the Dogwood Festival and Parade!
Chad took Audrey & Carter on wristband night the first day of the fair.  They had a super time riding all the rides over and over again with their friends.  We brought Chloe on Saturday when she was finally well enough to ride and enjoy herself.  And enjoy herself, she did!

Here we are on the teacups

And on the flying puppy ride.  Boy was it nice to see her smiling again!  It had been a rough week!

 Trying to decide if she wanted to go on this ride....

 We also enjoy the parade every year with our neighbors

Chloe & Mommy waiting for the parade to start.

The kids anxiously awaiting floats that throw candy....

Only in Phoenixville do you have a float that includes "the blob"....

Oh, and a really loud steam calliope...

I tried to get a cute picture of Chloe with Chad.  And this is all I got...

Okay, think I'm all caught up for now. :) 

Spring happenings

Just wanted to record some of the things going on in our home lately.....

A friend at church gave Carter an unused science kit they had.  He & Chad (& Audrey too) have had fun doing experiments!

I love that he was recording his observations in a little notebook!   Chad is teaching him well. :)

Chloe has had some fun play dates with friends.  I think one of the reasons she loves to play with Evie is because - for once - Chloe is the "big kid." 

And here she is playing with her best buddy from preschool, Fiona.  They had such a great time together!

We went to the Phillies game in late April and man, it was COLD!

We had to snuggle to stay warm!

This spring, Chloe has spent many hours playing out in the backyard.  She pretends this climber is her "car."  She also spends a lot of time in the play house, the sand box, etc.....Sometimes even dressed as a princess!

Carter started coach-pitch baseball this year.  He gets to bat without the tee this year! 

Audrey was in a local spelling bee a few weeks ago.  She did not win, but she did a GREAT job!! I was so proud of her!

To celebrate Audrey's spelling bee participation, we all went out for ice cream!  Cheers!

In late April, I went on the zoo field trip with Carter's school.  It was really fun even if it was a little stressful to try to not lose 3 busy boys!  (And I never realized how tall Carter was until he was standing next to these 2 friends!) 

While I went on the field trip, Mom-mom came and spent the day with Chloe.  They had fun coloring and making play-doh creations together!

On a warm day Audrey opened a lemonade stand.  Always the entrepreneur, she charged 25 cents per cup.  She even charged her siblings, although I did talk her into a "family discount" of buy one, get one free. :)
Some day she will have enough for that Kindle Fire she's saving for ....

My 3 little loves. :)

Happy Spring!!

Tea for Two (& a Doll)

This afternoon Chloe hosted a tea party.  I thought today was a beautiful day for one, don't  you?

 

On the menu:  Tea (water), grapes & "chocolate chip cookies"

 

Chloe carefully poured tea for us

And distributed the grapes

MMM!!

This is fun!

 

Here's some tea for you, Cassidy.

Okay, enough pictures, Mom!

Best part of the tea party:  When Chloe called me "Best Mommy Ever"!  So sweet!

Dogwood 2012

If it's May in Phoenixville....you know what that means.

THE DOGWOOD FESTIVAL!

{Also affectionately known by Chad and me as the "Dump-out-your-wallet-and-spend-inordinate-amounts-of-money-on-rides-and-junk-food" festival.}

I have to admit....after seven years of living here, the excitement has worn off for me.

But not for the kids.

But I ALSO have to admit.....today I had a great time.

We brought Audrey's friend along.

 Carter was super excited to ride the rides.

Chloe really enjoyed the rides for the first time.

AND - I got to eat funnel cake.

Life is good here in the humble borough of Phoenixville. :)

What a week!

I was just commenting to my mom that last week after I finished the race, I was surprised  that I felt so normal.  I thought after running those 10 miles, having a friend in town, and having Chad out of town the week before and after the race, that I would just crash.  But I felt pretty good.

This week is a different story though.


I kept wondering why on earth I have been so tired and then I looked back over my pictures this week and now I know why I am exhausted.  So much has been going on this week!

Last Sunday was Mother's Day.  We had my parents and my brother over for a cookout.  It was a beautiful day weather-wise and we all just sat out on the deck and talked and had a fun time hanging out together.

I will be really sad when I don't get presents like "The Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My Mom" for Mother's Day anymore....

 On Monday night we headed to the Phillies game....in the drizzle.  It was Carter & Audrey's first Phillies game and I have to hand it to them... even with the rain, they didn't complain at all!

 We got peanuts (among other food items) and Audrey thought it was so fun that she could throw all the shells on the ground.  We had a ton of fun despite the drizzly weather.

 On Tuesday night our small group had a surprise shower for our friends Chad & Lyn.  They are expecting their first baby boy in a little over a month!

Speaking of baby boys....my baby boy graduated from preschool on Thursday!

Here he is getting his diploma with his teacher & the preschool director.

They had cute little graduation caps for the kids to wear but Carter said a big "no" to that.

I didn't care....I was just lucky to get him in that button shirt he is wearing!!

 Before "graduation" the children had a concert, which included a series of hilarious antics by Carter including making huge muscles and playing with his face to the rhythm of the music.  One of the things that I love (and am occasionally frustrated by) about Carter is that he is completely uninhibited and doesn't seem to notice or care about what other people think of him.  He is just himself always, which is very different than me.

 

Today my mom asked Carter what he would miss most about preschool, and his first answer was "Teacher Mindy"... I am so glad that Carter had her as a teacher this year - she is just such a creative teacher and brings out the best in each child. 

Friday was Carter's school picnic.  This included lots of playing with friends, climbing all over playground equipment, and some fun games organized by the preschool's gym teacher.  I love that she was wearing a Superwoman cape while chasing the kids around in freeze tag!  I am so thankful for such a wonderful preschool that my kids have been blessed to attend.  Chloe will start preschool next fall!  Let me tell you, the day SHE graduates from preschool I will be crying buckets.  I will miss that place so much!

And this is the other reason I'm tired.

This little pipsqueak is into EVERYTHING right now!  

Here she is "washing her hands" (which she does about 2 zillion times a day....)

I wish she would have discovered this fun activity at the beginning of cold and flu season!! ;)

We had a busy day today with the Dogwood Parade, t-ball, a play date and an evening at the fair....but I will post about that later!!

First I need a good night's sleep!! :)