Considering Nicole and the girls were at our house all day, I didn't take very many pictures... we were too busy chatting and having fun! But I did finally take out my camera when the girls were having a Princess Dance party in our back yard.
Definitely entertaining, these two!
Miss Ellie peaking out of the big toy
My friend Nicole and her girls came back into town again, last month it was for her brother's graduation, and this time for her Father in Laws surprise 60th bday party. The first day they were in town we went to Farrelli's for dinner. It's always great to spend time with them... wish they came once a month all the time :-)
Ava was invited to a bday party that was held at a Local barn. When they arrived, each guest was given a cowgirl hat and a bandana.
Kids checking out the farm animals in the petting zoo
Ava petting one of the ponies with the birthday girl, Allison.
This guy was so fuzy
Ava learning how to rope a cattle
playing in one of the bounce houses
Pony rides
Horse ride
Petting the goat
feeding the cow
What a fun party!
To celebrate my mom's birthday, I thought it would be fun for each of the kids to do something special for their Nannie. Each of the kids got to pick what they wanted to get her. Carter is obsessed with Starbucks and making my mom lattés, so that's exactly what he said he wanted to get her for her birthday. So she met us at Starbucks Saturday morning, and Carter had a latté and Starbucks gift card waiting for her.
Then we went to the farmer's market to look for some fresh local raspberries. (another favorite of my mom's). They didn't have any raspberries yet, but they had some yummy cherries she chose instead.
Walking with Nannie to look at the flowers
Cristian wanted to get my mom some flowers for her birthday. So after her morning with Carter, we went with Cristian to the Windmill gardens to look at pots and flowers.
After our flower shopping, my dad and grandma joined us for Brunch at the Windmill Bistro!
Next on the agenda was mani/pedi's with Ava. Ava notices EVERYTHING when it comes to fashion and accessories, so any time my mom changes the color of her pedicure, or gets a hair cut, or any time she wears a new shirt... Ava will comment about it. Ava decided she wanted to get my mom some nail polish for her birthday... so she picked out a new OPI color for her after our afternoon at the spa.
Ava chose a sparkly purple color for her fingers
and pink for her toes
My mom and Ava showing off their freshly painted toes and fingers!
Being the huge Disney family that we are, we were counting down the days until the release of Cars 2! We went with cousins Carly, Clair, and Marcus, and Aunt Lisa and cousin Abby the first show of the day, the day it was released. It was a great movie! Kinda like Cars meets James Bond.
Ava's friend Madisen had a Rapunzel theme birthday party for her 5th birthday. I thought her mom did a great job decorating. She had Rapunzel's hair wrapped around outside, and made the purple sun banner.
she also had these posters hanging up all over
here's Ava taking a swing
Cristian climbing around in the bounce house they rented
Carter after going down the slide
always climbing, this boy!
Ava watching (or helping) Madisen open the present she gave her.
Cristian had fun playing fetch with their dog!
Cristian showing Carter how the dog fetches the ball from the field
Carter taking a turn
Carter found one of his favorite thing in the whole wide world in their shed... a John Deere tractor!
Last Wednesday we had a gymnastics party where we made hair bows, decorated flip flops, and learned a new hair style.
Here's Ava modeling the hair style that my friend Tara taught me how to do. I think it turned out pretty cute :)
Front view
side view
She looks like a little gymnast to me :)
Here's Cristian on his 1st day of 2nd grade, back in September...
And here he is on his last day of 2nd grade!
Can hardly believe he'll be in the 3rd grade. Good bye primary, hello intermediate school.
One of the things I love about volunteering in the classroom for several hours a week is you really get to know your child's teacher. And over the year, I learned what Ms. B's favorite restaurant is (she mentioned her husband taking her there for their anniversary), and I also learned that her favorite meal is salmon. Little did she know, I have a freezer full of Fresh caught salmon from Alaska! So, we bought Ms. B a cooler, put 4 salmon in it, and some wood planks to grille it on, along with a rub/seasoning for salmon, and we also included 2 of our favorite salmon marinade recipes in with the card. I have never seen someone so excited to get salmon in my life! And, about 10 of us moms went in on a gift card to her favorite restaurant. She was very surprised, and very, very appreciative.
Cristian's class also was treated to an ice cream party because their class raised the most money for new playground equipment!!
Cristian on his last day as a second grader
Ava enjoying some ice cream with Jaynie and Lydia
After school we celebrated with our 3rd annual lunch at McDonalds followed by a movie.
Bailey, Hayden, Jaynie, Cristian, Peyton, Maggie, and Zack
Here are the boys showing what grade they'll be in next year... two 3rd graders, and two 4th graders!
Everyone before the movie, Mr. Popper's Penguins
Popcorn and candy in hand, and ready for the movie to start
Since it was over 80 degrees, after riding bikes and playing outside, the kids had a water balloon fight.
Gottcha
Carter enjoyed popping water balloons on the driveway
good throw buddy!!
