Almost the end of the school year(s)

So I received the end of the year notices from both Bailey and Mia's schools. Mia finished in 3 weeks and Bailey has a family day at the end of this month with the end of school for him at the end of June. Bailey is excited to be moving to Grade 1 and Mia is happy to start a new school next year.
The kids also finish up gymnastics and Mia will finish up dance. Her recital is the first weekend in June, and I am praying that she will at least dance on the stage for us. Although she has no problems at the gymnastics show, so let's hope that carries over for dance. She is dancing to Winnie the Pooh, as the entire dance recital is centered around Disney.
Bailey starts soccer tonight with Bill as the Assistant Coach of the team. He says he is really excited about it and very happy his dad will be with him. I start my photography class tonight, so we are continuing to be busy busy around here.

Picture time

Bill has been working the camera here and taking some pretty good shots of the kids on the playground. Thought I would share a few. I can't wait to start my photo class at the end of this month!

It's 5:30am!

Yes, this really is a great job. I get to work at home, in my pajamas, and get done before the kids wake up. The bad part is that I have to get up at 5am. I can hardly keep my eyes open the entire day. I had a terrible allergic reaction to baby sunscreen (you know the pink tubed kind). For some reason, my skin didn't think it was hypoallergenic. My arms are a mess with red raised bumps. I just bought some anti-itch gel and took a benedryl, but to no avail, i am still an itching mess.
Congratulation to our neighbors, Connie and John, who welcomed their 3rd boy on Saturday. Nicholas George was a little overdue and we can't wait to meet him. Connie had no idea what she was having, but I guess she'll have to try again for that girl!

It's finished!

Well, one week later and what seemed like a million hours, the playset is complete. We still have to throw mulch underneath the area, but the main work is done. So, here is the final prduct.

Bill puffed up his chest with pride as a few people from the neighborhood commented on how great it looked.

It's warm!!!

I hear the temperature this week will be in the 60s to 70s. Can you believe it? I have been waiting for this temperature all winter long and I am so sick of being cooped up in my house with no sign of the snow melting. You know it's bad when you are yelling at everyone and everything. But the ground is dry. AND we have started the playset. The pieces we could accomplish in the 40 degree wet weather this weekend in the garage are assembled and I am trying to convince Bill that one day off isn't going to hurt him that much.
Speaking of yelling, Bailey decided that it was so smart to crawl into the linen closet (the bottom shelf mind you) and Amelia and one of her friends closed the door. All I could hear was Bailey's panicked yells for help. I was FRANTIC. I finally opened the door for him and he got in big trouble. Let alone, EVERYONE got in big trouble. And the yelling was due to the fact that I was so scared and knew he was scared and was really mad that the girls would do this to him. . God I am happy spring is here so that the most they should get into is dirt (wait I was just complaining about that too, right?)

The wooden playset of a million pieces

We started yesterday numbering and naming the 5 bazillion pieces of wood and nails and screws... for the new play set that Bill is putting up in the backyard. Last week would have been a perfect time to put it up since it was warm and dry. This weekend, not so much. So we will probably do it this week. There are seriously 300 wood screws and like thousands of other things to be hammered or screwed into this thing. I wanted it done before this week and it is Spring Break and the kids are off of school for the week.
Bill has been called for jury duty and needs to call today to see if he has been selected for tomorrow's numbers. He has number 886, so maybe more towards Wednesday, his lucky number will be called. We shall see.
Our trip to Disney is booked and thanks to my friend Melanie, we snagged a fabulous price on property. We are going at the end of September when all the kids are back at school. Mine will be playing hooky for the week and heading to see the mouse!

Mud, mud, mud

AAAAHHHHH. The joys of living in a new development in the early spring. Not that I am complaining of the nice weather, just lack of grass. I literally had to pull Bailey out of the mud and leave his sneakers buried. A great find when they finally dig up the lot next door.

Homework

Remember I said how much the kids love homework? Here's proof! (BTW, Bill added more pictures to the site)

Let's send some positive thoughts this way today...

My friend and former room mate from Disney is going today for one of her final MRIs for a brain tumor that she developed a few years ago. Margaret Pham (or Dickie as we all call her) is still trying to let her humor and fun nature shine through even though her condition seems to be getting worse. You can read about her story here. It was heartbreaking talking to her earlier this week. The doctor says that if the tumor has increased in size, there is not much more they can do for her. So please keep her in your thoughts today and send "shrinkage" vibes her way...

Yeah Spring!

I can finally see grass. I mean really, all grass. Wait, do I see grass in front of my house, no because we are still just mud (makes it tough when holley goes outside to do her business, but none the less, we HAVE NO SNOW!

Bailey and Mia have really been into homework mode the past month or so and have requested something to do everyday. I am writing this down now because 10 years down the line when they start refusing to do their homework, I can simply go back here and tell them how much they enjoyed it.

Bill has signed me up for a photography class, mainly because I want to be more creative. I am trying, honestly, but I am not seeing any creativeness coming through, thus a class is needed. I am excited about it and I believe my father will be taking it with me since he bought a new camera and has been wanting to learn how to really use it.