i MAY now be somewhat back on track

ok.  man.  emotionally insane week.  too many things going on right now, but i focus on how grateful i am - we are healthy and happy and together.  i love these two kiddos more than i could ever have imagined.  

and in the end, we survived this week!!

monday, the two littles found bandit the raccoon at trader joe's to earn their lollipops.  always a great, healthy treat at 8:45 a.m.  

on wednesday, little miss ella was ready for her last day of first grade.  oy! 

donuts with these crazy two before picking up the big kids.

love that as i was walking briskly to the nurses' office to pick up el's epi pen, glancing randomly at the fence strewn with a rainbow of clothing as they tried to clear out the lost-and-found...i spotted two of ella's hoodies that mysteriously disappeared over the course of the past school year.  i wonder how many other items will remain missing to her...  ;-)

after school, we celebrated the end of the year with a private party at old pueblo gymnastics academy and a pizza party.  the kids had an awesome time!

max had one of his buddies, parker, and ella had her bestie, hailey.

we celebrated an amazing report card with ella's fave - zinburger.  we are so so incredibly proud of you, ella!!  you worked so hard this year and your writing, reading and math are awesome!!!!  i seriously had tears in my eyes as i looked over her grades and how much she has improved.  so thankful to her amazing teacher, mrs. thomas.  job well done, my sweet, smart girl!

on thursday, ella finished her wizarding world of harry potter art and science class.  she made several potions, a box and wand.  she LOVED it!

thanks for keeping me company while i cleaned out the playroom, george. you're the best buddy!

i MAY have missed a post or two...

um, so ok.  may is pretty much over.  my to-do list has been like a rapidly moving target these days.  so here is all that has happened over the last 3-ish weeks.

spring pics for max!!

ella has been having an awesome time in her wizarding world of harry potter art and science classes.  they made a potion and had it "explode" with baking soda, vinegar, food coloring and a ton of glitter. and then got to continue to play, she has a blast!

it was also star wars day (may the fourth) and she had a shirt that said "the dark side made me do it."  so appropriate for this little girl.  :-)

we had a cold snap earlier this month.  love this pic of max swimming with his coaches on the deck all bundled up.

some art from ms. ella:

the last session for the year of her kidzart class!!

and max had his spring sing!  he was super excited for his performance.

and just like that, he graduated from pre-school!!!  he's kindergarten bound and so grown up!  :-(

mrs. dawson and mrs. monier were so wonderful and loving this year!

we missed celebrating mother's day on sunday, so gigi came up the next day to watch max's swim practice and celebrate a day late!

happy mother's day to an amazingly awesome mom and gigi!!!!!!

and then the kids convinced her to join them for a sunset trampoline-jumping session.

last week, we joined a bunch of max's preschool buddies at get air, a trampoline park.  he had such an awesome time!

 later that day - ready for swim practice!

the girls watching a video at school.  this year has gone by so so fast!

last friday, the orcas had their first scrimmage meet of the season.  

max getting some encouragement from his new buddy, justin.

max did awesome for his first meet!!!  he came in first place (ok, there was only one other kid in his heat, but still) for both freestyle and backstroke.  super proud and loved seeing him work for it!!

the kids spent the weekend at gigi and poppie's (thank you!!!!) so we could have a night out with friends...starting to celebrate roger's big birthday!!

there.  caught up.  for now.  

a cut above the rest

ok.  last week.  ella had 80's day!!  

love that after she had her purple madonna fishnet fingerless gloves, multiple necklaces and side pony, she thought that 80's day meant "fancy" 'day.  

on thursday, jenny is saving my life since the kids have their respective activities at the same exact time.  she took max to her parents house to hang out with jack and josie then took all the kids to swim practice.  thank you jenny!!

meanwhile ella is loving her harry potter art class.  her teacher does a great job of combining art with science experiments too!!

saturday morning, we tried out a climbing gym.

although she was not excited about the [ugly] shoes and helmet.

ella had a great time and loved climbing all the way to the top!!!!  yay, ella!

sunday, ella cut 9 inches of hair off so she could donate it.  i'm so so so proud of how thoughtful, loving and selfless you are!  it's so adorable and you are so beautiful, inside and out, my dear!

both of us ready to send in our donations.  :-)