She's Six!

Today, our (not so) little Miley turned six!

The week leading up to her birthday was very busy, since we had Ben staying with us.  About a month or so before her birthday, I had asked her if she wanted to do her first real friend party this year or have a low-key family thing instead.  To my surprise, she chose to have the low-key family party.  Since that was what she wanted, I decided that we would take a girls day to the Mall of America to go to the American Girl store.  We brought Katie with us, and it was so much fun to just do something special to celebrate my girl.  I let her pick out a couple things for her doll, Julie, then we ate lunch at the bistro.  She picked out a pet bunny, and an ice skating outfit.  She was thrilled.  :)

The next day we were able to open presents, go to church, then have her birthday dinner.  She requested tacos and princess cupcakes, so that is what she got!  I love how simple everything was her birthday weekend, but she was still so happy.  I am happy to hold onto the simple parties for now, because I know before long she will be wanting those friend parties!

Miley has grown up so much.  She is so much more independent, and is such a great big sister to Landon.  I know she will be a huge help when her new little brother is born also.  She is such a go-getter, and if she puts her mind to something she is determined to accomplish it.  She is a little performer (as we learned this year with dance) and will get up in front of a crowd without thinking twice about it.  She loves dance, reading, riding her bike, playing with her friends, jumping on the trampoline, swimming, and being around people.  We is such a fun personality and I don't know what our family would be like without her.

Happy 6th birthday, sweet girl!  

Summer Fun!

Summer vacation started right off with a bang this year.  We have stayed very busy for the first couple weeks of summer, but we are loving just getting to be outside and have fun!

We took the kids to a Twins game.  The game was supposed to start at 7:00, but they had a "rain delay" (there was actually no rain, just the threat of lightening), so it didn't actually start till about 8:15 or so.  We also found out that there were fireworks after the game, and we had promised our kids we could stay to watch them.  After all was said and done, the fireworks didn't start till after 11 pm, and we didn't end up getting home till around 12:30 am!  Needless to say, our kids were exhausted, but despite the delays, they had a great time and were troopers staying up that late!

Then, the week of June 15th-21st, Don and Cindy went on a trip to Mexico, so Ben came to stay with us for the week.  Our kids thought it was so great to have him here, and he was such a huge help to me as well!  We stayed very busy.  In between my kids swimming lessons we went to Camp Arbor, a kids event that our local mall holds every week.  The kids were able to plant a flower and get their faces painted there.  We did a few days at the park, sometimes with a picnic lunch.  On the one rainy day, we went and bought some perler beads, and the kids sat all day and did that.  It was great!  On Saturday, we went to the county fair.  The kids each rode a few rides, and they got to hold the cutest baby bunnies!  It was a fun week, but we were on the go, and this 7-month pregnant mama was feeling a little tired by the end of it.  :)

With as fast as these first couple weeks have gone, summer is going to fly by, and before I know it, it is going to be time for the kids to go back to school again!

Kindergarten Is In the Books

I cannot believe that Miley's first year of "real" school is over!  It has been a whirlwind of a month, with all the visitors, and my trip, and dance stuff, so it seems to have really snuck up on me.

They kept the last couple weeks of school pretty fun for the kids.  One day, I got to go in to her class for a "Reading Cafe" where they were able to demonstrate their reading skills to us in a restaurant format.  They has made menus of books to choose from for them to read to us, and they were dressed up as little waiters.  It was so cute, and it was so fun for me to have that special time with Miley.

The last day of school was Thursday, June 5th.  Of course, we had to get the obligatory last day of school pictures, and the comparison picture of the first day to the last day.

It has been a great year, but we are looking forward to a fun-filled summer!  I just can't believe that Miley will be in first grade and gone all day next year!

That's A Wrap...

...on Miley's second year of dance, and her first year doing competitive dance.

Right after I got back form my momcation, I had to dive right back into the dance thing.  Fortunately, my mom came up and was here for the weekend so I had extra help the whole time, plus it was just fun to be able to hang out with my mom for another few days.  :)

From May 30th-June 1st, Miley had four recitals to finish up the dance year.  We were able to watch one, and then I had to volunteer at a couple more.  It was a fun, busy weekend, but I am certainly glad to have the next month off of dance for a little break!  Miley on the other hand, is already asking when it starts again.  :)

The girls were all able to get together outside of dance for a girl's birthday that was on Showbiz Kids with them.  I think it was fun for them to be able to hang out outside of the dance thing.  We are looking forward to hanging out with all of them again next year!

Momcation!!

A couple days after graduation, I got to do something I haven't done since having Miley...go on a trip all by myself, just for fun!

I decided that I wanted to go back to Wyoming/Colorado when my parents flew home, because it was a chance to see both of my sisters.  My sister, Gelsey, lives in Colorado, and my sister, Lindsey, would be in town to run the Bolder Boulder 10k, so I wanted to join the party.  :)

My parents and I were able to get on the same flight back to Colorado on Wednesday, May 21.  I had my littlest passenger with me, but it is probably the easiest he will ever be on a flight.  ;)

I spent a couple days in Laramie with just my parents before Lindsey got to Colorado.  I always enjoy going back home, and it was so relaxing to be kid-free and have nothing going on!  With all the craziness of school, graduation, dance, etc back in Minnesota, I almost didn't know what to do with myself!  Not that I am complaining...  

We went to Fort Collins on Friday.  It was so fun to have our family all together again.  We spent the weekend celebrating my nephew, Bode's, 6th birthday, hitting up the Memorial Day sales at the outlet mall, and enjoying time together.  My sister's in-laws even took her kids for a couple days, so we had some time where it was just our family, or us sisters.  I don't think that has happened since before my sister Lindsey had her first kid...almost 12 years ago!

On Monday, we spent most of the day at the CU campus while my sisters rocked the Bolder Boulder.  I just got to be an observer, due to my 6 months pregnant status, but maybe some year they can convince me to do it with them!

Unfortunately, the week went too fast (as they always seem to when you are having fun!) and on Tuesday, May 27th, it was time to return home.  This time at the airport I discovered that being pregnant qualifies you for preboarding on Southwest.  Good to know!  I don't mind having to go on early and have my choice of seats.  ;)

It was such a great week.  I loved getting to spend some relaxing, kid-free time with my family, while also knowing my kids were in the best of hands back home with their dad, Aunt Cindy, and cousin Katie.  I definitely couldn't have done it without them!  

Now, when is my next momcation??