A Little of This and a Little of That

As promised I'm posting random pictures that I had taken throughout the past few weeks.

Both kids LOVE and I mean LOVE watermelon.  This is probably one of their favorite fruits...besides raspberries.  We bought one of those mini seedless ones at Sam's Club and the kids and I ate the whole thing one night while Andy was at a track meet.

My Boo loves watermelon too.   Watermelon slices=smiles!

Beautiful days outsides makes for a fun jeep ride.  Who would have thought that empty water bottles would bring almost an hour of entertainment.  I think I found 8 of them in our recycling container and the first thing we played was "knock the pins down."  I set the bottles on a large stool and the kids took turns throwing a ball at them and tried to knock them all down.  That was followed by "Pet Shop."  The kids found "pretend" bugs around the yard...sticks, grass, flower petals, rocks...and put them into jars.  They turned part of the yard into a shop and I was the customer that they sold their pets too.  The last thing we did was "hide the bottles."  For the first few rounds I would hide these 8 bottles all over the yard and the kids would each find 4.  Then Ava and Isaiah took turns hiding them.  Go figure...all those toys in the house...nope...just a simple plastic water bottle will do.

Ava came home from school the other day and told me she was supposed to do a sink/float activity at home.  She said they talked about this at school that afternoon.  So the kids took tall glasses of water and gathered random things around the house to experiment with.  They found crayons, toys, coins, pieces of candy, and much more.  They loved this!  I even used my teacher lingo and told them to "predict" what they thought would happen before they put the object in the water.

Little Miss Scientist!

My Three Happy's:

1) Andy's done with track...he had his last meet tonight at Boone.  Yippee!!!

2) 11 1/2 days of school left

3) My precious little ones...tonight Ava practiced writing her first, middle, and last name and read some stories to me.  Isaiah practiced his name...still working hard on that /s/, and worked on identifying his lowercase letters and some sounds.  I'm really excited to do more with the kids over the summer.  The both LOVE to learn!

Happy Happy Birthday

You may have wondered if I'd disappeared off this planet, the truth...computer problems again.  The Blogger website changed it's homepage and settings.  Things still work the same, but the viewing looks a bit different and they offer some other things that I haven't seen before.  To make a long story short, our computer that we had was not able to read this new Blogger site and that meant that I was unable to post.  We never stopped having fun, I didn't stop taking pictures, and I was seriously starting to go a bit crazy at night knowing I had so much to say and so many pictures to share...but no way to do it at home. 

Andy's grandparents were beyond generous and have let us "borrow" their newer lap top.  The payment for this rental agreement..."more posts."  That I can promise you.  This thing works at warp speed and is so easy to use.  Love it already!  My first thought was do I start way back...two weeks ago and work my way up or do I just start from the most recent and then gradually add in the pictures I haven't shared yet???  What to do...what to do?  Well I decided to start with the most recent pictures and then go back and share the others within other posts. 

On Saturday I turned 33.  How terrible is that...and yeah, I know...33 isn't really that old.  But it is when I look at the gray hairs that are starting to show up on my head, the wrinkles that are staying on my face from years of smiling (I guess that's a good thing), and when I look back at my wedding pictures and think...oh my word...I'm young then.  Granted I'm a year older, I still had a fun birthday with my family.  Tonight we celebrated at Andy's grandparents house.  We grilled, had tons and tons of yummy food, and a delicious cake.  I kid Grandpa Richardson when I say I was "disappointed that he didn't make the cake this time."  If you're a Richardson, you know what I mean. 

My loves getting ready to help me blow out the candles.  They were singing Happy Birthday to me.  I think Isaiah was eyeing the candle he wanted to blow out first.

They both wanted the pieces with the large purple flowers.

My Bootles took this picture of us.  She's pretty good with the camera.

This is the beautiful hanging basket that I got from Darrell, Rayla, and Kirstin and underneath the nice cards and money I can use to shop with.  Who knows what I'll get...I need some new summer clothes.  Jody and Tim renewed my subscription to US Weekly.  I LOVE that magazine and it's always the perfect gift.  A girl has to keep up on her gossip.

The yummy cake...I ate my piece and most of Ava's too!

On Saturday I spent my birthday at my sister's house in Grimes with my side of the family.  They just got Isabelle a new play set and pool so Ava and Isaiah were beyond thrilled when I told them we were going there for pizza and cake.  It was such a low key birthday, but perfect.  I didn't have to lift a finger and had a great time.  The kids loved being around each other!

Isabelle and Isaiah in the sandbox together.

Ava trying out the new pool...what a gorgeous day outside.

Kevin and my Mom hanging out with the kids

This slide is so fast when you go down in a wet swimsuit.  It's even strong enough for adults!

I lost count of the number of times the kids went down this slide.

The three cousins

Time for a ride on the tire swing!

All three of my loves!

Ava, Isaiah, and Isabelle were putting the balloons and candles on the cake.  I kid my parents...but they bring these silly balloons to EVERY birthday party.  They are so old but a cake wouldn't be the same without them. 

Chocolate Twinkie cake and Oreo ice cream...heaven!  My sister got me a gift card to Target...perfect, and my parents got me a laminator and money to buy more laminating sheets to use at home for school and other things around the house.  I can't wait to use it!

And there you have it...33 years with many more fun years to come!

My Three Happy's:

1) Watching both of my kids fall asleep tonight.  I love reading to them, turning on their music and cuddling with them until I see them drift off to sleep.  I'm so thankful to be their Mommy!

2) Starting our garden this weekend.  We expanded it to make more room for sweet corn.  This year we decided to plant in sections...not all at once.  Andy planted a variety of radishes and will add more seeds soon.  I planted 3 rows of corn and will do more next week.  We still have peas, beans, peppers, and tomatoes left to do...plus the flowers that I will be getting soon...Andy and the kids always take me flower shopping for my birthday. 

3) Starting up this blog again....thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Richardson.

Growing Up

Each day marks one more day in the lives of my kids...and that means that they are really growing up.  I remember when they were born and people would tell me, "Your kids will grow up before your eyes and before you know it, they'll be graduating from high school."  I remember thinking "yeah right"  that's soooo far away.  How is is that my baby girl will be in kindergarten next year and my baby boy will be in the 4 year old preschool program?  Time really does fly and it's a daily reminder of how important it is to take the time to do things with your kids.  Yeah...the laundry doesn't always get folded, the dishes don't always get put away, the toys don't always get picked up, our bedroom is a mess, and the most fanciest dinners don't always get made.  Life is way to short to worry about the little things....so play, smile, goof around, giggle, and learn.  That's what makes memories!

I've been bringing home some of my reading station activities that I've done with my class this year.  Ava and Isaiah love these!  Isaiah is still a bit to young but still likes to pretend he knows what he's doing.  Ava loves reading words and sorting things.  For this game she had little cow cards and was reading words on the cows and sorting them into the barns they belong to.

Then she played another game with picnic baskets and word cards that resembled food.  She loved this one too!

Isaiah's been working on his letter sounds.  He knows all his uppercase letters and most of his lowercase too.  I took an alphabet puzzle we had and dumped all the letters into his Easter bucket.  Then he would close his eyes and reach into the basket...I was told "hold the basket up higher Mommy."  He would then tell me the letter and the sound that it made before he put it into the puzzle.  We then talked about two things that start with that sound.  He loves making a game out of everything.  Some nights I hide letters all around the house and he goes on a "letter hunt."  Learning can be so much fun!

Doing a little jig!

My baby went to kindergarten round-up today.  It was themed around zoo animals and Ava had a blast.  The teachers said she did great but was very quiet.  How can Ava be so quiet at school...she's SOOO loud at home!  Here she is being walked back to me with Mrs. Upah...one of the teachers she knows.  She got to make a pink elephant, listen to stories, color a picture, play a parachute game with the group, had chocolate milk and cookies for snack, and got a balloon and pencil when she left.  She looks funny in this picture because I don't think she recognized me at first.  My class went on a field trip today and I had my hair pulled back and was wearing a baseball hat...I never do that and it took her a few seconds to spot me. 

She was going to dress for the zoo theme and we had 3 different shirts that she could choose from; but at the last minute this morning she decided she wanted to "dress up."  She loved it and I know she's going to LOVE kindergarten!

The Easter festivities are all captured on the pictures that I put in this slide show.  I've used this song before and decided to use it again because I love the words! 

One Hoppy Easter Day!
(click the above link to see the slide show)

My Three Happy's:
1) Seeing Ava walk down that hallway after round up.  It's going to be so much fun having her at school all day next year and Isaiah there in the afternoon.
2) Smash...does anyone watch that show?  I love it!  One day we just tried it and now it's one we DVR each week.  We didn't get to watch it on Monday so maybe tonight.  I think I hear Rules of Engagement and The Big Bang Theory calling our names too! 
3) Hickory Park...Isaiah requested that we go and pick it up and bring it home tonight.  Ah...cheese balls and ranch...the BEST!

Life is Full of Smiles!

Here are a few pictures of things in life that make you smile...

...roasting marshmallows to make S'mores,

dressing up as Buzz Lightyear (old Halloween costume underneath), Cat in the Hat, and just add a bathrobe to that.  Isaiah called himself a "Buzz Cat in the Hat."

Maybe not as dressed up...but being cozy in your robe and doing crafts,

peeling apples to make homemade pie,

pinching the edges "just right,"

...and an hour worth of playing "Dentist" with play dough.

As the famous quote says..."Life is Good!"

My Three Happy's:

1) I finally remembered to bring my camera cord home from school.  Every day I'd try to remember and when it was time to blog, I'd realize I'd left it at school again. 

2) We were outside playing tonight and Isaiah said, "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom."  I said, "Okay Boo, you can go in and go."  I turned my back to show Ava some weeds she could pull (apparently they both like doing that) and then turned around to see Isaiah standing back by our shed by the hostas with his pants down, and he was going to the bathroom.  We've done this a few times when he's been swimming outside instead of running in the house with a wet swimsuit, so I guess he remembered that and thought that would be much faster.

3) 26 days of school left...YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Easter Day slideshow coming soon.  Animoto is currently processing everything and putting it together!

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on it's Way!

Phase 2 of "Catching Up":  The annual Reiman Garden's Easter Bunny Brunch!

To say this was fun for the kids would be an understatement...adding more words like SO exciting, awesome, amazing, and wonderful sounds better.  What's better in a kid's world than meeting the most famous bunny in the world...The Easter Bunny!  Every year my parents take our family along with my sister's family to Reiman Gardens for brunch, Easter crafts and activities, and an egg hunt. 

Isaiah wanted to decorate a bunny mask first.  I'm so proud of how well he is coloring now.  He really takes his time and stays in the lines.  I always felt like Ava was the one who liked to color and Isaiah had no interest...but now he really loves it.  I bet I stood there with him for over 15 minutes as he added a rainbow of colors to his mask.  He was very proud of it!

Ava loves any kind of craft and can spend hours doing anything involving markers, crayons, glue, scissors, paper, stickers...you name it...she'll be happy.

They also went to a face painting station where they got to choose what they wanted.  Ava chose a little chick.

...and here he is...the famous bunny!  They were loving this!

Isaiah wanted his face painted too!

He wanted a yellow bunny!

Brunch time with Grandma and Grandpa

My Dad with Isabelle and Julie

Mommy and her two excited little bunnies!

They always have a bunny petting area.  How cute are these little guys!

They were soooo soft...it made you want to take one home!

Pixar makes this short film called "The One Man Band."  Every time we see this in the conservatory, it reminds the kids of this little show they've seen.

Gaze upon the thousands of eggs they scatter around the gardens.  I love how they do this.  All eggs are empty and the kids collect as many as they can.  At the end of the hunt they exchange them for a prize bag.  That way each child leaves with the same thing.

On your mark...

...get set...GO!

All done...this was as much as her little bunny basket would hold.

Someone went all out!

After brunch we headed back to my parents house.  Isaiah was having Grandpa put together a new Lego watch he got from the Reiman Garden's gift shop.

Dancing with Grandma

Time to dye eggs

I have the CUTEST niece in the world!

What pretty colors!

Time for a little bike ride!

Ava loves Miss Isabelle's car

Kevin and Isabelle

Well that's another set of pictures I posted.  I just realized that I forgot my camera cord at school yesterday.  I may have to run up and get that.  This week the kids made their own little bunny Easter baskets, dyed lots of eggs at home, made Smores, and played outside LOTS!

Tomorrow we will be gone the entire day visiting family.  So if I don't have a chance to post, I wish you all a Happy Easter!

My Three Happy's:
1) Catching up on folding laundry
2) Listening to the kids playing with Andy...I hear the pitter patter of feet, shouts of laughter, and whatever game they are playing...I'm about ready to go up and join them. 
3) Being with our families tomorrow!