Is Spring Finally Here?

Seriously?  It is going to be a long, dirty summer...but I will take it!

Kindergarten Round-Up

So it was nothing like I expected it to be.  Well, maybe a little bit but to be quite honest, it was a little bit of a let down.  There was really not much to it.  Lauren did awesome.  She was a little bit nervous and shy, but she warmed up very quickly.  

We had no idea where to go when we got in the school.  There we no signs pointing where to go, no one greeting us in the halls, nothing.  So we just wandered around until it looked like we should to into the gym.  We showed our proof of residency and Lauren's birth certificate was copied.  Nothing big.  No information given to us. 

Next was the health desk.  I provided the nurse with a copy of the cardiology visit from Lauren's Dr.  Did I ever talk about that?  She was checked out by Dr. Bingler and was found to have a normal heart.  She has a very loud murmur that she will always have (it is not the kind she will out grow) so I knew the nurse would freak out if she ever had to listen to Lauren.  The nurse was impressed that I provided that documentation.  I just smiled :) 

Next was the PTA table.  Man they want to suck you in early.  I signed up.  Just for general help and the health fair. I really want to be involved in Lauren's school (as much as I can working full time and all.)

We then got a tour of the school (after Lauren got her picture taken) while Lauren worked in the classroom with some of the teachers.  I assume they were teachers (none of them introduced themselves to us.)  They just said "kids stay here, parents take a tour."  I was completely lost in the school.  I had no idea where the front door was, how to get to the Kindergarten rooms, etc...Mark of course knew North, South, East, West.  How does he do that???

So my message to you:  Don't let your day to day activities that are new to someone else go without explanation.  For example:  I work in cardiology. I work with families that have very sick babies.  I work with families who's child has had a heart transplant.  I know this stuff.  I know it well.  I do it every day.  But to these families it is new to them.  They need a lot of teaching, a lot of education, A LOT of questions answered.  It is very simple to me, but a whole new experience to them.

Tonight at Kindergarten Round-up is was a new experience to me. I had several questions that I did not get to ask.  We had no idea where to go when we arrived.  The tour of the school was given by 6th graders (which was actually kind of cute) but I would have preferred an adult.  I would have liked to have met the potential Kindergarten teachers, and of course the Principal.  Is that too much to ask?

I am thrilled Lauren liked it.  When we left she asked if she started Kindergarten tomorrow.  Very cute. She is very excited.  I know she will excel (since the readiness packet given to us Lauren has mastered probably 90% of what will be covered in Kindergarten.)  So for that reason I am happy with the night. Lauren saw her school, lunch room, gym, and possibly her classroom...and she loved it. 

Wordless Wednesday

Pickles

So this morning on the way to work I stopped with Addison at the donut store (Lauren went to the dentist with Mark...more on that later.)  It is administrative assitance week so I thougth I would bring in some donuts for our secretaries.  I told Addison we were going to stop at the donut store.  She said "I want pickles."  I laughed and said "you want pickles on your donuts?"  "Yes Mommy, pickles." We laughed and laughed and went back and forth for a while talking out pickles on your donuts and how silly that is. 

Well when we got to the donut store she ran in and pointed to a pink donut with SPRINLKES.  She wanted SPRINLKES on her donuts. I love it! 

I needed to have a surprise for Lauren at daycare this morning after her dentist appointment.  I took her to the dentist a few months back and she was very scared and uncooperative, so Mark took her today.  There is no messing around with Daddy.  We spent the last few months talking about the dentist, reading Dora and Little Bill books about the dentist and basically letting her know there was no choice about the dentist.  You will go and you will get your teeth cleaned.  End of story. 

Mark said she did great.  Sat right up on that chair and was completely cooperative.  So she had a donut waiting for her at school.  Cake donut, choclolate icing with M&M's on top...her favorite. 

Easter Weekend

We agreed to spend Saturday at home doing nothing.  After last weekend (Our Crazy Life) I told the girls we were staying home.  Lauren said "like we are going to play with our toys and play outside."  Yes.  Exactly.  We made cupcakes for Easter....

We planted flowers. 

and we enjoyed eating our cupcakes.  We also enjoyed another trip to the yogart place.  This place is way too good and way too close.  It is now our second trip in 2 weeks! 

Beautiful girls on Easter Morning. 

We headed to church first thing in the morning.  It was packed.  I love church on Easter morning. The Easter bunny stopped by while we were at church and brought the girls some candy.  They also got new swimsuits.  Addison got a dress, some books, and of course another bunny.  Lauren got the Justin Beiber CD (the wrong one though!) a couple pairs of shorts and shirts, a new swimsuit and some jelly beans! 

We spent the afternoon at Gramp's and Nana's house for a wonderful meal (ham, potatoes, veges, fruit and dessert.)  The girls had fun finding Easter eggs. 

Don't you love those boots and another bunny?

The girls got some new bubbles which were a hit!  Lauren loved them.  We had to change out of our fancy Easter dresses to play with bubbles. 

Thanks Dad for taking a great family picture.  We had a great Easter. 

Addison's Easter Party at School

It included lots of yummy snacks for the party. 

Lots of huge smiles from Addison (she is always willing to smile for the camera!)

Her hand made Easter basket that she was very proud of. 

It rained, so the kids waited out in the hall while the teacher hid the eggs in the room.  Aren't they adorable???

Addison was very excited to find several Dora eggs.

They were pretty easy to find...

Show me your egg Addison. 

I missed Lauren's Easter party.  It was in the morning.  She was so sad that I was not there.  She was loaded up with several eggs, lots of sugar, and of course her rain boots!

Wordless Wednesday

The Weekend in Pictures

Fun at Paradise Park

Addison's bucket of eggs

Lauren's bucket of eggs (totally full!) 

Addison is a little blurry, but I still love the picture. 

Lauren wanted to help paint so bad!  Addison is always posing for a picture!

Waiting for Daddy.  Where is Daddy?

Yea for Daddy.  High 5 Daddy!!!

Mark and Shannon.  Running buddies (well actually college buddies.)  They both finished in awesome times. 

Post race snacks.  I think this might be one of the reasons why the girls love the races.  We always grab snacks for them too! 

Our Crazy Life

Here is a recap of our weekend.  Starting with Friday night and ending now.  There will be no pictures included in this post.  I think you will understand why! 

• Friday afternoon Happy Hour with the girls
• Saturday morning:  Addison up at 6:03, Lauren up at 6:15
• Showered and ready by 8:00 (on a Saturday morning)
• Zoe to groomer
• Mark to Home Depot for paint for Addison's room
• Mark to Toyota to check out the 4-Runner for yet another recall (it is fine)
• Pick Mark up and head to Paradise Park for the morning (too cold for the Kite Festival as planned)
• Enjoyed Paradise Park and an Easter Egg hunt. 
• Lunch
• Mark to Walgreen's to get Red Box movies for the afternoon and evening (only able to get one movie)
• Call from groomer that Zoe is ready
• Back to Toyota to pick up the 4-Runner
• Mark and the girls to the groomer to get Zoe
• Ashley to Legacy Park to give blood for a blood drive benefiting a kiddo at Children's Mercy suffering from cancer
• Mark breath and relax
• Only for 45 minutes because Addison took a SHORT nap
• Ashley back home
• Mark to Hy-Vee to check another Red Box for a movie we really want to watch after the girls go to bed
• Snack for girls
• Girls in front of a movie so we can start painting Addison's room
• Addison at her door after 10 minutes asking "whatcha doing?
• Entertain Addison so Mark can paint
• Paint
• Entertain Addison
• Paint (you get the idea)
• Cook dinner (the girls are starving)
• Back to Westlake Hardware for yet more painting supplies
• Yogurt at one of those new self serve yogurt places (very yummy and very fun!)
• Baths for the girls
• Bed for the girls
• Movie for Mommy and Daddy (Due Date...not great but passed the time)
• This was just Saturday...now on to Sunday
• Alarm goes off at 5:30
• Mark up and ready for the Trolley Run
• Ashley up and showered to cheer Mark on
• Addison up at 6:15, Lauren up at 6:30
• Out the door by 6:50
• Stop at Hy-vee and get donuts (see our neighbor Mike running)
• Head to the Plaza for the Trolley Run
• Arrive super early
• Find a great parking spot
• Walk along the finish line (still super early)
• Head to Starbucks to kill some time
• Wait in a long line (but worth it for some great coffee)
• Head back to the finish line to see some of the early finishers
• Hangout looking for Daddy
• We see Daddy
• He gives Lauren a high 5
• Mark's time 31:57.  AMAZING.  Way to go Mark!!!
• Saw tons of friends down at the race
• Totally jealous that I did not get to run
• Fight traffic to get out of the plaza
• Take Shannon back to his car in Waldo
• Head to my parent's house so they can watch the girls while we finish painting
• Addison falls asleep in the car (for 30 minutes from 10-10:30)
• The only nap she takes for the whole day
• Drop the girls off at Gramps and Nanas
• Head to the store (made it through in record time since I was alone!!!)
• Lunch
• Paint Addison's room
• 4 hours later done and very happy with the color.  Pineapple. 
• Clean up
• Vacuum
• Ashley run 5 miles (had to get my long run in this weekend)
• Girls are back from Gramp's and Nana's house
• Mark unclogs shower drain
• Cook Dinner
• Clean up the kitchen
• Mark mowed the front lawn
• Addison and Lauren played in the back yard
• Mommy cleaned up the house
• Addison to bath and bed early
• Lauren to bath and bed
• 4 loads of laundry done and folded (mainly by Mark)
• Ashley to store for more lawn and leaf bags, return the Red Box movies (forgot the 12 pack of beer I was supposed to get Mark)
• Mark relaxing on the couch (waiting for some beer)
• Lauren and Addison asleep
• Ashley to go take a relaxing jacuzzi bath now
• The end

Spring Cleaning...

Who would have ever thought a bucket of warm soapy water and a few washcloths could provide a whole evening of fun...

Can't forget Zoe...begging for us to play catch with her! 

They are begging to clean their house again already!