June

June was the beginning of what turned into a VERY busy summer.  We started the month out right celebrating Miss A's 5th bday.  Per her selection, we had a fine birthday dining experience at Chuck E Cheese.

Her requested party theme was Hello Kitty fashion.  

At some point in the planning process as I was surrounded by uber girlie pink decor and party favors, I realized the irony as I had completely rejected those things in the early life of my little girl.  I made the girls pink "skirt" purses and the boys Kerropi and Tuxedo Sam inspired bow ties.

 

I also tried my hand at making felt plushies of my favorite San Rio characters.

 

At the party, we decorated Hello Kitty and Kerropi cookies.  A few of them almost resembled some characters rather than a cookie piled with as much frosting and candy as possible.

We played some games, made bracelets, took apart a pinata, and in honor of the most fashionable kitty around, the ladies strutted their stuff in a fantastic fashion show

 

and then ate Hello Kitty-themed treats--a huge sandwich, bow rolls, fruit, cupcakes, and a few things I found when I raided the treat section at the Asian market.    

For some reason, I must have decided that June wasn't going to be busy enough getting ready for girls camp and planning a 10th anniversary trip with the hubby (more about that later), look back through my calendar I apparently thought it would be a good idea to throw a second party. 

This time it was a baby shower for a girl at church. 

May

I'm not sure what I'd do without social media and cell phones to help me remember what went on in my life 5 months ago.  

Apparently, on May 1st I had an epic moment

"I think I set a new world record. I had less than 20 minutes before I needed to pick Miss A from school and managed to drive to IKEA, park, get a flatbed cart, pick up the things I needed, check out, load my car in the loading area and then get to the school with time to spare."

At some point, before Mother's Day, I made a bunch of fake cookies to put up in the store I was working at one shift a week.

Then on the 18th Mr. E had a moment of his own.

"After 7 and a half years my son FINALLY lost his first tooth. And what was the first thing he did? Get a cup of milk and straw so that he could drink through the new hole in this mouth."  He actually tied a string to his tooth and slammed the door. Or maybe that was his second tooth that he lost shortly thereafter-- I really should have kept up with the record-keeping better. 

Brad's international travels took him to Malaysia towards the end of the month.

While Br was abroad, the kids had the pleasure of watching me make 150ish s' more cupcakes and the following video for camp kick-off and then that weekend got to go hiking with me and the young women from the church at the nature center.  

 Like many American's May was marked the end of the school year and end of extracurricular activities. There was a preschool performance:

  
Miss A showed off what she'd learned in gymnastics in a little mini Olympics.

(This little movie drags a bit, is composed of extremely grainy cell phone footage, and is far from being award-winning.  You've been warned.)

Of course, what she loved most about the Olympics was "winning" a trophy.  

Her brother was even proud of her.

But not as proud as she was of herself.

Miss A's biggest moment of the month was either learning to ride her bike on her own (She wanted a new bike and Brad said she could only get one if she learned to ride her little bike with no training wheels. She had that accomplished within the day)

 or her preschool graduation.  

In her words, it was a "very important" day.  The kids sang us some songs (well Miss A belted it out while dancing a little while her classmates sort of backed her up).

 

  All the kids were awarded a diploma and a bible.  

 

 I guess there is some preschool diploma maker out there that has had a successful business for the last 30 years because Miss A's and my diploma look almost identical. (picture to come someday when the two of them resurfaces while I'm opening boxes).

After taking some pictures

 

  and hugging loved ones, 
 

the kids went out to the parking lot and released balloons.

  
 Although there was no official graduation, E completed a life-changing 1st-grade year at Briarwood (a school with a teaching approach geared towards kids with learning differences).  He felt so confident after this school year that he decided to pass some of what he learned on to his sis.

Shortly after school let out, E performed in his first-ever dance performance.  Interestingly enough he danced to the same song that I danced to in my one and only dance performance as a kid-- New York, New York.   He was beaming on stage.  I smiled bigger watching him than I had in a long time.

(video to come as soon as it arrives from his teacher in Houston). 

I believe his performance was on the 31st which makes it the last big event for the month as well as the perfect place to end this post. 
   

April

As I was sitting here reflecting back on April my first impression was that nothing really happened and so I should maybe just skip over it.  Before I skipped to May I thought a little more.  I recall making a couple hundred cupcakes and putting together a trail mix bar for a hurricane preparedness seminar on April 16th at church while Br was in Barcelona.

 

I'm pretty sure it was around that same time that I went to E's school art show

 Then I went to Instagram to try and refresh my memory even more.  I found this picture

 

With this caption: April 11 "Kids usually adorn their walls with posters of things they really like. It's apparent that my daughter doesn't have a problem with self-esteem"

And this picture posted the same day reminding me of one of those crazy kid moments

 

 "Miss A-"When are we leaving?" Daddy-"Where are we going?" Miss A- "To do that thing where you roll the ball" Daddy-"Bowling? We aren't going bowling." Miss A "Then why are you wearing those shoes?"

As well as this picture of Miss A posing in her Easter dress...

 

... with this little story behind the dress

April 20- "She is such a diva. Last week did not go as planned so her Easter dress was the best option at 9 pm after searching through 5 different stores. When I pulled it out this morning her response was "oh, I thought it was going to be fashionable." When she saw that I was a little saddened by her response she quickly put on a convincing smile and exclaimed," I love it, I love it!" While giving it a warm embrace."

I was also reminded of the fantastic tradition that our good friend Courtney introduced us to planting special seeds (jelly beans) that magically sprout into lollipops on Easter morning.

Then as my mind wandered deeper I remembered why "last week did not go as planned" and that I've already touched on what happened in April.  More than anything that came to mind as I was reflecting is how much our life path has changed from where we thought it was going in March.  In March if you asked me what we'd be doing in mid-September of 2014 I would have said, "we'll probably be doing the same old same old. I guess I'll be getting ready to have a baby.  E will be in his second year at Briarwood and Miss A will be a month in at Valley Oaks...or maybe Pines Presbyterian...I haven't decided yet... probably Valley Oaks.  I'll probably fill my time while the kids are at school with more shifts at the cake craft shoppe until the baby comes."  I would have never in my wildest dreams imagine that Br and I would be living in Denver with just our two kids and I'd be spending my days figuring out what I really want to do with my life now that I've grown up.  I guess the events of April just reminded me that life takes us on all kinds of unexpected journeys.  Often times the journey takes us to places we never wanted to be, and other times it blesses us with opportunities unimaginable.  But overall when I continue to reflect on all the ups and downs over the course of the last few months, I've seen the hand of the Lord in my life and felt His loving arms enfold me.  I consider myself blessed. And although April 2014 felt like one of the most challenging times of my life, this final Instagram is a great reminder that my challenges were not forgotten and I was never left alone. 

April 22nd- "I really needed a dose today. Thank you sun for finally showing your face. Tender mercy."

March

In March I apparently had the opposite problem I had in December and we ended up with an overabundance of pictures.  Bear with me for over posting pics and let the photo collages commence!

March in Houston usually means one thing to locals-- RODEO!  Funny thing is we've yet to go to the rodeo.  This year we stuck our toes in the waters of the rodeo by hunting down the trail riders.  I'd picked up Miss A from school and headed to the parking lot where the riders were supposed to be stopped for lunch.  There was no sign of them.  Instead of turning around and going home, my little cowgirl insisted we drive around and look for signs of them (and by signs I do mean horse poop in the road).  We drove around for almost an hour when we finally found what we were looking for (never been so excited to come across poop in my whole life). We followed the trail into slow traffic and soon enough we found "actual cowboys".  Miss A insist we pull over and wave to them as they went by.  

In March Daddy got to take another trip to Paris at the last minute.  I'll be honest, I was a little sad that I didn't get to join him, but survived since he'd cashed in some credit card points to book us a little trip to Florida for spring break.  His other huge surprise was this:

 

(#I'moninstagramnowsobraceyourselffortheperiodicsillypictureswithoverlydramaticfiltereffetsandridiculoushashtags)

I'm not going to lie, it's nice to have a husband with friends that have too many first-class upgrades to use before they expire.

   The best thing was that while I was up front enjoying a hot towel, free checked bags, and a snack, Br wrangled BOTH kids in the back of the plane ALONE. 

Yes, we went to Florida AGAIN.  I know what you are thinking, these people have a serious problem.  This family needs to start attending DA (Disneyholics anonymous).  We are not in denial.    I'm blaming my sis for posting this to my Facebook page.  

 

You know, I went into this bathroom for the first time on our trip and it is indeed one of the coolest bathrooms I've ever been in.  I really wanted to take pics inside but decided that would be a little extra creepy.   

I'm not sure why the first pictures from this particular trip were of a bathroom. My favorite pictures were actually of my little adrenaline junkie crazies who love to ride anything fast and usually have their arms up.

 

Mr. E got to fulfill a dream that he's had pretty much all his life.  That may be a little bit of an exaggeration but he has wanted to ride this thing for years. 

 

(Expedition Everest)

When he could barely talk he used to call it the "faster train ride" and would describe, with eerie accuracy, what he thought it would be like.  We actually used to have a postcard of Expedition Everest on our fridge to remind him that he needed to eat good food so that he could grow taller so he could ride it.   

He was excited and nervous all at the same time.  I liked that he was nervous because he ended up holding my hand most of the time.  He said he liked it, but passed on the opportunity to ride it a second time.  E also joined me for the first time on my favorite ride---Rockin' Roller coaster.  

 

He loved it so much he hopped off and then road it again with Daddy. 

 Miss A had some firsts as well -- Splash mountain,

 

 and she and her brother dragged me on the tower of terror.  

I always feel a little silly trying to talk my tiny little companions out of riding something.  Of course we ended up in the very front row--my least favorite place to sit on the ride-- but it did allow us to capture this blurry moment. 

Yes, that is me holding on for dear life while my then 4-year-old rode the entire time with her hands up.  Crazy kid.  I wonder how old she will be before she asks to go sky diving. 

Luckily my adrenaline junkies were also good sports about other rides and attractions that moved at a less intense pace (although before we got on every ride Miss A asked if it would be fast and was a little disappointed if I said, "No").

(Haunted Mansion)

(Kilimanjaro Safari)

(Earning some jr. ranger badges at animal kingdom)

(Exploring the past and future on Spaceship Earth)

One of the reasons we ended up with so many pictures is that my kids are really, really into posing for pictures.  And I do mean posing.  

  

(This little diva wanted her souvenir to be getting her face painted)

  

 

(Showing off the shirt he got when we went to vote at "Funny American Show")

 

(Showing off the sticker crown she got from a cast member while she was waiting for E and I to finish riding our virtual roller coaster that we designed.  Even other cast members were jealous of her new accessory)

 Although you can't always tell, E always picks a character, emotion, or action and sticks with it as I snap pictures.   

For instance he wanted to be a 4th caballero.   

 

And stole my hat for the second half of the trip after he got an Indiana Jones gun so he could play the role of soldier.  

(Before he commandeered the hat--no he isn't upset, he is just standing at attention)

 

 (After he got ahold of it, he wouldn't let it go...even in the hotel room).

The kiddos also posed with lots of celebrities.  

(Chip and dale were actually making fun of how huge E's autograph pen was)

One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to Epcot.  I really enjoyed all the topiaries they had around the park for the garden festival.  

 

 

I also loved that I got a little alone time Mr. E.  He was obsessed with helping Agent Perry with missions to foil Dr. Doofenshmirtz's diabolical plans.  We stuck around a little later than Br and Miss A to carry out a few more missions.  

 

While we were out and about we also found a few hidden mickey's (that kid is crazy good at spotting them),

 

and also explored some fairy gardens.  I just might need to make one or two in our new backyard.

 I think everyone in the family would agree that one of our favorite things to do at Disney World is EAT!

 We love snacks!

(And we love themed dining!)

And above all else, I loved that we all got along on the trip...

 

*Funny side note about the seagull E got as his souvenir at Epcot, on the bus back to the hotel a woman asked him if he saw lots of seagulls and he said, "tons, there were tons of stuffed ones like this, ones on shirts, hats, towels, picture holders..."

...at least most of the time.

And now on an anticlimactic note,  but it did happen in March so I'm going to include it in my summary, when we got back from vacation I got to plan a celebration commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society (the women's organization at church).  We had an indoor garden party with the theme "bloom where you're planted"  It was a wonderful night with an uplifting message.  Looking back I do find it a little ironic that I uprooted soon after putting the activity together.