Last day of first grade...

It seems like each year I always say that time is going by too quickly.  It is just always the case.  I can not believe that Pumpkin is finished with first grade.  She has grown up so much this year.  It was a really great year. Once again, we lucked out with an amazing teacher.  She has learned so much and grown so much.  It is really amazing to see. 

 Sometimes it is hard to smilse normally at 7:45 in the morning :)  This girl has a style of her own, that is for sure!  I love her fearlessness.  I have not picked out an outfit for her all year.  Her favorite things to wear are long skirts with her socks pulled up or crazy boots!  It is awesome to see her confidence and her style.  It is something to see some days, that is for sure!

We had a sad day when we got rid of her backpack.  It lasted for first grade.  She has a big exciting one for second grade.  This one got a little torn apart during the year.  It had to retire.  But, one last picture is always necessary in this house!

It is going to be a great summer filled with grandparent weekends, swimming, movies, crafts, and lots of other things (if I can think of them).  Can't believe I have a second grader!

Trip up North...

Whenever we get an itch to get out of town, we try to go North to visit Hubby's brother and wife.  This time we also got to go a baptism too, so it was extra awesome.  It is usually a great break from the heat, except it was a chilly weekend.  We struggled to find clothes for the weekend.  Pumpkin wore Critter's sweatshirt!  Not sure which is more humerous, that we just don't have many warm clothes or the fact that my 7 year old daughter fits in her 4 year old brothers sweatshirt!

 The first thing the kids ask when they get to their Aunt and Uncle's house is when we can take their dog for a walk.  We don't have a dog and they LOVE giving theirs attention.  He is super patient with them.  It seems like the kids have endless energy up there too.

 Considering Hubby and I don't camp and there are not many woods by our house, I am always amazed at our kids.  They come alive running through the woods and being in nature.  I sometimes wish it was not so hot during school breaks so we could do this more.  It is really amazing to see this other side of my kids. 

 It is hard for me to let go during these little adventures.  I am way to Type A to let go and just let them roam.  I try, but it is not easy.  One of these days I will learn....but it is really a work in progress! :)

I really love seeing their smiles and laughter when we head up North.  It is just different and more free.  I am especially amazed at Pumpkin.  For how much she loves her dresses, fancy shoes and pretty headbands....she loves to dig in the woods, find flowers and chase their dog.  It is great!  We have been making more of an effort to head up there more often.  It is really worth it!

Last day of preschool...

I can't believe Critter finished his first year of preschool!  He loved it.  It was nice since he was in the same school and class that his sister was in.  He was comfortable from the beginning.  I was amazed at how much he learned through the year.  I have to admit that I was not as consistent with him before he started school with working on letters, numbers and letter sounds.  But, by the end of the year he knew all he needed to!  It was pretty amazing to me. I can not wait to see what he learns next year in Pre-K.  But...I can not even think about the year after when he starts Kindergarten!

 It was the same at the beginning of the year with these two!  She did not want to take a picture with him, but could stay out of the pictures either :)

I love the fact that I catch moments like this....he looks at her like he has no idea what she is thinking. I know he thinks that quite often :)  It is just nice to catch it in a picture. 

I am sure looking forward to a great summer with these two!

Swimming fun...

Anytime we get the chance to head up to my parent's house to relax and swim, we try to!  It is always an adventure :)  The kids love it and so do we.  The first time the pool was really warm enough to swim was near the end of May.  It was still chilly, but getting there.  We could not be in the water all day....but long enough!

 Critter was back to his ways from last summer.  He still loved to jump off the ledge.  It makes me a little nervous, but he LOVES it! 

 Pumpkin still loves the big scuba style goggles.  I have no idea why.  She would use regular ones at a normal pool, but not at Nanny's house.  She had to wear these at my mom's house! :)

 I am pretty sure that this smile of his was after one of his big jumps in the pool.  He will spend all day jumping in the pool if we let him.  If he keeps giving us smiles like that, I am tempted to let him! :)

 For some reason, he has it in his head that when he is cold from the water he needs to sit out of the pool "To Cool off".  I have no idea where the mix up of the words came from.  But, he wants to lay on the ground when it is 100 degrees out and "cool off".  It is really cute!

My dad asked Pumpkin to get him his drink.  So....she did it her way.  She could not walk over and get it and bring it to him.  She of course had to swim, while protecting the drink :)  He was quite impressed.

It was a really fun weekend.  Our summer is so short here, only 7 weeks.  So, it will be nice to swim as much as we can.  I think it is impossible to keep them out of the pool when we head to Nanny and Papa's house!