Season wrap ups

Before leaving for reserve duty, I had the pleasure of seeing the girls wrap up two of their activities for the season. The 1st being dance/gymnastics, and the second being T-ball. In their dance/gymnastics show, Ava put on a great routine. This was her best participation effort to date. Perhaps, an ice cream reward was a good motivator. She was showed off her basket hang and skills at tap dancing.

This was Elizabeth's 5th season of T-ball and Ava's 3rd season. I think they have worn just about every color in the rainbow. This go around it was the blue Poison Dart Frogs. Lizzy's eye hand coordination has gotten really good. Ryan enjoys being able to throw a ball around with her now. It was fun coaching a lot of the same kids from the previous fall and winter seasons, but we are all ready for a break. We learned last summer that June/July/Aug outdoor sports are not a smart idea in San Antonio. Swimming lessons, here we come!

Elizabeth's Graduation

This is the part where I get to brag about how wonderfully brilliant my kid is. Elizabeth and the other kids switched daycare centers last August. She was pretty bored in the 4 year old classroom. The center director told me she would waive the age cut off and let her move up into their private Kindergarten class. I thought it was a great idea. From 8:30 to 2:30 everyday, she and her 9 classmates when across the hall to room E for Kindergarten. Ms. Espinosa was a great teacher, adored by all the kids, but she worked them hard throughout the year. They even had to take a national standardized test, which of course Elizabeth rocked! Now, if she could just display a bit more common sense she would be all set.

Elizabeth picked up three awards:

• Math Whiz (she can count to 100)
• Reading Whiz (a step above the kids who just got phonics awards)
• Most Artistic (she is amazing, I will have to scan some art to share) The kids also put on a 50's inspired dance show for the parents, which is always good for a laugh. The girls danced to Lollipop and the boys to Blue Suede Shoes, and a group number to Twist.

P.S. Due to a February birthday, Elizabeth will be doing Kindergarten again this year at the local elementary school, but I really hope this past year of prep work set her up well and that she will find school enjoyable and rewarding.

Deloitte Family Day

We had a company family day at Six Flags Fiesta, TX with full access to the park and our own private catered BBQ with games, face painters, and portrait artists. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but I think you can tell by the kids' smiles that everyone had a good time. However, Elizabeth who is now tall enough to go on some of the thrill rides with me is chicken, and Ryan won't go either. I guess I will have to see if Ava or Casey will be my "ride buddy" in a few years.

NASCAR Weekend

For the past 4 years or so Ryan has been making an annual pilgrimage to a NASCAR track. This year was Richmond, VA. After the first year, it was quickly determined that these weekends should be guys only, no because the guys didn't want their gals around. It was because the wives and girlfriends were embarrassed by what their men turned into during these events.

While Ryan met up with his brothers, best friend, and some other guys for weekend of beer, bbq, and racing, the kids and I spent a typical weekend in TX. We had T-ball and Sunday school. The special treat for the kids was to go to the children's theater to see "How I became a Pirate." After seeing all the kids dress up for the previous show, Pinkalicious, the girls were not going to be out done this time.

Casey got a haircut. I have hope that his new crew cut will help his hair grow in thicker and fuller.

I also met up with some of my girlfriends and their kids at our favorite outdoor restaurant/playground. The huge tree house was actually ignored in favor of a caterpillar that Elizabeth found. By the end of lunch they had built a whole habitat for him.

We ended the weekend with a sport a little slower paced than NASCAR but with even more collisions. One of our good friends, Ali (in white), is on local San Antonio Roller Derby team, and we made it a family affair to go out and support her. It was quite the affair with a band, beer, and some great crashes.

P.S. My Easter Lily finally bloomed!

The other birthday boy

Just a quiet celebration at home with oreo pie for number 3-1, but Ryan is taking off this weekend for a NASCAR race with his brothers and friends, which will be anything but quiet.

April Showers

Lots of fun racing straws down a river following a major thunder storm.

Two in one week

A quick follow up to my previous post. Elizabeth lost another tooth (on her own accord) on Friday. Now with two whole dollars from the tooth fairy, I took Elizabeth to the Dollar General and she picked out a bow and arrow set.

Term of Endearment: Pumpkin Face

When Elizabeth was two she crashed into the coffee table, damaging her two front teeth. She cracked the root on one tooth and damaged blood flow to the other. Hence, the green tooth that many of you have seen. Still the teeth stayed alive and caused no problems for the next three years. We were very thankful that they didn't have to be pulled, so they could serve as place holders for her adult teeth.

Now she has reached the age where kids start to lose teeth. She is on the earlier side with FOUR loose teeth, two top and two bottom. Unfortunately, the green tooth started to decay a little faster than the others and was causing problems. No pain, just an abscess, but we didn't want one rotten tooth to mess up the whole mouth. So out it came via the dentist.

Before

After

Ryan took her to the appointment, she had the tooth extracted without sedation, was touted as the model patient (they must have some really terrible kids at this dentist), and was back at school within the hour. She told me she didn't even cry.

Elizabeth is so excited to look like jack-o-lantern. There is one other kid in her Kindergarten class who is missing a tooth and she told me she is now his twin. In exchange for her tooth, the tooth fairy brought her a $1 and a lollipop, which she took to school today to show all of the kids in her class.

Birthday Boy

The birthday masterpiece. The singing.

Make a wish...

The first cupcake. The second cupcake!

Big Wheels Action Shots

I think you can tell by the photos and the movies, that we all had a lot of fun with Gina-Mom, Michael-Dad, Katie and Austin. We can't wait to visit again. Thank you for making our trip so special and memorable.

Happy Easter!

While Ryan was working in Ohio, we took the opportunity to join him up there and visit family. The weather was absolutely beautiful for Easter, and the kids got to wear their new Easter outfits from Gram. In the morning, we went to Easter Mass. The kids were actually very good during the service, but still thought the best part of church was the playground out back.

After church, we headed over to Billy and Annie's house for lunch, a family reunion, and an Easter egg hunt. It was nice to catch up with some of the Melink crew that I haven't seen in a couple of years. Nana Melink is still going strong, and enjoys watching the flurry of activity that kids, grandkids, and great grandkids bring to her old house. Katie and cousin Lily are the best mother's helpers that I have ever met. I was ready to pack them in my suitcase and bring them home. Dan and Janine are as sweet as ever, and they brought their youngest daughter Eva with them. Eva is not so young any more. She has graduated college, engaged to a Marine, and ready to start the next phase of her life. Gina and Mike have more energy than any parents I know and were able to give Ryan and I a welcome break as they chased after all the kiddos.

Lots of love, laughter, and chocolate, it was a good day.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!