Welcome Summer!!

Ethan's last day of preschool was the 21st. I now know why Mommy's aren't so thrilled about summer vacation...it means your kid is home ALL THE TIME! We've kept busy though. Last weekend was the final weekend of Memphis In May - which is the airshow weekend. Mark spent most of Friday and Saturday out at the airport hanging out and helping around the hangar and I went out several times with the kids. Friday we went down the the river banks downtown to watch the practice airshow. That was great! Then Saturday it actually rained and they weren't sure if they would fly, but they did and they put on another great show. It's amazing looking at these planes and watching them fly - makes you think about the young boys that were flying them many, many years ago and how they were flying those planes fighting for our country.

This past weekend was Gracie and Sydney's birthday party. We spent Saturday outside with them and just had the best time! They rented several inflatables and the kids had a fabulous time playing on those and playing in the pool too. I will say Summer is officially here....sunscreen and baths everyday! Love it, love it, love it!

This time next week I'll be on my way to France with 22 other fabulous ladies! I cannot wait! I've been to Paris at least 10 or 12 times, but have never left Paris to see other parts of France, so I am looking so forward to that part of the trip. There is much to be done here though to get ready to leave. It's so much easier when you don't have to worry about anything except packing and going....but I've got to make sure all is copacetic around the house before I leave! I'm not worried about the kids at all. Mark is wonderful with them and his Mom is coming so he didn't have to take much time off from work. They will have a great time and are looking forward to going to Cathy's pool to swim, playing outside on our playground and maybe going to the zoo. I hope they miss me! Ethan with Mrs. Whiteside - Kim was wonderful with him early on in the school year....she would come get him so he could call me to say "hi" during the day. She said that he could call me everyday as long as it took to get him comfortable at school. It didn't last long though, but he became close to Mrs. Whiteside after that. She's always at the door greeting every student, parent and sibling everyday as we drop Ethan off. She knew my name, Mark's name and Nina's name quickly - and all the other kids that went there. She was a great director and we're glad she'll be back next year!

Ethan with Mrs. Albin and Mrs. Rieman - they were wonderful teachers!

Nina playing inside on her big wheel that Nona got her for her 2nd birthday.

Ethan and Nina sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River waiting for the practice airshow to begin

Ethan and his friend Lindy hanging out in one of the airport Jeeps

Watching the airshow (eating whatever they could find in my bag)

Skip Stewart flying around Mud Island....he lives here in Memphis and is a pilot for FedEx. He was one of the most incredible pilots I've ever seen fly. He was truly amazing to watch. At one point he was flying sideways over the Mississippi not even 20 feet off the water - holding our breath for sure!

Nina in her Memorial Day attire

Nina playing in my purse - making a mess!

Wednesday night before church, I wanted to get a picture of them. Mark was at work, so it was just me trying to get their attention and get them to smile. Ethan doesn't smile much at the camera anymore, he just says "cheese" and gives me this funny look. I finally got a somewhat cute pic of them, but it took many to get that one. They are too funny!

Can't you tell it's Wednesday night? Dazed and confused!

Ethan leaned over and kissed Nina and then he pushed her away and said, "there Mommy, did you get it?" Hilarious!

As good as it got that night!

Gracie and Sydney's birthday party!!

Ethan is in the back (with his back to the camera), but every time I thought I could get a good shot of him, he was coming at me with the water tubes, so I got outta there. They had a blast on this thing!

Sydney, not wanting much to do with anyone! She's 2!

Nina playing on one of the other slides

The party was at Mitzi's parent's house (which is just 2 doors down from Mark and Mitzi) and they have the best set up. Inside the pool area, they had several Little Tykes houses and play things, so the kids just ran from that to the pool, back out to the slides, to the playground.... it was great! They live out in the country, or what I call the country, and have beautiful land and it's just a kid's dream out there!

Ethan playing in the pool. This is the first year without a vest, but he got in Gracie's ring and just took off all over the pool. I didn't want to get in all the way, so it was perfect for me and he loved it!

The swimsuit cover up I made Nina. I wanted to get her pic in it at the party, but of course she took it off before I could get my camera out.

Bon Voyage!!!