Changes

Here is Sam on her first day and last day of VPK.  She is standing in a slightly different spot, but I think she has had a growth spurt recently. The changes are dramatic to me. 

Zoey in her romper with pockets.

Here is science Sunday elephant toothpaste.  I added just a tad bit too much water when I did the yeast.  And the girls got in on their clothes.

So we tried again without clothes and it was thicker.

Both girls dislike the vacuum, which is not too bad since I am not a frequent vacuumer.  Nick got Zoey to help and she seemed to like it better.

After antibiotics, Zoey went back to a bouncing fever.  But she finally seems better.  Her cough is lingering and she has some mucous, but I think she may be mending.  It will be wonderful to be able to leave the house on a regular basis.

The students in our classes are driving us crazy, even with our current low expectations.  But we only have a week and a half until we are finished!

Summer is here

It is so hard to believe Sam has finished PreK and will start Kindergarten in a few short months.  She learned so much this year.  Her teacher is an amazing woman, so patient and focused on peace.  She was a blessing and we are so thankful.

Some art from this year...

Her whole class on the world.

The family in a blizzard.

Ocean Animals.  Such detail!

Hand painting art for the celebration.

Ready for the end of the year celebration.

Sam and her amazing teacher.

Singing in the show.

Then the girls and I got sick.  Sam missed the Monday and Tuesday of school.  She recovered from swimmer's ear to get a cold. She had a bouncing fever and just made it back for the last day and ice cream party.  Zoey ended up on antibiotics for an ear infection.  I was hesitant, but with the bouncing fever, it was Friday, and she was complaining, the doctor suggested not gambling.  I had a cold and cough.  We are all better now, with just some lingering cough.

We have been busy recovering with some time for fun.  We have been doing more lately with friends for dinner and brunch.  Today we got in the pool and used my camera's underwater feature.

My self portrait.  

Sam finally swimming after so long on the floatie.

Zoey is more fearless, but sometimes cries afterwards.  But she is willing to go again, although asks for me to hold her.

Happy Summer!  We just have 2 weeks of summer classes and then our real break starts.  Although we have a lot on our to do list.

Swim lessons

Both girls had swim lessons together.  Except for a make up day after they missed for a stomach bug.  

Zoey started the week miserable with lots of tears and trying to climb out.  She made huge strides except she still hated jumping off the steps to her instructor.

Sam did well in the beginning, but then swallowed some water and never really got coming up for breaths.  She could do it but cried about it and had a mental block.  So both girls ended the week at the same level.  We will have to work with them this summer, but Sam has been out of the pool lately because she got swimmer's ear.  And now I have a cough.  Fun times!

Both girls loved the noodle work after a few days.

Sam swimming.

Look at these tiny legs go.

The rest of May

In no particular order, for May...

We saw baby swans.  Squeeee, so cute!

Celebrated mother's day.

Went to Legoland with my parents.  Sam loved this ride.

She rode the roller coaster but was not a big fan.

She loved this horse ride.

The safari ride was fun...

for all ages.

The girls had swim lessons (I will add that post next), and I tried to do something fun after every day.  One day we went to visit kittens at the SPCA.

 We went to a jeans fundraiser for a kid with cancer.  I bought some jeans and we got the girls passes to jump.  Unfortunately, this was a couple days after Zoey's first time throwing up and the heat, jumping, sugar and everything was too much.  Poor kid threw up right there behind me on some jeans.  What a mess!

We went to an indoor play place called family fun center with friends.  Poor Zoey got jumped on and fell off a bench.

 We went to the mall and rode the carousel.

And we went horseback riding.  Well the girls rode and we walked.  It was a 20 minute pony ride with someone leading it.  

All ready.

Sam was into it, but not as much as I used to be.

Zoey was unsure some of it, but in the end did not want to get off her pony.

Science Sundays (although sometimes Mondays)!

We continue to do science time.  We did take a week off because of illness.

Recently were...

Pressure, which involved a balloon that zoomed through the sky.

 Buoyancy, which involved the dancing raisin experiment.  I* did learn it works better if they are cut into pieces.

And insulation, which involved sticking her hand in ice water without

and with insulation (see the crisco on her gloved hand?) to see how a polar bear can stand such cold water.

Photo fundraiser

Wow, it is almost the end of May and I have been horrible about updates.  We stay busy, so I will do my best to catch up on our lives.

We participated in a photo shoot fundraiser, we paid a small fee and got 5 edited images from the same photographer who normally does the girls birthday sessions.

I love these.  

Bears, Oh My!

I have a few photos I had not uploaded from my phone and then some more recent stuff.

After our busy Zoo trip, Sam fell asleep in the car.  I am amazed by her ability to doze so easily, even with Zoey screaming/singing/talking/etc.  

A few from our Phoenix trip.  Grammy's car had a sunroof and the girls really wanted to stick their heads out.  My car has one too, but they never beg for it at home.

 Zoey loves ring around the rosies.

These signs were in a courtyard right near our hotel.  I thought they were cool.

Sam's school has had a few events recently.

First was the bear hunt.  They read the book and got ready.  They made back packs, maps, packed a "lunch" and went off.  Through water, mud, pretend snow and found their bear, then ran back through all of it and had a picnic.  So cute.

And then they had field day.  It was short, so a few games and a snack.

Sam got to ride.

And then push.

Running in the relay.

We also had a spring neighborhood picnic.  Music was blaring and the girls had a great time dancing.  Not sure where Zoey gets her moves, but it is cute.

A picture in front of my parents Lantana.

Zoey and I went blueberry picking twice in the last few weeks.  Zoey loves the berries and ate more than she put in the bucket.

The next time we went Zoey was fussy and even berries could not keep her happy until a friend came and she fed him berries.  He went to eat one and she said, "No, I get you one."

Zoey was doing great potty training and I tried to stretch the ratio, so we got a few bad days.  This morning started better, so we got donuts for breakfast (plus my coupons for this month are almost expired).  Zoey pretty much dove into hers.

Today was my moms club spring picnic.  Someone else asked about grandparents, so I invited my parents.  Zoey was supposed to eat her fruit and veggies but Papa had chips.

Both girls love sliding.

And bouncing.

And this was a lot of fun today.