Pool Party!

Today was the first weekday and we didn't have school!  Why?  Because it's summer baby!  (I'm sure that will get old to you readers but I am so excited to be on vacation!).  Today we headed over to our friend Holly's house to swim in this bad boy!  Jackie and Olivia were there too!

This thing is awesome!  There are 2 slides and a little pool.  It took like an hour to blow up so while we waited, we ate some lunch on the patio and got ready to hit the water.  Gracie loved the big slide and she went down it about a million times! 

These two weren't too sure about this so at first they hung out on this little slide.

And ate some cookies that we baked this morning.  (See, we had time to bake this morning...I love summer.)

Our friends Cullen and Mason came too!  Isn't he such a cute dude?

Gracie and her boyfriend Cullen were taking care of each other by holding the sprayer out of each other's way when they came down the slide.

She asked me about getting one of these......oh Grandpa.......

Soon Presley discovered how much fun it was to spray people with the water squirter.

I even took a turn on this.  Ignore the fatness please.

And then, because my friends made me, I ran and dove headfirst through the little slide.  Totally fun!  But totally cold!

Eventually the kids stumbled over to the swingset in a cookie coma.  The entire box of cookies got eaten up!

2 peas in a pod swinging.

Then back to the big swing to eat some more cookies.

Finally Evie decided to be brave and try out this slide into the pool.  She loved it!

In the meantime, we chilled out and kicked back.

Presley discovered the horsey. 

And here is all the kiddies that played today.  They had so much fun and so did we!  I know we have many sunny swimming days ahead of us this summer!  Thanks Holly!

Memorial Day Weekend!

This weekend was the kickoff to summer! School ended Friday and there's nothing but whatever we want to look forward too! Of course we have plans but fun plans!  This weekend we started it off right.  For starters, we went to my friend Dana's house for a cookout on Saturday.  Of course, I forgot the swimsuits so we had to borrow Allie and Emma's.  But Evie didn't mind.

Gracie didn't either.  She couldn't wait to jump in thier pool!  Chuck bought them new floaty things.

Here's Gracie and Allie testing out the water. 

My girls and their suits out on loan.

My friend Dana was like "yeah, come over, the pool's open and the water is warm."  We get there and it's cold.  Thankfully she took Gracie in with her.

The kids had fun playing with the water table too.

Mia was just chilling.  Isn't she a doll?

We cooked out and it was great.  Gracie even ate a hot dog!

And then somehow Kevin ended up sitting at the kids table.  Ha!

On Sunday, we decided to wash the cars.  For the mini, this was a first.  I've only had it for like 3 years now.  She's ugly to begin with she did need a good cleaning inside and out.

The kids were so excited to wash the cars that they even started washing the garbage cans.

Today we went to a Memorial Day parade in Minooka.  We dressed festively.

Here is all of our friends that we went with.

Allie was all decked out in red, white, and blue.

Here are mine.  This was the best picture I could get.

Little Miss Hollywood.

Watching the parade.

It was a short and sweet parade. They threw some candy and we even saw some tractors.

Meghan was in the parade.

And so was Jared.

Presley like the fire trucks best!

After the parade, it was so hot!  We went back to Dana's for some freeze pops.

It was a great weekend filled with friends and family.  It was awesome. It was a good kickoff to summer!  I"m so excited it's finally here!

Best. Team. Ever!

These ladies are the ladies I spent the last year of teaching with.  They are the best.  Right here, this is the best team I have ever worked with.  We have so much fun together.  We do what we need to do and get our stuff done.  Most of us have taught 3rd grade together for many years!  We have been through so much like weddings, parties, and babies.  We hang out outside of school and our kids know each other and call each other friends too.  These ladies really are some of my best friends.  Since I see them everyday, they probably know the most about me.  We have no secrets and our husbands know that too :).  We are being split up next year and we sort of expected it.  It's sad and we don't like it but we will make the best of it.  I know that no matter what, we will NOT stop being friends.  We may not have the same lunch period but we still have our before and after school chats to look forward too.  (Which is really what makes the day).  No matter where we move, no one can keep us from being friends.  Nothing.  This moving stuff is for the birds and we will be ok even though it sucks. 

I know there are few people that can say they work with some of the greatest.  I can.  I feel truly blessed that I got to work with these ladies and I believe it was fate that led us all to each other because I honestly don't know what I would do without these girls in my life!  So to Andrea, Becky, Laurie, Patti, and Holly, I love you all!  You are what keeps me going when the going gets tough!  It's the end of an era but I know we still have good times to be had.  And WE will!

Remember...Chumbawumba!  We will get knocked down, but we will get up again!  And you better believe it!

Last Day At Miss Rose's!

Today was the first of two sad days headed my way. Today was the last day at Miss Rose's, our babysitter.  Forever.  She will not be watching kids next year.  I got her a plant and made a pot that said "Thanks for watching us grow over the years."

Then each of the kids put their handprint on it.

Here is the last picture of my kids and Miss Rose's kids, Jonathan, Brandon and Marianna.  My kids are pretty attached to them and they love them!  Marianna is so good with them.  I told her that she could come over and play and watch the kids some days over the summer so that I can get some stuff done!  My kids also love Jonathan.  He has always been Gracie's little buddy.  He has played with her since she was a baby and he was like 3 and now he's in 2nd grade!  Brandon..well, they love him too but he would rather not play with them.  At least they know his name.

See....Jonathan and Gracie are good buddies.  At least they will be able to  see each other at school next year!

Here is Miss Rose with the kids.  She has been great putting up with us all these years.  We have been going to her  since Gracie was 3 months old!  Just when she got used to her, I told her I would be having twins and she bravely took on that task.  She was so easy to work with and dealt with our crazy scheules at times. 

One last group hug!

I had tears in my  eyes as we said our goodbyes.

But I know that we'll see each other again in and out of school and that she will always be an important part of my kids' lives.

Thank you for all the years Miss Rose!  We'll miss you!