Our neighborhood’s social committee threw the best end of school party to kick-off summer for all these cute kiddos!

 

S’mores and hot dogs with Rose and Berkley!

  

 

Nerf guns… foreign objects to Rose that entertained her until the sun went down; Of course they did! 

 

Noelle twirling around enjoying the sunset!  She straightened her hair tonight.  I’m a fan!

Rose had to take her friends to meet her pediatric dentist, who is a family friend of ours.

Here she is shrugging her shoulders and goofily saying, “I don’t know” to a question.  It was pretty much the cutest thing ever seeing Rose’s three year old friends shake hands with Randy and proudly state their names (even middle names) and ages.  Kids are so cool!  And if you take them seriously, they usually rise to the occasion. 

 

Anna Kate was super excited she and Daddy were matching buddies!

 

 

Good times!  We watched a movie under the stars until way past our bedtime, and it was a super fun way to bring on summer!

 

 

 

Noelle, Anna Kate, and Rose are three very loved little girls!  Thank you, Mike, for loving our daughters with everything that you are.  My favorite thing in life is catching your dancing eyes as we admire our girls together.  We have something so real, and I’m enjoying these tender moments with you, trying to take them in with the same intensity that you do.  You inspire me, and our girls, with your never-ending tenderness and love.  Thanks for being honest, brave, encouraging, gentle, and you!

To all of our special and loving Dads, Happy Father’s Day! 

Rose is in for a real treat to have this as part of her preschool scenery for the next two years! 

There’s just something about preschoolers and boxes!

Mrs. Paula is so good finding all sorts of mediums to help develop fine-motor skills during play time!

 

The first picture of Rose trying to be a big girl in school!  Love her effort, and she’s doing it!  Go Roro!

 

Fun lesson Rose is still raving about and she plays with her little spider web all the time… such a neat idea!

 

Nature and art… can’t go wrong with that!

Cooking was always a favorite activity at PPS for Anna Kate!  This was Rose’s first time!

Here are some of Mrs. Paula’s pictures from Luke’s farm.  We had so much fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s one of the few pictures of me taking a picture!

Mrs. Paula’s pictures always rock!  I get so excited when I sit down with our kiddos and have them tell me all about each one… and they always have so much to say (and teach me)!  Here’s part of an email from Mrs. Paula today.  I know she won’t mind me sharing, because it shows how spot on she is about our kids! 

“Hi Melissa,

I am planning to take her on some of our trips this summer, because she is ready for that…

…She’s a spunky kid, not quiet and reserved like AK, but then, every child is different.  Her personality shines through! I think maybe she’s another keeper. 😉

Have a great night,

Paula”

 

  

Congrats, Bekah Boo!  May all your dreams come true!

Welcome summer!

She found her ducks!

 

Go girls!  #teamwork  I cannot believe Anna Kate built up her courage this year to jump… my heart is so happy about that!

 

#nofear

Love.them.

I had no idea we had matching goggles/swim suit.  #onlynoelle Love her to pieces!

 

Can they get any happier!?!  They are my little hearts!

Then after a Pond family pool party, we ate a ton of pizza!  Oh yeah!

 

One is always chill, asking how she can help, writing sweet letters, constantly drawing, looming and serving her family.  All she really asks is that I do her hair, even if we are just going to the pool…

  

The other will not leave the drive-way without a rubber ducky; I mean full out tantrum… I just can’t take pics of the worst of the worst!  For the off chance that she understands, I explain to her that her brain hasn’t developed reasoning yet, and we’re going to be looking for the darn duck all night instead of swimming.  Come on Rose… Life does not have to be this dramatic! 

N and AK were little stinkers at one point too (ages 2-3); We all were!  And don’t let the ladies and gentlemen that stare at us/you at grocery stores/restaurants/absolutely anywhere in public fool you – They melted down once upon a time for their caregivers when their brains freaked out too… they just never had a kid to be reminded what the first few years of their lives looked like.  Don’t stress, it’s normal!  Just discipline fair and be consistent, giving grace to their particular stages of development.

What a difference 5 years makes!  Time has to stay frozen for Noelle at this point, but Rose, a couple of years wouldn’t hurt her resume!    Wouldn’t trade this spunk for nothin’. 

This is my favorite YOLO post yet!  We have had so much going on lately, that I just don’t have time to do individual posts for everything, but there are lots of special pictures/memories below!

 

Fun day at school meeting a beauty queen as Rose works on her letters with Daddy. 

My scene on Mother’s Day morning… cracked me up!  I had a friend who saw this picture and wrote, “I like to imagine you woke up today and said, ‘It’s my turn to play!’ and this is all debris left from your tea party and dress up extravaganza.”  Lol, if only! 

 

It’s so fun to celebrate Mother’s Day with precious little girls!  Recognize the flowers?   

I’ll take that any day!  Thank you, sweet Noelley!  (purple and green are my favorite colors)

 

It’s hard for me to type anything about my Great Aunt Polly without tearing up.  She is my motivation and inspiration.  We try to talk once a week, but I can’t go a couple of weeks without hearing her voice.  Here she is going to a luau a few weeks ago.  The highlights of her day include bingo, visits from family, Astros games, and cheese sandwiches.  She works so hard in physical therapy trying to relearn how to walk and keeps everyone at her residence entertained.  She’s going to be 90 years old this year!  My Granny, her big sister (who was 10 years older than her), lived to be 90, so there’s no doubt about it, she will do it too!  And last week when I told her I was so proud of her for living so long, she said, “Oh, that’s nothing.  There are several residents here who are 96!” so there is no stopping this red-head!  I cannot tell you how much her positive outlook inspires and motivates me!  She’s resolved in our human condition and doesn’t let her limitations get her down.  I am so blessed to have her in my life and can’t wait for the day when I get to hug and kiss her again in person! 

 

Back to the lodge for lost and found!  Surprisingly, they had Rose’s special zebra blanket (in pic on left) and Anna Kate’s pink leopard robe waiting for us… so thankful  about that and then Anna Kate and I got a little bonus day playing around at GWL!

 

Spring shopping with the littles; What was I thinking!?!  But it’s now or never for clearance Easter dresses (for next year)! 

 

Another Mommy and Me Monday with Cutie Kate!

 

A few more cute pics from Bekah’s luncheon!

 

My sweet thoughtful Noelle always puts her heart and soul into cards for friends and family who need a little cheering up!  I admire her giving heart so much and hope to be just like her in my words and deeds.  She is honestly the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful person I know!

 

On to celebrating a special day with the bride!  My sweet friend Lisa is about to get married, and we can’t wait!

 

These next few pictures are incredibly special to us.  In May, we said goodbye to Phil and Stephanie’s dog, Asafa.  He was a pretty amazing fellow who touched the lives of so many people.  I am not a dog/animal person, but this touched me to the core.  The gentleness of honoring life, of all types, in this moment was just overwhelmingly special to our family.  (See Anna Kate giving me the “I love you!” sign in sign language?  Melt.my.heart!)

 

Rose and Churchill getting acquainted. 

Noelle and Asafa’s sister, Big Mama. 

 

Rose did sticker crafts in her chosen attire (love it) while Noelle made a birthday card for Aunt Joe. 

 

Noelle and I have a blast working on new hairstyles together.  This one turned out okay but was way too hard! 

 

I love reading IG quotes.  This one hit home on a day I really needed it!  Sometimes, I practice new hairstyles on the girls’ American Girl dolls.  This knot did me in, but I was determined to figure it out!

 

Rose had a blast when Daddy came to watch her dance class, and Noelle and Ava had fun at Chick after gym one night. (Until I was being silly and passed Noelle’s drink to her through the chicken’s beak and it spilled all over her… oops!  Mom foul!)

Anna Kate had a blast at Jackson and Vivi’s birthdays last month!  (Can you tell which one Mommy took her to?  The hairstyles might give you a hint!) 

 

 

Rose is a hot mess, bottom line! 

 

Anna Kate in Daddy’s hat and Noelle’s hexafish I found on her loom!  She is a self-taught (via online tutorials) rainbow loom pro!  I can only make two designs that she taught me.  She can make pretty much any bracelet or animal that you could ever want!

 

Noelle and I went shopping for summer one day and made a total girl day out of it!  She is pretty much the only one I shop for these days, unless it’s matching outfits… they grow so fast!  Bailey bought her a gift card for her birthday, and good grief, that was the most amazing ice cream/waffle cup!

Memorial Day lunch date with the fam bam!

Zoned out with a full tummy of tomato sauce!

 

They picked horses that perfectly matched their personalities, lol!

Mike loves providing for his family in every way… including fruit platters.  I love him so much!  I think this quote is my bucket list!

Another Mommy and Me day!  Anna Kate and I enjoyed a slow lunch after she braved yet another allergy shot day with me.  We had no clue how amazing our little lunch date was about to be!

 

I had my first summer cold, and this hot tea (with lots of antioxidants) helped soothe my throat sooo much!  And of course, the company was to die for!  Anna Kate is such a precious little buddy!

 

Anna Kate asked me for my cardigan because she was cold.  Right after this picture, she said, “This is so romantic!  Pinkies up!” 

Another day, another patio dinner date!  I’m always obsessed with Rose’s eyes when we are in natural light.  They are such a gorgeous deep blue!

 

When Noelle was 2-3, she used to finger paint with her fingers criss-crossed just like this.  Rose reminded me of that when she did this tonight (strange, huh)?  Made me realize that no matter what a hot mess she is, it’s time to finger paint!  We always use brushes because that’s just so much easier for me to clean up, but it’s about that time to get messy… or messier I should say)! 

 

End of school parties rock!

 

Happy birthday, Vaden!

 

Happy birthday, Malia!

Totally excited Noelle convinced me that I could conquer this braided bun!  She is beyond creative and artsy.  I love learning new things with her!

 

Noelle left these berries on my nightstand with this precious note before she left for school on a really hard Monday when I wasn’t feeling well.  When I say she the sweetest person I know, I literally mean it.  And then I saw this picture on IG and before I saw who posted it, I knew it was my daddy’s creek!  His faithful assistant, Meredith, took this picture from the break room in his dental office.  Yes, my grandfather built his office literally on top of a creek.  His patients have the best view in the world.  I remember playing a lot in this creek as a child and would recognize it anywhere!  Gave me the peace I needed to finish out that rough day!

I should call these my patio eyes!    They were glittery on this lunch date but I couldn’t capture it with my phone… they are always in my heart!

So excited we are all together for summer!  Let the adventures begin!  Wha-hoo!!!

 

Noelle was all smiles at her 2nd grade awards!  It was so cool seeing her get so excited about her accomplishments but equally as excited about her goals for next year.  I love Noelle, and her super great attitude! 

 

Her top 3 favorite awards this year were the Computer Achievement Award, the Artistic Excellence Award, and the Reading Achievement trophy for reaching all of her Accelerated Reader goals each six weeks this year!

 

It’s so great to finish the year on such a high note!  Noelle has worked so very hard this year, and it was so great seeing her hard work be rewarded.  We always tell the girls, we are proud of them, no matter what, as long as they try their very best, in work and life.  Noelle is an honest, hard worker, and we are so proud of her!

I read this quote below a statue on the way to Rose’s dance recital last weekend (random, I know), and it seems fitting to share.  The pairing is absolutely perfect:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
? Gandhi

Noelle and Georgia had a blast and their end of year party, field day style!

 

Let’s do this (so says the bucket)!  If you look closely, you’ll notice Noelle has a stick of grass in her mouth in the right pic!  Don’t let the fancy fool you; I had to stop her from catching a spider with her bare hands at a store this week!  

 

Madeline was new at our school this year, and she and Noelle have become such great friends!

 

Nothing to bring on summer like a cool snow cone on a super hot day!