Awesome Last Day of School

Avery had a wonderful last day of Kindergarten. They had a sweet program at her school with lots of songs and each kid said what they wanted to be when they grow up - Avery said "I would like to be a Vet." 

It was a teary goodbye with Mrs. Nicholson so Avery, me and her teacher. She was such a kind and wonderful presence in Avery's life this year and we'll really miss her. Not an easy good bye.

After her program, we went with some neighbors and had lunch at Cool Creek Park and took a walk through the woods. The kids loved getting wet and playing in the creek.

To end the day, we greeted the bus riders with water balloons and squirt guns and had a big ice cream sundae party at our house organized by Ashley. Avery loved the surprise and the kids all had a blast!!

Now it's officially SUMMER!

Last Bus Ride and Kindergarten Graduation

Cool Creek Park

Water Fight and Ice Cream (I didn't get ice cream pics but there was an awesome sundae bar and the kids loved it!)

Taylor 33 Month Update

Some cute and funny things from Month 33:

• Tay is slowly making progress on the potty - He'll go pretty much whenever you ask him but isn't quite ready to tell us when he actually needs to go. Ash tried taking the diapers off (When they started he told her he would do it "tomorrow") and having him go 30 minutes and managed to pee in all the big boy underwear we had by nap time...We'll try again soon :)
• The big boy crib is actually going well - He will call for us in the morning and not leave until we come get him. He does like me to lay with him in the crib which isn't always the most spacious or comfortable but at least he's trying! Much better than I expected!!
• Tay is really loving Bingo - He was laying with him on the bed the other night and just petting him and whispering "I love you Bindo". Still can't say the G sound.
• While he is talking up a STORM he is pretty hard to understand. We are going to do some more speech therapy over the summer to work on clarity. 
• He has not been loving swimming lessons - Whenever he pull in with Ashley he'll say "No NOT AGAIN!" One night he told me he couldn't go swimming the next day because his nails were too long. LOL. Usually once he gets in the pool he does great!
• Tay is really into super heroes and super powers. He does this one where he touches his forearm and activates "Camouflage" and then we all have to do it, too!
• He is a pretty wild boy at times and can get mad or get his feelings hurt easily and will stomp away with his arms crossed and a super mad face - Hitting and pushing happen to poor Avery and to us sometimes, too. Not something I am loving but hopefully won't get too out of hand.
• His current favorite TV Shows are Bo on the Go, Trolls and Inspector Gadget which he pronounces "Specta Goweee".
• One day Tay thought it was really funny to put Band Aids on all of his fingers before going to the park. All the kids were asking him how he had so many boo boos and he thought it was SO funny!
• Ashley got the hiccups at the park one day and couldn't stop. Tay was getting SO annoyed at her and said "Ugh. I leaving. You stay".
• He asked Ash a question the other day and she was trying to process what he was saying. Apparently she took too long and he goes "Cool. Good talk."
• He loves to say things are "coooool".
• Tay is taking after Avery and will frequently say "What you guys talking about?" or "What you guys doing?" or "What dat?" and will just keep asking over and over.
• He also has this laid back way of saying "OK" and "why" that make him sound like a slacker teenager.
• Tay is really into playing outside with hoses, water, pools. He is frequently needing to change his clothes multiple times a day since he gets soaked!
• He is still napping but does it much better for Ash than for me and Hung.
• He is wearing mostly 3T clothes now and Size 8 shoes
• He is getting more boy and much less baby - And he couldn't be cuter or funnier! So excited to spend summer with this kid!

Avery's 1st Field Day

 I was able to help out at Field Day for Avery's class this morning. It was gorgeous weather and the kids had lots of fun doing all sorts of games and relay races along with Kona Ice and Sprinkler time. It was a fun morning and I feel so lucky that Avery had such an amazing Kindergarten Teacher and first year at Shamrock Springs!

Mackinac Island 2018

G and I took the kiddos to Mackinac for the MSCA Annual Forensics Spring Tournament with Pat, Elisabeth, Matilda and Elliott. We took a slight detour on the way there and spent Thursday at Zehnder's Splash Village in Frankenmuth. The kids LOVED it - Avery did every slide she could do minus the super scary Drop Slide. And Tay even did some of the big slides on my lap - They both had a blast! We finished the day with dinner at the Bavarian Inn. 

We headed to the island on Friday. It was a REALLY rough boat ride but we made it over and explored the main village and had lunch. The kids liked watching the fudge being made and the carriage ride to the Grand Hotel. The kids all looked SO cute dressed up for dinner but it was a long day and Taylor and Elliott crashed at dinner...It would have been nice if we got back to our room and the kids kept sleeping but no luck for us. Tay had TONS of energy after his mini nap and was partying in the room well past 11:30. He was the last one awake...

Saturday we had not so great weather - very cold and rainy but we made the best of it! We explored the hotel and the kids loved the game room and just playing in the lobby and in our rooms. When the rain let up we took a private carriage ride around the island which was really interesting. Tay and Matilda both took naps and Tay was so tired from staying up so late on Friday that he slept through Ice Cream at Sadie's and stay asleep in our room until 5:30. We had a great last dinner, G judged a final round of the tournament and Avery and Matilda joined her and did awesome staying quiet and watching the performances. We ended the night dancing to the live band in the bar/club. Tay was break dancing and cracking us up and Avery and Matilda had some sick moves themselves. Elliott crashed at dinner again....

We had a great last breakfast on Sunday morning and caught the 10:30 boat back to Mackinaw City. It was a LONG trip home - We got back around 8pm but the kids were really good in the car watching shows, napping, playing games and coloring. It was such a nostalgic weekend and I loved sharing some of my childhood memories with my kids and G was an awesome travel partner.

Fun Times in  Frankenmuth - A perfect last minute addition to the trip :)

Friday on the island - It was a little chilly!

 

G the Hall of Famer! 

 The kids looked SOO cute and Tay was terrible at posing!

Tay played until he literally passed out

 Then he woke up and wanted 5 bags of chips but settled on 4

Saturday on the Island - Tay was reading the Holy Bible to Elliott LOL

Making the best of a Rainy Day at the Grand! 

Fun Carriage Ride and Ice Cream for those that stayed awake 

 They looked SO cute but every initial shot looked like we were recreating The Shining

 A few better ones

Dance Party and finally getting tired.....