Botanica Gardens with Grammy and Grandpa

In the Butterfly House, the boys were able to hold a butterfly.

Andrew was beyond thrilled and a little afraid to move and maybe even breathe.

Don't let Jonathan's sleepy expression fool you. He loved it too!

When we reached the rainbow garden, Hannah was out of the stroller and never got back in. The girl must've run a couple of miles around the children's garden.

 still running

She paused briefly to water the vegetables in the garden.

"You mean I get to run around and play with water?! This is the best place ever!"

Hannah and Grandpa making music.

The boys playing the drums.

More music making - Jonathan's music box sounded like rain as he dropped little pebbles in the wooden box. 

This was the exit of a large tree fort that the boys had a great time exploring.

I loved the rainbow garden. So pretty!

My attempt to get them all to look at me.

 Next to the Children's Garden, they had a Once Upon a Time temporary garden. Several popular children's stories were set up with buttons you could push to hear the story told to you. Very fun!


First he's a prince...

then a scary wolf

a royal musician

Checking out the Three Little Pigs houses.

Three Little Pigs

The Three Bears

Trapped by Hansel and Gretel's evil witch

Grammy joined in the dress-up fun.

Poppies - my fav

While Grammy and Grandpa were in town, we decided to check out the Children's Garden at Botanica. The weather was perfect for walking around and looking at the flowers. The kids were not very interested in all the different gardens until we reached the Children's Garden. So much for them to see and do. They loved it and if it doesn't get too hot, we'll go back!

Last day of 1st Grade

Andrew and Jonathan posing in front of Mary's beautiful roses after school.

                 1st day of 1st Grade                                          Last Day of 1st Grade
Andrew looks so much older on the last day of 1st grade. He's still 7, but he looks about 10 in this pictures. (And yes, I may still have a Christmas decoration on my door...in May. Don't judge me.) Andrew had a great year of school and is reading everything he can get his hands on - mostly at 2nd-3rd grade level. He does math in his head - scary, and keeps us on our toes each and every day. We are looking forward to summer and reading some fun chapter books!

Jonathan's Last Day of Preschool

Jonathan enjoying his ice cream sundae.

The Js

Hannah and Sammy pretending they are in preschool too!

Jonathan and some of his friends

Jonathan and Mrs. McCalla

Mrs. Webb and Jonathan

Final hugs good-bye

Jonathan has had a great year of preschool, so his last day was bittersweet. His teachers have been super sweet and he has been excited to go to school every day! I know Jonathan will miss his teachers and friends, but he is super excited to go to Kindergarten and ride the bus with Andrew. It's hard to believe this little guy is already going to full-time school. This is one of those days when I wish time would slow down a smidge!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day 2013 - Hannah (2-1/2), Andrew (7-1/2), Jonathan (5)

Firemen visit Preschool

ladder truck demonstration

Jonathan and his class waiting for their turn to climb inside the fire truck.

The first Friday in May, some local firemen visited Jonathan's preschool. The firemen gave a presentation to both kids and parents, separately. They taught the kids what to do in a fire, while the parents were presented scary facts about the dangers of fire. (Nice, especially for those of us prone to anxiety.) Then we got to go outside and see the fire trucks - the main event. Unfortunately, it was another freezing cold day and the kids weren't very interested in spending a lot of time outside, but they did like climbing in the trucks and looking at all the gadgets.

Andrew's Field Day

Brothers and snow cones. Does it get any sweeter?

Andrew and his friend, Gavin, competing together.

It was cold, but Jonathan was tough and ate the snow cone in the cold wind without a jacket. Hannah is rebelling against the constraints of the stroller, but I kept her strapped in for as long as she would let me!

Andrew's school field day was the first day of May. Generally the weather is perfect for this, and sometimes hot. But by the time we got the school, it was freezing. A north wind came out of nowhere and I foolishly left Jonathan's jacket in the car. I offered to go and get it for him, but he said he was fine, but by the time we left, the poor child was freezing. Andrew had a great time running from one event to another. He was so fast I had trouble getting many pictures of him. We are hoping next year is warmer and that I'm quicker with the camera.

A Modified Car Wash

 

A bucket of water plus a couple of sponges equals hours of fun and happy children.