Bubbles

I have many posts to catchup on including Mae's last day of school, Whitaker's birthday party, Whitaker's 4 year old letter but I am going to interrupt all that to post photos of the kids and bubbles. Because WHY NOT?  I don't know what it is about bubbles but my kids seem to really enjoy them time and time again. With it being hot and definitely feeling like summer it was the perfect way to spend the last few hours of the day. 

And Mae did sidewalk chalk. 

Photo credit goes to Whitaker for this one. 

FOUR

Happy 4th Birthday Whitaker! To utter the words "where has the time gone" would be a disservice to you and your larger then life personality. I know where the time has gone and I have enjoyed every - almost every - minute of it. The past 4 years have been nonstop moving, laughs, giggles (you have the best laugh), smiles, strong willed battles, tears from accident after repeated accident, exploration and discovery, asserting your independence, sleepless nights, love, and so much, much, much more. Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you. 

Tiny Dancer

Mae had her dance recital yesterday. This is the second year that Mae has done dance through Falls Church Community Center and she definitely enjoys it, especially getting dressed up in a princess costume and being on stage in front of an audience. 

Making her take a few pictures before we leave the house. 

She is the short one on the right side. 

Post performance. 

All smiles. 

Greeting her fans.  

Pretty excited about all her flowers. 

Hugs from Aunt Julie. 

Grandma came!

Then Whitaker took over the camera. 

He loved taking photos of the trophy case and took about 20 snaps of different things in it. 

Mother's Day Recap

This is my 5th Mother's Day and although this might not have been the most relaxing of them, it was memorable that I got to spend the day being a mom and also spent it with my mom. In a nutshell we went to brunch, where the kids behaved beyond our wildest expectations. Then we went on a family (just the 4 of us) hike where my two kids huffed it for 2 hours without complaints and didn't require being carried for any part of it. Then we finished off the day with dinner at my parents house with the whole family.  

For Mother's Day in lieu of any gift, I asked Pearson to take pictures of me with the kids doing what we do. I am not at all happy with the way I look as I haven't worked out in the  last 12 plus weeks and have been pretty slovenly with the way I have been eating but I know my kids could care less about those things and they like me with a squishy belly and cellulite thighs. I normally wouldn't post these pictures because of those things but I want one day for my kids to see that I was in the thick of it with them and not just behind the camera. So alas here are the photos from the day. 

Found a caterpillar at the beginning of the hike. Mae has been doing a whole lesson on the life cycle of caterpillars and know quite a bit of information on them. 

Mae was able to cross all 4 rock obstacles without ever needing any help. 

Mae chatting it up with the ladies on the trail. 

Stopping for a water break. This is where I thought Whitaker would require some assistance since he said "We need to hurry up because my feet are getting tired." 

Grandpa and Jolene.

Playing some baseball with no pants. 

Newest member of the family - Indie Sanne. 

Julie's First Ever Mother's Day

Out of the countless pictures I took of my mom with the kids, this is the best of them. 

Most of them looked like this or worst. 

Whitaker took this picture. 

And Mae took this one. 

Mae spent the night at my parents house so here we are driving back with just one exhausted kid in the car.