never a dull moment

gymnastics day! 

and we're still having gymnastics anxiety. i keep expecting things to get better and they're not. i've been patient and loving and with very few expectations, but after 3 or 4 weeks of drama, after 2 years of gymnastics, and her being so excited for kindergym, i had kinda had it. we got there nice and early and talked before class started. she said she didn't want to run and walk relevé. no problem, we decided she would go into class during stretches and we were both happy with our plan. but then she started crying when stretching time came. so i held her and stretched her on my lap and we laughed and all was still well, she was going to go into class as soon as they started their work. but then skills time came and she was still anxious and not wanting to go into the gym. i felt sure that if i could just get her into the gym, get coach kaycey to tell her she needed her, that we would be great. so i took her in and she stood with her back to everyone. i was still sure she'd be fine, so i left, so as not to add to the drama. she stood for awhile with her back to the girls and arms folded, then, when that wasn't dramatic enough, she sat down and pouted. the other girls were so sweet, they'd each take turns hugging her and trying to get her to participate, but the pouting force is strong with that one.

she was having none of the friend loving. after about 5 minutes, coach kaycey brought her to me. she said frankie was breaking her heart. i was having a rough time staying patient and sweet by this point. part of me was saying "it's okay, this is for her and if she doesn't want to go in, that's okay." and part of me was saying "this is ridiculous! she loves gymnastics and she's just being drama! and if she wasn't going to participate, we could have just stayed home an extra hour!" so after more tears and drama, i put her in time out. arguably, not my best mothering move, but i was hoping it would snap her out of whatever it is that's going on. then she decided to be more drama and stay in time out. finally, with five minutes left in class, it was playtime. i called matt and vented and he said i should let her play, so i did. and of course she had a wonderful time. ugh!

at least this big girl was good and cute.

she was so proud of herself for being able to climb on the chair by herself.

that's a big girl!!! she'll start gymnastics when school starts in august. :) at least she will if daddy doesn't get sequestered. :(

miraculously recovered and able to play!

at least she's cute.

we met up with lexi at walmart, bought some snacks, and lexi, addie, and frankie headed to see epic.

 i had talked to matt about letting them go to the movie, because since yesterday the news has been talking about these crazy storms that have been rolling across the US and would be hitting us thursday afternoon. matt said he thought they'd be fine to go, so we happily sent them off to a 1:20 movie. i came home, put laney to bed, and was happily enjoying some quiet time, when i got a crazy emergency alert on my phone - tornado warning (that's the bad one, means they've already spotted a tornado!) for st marys county, take shelter immediately! lexi had texted about 5 minutes before this that they were on their way home! to say that i was freaking out a little would be a lie. i was kinda freaking out a lot. i went outside (exactly what they say not to do!) and saw some crazy dark clouds coming quick.

there was already tons of lightning and some deep, low thunder. and then the county tornado siren started going off. i can only remember that happening once before, and it really scared me. matt said i should wake laney up and head to the basement, so i did. without my other girls! blah! after about 15 minutes lexi called. she said she'd heard on the radio that people should get off the roads, so she pulled over at walmart. i felt better at least knowing where they were and that they were with adults that were hopefully responsible. i let matt know where they were, and we decided that he'd go meet them there. the storms hadn't quite hit california yet, but as soon as he started driving, the rain started. and he was stuck in traffic through the worst of the storm.

(took this from neighbor tina)

this happy chic and i hung out in the basement bathroom and ate pringles and texted everyone we could and checked fb and the weather every 2 mintues.

i think the terrible storms in oklahoma really had us all on high alert. it was really dark and crazy loud thunder (very train like) and i just really would have felt better if i'd had all my little chicks with me. finally, matt found the girls and the worst of it was over. we had thunderstorm warnings till 8, but the tornado threats were gone. so grateful that our family and most others were safe. i heard on the news that a 4-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree - sad. :(

the rest of our evening was uneventful, thankfully.

this little goose is such a cute little reader.

"anything under there?"

 

and bonus shot #1

sydney's getting ready to head to college in alabama! ahhh, she's been a friend since middle school! these girls are getting so old! proud of her!

and bonus shot #2 

congratulations, dad! retirement, woo-hoo!!! can't wait for you to come visit and stay for a few months. time for matt and i to go on vacation, haha - papa time!!! ;)))

rain, pool time, and dating

it's been really rainy lately. one night (sunday maybe?) i took laney-bug outside to rock, instead of her usual bedroom rocking. she was a little bit excited, cause she loves being outside, but it was rainy enough that she calmed down nicely. i love a rainy night. :)

i wrapped my little last born, and rocked, and soothed, and we enjoyed the rain. it was lovely. for all the crazy motherhood moments, there are these beautiful ones that i want to imprint on my heart and remember forever. this was one of them.

one day (monday maybe?) addie took a rest with me in my room.

we all love reader's digest up in here, and we get started young.

one morning (wednesday maybe?) i had heard frankie was awake, but then i didn't hear her anymore, so back to sleep for me! when my alarm went off at 7:15 (no seminary days are pretty sweet!) this is what i saw when i opened my door. i quietly grabbed my phone and sniped 'em! neither of them even knew, i'm pretty smooth. frankie was just standing there watching lexi get ready for school. in her stilettos, of course.

and then frankie lays on the couch because she is tired, because she should not be waking up before 7am. it's such a vicious cycle. but she's my early riser, so we deal.

johnna had landon with her all week, so we planned a wednesday pool date. that was the first time i'd braved the pool. 3 little swimmers just really make me a little nervous. plus that it takes at least an hour, if not 2 to even get going to the pool. how, you ask? everyone needs: bathing suits, sunblock, food before swimming, snacks, drinks, towels, toys, swim diapers (ok, only two of them need those), shoes... you get it. finally, we were off!

lana, you know you miss this mess!

this little crazy lady loved the pool!

for good measure, we took abby with us to the pool. :) 

during the adult swim 15 minutes we hang out in the baby pool.

i caught addie jumping in.

see, not all iphone shots are bad! go nerdy addie with the goggles!

for the first hour we were there, laney just tried to drink the water. she'd put her head in and get a big gulp. gross, i know! then she got comfortable and started wandering around. she's pretty fearless. she fell in several times, backwards, forwards, all over the place, and she never cried. (yes, i am an awesome mom) she was all about the pool!

pool time with friends is so fun! johnna and landon hung out with us till 2, but by then ashby and darlaina had showed up, so we always had friends. also, the buxtons came and hung out with us for awhile, we saw monique across the pool, and then as we were leaving, lana and crew pulled up. mormom day at the pool!

i told frankie that landon was coming and she threw her arms in the air and said "landon! hooray, he's my boyfriend!" maybe i shouldn't have told her that, cause every time she talks about landon she says he's her boyfriend. oops. :)

we got to the pool at 12 and stayed till 3. from there we went straight to the bath. it was past naptime, but i was pretty sure laney wasn't gonna last. especially since she was just kinda hanging over the edge of the tub for most of the bath. it was one of those difficult, naptime will ruin bedtime, but no naptime will cause a cranky lady all evening and could also ruin bedtime... tough choices!

and some after bath silliness with my girls. lexi and i had an appointment with the dr.

dr. phil, that is.

the little girls read and played and acted silly while we watched in our room.

about 4:15 frankie came to the bed and whimpered, "i want juice. i want you to rub my back," laid down, and was asleep within about 60 seconds. she was so tired!

i let her sleep about 30 minutes before i woke her up. we had a gourmet dinner of hot dogs and fresh pineapple and then frankie had the second half of her landon date.

aren't they so cute?! frankie just loves going with johnna and landon! johnna offered to take addie too, but we had already talked up addie time with mom and dad, so she chose to stay with us and have ice cream. :) it's good to get time to focus on just one child at a time, and it's also good for frankie to get time away. it's all good!

 

yay, the silly face is back!

 

i had a headache after the pool and my back kinda hurt. so i asked matt to look at my back, and sure enough, burned. this was shocking news to me because i had asked frankie to put lotion on my back and i was quite certain she did a thorough job. i had forgotten that i was going to put more sunblock on my back! i had also forgotten to put any sunblock on my face! 3 hours, high noon, and no sunblock = red nose, red forehead, and crazy sunglass lines. 

prett-y hot - pun intended.

pre-k spirit week

 the last week of pre-k (last week) was spirit week. monday (addie's birthday) was crazy hair day, and i already posted and deleted her crazy hair pics. 

tuesday

crazy sock day! we didn't have any high socks, so she just wore two different patterned socks.

pretty crazy!

wednesday  

silly hat day! i got out all the kid hats and laid them out and addie picked this one, then we fancy nancy'd it and added the scarf. and in true addie fashion, she posed it up. since i didn't get any good, normal pics, here are a few of my favorite sillies.

work it, own it!

words can't express how much i love this expression!

she's such a poser.

thursday

pajama day! she chose her new birthday brave pj's. and to be a totally pouty picture taker.

until i threatened no more scooby doo for the day. that really worked, cause i got this gem.

cute, right?

friday

sports day! shout out to the mariners!

except that i couldn't find addie's shirt. i probably packed it away with the rest of her 4t stuff, so this is frankie's 3t. whatevah.

hooray for end of school festivities!

and the end of school!

goodbye pre-k, hello kindergarten

addie-cakes graduated from pre-k on monday. 

she walked in timidly and then lit up when she saw us. :)

hello, awkward girl. :)

 they started by singing some songs - a hello song, slippery fish, and the wheels on the bus.

 everybody participated and it was super cute. it might have been cuter if the would have used the stage, or the steps right behind them so we could all have seen our kids. that little dancing daisy in black was all over the place, which was super cute, but i would have liked to have been able to see addie's smooth moves, you know.

 and then it was time for names to be read and for kids to get their certificates. that kind of waiting can be tough on the 5-year old crowd. ;)

she might look bored, but she kept it together. they all did actually.

 

 they were just a little bit silly.

 not much more than usual.

 and then it was addie's turn!

 angry addie?

 she's so funny!

 

she was trying to escape, but mrs. mcney trapped her and made her pose again.

 and that time it was a little bit better.

so very natural.  ;)

 i had asked sarah to watch frankie and laney so that we could just focus on addie. and then as i got delaney dressed and in the car, she started sneezing and her nose was all runny. so then i didn't want to chance leaving a little sickie with sarah, so little miss disgruntled came with us. she was ok... not great, just ok. and she never sneezed again - go figure.

i wanted to get some pictures of her with some friends. so we got this random girl... kadyn maybe?

and then bestie skie. 2 cutie brown eyed girls here!

then we went back to try and get a good one of her on the bridge...

didn't quite pan out...

but we tried.

and tried again.

and with mrs mcney.

and her favorite, miss jackie.

we love our little graduate!!!

addie has grown and learned so much this year in prek and i am glad we sacrificed and took her.every.day. ;) really though, i hope by letting her spend a few hours at school every day that her transition to kindergarten will be smooth and easy. our little emerging reader!