Lots To Say....

Lily's Dance Recital was on May 16th!! It was so GREAT!!! It's amazing to see how far she's come in the past year!!! It's so hard to believe she's been dancing for 2 years now!! She was 3 when she started!!! Their tap routine was to "Good Ship Lollipop" and was adorable. I was very disappointed that it didn't record. I'm not real sure what happened to it. I did get the ballet routine recorded, though. It was to "Bushel and a Peck". It was equally GREAT!!! I am going to put it on here as soon as I figure out how to shrink it, so it will fit. I only got 1 picture of them on stage. For some reason, they just didn't turn out. I think it was a mixture of where I was sitting, and the lighting. That's all I can figure out!!

Lily is the one to the far left!!
It was quite an ordeal to get her makeup on. This was a first for eyeliner. We didn't do it last year, but they really need all that makeup for the stage lighting and stuff, or they just look washed out!! She looked beautiful!! But I think she is just as beautiful (more so, to me) without it!!
My beautiful Lily!!!

Brooke and Lily!! Brooke will be a cheerleader, too. They have been in dance together since the beginning, so we're excited!!!

Tia and Lily!! Tia started dance in January, and she will be a Cheerleader, also!! The 3 of them should make for a Super Cute squad. There are 4 others, I just don't know them!!!

We have birds that ALWAYS build a nest in the rafters of the back cover over the porch. We've torn down more nests than we can count. But it is SOOO cool to watch them hatch and grow up. The kids enjoy it too. Baby birds are so ugly, but in a few days this one should be big enough to be cute. I went out this morning to look at it and see how much it's grown and get more pics, but the Mama bird was NOT happy about it. She kept flying around my head, so I decided to wait for another day. I got a good enough look at it to tell that it has a few more days in the nest. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few pics of it when it gets cute!!!

Lily looking at baby birdie!!!

Avery's turn!!!

Tiny little birdie!!

It would fall down into the nest where I couldn't see it. So I would whistle and it would poke its head up and open it's mouth up wide!! It was kinda cute to watch!!!

Yep, it's ugly!!

We went swimming for the first time on Saturday (May 23). My mom and dad have a heater on their pool, so it's warm ALOT faster than ours. My dad came over the other day and helped me get ours drained and cleaned out. It has crystal clear water now, but it is FREEZING. So, a couple of weeks with the solar cover on it, and maybe we can swim in it!!! We all had a GREAT time. Unfortunately, it started lightning, so we only got to stay in there about 30 min or so.

My mom and dad's dog Sarah, is NOT afraid of the water. Apparently she will just jump right in and swim a few laps!! She is so cute. Avery was SOOOO excited to go swimming!! He just jumped right in to Adam. Once I got in, though, he held onto me. It's been awhile since we've been the pool, so I think he was a little timid!!!

Lily was also VERY excited. She just swam around and did her own thing most of the time. She still doesn't like to go under the water, but this is something we are going to work on this summer. I would like for her to learn to swim this summer!!!

Climbing up the ladder to jump off (Daddy HAS to catch her though!!)!!

So happy!!

1, 2, 3...JUMP!!!!

Avery jumping to me. He will just jump right in. He likes going under the water. It is so cute, cause when he comes up, he shakes his head around like a dog!!

Adam and I throwing Avery back and forth. Lily is just swimming around doing her own thing!!!

Here I come!!!!

Adam and Avery...Avery was crying for me...don't really understand that????

After we went swimming, we roasted hot dogs!! My brother and his new wife, LeighAnn, and her two kids Rylee, and Aiden were there, too. The kids all have a GREAT time together. It's so cute!!!

My Mom, Avery, and Adam roasting hot dogs!!! They were YUMMY!!!

They say smoke blows towards beauty, right!!! They are all getting a face full of it!!!

From left to right: Aiden (he is 6 months younger than Avery), LeighAnn (my new sister-in-law), Chris (my brother), and Rylee (he is about 6 months older than Lily)!!!

Aiden, LeighAnn, and Chris roasting hot dogs!!!

All having fun!!!

Chris and LeighAnn

Aiden, LeighAnn, Chris, Rylee, and my dad!!!

Lily got tired of roasting hot dogs, so she just sat and watched!!!

Lily graduated from preschool on Tuesday (May 26). I have to say that it was a VERY emotional night for me. I felt like such a baby, but I just couldn't control the tears. She did a Great job, and the program was ADORABLE!!!

Lily and her teacher Mrs. Robbie. When we got home that night, I think it hit her that she wasn't going to see Mrs. Robbie every day anymore, and she started bawling. Adam thought it was a little silly, but I can SOOO relate to her!!! I'm afraid she's going to be a lot like her mommy in that respect!!!

SOOOO excited about graduating!!!

Lily and Avery and their cousins Kendra and Zane!!!

All the kids that graduated!! I wanted a picture of all of them. I can keep it until they graduate high and use it some way!!! From left: Tina, Trinady, Andy, Lily, Alisha, Levi, Winter, Kaleigh, Damien.

Lily and Andy doing their speaking part...SOOO cute!!!

Sorry this is so long. It seems like I haven't had a spare minute in forever. But Lily is home for the summer, now!! I'm excited and am planning ALOT of fun!!! Love you all!!!

Crazy May....

Lily's dance picture

So I'm wondering if May is as crazy of a month for everyone else, as it is for us??? I have to say that I will be glad when this month is over with and Lily is home for the summer. I have missed having her around every day tremendously!!! I am super sad about the fact that next year she will be in Kindergarten, and it isn't optional. This year, I have taken her out a day here or a couple of days there, because I can. Next year, I just won't be able to do that, and I'm super sad about it. I am so proud of her and what all she has learned this year, though. She can now write all her letters, big and small. She is reading easy to read books. In fact, she surprises herself sometimes with what she can actually read. I LOVE Dr. Seuss books. We have ALWAYS had a love affair with Dr. Seuss, but for a whole new reason now...they're EASY to read!!!! Lily is doing GREAT with Adding and Subtracting in her head (I can't even really do this very well...I was taught the point system, and still have to use paper or my hands to add and subtract). We have a few things to work on this summer, but nothing major. She needs to learn her phone # and address. I also want to teach her money and its value, and the basics of a clock. She does know her months of the year and days of the week, so that's good. She has also learned to tie her shoes...big milestone for us!!!!!

Now on to the busy month...This Saturday (May 9) she is in the Alpena pageant. We are borrowing a beautiful dress from a friend, and she is super excited about it. I am glad that they don't judge this age. The Headstart-Kindergarten age group isn't judged, they ALL get a crown and sash. SOOOO wonderful!!!! Sunday is Mothers Day...we'll be busy all day, most likely. Next Friday (May 15) is the Recital Rehearsal and immediately following is Zane's (my nephew) birthday party. Next Saturday (May 16) from 9:30-12:00 we (Lily and I) will be working a booth at Crawdad Days for Cheerleading. That night at 6:00 is Lily's Recital. Tuesday May 26th is Lily's preschool graduation at 7:00. After that...WE'RE DONE!!!! It doesn't really LOOK like that much, but I am stressed to the max about it all!!! In June, Lily will start Cheerleading. She is THRILLED about this!!! She will practice 2 days a week and she will have 2 camps over the summer. I think she will enjoy this SOOO much. She has been talking about wanting to be a Cheerleader for the last 2 years!!! I am SOO glad that Ms. Christy (Lily's dance and cheerleading teacher) decided to have a class for Lily's age group this year!!!

Avery is doing good. I have put a hold on the whole potty training thing until Lily is out of school. Mainly because he wasn't interested, and the process was REALLY frustrating both of us. I thought if I took a break for a little bit, we would both be a little more willing to have a go at it later!!! Avery and I just got in from playing outside. The rain has been relentless lately, so the break in it today was well received!!! Avery LOVES to play soccer. I have say, he might be a good little soccer player one day. We play every time we go outside, and he is getting pretty good at kicking the ball away from me, and even better at not using his hands. It's so hard to believe, that he is the age that Lily was when he was born. He seems so much younger than she was back then, you know???? I guess that's mainly because I've been holding on to him a little tighter. Not ready for him to grow up!!! We do plan on having another one, but not for a few more years. The unsteady economy has us a little worried to take that leap right now. I also have some selfish reasons for waiting. I would like for both of the kids to be in school before I have another one...I kind of want to have the baby all to myself during the day...selfish-I know!!!! I guess it's kinda pointless to try and PLAN things out...God will decide what's best for us, and when it will be the best. I like to think that I have some control over the things that happen in my life...but I know it's all in God's hands. I am just in constant prayer for God to do what's best for my family-just like I know he will!!!!

Okay, I had no intention of rattling on like this, but you all know how I can be once I get started!!! I Love you all!!!!

Cute Comments!!

Avery is going through the cutest stage right now!! Everything that comes out of his mouth is so stinkin cute and funny!!! I wanted to post some of the cutest ones before I forgot!! I need to get the camcorder out and record him before it's too late!!!

1. Last Sunday at church Adam was waiting on the table and we had the usual "Hey Mom, look it's daddy", and "Hi, Daddy". Adam said he could here him talking to him all way up at the front. Well, when Adam sat back down, Avery jumped up in his lap and said, "It's so great to see you again Daddy, I missed you"!!! Like he hadn't seen him in days...so cute!!!
2. My SIL Cindy has had Shingles, so he hasn't been able to get close to her or play with her a while. When he saw her on Wednesday, the first thing he said was "feel better, Cindy???" He's so considerate!!!
3. Tonight he was playing with a baby doll. He was holding it and rocking it and singing to it. He was being so sweet. These were his words, "Rock a bye baby, you are so great, now throw it away", and he proceeded to throw the baby off the bed!!! We were rolling in the floor for quite a while about that one.

It's amazing how fast my kiddos are growing up!!! I can remember Lily going through this stage, and it doesn't really seem like it's been that long ago...sniff, sniff!!!

The picture at the top captures Avery's LOVE for all things trains. The hat was Adam's when he was a kid and he gave it to Avery the other day. Avery spent the rest of the day riding on his train while wearing his new train hat!!!!

Easter 2009

I hope everyone had a GREAT Easter!!! We sure did (even though the weather didn't really cooperate)!!

We went to church with my Mom and Dad on Sunday April 5, so we could celebrate Easter at their house afterwards!! These weren't the kids Easter clothes, but they still looked adorable!!! Notice, Avery has his coo-coo (his blanket). We don't leave home without it!!!
This is my brother Chris and his girlfriends (LeighAnn) kids Rylee and Aiden!! Rylee is a few months older than Lily and Aiden is a few months younger than Avery!! They all get along really well!!

Lily and Rylee running for the same egg!!!!

Avery found an egg in the chicken!!!

She's loving the pink egg!!!

Avery was stalled...he decided he needed to open every egg he found!!! So stinkin cute, that one!!!

She was starting to get upset with me, cause I kept making her stop running around so I could get some pictures!! But I don't regret it!! I got some good pics!!!

I love this picture...you can see the egg and his little hand reaching down to get it!!!

Daddy and Avery...I also LOVE this picture!!!

The kids baskets!!! We decided to hide eggs in our bedroom and bathroom this year. Just to kinda change things up. It's really amazing how many hiding places you can find in a bathroom!!!!

Lily got the new Barbie movie "Thumbalina". She's REALLY been wanting it, so it was an easy gift to get!!

Anything "Thomas" will bring a smile to Avery's face!!! It's there, trust me, it's just behind the paci!!!

Like I said, there are a ton of hiding places in the bathroom!!!

Desperately looking for more eggs!!!!

They are all dressed up in their Easter clothes - kinda. I was WAY to cold for them to go like I wanted, but it worked. Avery's outfit had some khaki overall shorts that went with it, but we just put some black cords on instead. Lily got some tights and a sweater added to hers!!! They just looked so stinkin cute. I straightened Lily's hair for the first time ever. It looked really pretty!!! She has this very slight wave to her hair, so to see it super straight was super cool!!!

Oops, I forgot to take the red eye out...oh well!!!

The kids (Lily, Kendra, and Avery) were being silly and putting their baskets on their heads!!! Avery got mad and sat down to pout...not sure why he got mad, but that's just the way he is!!!! The girls were having a GREAT time though!!!

Avery found an egg on the back of the couch and then decided it would be fun to jump around on it, since he wouldn't get into trouble!!!! It's almost like he's saying "Ha, Ha Nana!!".

Yes, again I made her stop running around looking for eggs, and pose for a picture!!!