We got a pool!!!

At least that's what Chelsea was calling it...

Is this cat for real?

Seriously, we probably had, oh, I don't know, 15 cats while we were growing up...NOT ONE of them could compare in weirdness to Tommy.  Wait, maybe Chong could in one aspect...he used to lick my brothers' and dad's heads.  Tommy doesn't do that but he does a whole lot of other weird things!!

He curled right up and took a nice long nap!

Wiggle Worms and Tumble Bugs

I have been scoping out a local summer camp/children's class/pre-school place called Maplewood because I am already thinking about sending Nick to summer camp next summer.  We went to an open house and it looked awesome so I signed up the kids for "gymnastics" classes to do some further scoping.  Chelsea was in the Wiggle Worm group and Nick was in Tumble Bugs...they both LOVED it!!!  Nick's was actual gymnastics...we won't be rolling out the mats for an olympic champion quite yet, but like I said he had a blast!  And Chelsea absolutely loved singing the silly songs and playing the silly games.  I am looking forward to more classes in the fall and eventually their awesome summer camp!

They broke out the Bounce House for Chelsea's last day.  She actually stayed in it with Miss Barbara as her "chaperone" when I left the gym to go watch Nick's "show".  She only lasted about 5 minutes but it was a miracle!

When Nick saw Braelynn (the girl behind him) before class started he said, "Hey, why'd she get to wear her bathing suit?"

Making sure Mommy was watching him...even in the middle of his vault.

So proud of his medal!

 

As you can see...Nick was the "poser" of the group.  Always looking for the camera to ham it up and give me a thumbs up!  I was dying laughing/wondering where in the world he gets it from.

Saquish Sleepover

Ever since Nick was born I have been dreaming of the day when we would take our kids down for a sleepover at the beach...playing on the beach all day, rain barrel shower, dinner on the deck, walk down to the rocks with rolled up sweatpants, games & books...no TV, no Wii, no Xbox, no computer games.  Just like "the good old days".  Well.  The weather didn't exactly cooperate...it was borderline FREEZING at times!!!!  But we still had a wonderful, tech-free weekend (except for the occasional Words With Friends entry of course).  Saquish is my most favorite place on earth and I feel so lucky that I can share it with Ryan and the kids and that they love it just as much as I do.

 The new out house!

 Toasty warm on the back deck

Is it possible for it to be TOO windy to fly a kite???!!!  Daddy was cursing the Easter Bunny for giving the kids junky kites.

Crazy girl going in the "pool" at 9 am, 60 degrees out, wind whipping like crazy, loving life.

The "Graduate"

We had the Family Commencement Day Picnic for Nick's preschool on Tuesday.  I say "Graduate" because he will be going back for another year of preschool in the fall...we are going to keep him out of kindergarten even though he makes the cutoff by a whole 8 days (or I guess I should say, because he makes the cutoff by 8 days)!!!!! 

Nick's teachers do such a great job...with everything.  They have the commencement at a zoo/park so that families can spend time together going to the zoo and playing at the playground.  Then a picnic and a short little ceremony when the kids get their "diplomas" and "hats".  We were very luck to have Uncle Pete, Auntie Tara, Emma, Drew and Leah join us for the day.  Everyone had a great time and Nick was so excited to "show his school friends his cousin Drew".  

I didn't let the tears flow this year (I will save that for next year) but my pride certainly swelled even more than usual for this boy who has had his hands around my heart since the day he was born.  The huge smile on Mrs. McCarthy's face when Nick went to say good-bye to her and she said, "We are SOOOOOO happy that Nicholas is coming back next year".  And then Ms. DesJardins, who filled up with tears when she hugged Nick and said, "I love you buddy".  So proud of my baby who makes others feel the same happiness that he makes us feel every day.

Contemplating his future...or looking at a zoo animal???

Popsicle break

Nick and Mikey, climbing the spider web of success!

1st attempt - I don't think we have ever attempted a family picture without everybody being a goofball in the first shot

There we go.  We can be normal (sometimes).

 

Nick, Jack and Mikey.  We will miss Jack next year!

The "Graduates"

You can't hear it on the video but the "graduation song" is playing in the background...doesn't help with the sniffle factor!!!  I think the only way that Nick's smile could get any brighter would be if he had his two bottom teeth!

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

We had a jam-packed, fun-filled weekend!  On Saturday we went to Evan's birthday party and the kids had a blast seeing the reptile show and playing with Evan, Addison and all the kids.  Sunday we headed north for a cookout at our friends' Nate & Bridget's.  So fun to get the gang and all the kiddos together.  Monday brought us to the good old Hanson Memorial Day parade and the beach!!!  The hot, muggy weather made it a perfect weekend...oh except for the fact that our pool didn't open :(.  The kids were NOT happy about that.  Still waiting...

Water slide!

Land ho!

Water balloons and bubbles...ahhhhhhhhhhh, summer is here!

Waiting for the parade...

Ready to see our very own parade celebrities...Papa, Uncle Pete and Emma the Girl Scout!

Goofball!

Little diva with a BIG piece of gum!

"Come on Chelsea...let's find more starfish..."

Do not be alarmed...no starfish were harmed in the making of this pile! 

Hello Mr. Snail, we sure did miss you this winter

Right back on after a major wipe out

Fishing in shallow waters

Unfortunately I cannot say that no child was harmed in the making of this video...more of a bruised ego though. He got up crying and said, "I think I broke the bone in my head, did I?, can you look and see??"  Poor thing. Then five seconds later he said, "But can I do it again?"  Mama's boys will still be boys.



Best Friends

This morning I was taking Nick's sheets off his bed while he and Chelsea were in the bathroom brushing their teeth and I hear Chelsea say, "You're my best friend Nicky".  Oh my goodness.  Enormous tug on the heart strings.