Monkey See, Monkey Do!

This past Monday we took our annual trip down to the St. Louis Zoo. Although, I'm not sure if I can call it annual anymore since we didn't go last year. Oh well! We TRY to go every year. The girls last day of school was the 18th, so we hoped to get down there before St. Louis schools were done and before the weather was too hot! We waited in line a long time to get to the parking lot, but the zoo itself wasn't that busy.

We always have a great time! The girls absolutely love seeing the giraffes, and the elephants. The monkeys, orangutans and apes are a hit. But their absolute favorite is the penguins! And if it weren't so cold in their we could probably spend an hour watching them. But it's freezing so we don't!

Kiersten, Mitch and Hattie had been struck down by a stomach bug the week before. We thought that Leah was in the clear. But sadly, about halfway through our zoo trip, she started to feel queasy. We were so close to being done with the zoo, but she didn't think she could do it. She and I went back to the van. And sure enough she ended up getting sick. And proceeded to get sick the whole way home! Poor, kid! The other two were wiped out and fell asleep in no time!

Hattie at the bat!

The time has come...three girls on three different ball teams. We basically live at the ball field these days! Lucky for us we don't have a whole lot of overlapping, but we are there at least 3-4 nights a week. Hello Summer!


We don't know any of the parents or kids on Hattie's team...we know lots of other parents, just not these, but that's okay. Hattie never met a stranger. She chats them all up. Sits on the coach's lap. I don't know what to do with this girl. Watching 4 year olds is interesting. They mostly play in the dirt! Hattie cracks me up because when she is on base they always have to tell her to run, usually after the other runner has already taken over her base. Oh well, she'll get there eventually. I think she just likes to go for the snacks!

Kiersten's play day!

Today was play day at McGaughey! Mitch was home sick with a stomach bug so I left him with Hattie and I went to help with Kiersten's class.  They had lots of fun stuff planned for the kids. There was bean bag toss, egg/spoon races, ring toss, kick ball and more. I think they enjoyed the free play on the playground and popsicles most of all. It was a perfect day with gorgeous weather. Kiersten has had a wonderful year. She is really going to miss all the smiling faces at McGaughey. Especially Mrs. Weirman and Mrs. Reatherford. She's made wonderful friends that she will miss over the summer. She's ready for more adventures at Mt. Zion Grade!

Hattie's play day!

And that's a wrap! Good-bye Preschool! Today this kid officially had her last day of school. We ended it with a play day at Spitler Woods. Mrs. Brown had fun games planned for the littles, and they even took a short hike on one of the trails. Hattie did not want the day to end. She has had so much fun making new friends and learning new things this year at the Co-op. I promised we would have some summer fun, maybe for her birthday next month.

The Graduate

I blinked and my baby isn't a baby anymore. How did this happen??? She's growing up so fast! I'm on the brink of being a stay-at-home (okay work-at-home) mom without any kids to stay at home with?!?! The last two weeks have been full of fun for Miss Hattie! She got to go visit McGaughey on the 5th. She said it was so fun. She liked hearing a story in the library and came home with a fun maraca that she made on her own.

On the 7th we celebrated her Preschool Graduation. They sang a few songs and received their little diplomas. Hattie said that when she grows up she wants to be a pet vet! She's really something else. She's spunky, and certainly has plenty of attitude. At her kindergarten check-up Dr. Branham said she is very socially advanced...yeah, I know! She's going to give her kindergarten teacher a run for her money. Look out McGaughey...she's coming for you. She's ready. I just hope I am.

Leah's Golden Birthday

 I'd like to say that there was major fanfare for Leah's golden birthday. I mean, this year she turned 9 on the 9th! But it was very much so a typical day for us. Of course there were donuts with candles for breakfast. And then Hattie and I took her McDonald's for lunch. She was bummed that I didn't get her a Southwest Salad because she wanted the jalapenos out of mine. I think if I had really brought her a salad she may have been a bit disappointed! After school we had Piano, she opened gifts (Harry Potter Movies and Chronicles of Narnia were big hits) and then we had to get ready for dance and swim.

After swim we went to Dairy Queen. We had to get our traditional birthday ice cream cone. I love that we have this tradition. I think she would have preferred a blizzard but we don't bend the rules on birthday traditions. I can't believe she is halfway to adult. What a smart, sweet, but also trying young girl she is. Even though she argues until shes blue in the face, I'm so glad God made her mine!

Leah's Birthday Celebration

Leah, Haley Garber, Audrey Brent and Faith Roundcount

Once again, this girl wanted a sleepover for her birthday party. Finding a time to do it was a challenge, but it happened this weekend! I had some fund stuff planned for the girls, but they had fun stuff of their own planned! They were thrilled just to jump on the trampoline and be silly. They were in the basement giggling for hours. And I must have seen about 4 dozen snapchats show up over the course of the night.

Everyone arrived around 5 pm. I wanted to get the craft done right away. We were doing tie-dye T-shirts and pillow cases. The girls did great...and they turned out really well. The pillow cases weren't cotton and were a little bit of a fail, but fun all the same. We had pizza for dinner, and we had a DQ Ice Cream cake for the first time. The girls played Pie Face and Chubby Bunny and I'm sure a good time was had by all. The girls all wore their shirts to school the next day and are planning to wear them to play day. I love that Leah has such a good group of friends!