Bday Time!

F's bday party was great! We had absolutely beautiful weather and it's early enough that there were no mosquitos crashing the party. We had water everywhere - pool & sprinklers. There was much squealing involved.

Look at these guys, what are they planning??



We brought out water balloons. How long do 100 water balloons last with 7 kids under the age of 5? About 3 minutes!



After a couple hours of water play, it was grub time. I love F's casual arm slung over his chair. Is he really only turning 3?



Here's the gang minus the littlest who was a bit wary of the number of kids in the hammock:


Here is a funny pic. How many kids fit into a princess pavilion?


And finally the cake was brought out. F wanted an excavator on his cake, and Craig's Cake Shop obliged. Wow, they do great cakes.


I love this pic because J put her arm around F and he let her without fighting back!

He knew exactly what to do when we finished singing to him. All 3 candles blown out with one big breath!


And here is the little bean enjoying his cake. My little surfer dude.

Mother's Day Hike

Today we went for a beautiful mother's day hike at Devil's Lake. The kids did fabulous and loved most every minute.

It started with a picnic, to set the scene:



Cookie Monsters:





Then the hike...some pics to show how beautiful it was!
















And the finale...a movie of the two climbing down a 'mountain':

Spring 2010

Last weekend we took a walk in the UW arboretum because it was peak lilac blooming season and the weather was gorgeous. The kids had a blast exploring the different smells and being just goofy.

Here's J smelling the flowers:


Amazed at all the white flowers in the tree:



Jumping from every stoop they could find. F wasn't sure whether he was Superman or Spiderman.



F's discovered winking now...


There is something about this pic that I just love:



Joyful boy in the grass:


Taking a break by a tree.


Shall I dive or jump?


Poppa with the kids taking a break:


And me:



Our Montessori school had a diversity festival last weekend. J & F got to wear their outfits from Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan. They loved getting dressed up.



All previous years J's been too shy to get up on stage. But not this year! She was a natural performer. Here she is dressed in her Guatemalan outfit getting ready to perform.


J's last ballet class and end of year recital were today. She had a lot of fun and looked like a little dancer.

I liked this pic because I caught her reflection in the mirror:

Here she is preparing for her hat dance.


And then as Belle from Beauty & the Beast.


Look at this smile: