And this happened today........

So proud of her!  Last year she was just a little too fearful, but today she told me to take her training wheels off.  I did, and she did great!  We still need to work on getting started, she needs a person there to hold the bike still while she gets on.  These little triumphs are so fun to watch!

A Little Taste of Summer

Our first summer adventure was to go picking strawberries.  The kids had such a fun time!  They were running all over the field trampling strawberries left and right but really enjoying the experience.

Doc loves strawberries, but I think he enjoyed chasing the chickens all over the farm more.  

She followed her big brother all over the field and picked the entire quart by herself.

Carter was tramping all over the field.  He also picked the entire quart himself in a heartbeat.

Ava loves to pose for me!

Any ideas on what to make?  Strawberry shortcake for sure, but only one of our kids (Carter) likes jam/jelly so that is a no go.  We are going to be eating nothing but strawberries the next couple of days!

Summer Haircuts

The mohawk has become the must have little boy haircut for the summer.  After a couple of boys began sporting one, Carter begged and begged.  Finally I took out the clippers and his little brother insisted on the same haircut.  I think they turned out really cute!

Carter asked Mike "Dad, do you want a 'hawk too?"  Mike told him that he would probably lose his job if he got a mohawk.  Too bad, might have been cute!!

Last Day of School

This morning I put on the bus a kindergartner and a first grader.

Now they are officially a second grader

and a first grader.

Time to celebrate!  We met neighborhood friends down at the pool for a party!

The kids had an absolute blast!  I found little water ball slingshots for the kids and they had a great time.

We ordered pizza and had ice cream cones.

Carter swam his little heart out and there was a very serious game of football.

I found a sweet little note from Ava:  Pichre to Mom. I love the pol prty! From Ava

What a fun day with these three little guys!

Pittsburgh

Over Memorial Day weekend we visited our family in Pittsburgh for a dual Graduation Party and a lot of fun.  My cousin's home was under construction and the kids were really excited about riding in the skid steer.

Dawson mentioned several times that it was his favorite part.

We had plenty of time in the pool, I could barely keep them out of the pool so here they are swimming at 8:30 in the morning.

We also visited "camp" with the two fainting goats and the donkey.  Mike's favorite part of the weekend was making the goats faint.

But I think that playing around with the log splitter came in a close second.

Then there was this kid "Robbie, I bet you can't do this."

Ava loved picking flowers and feeding them to the donkey.  Boy is that thing loud!

And of course, lots of cousin cuddles.  We love visiting!!

Memorial Day

We remember.  Thank you to all who have served our country.

Our Week

My week started off interestingly enough:  with pulling a tick out of Dawson's ear.  Yuck, not something I want to do again!  I guess it's that season, and as soon as Carter and Ava got home from school I made them come inside for a tick check.

This girl just kills me every day with her sweet smile and bubbly personality.

Dawson and I visited field day for Ava and Carter.  I liked watching Ava with the egg on a spoon race.  It was so cold that morning, in the 40's!  There were kids bundled up in blankets on the sidelines.

Carter in the wheelbarrow race

He was really disappointed that he didn't get picked to do the water balloon race.  I couldn't believe he would want to do it when it was that cold!

Dawson and I had to go get our tire patched, and the man at the tire store gave him a tire pressure gauge.  He also told Dawson that when he grows up he needs to come back and work for Goodyear fixing tires.  He has now checked the tire pressure in every tire he can find (including the bicycles.)  He also wants to work at a tire repair center now.  I asked him "What about being a construction boss or fire man" his two other favored occupations.  He told me "I want to do something hard like fixing tires."  The way his little brain works just makes me laugh.

Only one and a half days of school left!  I'm so excited for the lazy days of summer and spending all day long with my kiddos.