Ellie seems to be growing up before our eyes lately. She's hit a few fun milestones and has one more week of 4K before officially proclaiming herself a kindergartener. She's so excited to go to kindergarten and doesn't really get that there's a whole summer break that'll have to come first! We have lots of fun stuff planned for the summer, so she won't mind the break, but she sure does love school!
The first fun milestone - losing a tooth! And then a second! Back in early April Ellie was telling us her tooth was loose. We didn't believe her thinking she was too young to be losing teeth - I thought that happened in like 1st grade. Well sure enough it was loose, and just a few days later the Tooth Fairy was visiting for the first time. Her second bottom tooth then fell out about 2 weeks later. She had a dental check-up shortly after that and the dentist said kids teeth usually come out in '4s', so we can probably expect the top 2 to follow suit sometime soon. So far, they're still in tact, and new bottom teeth are coming in.
The second fun milestone - riding without training wheels. When we were home for Easter, Ellie's cousin Maxwell was riding his bike without training wheels. Ellie tried it out a couple times in the garage, and then a few weeks later asked to take her training wheels off too. She was a little wobbly at first, and still has a little tendency to look around too much (not where she's going!), but she's riding her bike like a champ now. We've taken several rides around our neighborhood, and she's getting braver and braver - we pretty much need to run to keep up with her! Bike riding is one of her new favorite things to do now.
Here are a few more pictures of Ellie lately. Modeling her dress for Auntie Stephi's wedding. Just over one month to go!
Ellie's hair is growing better now too, and she likes when I braid it =)
Taking a picture before school one day.
Ellie had her first lemonade stand recently too. It was a very hot day, and she was determined to have a lemonade stand - this was on like a Monday night. I didn't think people would just be walking by with money on a Monday night, so we made it a 'free lemonade' stand. She still got a number of 'tips' though =)
Another morning before school - a little hula hoop while waiting for the bus. Ellie's also all about her 'diva' glasses lately!
I found these next two pictures on my phone. Looks like Ellie cleaned up her room and then took pictures to document the occasion =) All of her animals arranged neatly.
And an afghan/table cloth and even a candle on her table =)
All the way at the top of the jungle gym - no fear!
A picture she drew - Ellie, Grant, and Ethan. She has been friends with these two boys ALL year. The school she'll go to next year has seven different kindergarten classes, so hopefully they can still see each other if they're not in the same class.
April was quite possibly the busiest month ever for our family. I traveled to Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and Detroit for work. Colin went to Atlanta for the Final Four. We made an overnight trip to Wisconsin Dells with the kids. We went to Madison for a surprise birthday party. The kids and I drove to Peoria to visit friends. The kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Yes, this was all in one month. It was crazy busy, but it was definitely a lot of fun. We're onto a much more mellow May now =) Well, mellow in comparison to April!
The month started out with a trip to Dallas for me. It was pretty much all work and no play, but I did get to have dinner with my Aunt Debbie, Uncle Les, Jamie, Trip, and Olive who I only see a couple times a year. One of the perks of travel is definitely getting to see family and friends. While I was gone the kids were getting spoiled at Grandma and Grandpa's which they always LOVE!
The week after I got back, Colin made his rendezvous to Atlanta while the kids and I hung out for a few days at home. That following weekend it was birthday time! Andy had been planning a surprise party for Shannon for months, and the weekend was finally here. Colin and I jetted down to Madison for a night for the big surprise. Shannon was in tears of course (she had NO idea) when 50 of her closest friends and family converged on the Great Dane. It was definitely a fun night!
Leave it to my hubby to spoil a perfectly good photo op!
Group shot! My eyes are closed, but I still love this picture!
Bridesmaids getting ready for July!
The day after Shannon's party, I was onto work trip #2 to New York. This was my 3rd trip to New York, so each time I try to see a little bit more of the city. Work left little time for fun again, but I did manage an evening trip to Central Park which was perfect since I was spending all my time indoors. I was also in New York the day of the bombings in Boston which was a bit surreal. The walk to work the morning after the bombing was eery...there were police on the streets EVERYWHERE. The city was on high alert. My travel home was miserable. I was so happy to be home after that trip.
Central Park in the Spring
While I was gone, Emmit got to spend a couple days with Grandma Donna and Papa Herb. They were visiting Wellyn and Sue in Minnesota and stopped to pick him up on their way back home. We are so thankful for the help our families give us when I have to travel for work.
Emmit loved playing with Maxwell and Matthew for 3 fun days!
Two days after I got back from New York, we jumped in our neighbor's mini-van (8 of us all together!) and made a little weekend get-away to Wisconsin Dells. We all stayed in a big suite together, and the kids had a blast. The water parks were a lot of fun for everyone.
Ellie, Emmit, and Sydney in the big hot tub in our room.
Ellie having fun in the pool
Emmit coming down the slide
Ellie and Sydney on the rope bridge
Emmit and Palmer coming down the slide together - they must have done this 50 times, up and down, up and down, that's all they did!
The week after the Dells, I worked a couple days, but then took 3 days off and the kids and I hopped in the car again! We made our way to Madison on Wednesday for a night at Stephi and Mike's. And then 3 more hours south on Thursday to visit the Leustek clan. Jen and Matt just welcomed Jacob Matthew to their family at the end of March, so we were very excited to meet him for the first time and see to Lauren and Elizabeth again too. Once again the kids had so much fun together, and Jen and I had a great time catching up as well. I so wish we lived closer!
Ellie and Emmit watching a show with Uncle Mike the night we were there =)
Emmit holding Jacob. Both Ellie and Emmit could not get enough of Jacob. They were holding him constantly.
Ellie (5), Lauren (almost 4), and Elizabeth (almost 4) hugging so nicely, and Emmit (3 1/2) being silly as always!
We visited the Caterpillar Museum - possibly the best museums for little boys ever! The kids just loved climbing in all the equipment, driving the simulators, and watching a movie in the back of a mining dump truck. Emmit was in heaven!
Just a couple of the big machines - there was no way to get everything in one picture.
The girls getting a picture in the bucket
Waiting for the movie to start
Emmit played in this loader for almost a 1/2 hour. Everytime I asked him if he wanted to check out something else, he'd respond, "No Mom, I'm working."
Sitting all together one morning again. We had a great time visiting out friends. Other than the museum, we visited a couple parks, played out in the yard, had a picnic, and just played, played, played. Thank you Leusteks for such a fun trip!
The week after our road trip to Peoria, I hit the air again for my third and final work trip. I went to LA for 3 days and then Detroit for 2. This was an unusual week being gone for that many days in a row, but thankfully again the kids were well taken care of by Daddy and Miss Kim at home. When I was in LA, I got to meet up with my cousin Jake and his girlfriend Brooke for dinner and drinks. Once again the family perk on top of business travel which definitely was a highlight of the week.
Kim took the kids to a Timberattlers baseball game one afternoon which they absolutely loved! Here's a shot of Kim and Nick with Ellie, Emmit, and Eli, and then Kim's friend with the kids she watches during the day too. They had a lot of fun.
Ellie, Emmit, and Eli with their cotton candy faces!
And then the day after the game look what was in the local newspaper...Emmit playing in the sand. The newspaper photographer captured this shot during the game...he looks so cute! This one we need to get framed =) This was in the paper on May 1st! And gone is the month of April!
We made trips home two weekends in a row in March - first to celebrate Henry's 3rd birthday and then the following weekend for Easter. Both weekends were fun with Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Grandmas, and Grandpas - something we all love!
The Birthday Boy! 3 years old!
Ellie and Batman!
Silly boys!
Eating cake with their trucks
Batman buddies! It was a super hero birthday!
Mamas and the kids!
The following weekend then, we headed up north to Colin's parents for Easter with the Pomeroy family. The kids had fun coloring eggs. I have to say, I always think I want to color eggs, but then when we start doing it, I cannot wait for it to be done...such a mess and stains and spills waiting to happen with 4 kids 5 and under!
4 tired kids having a little downtime with Wreck It Ralph! They played hard for 2 days. I love how they're sitting...Ellie and Max all cuddled up, and Matthew and Emmit looking completely exhausted
Tickles from Papa Herb
Then of course the Easter Bunny came. The Easter bunny needs to start writing down hiding spots from previous years, because the dryer seems to be his favorite spot =) Ellie thought it was HILARIOUS that her basket was in the dryer - AGAIN! Emmit's was sneakily under the desk =)
Cheesy smile with his basket!
And crazy hair with her basket! =) Ellie has some rockin' bed head lately. We're trying to grow her hair out =)
The Easter Bunny heard that Emmit LOVED Henry's batman mask so he brought one for Emmit in his basket too =)
Does it get any better than this?! Candy for breakfast, ok! =)
