Week 14 { May15th- 21st }

{Sunday: May 15th}

Elijah filled-up his punch card at church and chose this fun twisty-thingy for a prize...it kept him busy all day.

perfect Sunday evening to spend some time at the park before it gets too hot out.

woo-hooooo!

"I'm gonna get those feetsies!"

{Tuesday: May 17th}

My birthday datenight with Avery

such a fancy place for us common-folk...

They had live jazz music and it was gorgeous outside, but my date was the best part!

His meal: some kind of cedar-plank salmon culinary creation

Her meal: Crablegs 

(they were already opened up for me, and do you see how they tied a little net around the lemon to catch any seeds?!! They also had butter in a little dish being kept warm by a candle underneath, WOW!)

a trip down memory-lane where Avery danced his way into my life...or I dance my way into his...either way it was funny to revisit the place where it all started, God is good! Even in our mess!

Dessert & Coffee at the Stone Rose Lounge at the Scottsdale Princess

I think we found our new favorite spot! Could it get any better than this?

okay it just got better, That is a SMORE cheescake!

Arriving home to some friend's banners, sidewalk chalk graffiti, gifts, and streamers everywhere, quite a homecoming!

{Thursday: May 19th}

Family picnic at Encanto Park

I had to keep this girl from walking straight into the water after the duckies.

The reason for the picnic? Lou's home for a visit! We're so proud of our family's military man!

That night was Elijah's end-of-the-year performance and history fair, he was dressed as Pecos Bill. I saw the kids gathered around him only to discover that he had smuggled his lizard to school in his cowboy hat!!!

I couldn't scold him in front of all his friends on his big night, we had a talk later but he seemed un-moved, what could I say? He loved his little lizard.

Week 13 { May 8th- May14th}

{Sunday : May 8th}

Mother's Day! Went to church and then left from there with mom for a day-o-fun!

woke-up to a surprise banner & cards, sweet!

{Monday: May 9th}

Lily's favorite new thing to do: shhhhh!

{Tuesday: May 10th}

World's biggest paper airplane!

(it didn't fly but it was cool)

{Wednesday : May 11th}

Grandma bought zoo passes!

This is the water caves area that the kids love to play in and cool off.

Elijah's favorite thing was stingrays, he got splashed by one and he thought that was pretty funny.

Ava's favorite was the flamingos...because of her swimsuit.

Elijah topped off the day playing in the tree house and searching for bugs in the stream.

and we had some snowcones too of course!

{Thursday: May 12th}

Trampoline + Sprinkler = twice the fun!

Lily enjoyed finding rolly-pollies...although she squeezed them a little too tight, ewww!

{ Friday: May13th}

The whole fam went up to Elijah's school to watch him in the school assembly.

Elijah got to ride home with his buddy Conner and then we all met over there for a bbq, Ava and Conner's little sister Kendal will hopefully be in the same kindergarten class next year.

{Satruday : May14th}

Heard Lily saying "daddy...daddy...daddy" only to find her on top of the computer desk poking at the picture of him on the computer screen, dangerous & not good for our computer.

5 minutes later I found her in Ava's room like this...she makes life fun!



Week 12 {May 1st-May 7th}

{Sunday: May1st}

Daddy is home from the retreat!!!

{Monday: May 2nd}

Ava was pulling this around the house all morning and guess what was inside quiet as a mouse?

{Tuesday: May 3rd}

Yes, I found her like this!

{Wednesday: May 4th}

Ava figured out how to whistle and said "I really am like a bird mommy!"

Then she taught her big bro how to do it...of course they had to lick their lips first!

They were VERY serious about getting it just right.

{Thursday: May5th}

Elijah's buddy Conner rode the bus home with him today to come over and play for awhile...they had a blast "versing eachother" on their Nintendo ds games, playing on the trampoline, and searching for bugs...and Ava was right there to watch all the action :)

{Friday: May 6th}

Mommy & Son Date Night at Chick-fil-a

Me and my handsome boy.

They served us at our tables and while ordering I said:

"Do you want a kid's meal Elijah?"

 To which he replied:

"No, I want a Spicy Chicken Sandwich Deluxe Meal...with no tomato"

They had a contest to see which son could put a toe-sock on their mom the fastest...

We were no where near winning and as Elijah struggled to get my foot in he said,

"Mommy why are your feet so BIG?!!"

I laughed and told him he was a rude date.

We doubled with the adorable Patrick and Heather, Here they are decorating their photo frame.

They had fun props to use in your picture and I couldn't contain myself! I came home and put this on our fridge only to notice it was missing the next day, I found it displayed on Elijah's desk...I love that boy!



{Saturday: May 7th}

Had to run to Walmart (on a Saturday morning, ugh!) and kept Lily entertained in a separate cart with a watermelon...yes we bought the watermelon!

Got her a new 'big kid' booster seat and she was clapping and saying "yaaaay" when she me installing it. She was so proud to sit in it.







Week 11 { April25th-30th }

{Monday: April 25th}

There is just something special about that 'fresh-out-of-the-tub' look, so sweet!

{Wednesday: April27th}

31cent scoop night at Baskin Robin's with the cousins!

...and then to the park to burn off some of that sugar!

We topped off the night by watching Swiss Family Robinson, such a cheesy and fun movie! Elijah hardly blinked he was so into it, the kids were laughing and cheering, so much fun to experience it over again with my kids!

{Thursday: April 28th}

What do you do when your kid gets off the bus with a flower he picked especially for you?

You wear it proudly in your hair all afternoon no matter how many funny looks you get!

{Friday: April 29th}

Saying good-bye to Daddy before the Men's Retreat.

Have fun!

We softened the blow by heading to the park with Grandma who was going to be having a sleep-over at our house! (because mommy is a big baby and doesn't want to be home alone over night...don't judge me!)



Lily climbed and enjoyed the slides...

Elijah found some 'treasures' and decided to start a new collection...oh joy.

Ava cruised around...

and made sure her sister stayed out of mischeif and didn't get too close to the kite fliers!

{Saturday: April 30th}

I was on birthday duty so I took Elijah only to discover what a hit he is with all the girls in his class...

oh joy again...he took it in stride (better than I did) and I couldn't believe there were no other boys from his class! By God's grace he will love Jesus first and so will his FUTURE (like WAAAAAAY in the future) love.

Ava loved this rock-n-roll party and struck a "Diza (Diva) Pose" for me.