Recitals

Maggie had her dance performance on Monday. Since they were a Mommy and Me class, their "recital" was in their classroom (Miss Raegan wasn't sure it was worth anyone's time to get them up on stage...performance anxiety!) Maggie talked about the "pom pom" dance all morning so I was thinking that this might be her day to shine. Well, I have great footage and pictures of Maggie standing and pouting. She did barely, and I mean barely, shake her pom poms and march her feet but just barely! But you know what, that's just Maggie and she still was adorable even with a pouty face!

Maggie's official portrait:)

Not shaking her pom poms!

Mags loves Miss Raegan and Miss Jennifer!




Kate's dance recital was today and her class danced to "Good Ship Lollipop." They're dance and costumes were super cute. In fact, her teacher said that it was quite possibly her favorite dance and costume in the recital.

Kate did a fantastic job again this year. She loves dance and loves to perform so it's the best combination for her!

Kate's official portrait

Kate loves Miss Christine and Miss Jennifer!

Goodbye Preschool

Today was Kate's last day of school. It's hard to believe that she'll be in Kindergarten next year! She has had a great year. Her teachers, Mrs. Knight and Mrs. Reese, are wonderful, kind, and very loving to Kate. She is sad that she won't be in their class next year but she told me tonight, "Maybe I'll see them in the hall." In celebration of her last day of Pre-K, Kate chose "rice and beans" for dinner (aka Mexican food) and a root beer float from Sonic for dessert.

Now it's time to bring on the summer fun!

First day of school - August 20, 2010

Last day of school - May 25, 2011

We love Mrs. Knight

Mrs. Reese calls Kate her "snuggler"

Rice and beans!

Root beer float for a tasty treat

Half Way to One

Benny boy is 6 months old today! I'm feeling happy and sad about it. Happy because he's getting bigger and is more fun each month (and we're half way there to not having to wash bottles!) but sad because he's my last baby and it's going way fast!

6 month highlights:

rolled over from back to front - this happened at my friend Becky's house and no one saw him do it. I laid him on his back to play and Becky looked over and he was on his tummy. We have all since witnessed him rolling. Now we need to work on rolling front to back.

I know I posted about this, but Ben was baptized. That's always a special day to say that you'll raise your child to love and worship God in front of your friends and family.

started solids - I know...I'm late in starting him because quite frankly, it's a hassle! Kate started at 4 months, Maggie at 5 months, and finally I let Ben give it a shot at 5 1/2 months. So far he's tried rice cereal, sweet potatoes, applesauce, and green beans. So far he's liked it all.

found his feet and loves to put them in his mouth

found his voice and loves to squeal

Ben is loving to reach out and touch our faces, pull on shirts, and pull his sisters' hair (they do not like this!)

We are working on sitting up, but I'm thinking that it's hard for him to hold that big body of his up! Although I'll bet he'll have that mastered by 7 months. Maybe a tooth by 7 months? Maybe, but if history repeats itself, he'll still have a toothless grin next month.

I can't say enough what a sweet baby Ben is. Honest to goodness, he so very rarely cries and always has a smile for anyone and everyone. I just hope that this is his true personality. By the time I've gone through things with Kate and Maggie, I'll need a low maintenance kiddo!:)

Happy 6 months Ben! We love you to pieces!

First attempt at rice cereal - wasn't
so sure about it!

Maggie's Last Day of School

It's always a little bittersweet to end the school year. I look forward to summer with no routine and hustling around in the mornings but each year the girls have such great school years, teachers, and friends that it's sad when it ends. This year is no exception. Today was Maggie's last day of Older 2s at Asbury. She had a fantastic year with Miss Connie and Miss Barbara. They are super teachers and they love Mags to pieces (who else would celebrate her lovie's birthday?!). She also had a great class and lots of good kiddos to play with each day. Even though we'll miss our Asbury friends over the summer, we're excited to play, swim, and sleep in...hopefully!!

First day of school - August 26, 2010

Last day of school - May 20, 2011

We love Miss Barb (Miss Connie
was at her son's law school graduation
in Virginia)

Maggie's last day of school dinner pick - Hideaway pizza

And special dessert - ice cream!

Ben's Baptism

Ben was baptized on Sunday morning by Pastor Tom. He did a fantastic job. He was quiet and sort of just checked everything out. Kate loved standing up in front of the church and so sweetly said "aww" when Tom baptized him. She loves her baby brother. Maggie was also excited to be up front, but she loved laying down on the kneelers. I did have her get up for the actual baptism but while Tom was talking at the beginning, she was relaxing! That girl is a mess!

Enjoy the pictures!



With Mimi and PopPop

With Glammy and Papaw

With Pastor Tom

Tom is telling Kate that having Ben
baptized shows that Jesus loves him and Maggie
interruped and said "I can twirl!"

Happy Mother's Day

Even though I didn't get to spend the entire day with my kiddos, my time with them once we got home from Paris was great! The girls were dying to show me what they had made for me at school and also show off the flowers that they had ordered for me (actually daddy did the ordering!). My best Mother's Day present was coming home to Kate, Maggie, and Ben and having them so excited to see me and love on me. I am a blessed mommy!!

What a fun surprise to come home to!

Kate's gift to me that she made
at school. It says: My mom is the most
wonderful mom in the world!
Her name is Kelly.
She is as pretty as could be, always.
She is 40 years old.
She has green eyes and brown hair.
She weighs 8 pounds and is 1 foot tall.
Her favorite food is pasta.
In the good old days when she was little, she
liked to nap.
I think Mom is funny when she scares me and I
run away.
I wouldn't trade my Mom for candy.
I love my Mom because she is special.
Happy Mother's Day!

Maggie's gift to me. It says:
I am like a flower.
That's raised with love by you.
You help me grow up
big and strong.
Mom, thanks for all you do!

A Week in Paris

Ryan and I just returned on Sunday from a week long trip to Paris with his grandparents, Nan and Bumps, and his cousins and spouses. There were 12 of us enjoying our trip together. We had a great time. We did alot of sightseeing and even more eating. I'll never be able to do the trip justice so I'll just overload you with pictures.

And while we were enjoying a week away, Mimi and PopPop were babysitting. Needless to say, everyone in our house is getting readjusted. Us to the time and having 3 kids again and our 3 kids are getting reacquainted with our rules!:)

Our first picture with the Eiffel Tower
cruising along the Seine

White robe breakfast in Nan and Bumps'
room

Brett and Ryan

With Kylie and Will at La Tour d' Argent

With Hayden and Kylie at dinner - it was a 4 1/2
hour dinner with 12 courses!

Harry's - the place that invented the Bloody Mary

Cocktails at Bar Plaza Athenee - Darren, Will,
and Ryan

The girls on our way to the Louvre - me, Hayden,
Nan, Kylie, and Heidi

The boys on the way to the Louvre - Darren, Brett,
Ryan, Bumps, Clark, Will, and Barrett

Post dinner drinks on Heidi and Barrett's
balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower

Dinner at La Cinq at the Four Seasons - it was our
last night in Paris

Ryan and Nan enjoying a cocktail before dinner