May Photo Dump

May was fun. Busy, but fun.  We got back from our trip late April 30th, so we hit the ground running May 1.  Barrett had baseball and I had practice for Ava's confirmation.

May 2 was Ava's confirmation.  I was honored to be her sponsor.  She is growing into the most beautiful young lady inside and out.  I can't believe she'll be in high school next year.  She's in the band and we can't wait to watch her march this Fall.

May 2 was also Ally's 10th birthday.  Bless her heart.  I had an actual party for her 1st birthday.  Like mailed invitations the whole thing.  This year she couldn't even get a haircut.  She is my shadow, always has to be touching me.  Barrett begs her to sleep with him every night and she will not.  She is terrorized daily by her brother and sister.  We love her so much!  Like everything else, I can't believe she's 10 years old.

 We've been trying to soak up all the time outside before it's too hot to breathe.  Which it seems is going to be sooner rather than later this summer.

She is so much fun right now.  She is talking so much and she and Barrett can really play together now.  They just adore each other.

May 5th, Barrett woke up screaming and crying about his ear hurting.  So we were at Urgent Care when they opened.  It is life changing when your kid can finally tell you when something hurts.  He had some fluid on one ear, she said it wasn't really infected yet but was probably headed that way.  So she sent us home with a steroid and antibiotic.  Thankfully he was feeling better quickly because we had plans that afternoon.

 My sister and her husband host a crawfish boil every year for the Kentucky Derby.  This year they invited us to come.  I'd never eaten crawfish but I'm up for new experiences.  I thought Barrett would think it was neat to see the crawfish alive and then eat them.  He was less enthused that I'd imagined.

We enjoyed getting to hang out with everyone.  AveryAnn ate her weight in corn on the cob.  It was a little spicy but she didn't care.

The best family picture we could get.  We were so excited to enjoy the food we missed the actual race.  

These two are very into books lately.  We try to read every night before bed but we'd been getting in so late from the ballpark we'd gotten out of the habit.  So we put on our matching jammies and got our read on. We've signed up for the Summer Reading Program at our library last week so we've been reading a lot.  I love it. 

Barrett is so into masks and costumes.  He wears a mask in the car on the way to school at least once a week.  This day it was Batman. 

Anna (in the middle), landed a really fun speaker for her last Chamber luncheon, so Brittany and I went to support her.  Heidi Elnora was the speaker.  She's a local girl who is known for her bridal gowns.  She does amazing work and getting to meet her was such a treat.  She is so real and down to earth.  I loved getting to chat with her and hearing her story.  I also loved getting to support Anna. (I seriously love my friends so much.)

 Took my Gekko out for donut Friday.

 Trying to take my job.  I seriously laughed so hard when I saw her little set up.

The kids stayed with my parents that night, Barrett wore the Gekko costume all day.  So naturally, my dad had to put on his Superman costume so they could walk my sister's dog.

We got to have a date night.

First and last day of 4K

(pretty sure I've already posted those last two pictures here but just pretend this is the first you're seeing them.)

I probably shouldn't post this but they've been getting ready to do some work around the office and they'd put these flags out and the next thing I knew AveryAnn is parading up and down the driveway waving them around.  Hopefully, it doesn't mess up anyones work.

May 19th was the Royal Wedding.  My sister and I planned to watch it together.  Then I invited some friends to come too.  Only a couple could come but we had the best time.  I recorded everything and we had a little brunch.  Everyone got there around 9:00 and we drank mimosas and watched all the coverage.  I got out my wedding china.  I love it so much.  I should use it more often. 

I was so excited!  I'd recorded 3 different networks coverage and they were all great.  We fast forwarded through some things but it was all just beautiful.   

 We wore our pjs and just had the best girly day.

My sister made Lemon and Elderflower cupcakes as a replica of the wedding cake.

 While we were watching I couldn't help but notice how much AveryAnn favors Princess Charlotte.  I think they look so much alike.

We let him drink orange juice out of a champagne glass and he was hooked on the finer things in life.

 He insisted on drinking out of a champagne flute for days.

May 22, was my nephew Drew's high school graduation.  We had a party afterwards to celebrate.  I got to snuggle baby Brooks for a little while.

I had to get a picture of Drew and Barrett in their caps and gowns.  One's finishing up and the other is just getting started.  So sweet.  I know I'll bling and it'll be Barrett graduating from high school.

This girl loves to snuggle.

We had Kindergarten Camp.  I took zero pictures.  I felt like such a grown up joining the PTA. I got this free tshirt for joining.

May 25th was my mom's birthday, she was at the lake so we hadn't planned to do anything.  Well she sent my brothers, sister and I a text message saying they were having plumbing problems and they were coming home.  So we rallied and decided to surprise her with a cake and balloons that evening for her birthday.  I got everything together and then she text to say that she was staying the night and would be coming home the next day instead.  So we cancelled the party.

Saturday morning, I helped Brittany set up a graduation party.  It was so cute.  We make a really good party team.  

I'm obsessed with the balloon garland right now.  

Our Memorial Day weekend didn't go as planned.  Since the lake was having plumbing problems we didn't go up there.  Plus it was supposed to rain all weekend.  We did a lot of laying around.  I love this picture of us all piled up in the bed together.  We like to go and do but we also looove being at home.

My mom came back from the lake Saturday and she called me because Harper wanted Barrett to come spend the night with them.  So I took him over there and John and Hope were there with the kids.  They were going to dinner so I stayed at my parents so I could spend time with the kids. I love this picture of my dad reading to the girls.

I got to snuggle this sweet baby.  He's growing way to fast.  Hope text me this week and said she weighed him and he was 10lbs 4oz, which is what AveryAnn weighed at birth.  

We put on our red, white and blue for Mass Sunday morning.  I'm obsessed with matching clothes.  Barrett needs a haircut.  But I can't get enough of these sweet babies.

AveryAnn wanted to wear my earrings so we improvised. She was so proud.

Barrett didn't want to come home Sunday so he stayed another night with my parents.  AveryAnn was missing him but we loved getting one on one time with her.  I feel like that never happens.  (Even though we're together all day while Barrett is at school).  We all slept until 9:00 Monday morning and it was glorious!

We've been trying to get back on some sort of schedule this week.  We're looking forward to summer and all the fun it brings! I can't believe this is our last summer before Barrett goes to big school.  

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 2

Alternate title: I Don't Think I Can Do This.

Why is this so hard?  I love working out.  Okay that's not entirely true...I don't hate working out.  I also notice a significant difference in my stamina and overall performance when I've properly fueled my body before a workout.  But I can't for the life of me cut out the carbs again.  There are temptations everywhere and last summer I could easily turn up my nose and resist the temptation.  This summer I can't pass up anything.  I have given up soft drinks. I'll have a sparkling water with meals but that's it.  It's all the other junk.  This weekend being a holiday didn't help.  Plus it has been raining all week so basically all I've done is eat and plan what I'm going to eat next.  I have managed to get to HIIT 3 times since my last post.  Thursday night I even had to take my kids.  So I'm celebrating that small goal.  

-0.8lbs.  It's not the 2lbs I needed to lose to reach my goal by my birthday but it's better than nothing I suppose.  I'm not going to let it get me down.  I'm going to pick up and do better this week.

Barrett's 4K Graduation

Alternate title:  Please someone hold me.

I've been fine with Barrett going to Kindergarten.  I've gushed about how excited we are to go to our local elementary school.  I've bragged about the fact that we bought this house 10 years ago with this day in mind.  It was one of the reasons we loved this house.  We've heard nothing but great things about our schools.  Barrett has matured and learned so much during his time at preschool.  We've loved his teachers there too.  But actually sending him to public school seemed like a far off dream.  That day would never come.  He'd have to walk and talk first.  Learn to use the potty.  All those big kids things.  Somehow I blinked and it's time.  I'm fine, totally fine, we're all fine.  

Barrett talked about Graduation for months before the big night.  He didn't give away any details but he was very excited.  The theme was Down on the Farm and his class were baby chicks.  He told everyone he had to dress like a chick for graduation.  I made his shirt and we counted the days.  He had his cap and gown pictures made.  Finally, it was graduation night.

He was so ready to perform all the songs he'd been working on.  When we looked at the program we realized he was going to get to count to 100 by 10's on the microphone.  We had no idea he was going to get to do this.  They did some of the sweetest little farm songs.

Cutest little chicks.

 They sang "Thrive" by Casting Crowns and "Good, Good Father" by Chris Tomlin, and that was when I could no longer hold back the ugly cry.  There is nothing like hearing these sweet babies sing about Jesus.  Barrett now requests these two songs every time we get in the car and I can finally listen to them without crying.  After they finished singing it was time to put on their caps and gowns.

I can't handle the cuteness!  He was so proud!

After they all got their diplomas we met them in the gym for a little reception.

Barrett was excited my parents got to come.

Not looking at the camera but oh well.

Sweet buddies.  I hope we have the same picture of them in 13 years.

Also, this picture, can you even handle the cuteness.  They will go to different schools next year.  I'm a little sad but I know we'll still get together and they'll get to play together.

We have loved Ms. Lori and Ms. Jana so much.  We're sad to leave them.  They have been so sweet to my boy and I'm forever grateful.

I love this picture of us moms with our boys.  It feels like a rite of passage that we've survived this far together.   I'm thankful for their support and encouragement. 

After graduation we left to pick up AveryAnn from Patrick's parents house.  They were so upset they couldn't come but thankful they got to watch AveryAnn for us and see Barrett is his cap and gown.

All four of us!  These are such sweet, sweet memories.  

I'm definitely not ready for Kindergarten.  Every time I talk about it I get a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.  A month ago I was totally fine, I guess reality is setting in and it is definitely happening.  We had Kindergarten Camp last week and it made me love our school even more.  The first teacher got up and talked about the first day.  She said "make sure you get here early and have a full charge on your camera and phone.  You're going to want to take pictures.  This is a big day for you and your student."  I loved that.  It is a big day.  But we're not ready for it just yet.

We're going to soak up as much of summer as we can before August 9th.  We've made another Summer Bucket list and we're ready to tackle it!