The Little Things: June 2013

May Ends...Summer Begins...

With a four year old and six year old, our summer begins.

Siri's loving the balance bike

Eric's brother, Greg, and his wife Maddie were in town, so we had a lovely dinner
and the rare chance for a family picture

Practicing for their recitals

Annie had a Kindergarten Graduation party, here she is--note her dress. She picked it out by herself, and I love the fact that it was my first day of kindergarten dress (my grandparents took me out to eat and buy the dress before school started that year, I can still remember my grandfather making a wrong turn into the cul-de-sac behind our house on the way to Furs Cafeteria...)

Right after Annie's graduation celebration, we rushed back over to Siri's preschool for their last-day-of-school ice cream social. Here she is with some classmates...

And, with me and her wonderful teachers

As we were leaving the classroom, I asked if we could take a picture by her favorite place in the room. She chose the journal writing station. She actually told me yesterday that instead of painting faces when she grows up, she wants to write. (She was simply writing her name at the time, so I'm not sure what she envisions for the future...but it's fun to wonder about)

Besides wrapping up the year at school and dance, the girls finished off their spring session of swim class and are quite looking forward to lots of time in the water this summer.

And, I just had to include this picture, because...well...I love the expression.

Happy June...There's rumors the sun might be shining here tomorrow...We're ready for summer!!!

More of May-Siri's Fourth Birthday

Okay. Lots of pictures for Siri's fourth birthday. My mom came to town to help us celebrate (and document) the festivities...What a sweet time...

Birthday morning, ready to open presents

Annie gets a "thank you" kiss from Siri

At school, making birthday treats with some of her friends

Then, off for play and a hike. At the end of the year, this was one of Siri's FAVORITE things to do: clean this little house. Thankfully, she likes to clean our house, too.

Stopping off at the pond

At the prairie

With Eliana

These three-Annie, Eliana, and Tommy-all had end-of-May birthdays so they celebrated together.

After school, we had lunch at Wendy's, ran some errands, and then picked Annie up from school, Daddy from work, and then headed to the Mall of America for Siri to pick her four rides.

After dinner, we headed back home to make Strawberry Shortcake and open some more presents

A couple days after her birthday, we celebrated Siri's birthday with friends. Siri wanted a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party with a Bella Bunny cake. Once again, thank you, Emily for a wonderful cake!

Making Fruit Loop necklaces

Admiring the cake

Listening to a birthday story

planting strawberry plants

snack time!

excited about the cake

playing "Pin the Strawberry on Custard's Bow"

The party kids

Uncle Jeff reads a story

May

May Day Flowers ready to be delivered

At the Minneapolis May Day Parade--a picnic lunch to guarantee our spot...

So very happy to have sunshine and warmth (we thought we might need snowsuits to keep us warm and were so pleasantly surprised for a warm enough afternoon that we went out for ice cream afterwards!)