Preschool Graduation

Addy graduated from preschool on Thursday, May 21. The program consisted of lots of songs and poems that they learned during the year. We're so proud of our big girl! She's kind of in the middle of this pic with the striped dress on. Roll on kindergarten!

Here's our graduate (the shadow might hide the whopping cold sore on her face - bless her...she's just like her dad)

Grandma McConnell sure loves her little granddaughter. She brought graduation gifts for the big girl...her own computer!?! What kids are expected to know these days!... (Thanks again, mom)
After-graduation activities...playdough with Lauren (again, thanks to grandma)

"Brat"

So, we're probably terrible parents for letting our children listen to Madonna this young in their lives. They've got good taste and love to dance...who better to dance to then Madonna, right? (disclaimer: Addy does understand that even though Madonna is a good singer, she isn't very modest.) Ok, so here's a conversation today:

Mom (to Lauren, after wasting edamame): "No, Lauren - no more. We don't waste food."

Addy (giving Lauren another edamame pod anyway): "Here you go, Lauren. You can have one more."

Mom (looking at Addy with raised eyebrow after Lauren popped out the bean and, indeed, wasted it): "You know there's a reason why mom and dad say no sometimes. Do you know what people would grow up to be if they could just do whatever they wanted or say whatever they wanted?"

Addy: "What?"

Mom: "Brats."

Addy (after internalizing for just a moment): "Madonna is a brat."

Mom (caught off guard and looking forward to the explanation): "Why?"

Addy: "Cuz she says, 'I can do whatever I want.'" (See album "Confessions On A Dance Floor")

Mom: "You're right!"

I love it.

Springtime

Some pictures of spring events around here:

Addy with the dyed eggs

Lauren loved dipping the eggs


Lauren finding some easter eggs


Addy getting an egg

Love this pic - She looks pooped out

Egg hunt #2

Egg hunt #2

Look at all these eggs!

All the kiddies after egg hunt #2

Easter Sunday

Pretty girls with pretty flowers

In between rain and snow, there were a few nice park-friendly days.

Bless this little redhead - I think she's starting to get freckles.

Cute sisters

Hola Mexico!

What a fantastic trip we just had to Mazatlan, Mexico! In-cred-i-ble! This year we celebrate our 10th anniversary so we wanted to do something big. Britt's heart had been set on Hawaii, but we changed our minds after a recommendation to a resort in Mazatlan called Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay (you've GOT to check it out!!). We had the best time! You know how photos online usually highlight the best parts of a place and are made to look even better than in real life? Well, they were absolutely true to life. The resort was so fantastic, the food was delectable, the weather was mid-80's the whole week, we could go on and on. Seriously, if you want a great vacation, you will NOT be disappointed if you follow in our footsteps (because we followed in some friends'...). I don't even know if these pictures are the "highlights" really, but just some from our trip. We couldn't have done it without the help of family and friends watching our kids, so thank you, thank you.

The view from our room

It was dark, so you can't see, but we had just eaten at this cool restaurant at the resort. Behind us is an awesome pool.

Bird of paradise - just one of many beautiful flowers that adorn this place.

We were loving the daily maid service; then one night we came in thinking we left the TV on, but no...they come and "turn down your beds!" complete with a "Good Night" card and chocolate (and remote handy).

We ordered room service breakfast most of our mornings. The orange juice is about the freshest tasting thing I've had in my LIFE!! Barry enjoyed the eggs benedict; Britt had yogurt and an omelet this particular day. After coming in to a clean room daily, having our beds turned down nightly, eating such great food, Barry's favorite line (a little tongue-in-cheek) was "We deserve this!"

A view of part of the pool. We loved the poolside service (Britt decided that Mai Tai's are her favorite drink - virgin, of course). It's going to sound like our vacation centered around food (when DOESN'T life center around food, really?), but another favorite snack was chips and guacamole. This was the first time that we actually ran out of CHIPS long before the guacamole.

Another shot proving that indeed, the vacation DID center around food. This was at a "surf-n-turf" buffet. Yes, that is lobster in front of Barry. The salad/seafood bar at this place was a seafood lover's paradise. Barry loved the scallops and even ate (and liked) octopus (ew!).

We did a zip-line tour through the "jungles" of near-Mazatlan. The experience was really cool; the scenery wasn't so "jungley," unfortunately; maybe we hit the dead jungle season...

"Ya-hoo!"

And again...a cool restaurant on the beach where we had lunch one day.

Here's Baz taking off on a parasail...

...and Britt coming down from her ride. That was cool!

Ten whole years of marriage! Here's to another ten!

Lauren turns 2

We celebrated Laurie-Lu's 2nd birthday with a family party. She's just starting to "get" the colors, but she's known "pink" for a while, so, of course, we had pink. Girls are great.

And she loves princesses, especially "Jazzy" and "Hi-Ho," so we had 2 pink cakes - one for each.

She loved all of her presents and was excited as each new one was opened. So we put on her dress and tiara and socks and she was off giving her new baby a ride in her new pink stroller.

Reading her new princess book

And a darling pink scooter!

Happy Birthday, babe!! We love you!