May Phone Favorites

May came and went faster than I can believe and I feel like the year is already over! Summer has begun and before we know it the kids will be back in school, it'll be Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and BAM! Fairwell 2018! Here is a round up of May!

May 1st, great omen of how the month is going to go.

Winning at this picture thing.

It finally warmed up and we had one week of nice weather then BAM! Summer! We got to enjoy the flowers for a few days though.

Poor sprout had his check up this month and they gave him four vaccinations and did a blood draw. It was the saddest thing and I almost had to leave the room. He was shaking so hard then he just went limp. Not good Batman!

We took him to Costco for a smoothie.

I threw away all of my milk today. It had spoiled and Sprout wanted nothing to do with it. All that work!!!!!!!

We implemented family chores and I'm a big fan!

Sprout wanted a fox so Mama made him his very own.

Splash park with friends.

Every time i see this picture I crack up laughing!

Sprout in now a free range baby and can go anywhere in the house. He loves teh basement and will happily play down there for hours!

First pool of the year!

E did a GREAT job at her track n field! 

This boys LOVES his Daddy. He woud sit and watch him mow, eyes locked, counting down the seconds until Daddy came back. I'd say he's a big fan! Now it's time for more Vegas fun!

Sister Day

Aunt Janet was here for 24 hours and we were going to make the very most of them. 

First things first, we headed off to go ziplining and it was incredible! Loved this little sign. 

We sent this picture to Jakob and said: Having a great time. He texted us back and said "Glad it was worth the money." So we got to some real climbing/ swinging. 

Janet is a rock star!! Totally fearless!

This course was a total full body work out and it was SO fun!

Boom!!!! What an amazing morning. Don't worry the fun didn't stop there!

Then we headed off to Savers. E came along and we had quite the party!

Then we got a sitter so the kids played with Aunt Janet and they said good  night.

We went out to dinner, Janet looked freaking adorable in her new boots!

Then we went to a movie. It was the longest, best, most adventurous day and I was so happy to spend the day with my sister!! thank you for coming and driving up your van, for spending the day with me and for all the fun! We love you!!!

New (to us) Van!

For the last four years we have been a single car family. It was not the easiest but really it wasn't the worst either. While living in Nashville Jakob bought a scooter and that was our second vehicle. The system worked, Jakob would ride his scooter to work, and I would drive the car. Some days it would be raining or too cold to ride the scooter and Jakob would need the car, and that is when it got tricky. Last year, both kids were in two different schools and they took the bus. the system was a juggle but it worked. Then one day Jakob's brother Chad and sister-in-law Janet called and asked us if we would like their van. For free.

Not only did they gift us a van, they washed the carpets, fixed a broken windshield, fixed locks and doors and so so much more. Then Janet in in the van and drove it 18 +/- hours from Houston to our house the day before we left on our trip to Vegas. I honestly can't even tell you how grateful we are!!

Janet showed up to our house  with a beautiful car, complete with balloons. This woman goes all out.

We are so happy and so thankful. We can all fit in the van, the doors are automatic, we have a video player, we can put our whole family, plus luggage and extra family members!!! I am officially a minivan Mom!

Thank you Janet! thank you for driving, thank you for the van and thank you for all of the hard work you did. You are amazing!!!!!!

Last Day of School

Can you believe it?! The last day of school! I was overly emotional about Duke leaving this preschool program. 

I truly believe that this program is one of the reasons why that we ended up here in Kansas. This program saved us. When we first moved to KC Duke was 2 and he wasn't talking at all. At 2 1/2 we got him into the beginning of this speech program. By 3 he was starting to say repetitive sounds like Ma-ma-ma and ba-ba-ba and that was it. He did a short stint of speech therapy at the elementary school E goes too and we quickly realized that wasn't enough which is when Duke was transferred into this program. He was trapped and frustrated, knowing what he wanted to say but being unable to say it. Duke has thrived here, he has grown so much both emotionally and with his speech. He works so hard every single day and I couldn't be more proud of him. He is talking. He is understood. He sings songs, he plays, he pretends and he is happy.

(Duke and Ms. Lisa) His teachers were incredible. They looked at Duke and pushed him and held his hand to help him grow. The best part about it was he was loved and not only did I know he but HE knew it and it made all the difference. Ms. Lisa and I sat in the parking lot and just cried together. She said she wasn't supposed to have favorites, but she couldn't help it. My eyes filled with tears just full of gratitude and love. I am in awe of these teachers who come to work each day excited full of patience, compassion and joy. I am going to miss this program and I am so thankful for it. 

E's last day of school was the following day and they had a celebration. We made Ms. Schulteis a candy gram.

Ms. Schulteis was the perfect teacher for E. E is talented, quick, witty and stubborn. Ms. S was a no nonsense teacher and both she and E just clicked. E would be silly and they would laugh, but she would also rein her in. E picked up reading at a alarmingly quick rate. Ms. Schulties picked up on it and pushed her and E is reading above her grade level. she tested in the 97% percentile. (GO E!!) E also struggled in math, but together they worked on her numbers and simple addition and E never felt shamed, or slow. i am just so greatful for wonderful teachers!

I can hardly believe she is finished Kindergarten. 

And just like that summer has begun. Aunt Janet will be here tonight!! Ready to kick things off right!!

Chia Pet

E came home with this little chia pet and it is just the cutest!!

I love how much she loves school and projects and learning! She is the best!