New Blog

Well, it appears that after 5 years of using this blog, I have reached my storage limit for pictures. Since blogger.com won't let me post anymore pictures on my blog, I guess I have to resort to starting a new address to continue this blog. So hop on over to: www.gatorbabies365.blogspot.com for my 2012 (and beyond) Project 365 picture blog. You'll still be able to come back to this site to view any of the old posts, but all posts from now on will be at the new address. So update your bookmarks accordingly!!

Preschool Graduation

This morning was Kayla's preschool graduation ceremony - they called each of the kids' names and had them walk across the stage to receive their diploma and then they all sang their graduation song at the end. Kayla has been at UCP for four years now, so we've grown close to so many of the teachers at the school. Kayla had to go around and take a picture with all of them before we left the reception after graduation. Kayla is definitely going to miss the UCP family when she heads off to kindergarten next year.

Our preschool graduate!

Family picture

Saturday

Took the girls to the park and storytime at the library this morning to get them out of the house while daddy cut the grass.

 Both girls LOVE the swings!!

On our way home, we found out Ms. Sonia's daughter Paola was in town for the weekend, so we stopped over for a quick visit (Paola was the teacher's aide in Kayla's class when she was three).

Last Day of School

 Today was Kayla's official last day of VPK.  Both girls will still be staying at the same school for their summer enrichment program, but this was the last day of regular school.

After school, we met up with "B" for dinner.... had to squeeze in a visit before he heads off on vacation and we head off on the mission trip.

Memorial Day

 The girls and I headed to the Sanford Memorial Day parade this morning - their weren't any firetrucks or police sirens this time, so both girls had a blast!

After naptime, we headed over to my parents' house for a cookout.  I tried out a new recipe for dessert - layers of ice cream sandwiches, cool whip, hot fudge, and crushed oreos.... delicious!!

May Birthdays

We got together with Chris' family today to celebrate all of the May birthdays - of course, the girls had to make sure they got to lend a hand during the present opening!

Special Olympics

The girls got to compete in the Special Olympics Young Athletes program today with their school.  It was SUPER hot outside, but they had fun running around with their friends and doing each of the activities.

Menchie's

 We had a young adult ministry social gathering at Menchie's tonight - the girls love getting to make their own frozen yogurt creations!

We also got to see Riley's godmother Lauren before she heads off to Arizona for the summer for an internship.

UCP Art Show

Tonight was the student art show at the girls' preschool. 

 Kayla and her friend Emma were asked to help serve cheese and crackers to all of the guests.

 Riley with her friends Averie and Madison

The girls with Ms. Marife and Averie & Christian

Graduation Mass

Today we recognized and blessed all of our high school graduates at Mass and then had a nice luncheon for them and their families afterwards.  We had over 30 graduates at the Mass this year, which was great!

Pei Wei

We went to Pei Wei for dinner tonight - and both girls had to show off that they could eat much better than mommy using their chopsticks!

Ms. Sonia

After school today, the girls stopped over to visit Ms. Sonia again.

Marching Band

At our fundraising dinner last weekend, one of the parents of one of my youth won this cute kids wooden instrument set at the silent auction.  She had been in a bidding war with Riley, but I finally just let her win them in the end.  But then she felt bad for bidding against Riley, so she came over and gave them to the girls at the end.  And the girls have been having a blast having parades all over the house!!  Thanks Teresa!! 

Therapy

Chris posted this picture on Facebook and opened it up to a caption contest..... my favorite was: "I see you're having a hard time dealing with being 40..." :-)

Swimming

We went over to my parents' house today for a Mother's Day cookout.  Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there!! 

 Kayla showed off her skills at going under water to pick up the dive sticks from the bottom step!  Huge improvement for the girl who used to never want to put her face underwater!

Riley just hanging out and relaxing in the pool.

Super Busy Saturday

 125 Mother's Day Corsages made - check!

 Jambalaya for 150 people - check!

Delicious praline parfaits for dessert - check!

Decorating

Spent this afternoon decorating for our big New Orleans Fundraising Dinner/Auction tomorrow night.

An apple for the teacher...

A new project I tried this year for teacher appreciation week - it's an Oreo cookie dipped in red candy coating to make a cute apple treat!  The ones I did for the teachers I put onto lollipop sticks to make them cookie pops (but it was definitely easier to make them without the stick).

Messy Wednesday

One of my favorite activities from Middle School Messy Wednesday - painting with chocolate syrup with their noses!! :-)

Happy Birthday Chris!!

 We were losing 20-2 in the bottom of the second inning at our softball game tonight.  The other team had a runner on second and a guy up to bat..... and the lightning sirens went off!  If they had scored 2 more runs, we would have been mercy-ruled.  Instead, the game got called and we get to start it over again from the beginning another day.  Saved by the lightning alarms!

Classic Chris picture.

After the game, we went out to Pita Pit for dinner and then to Gator's to celebrate Chris' 30th birthday.  Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!!

Last Dance

Last week was supposed to be Kayla's last dance class, but she got to go back for one more class since Ms. Nancy wasn't there last weekend.

 Practicing their recital dance

 Kayla and Ms. Nancy (such a small world, I used to be an assistant with Nancy when I taught at LMDA back in high school.... and now she's teaching my daughter!)

Being silly.

Kayla had fun in ballet/tap this year and says she wants to do it again next year.  We'll have to see how our kindergarten year schedule plays out and see what we can work out!

Crazy Sock Day

Kayla's class had crazy sock day today (and Riley wanted to join in too!)

Softball Fans

I think we're the only team in the league that fills our bleachers with fans for almost every game (and they are loyal and keep coming back week after week even though we keep losing :-) )  We love our fans!!

Swimming and Loose Teeth

 We stopped over at my parents' house for a bit after school today to visit with my aunt and cousin who were in town again.  Kayla got in the pool and swam with Courtney for awhile.

 Riley didn't want to go swimming.... she did, however, want to wear her swim goggles while she sat in grandpa's lap.

At bedtime tonight, Chris had just finished brushing Kayla's teeth and he asked her to come into the bedroom so he could wiggle her loose tooth.  Kayla came walking into the bedroom, holding her tooth in her hand, and said "You can't; here it is!"  Our baby lost her first tooth!!

Crazy Outfit

I let Kayla pick out her own clothes to dress herself to go over to G&G Y's house tonight.  This is what she ended up wearing - good thing I don't let her dress herself for school yet! :)

Dance Class

Today was Kayla's last dance class for this year.  She can't do the recital because it's the weekend we leave for our mission trip and since the main thing they are working on in class now is their recital dance, we decided to go ahead and withdraw her for the last six weeks.  Plus it will give us a little bit more time for family stuff on the weekends.  She had a lot of fun this year and wants to do it again next year.  I took a video of her class doing their recital dance this morning - I will try to post it another day.

Water Day

Today was Water Play Day.  The girls looked super cute in their swimsuits, swim shirts, water shoes, princess hats, and sunglasses.  And of course, mommy forgot to take a picture! :-/

Thursday

 This afternoon was Riley's last class at My Gym for right now (I signed both girls up to take 8 weeks of class later this summer).  Riley had fun hanging upside down from the trapeze bar!

After class, we stopped over to visit Ms. Sonia again!

Picnic Day

Today was Family Picnic Day, so Chris and I joined both of the girls and their classes for lunchtime on the playground.

 Riley offering daddy some of her pizza

 Kayla enjoying her pizza

Kayla and her teacher, Ms. Ginger

Bounce House

Today was the girls' favorite part of "Week of the Young Child" -- Bounce House Day!!  I purposely waited to pick them up later than usual so they could have extra time to bounce.  But then I showed up to pick them up at 4:45pm, and it was 5:25pm before Ms. Carmen and I could finally convince the two of them (and their two friends that were left there) to get out of the bounce house!  But the good part was, they both fell right to sleep at bedtime!