Handstands!!

Granted she is using the couch to spot her, but her handstands are getting really good!! 

Brotherly - Sisterly Love

Start of Summer Fun

We have been trying to keep busy so far this Summer.  Some days can seem very long and tiring and trying to keep Arabella busy while making sure Max is busy and happy can wear me out.  I guess that is what being a stay at home mom is all about.  Arabella is so active, which is great, but some days I just want to have a lazy day...especially when Jay is out of town...which is almost every week.  It is times like this that I wish we were back in Connecticut and I could spend the Summers at the beach house in Westbrook like we did when we were kids.  It was the perfect way to grow up.  All that aside, we have been having fun.  We try to get outside every day, but sometimes it is so hot!!  This week Arabella started swim lessons in the afternoon and in the mornings, she is at a "Dance Camp"...although she hasn't shown me any dancing they are doing...

So to keep busy this is what we have been doing...

Max just hanging out on the lounge chair on the patio!

Snacks on the patio

Tummy time!!

Tummy time!

Modified backyard kickball with our friend Tom, who was visiting from Ohio.

Pool time!!

Back stroke practice

Afternoon nap at the pool

Having fun with Etch-A-Sketch

An afternoon of pool time fun with Arabella's new friend George.

Slide races!

Friday night picnic in the park.

Magic Circle Graduation Surprise

I honestly can't say enough good words about Arabella's preschool teachers, Mrs. Fitzgerald & Madame Carmela, at Magic Circle.  Jay and I are so happy that we made the decision to put her under their wing for her first school experience.  The love, dedication and learning that they share with the kids is out of this world.  Never did we ever think that we would put her in a school that let her blossom the way she did.  We are forever thankful for their teaching these past 2 years.  It would have been so easy for them to just "forget" about her once we left, but they didn't.  They even asked us to come back for the graduation and party, which we would have loved to done, but we just couldn't do it.  Arabella talks about them both as if they are part of our family.  It is so precious.  One very touching and heartfelt gesture that they did for us, was to send her a "graduation box".  They included in it all of the items that the children received at graduation...so very special.  It even included a DVD for us to treasure that included videos and photos from this school year.  You think you know what your kids are doing and learning at school until you see something like this, but you really don't.  It was wonderful, I cried while I watched, but that is what mom's do...right???  Arabella was so excited to receive this surprise and was just thrilled that they remembered and included her in this special time.  Thank you so much Sue and Carm, you will always hold a very special place in our hearts. 

 Look at that expression when she found out who it was from!

 Her graduation hat!

 Her diploma!!

 Hey...how did that gingerbread man get in the box!!  And she thought they ate them all at Christmas time...sneaky little guy...he even wanted to graduation!  Such a great way to carry the magic of the gingerbread men from Christmas throughout the year.

 She loved the picture and even more so that she was in it.  The pictures on the frame each represnt one of the themes that they did throughout the school year.  The picture was taken on her "Last" day of school.

Special Birthday Surprise from Canada

Arabella misses her friends from Canada so much.  In fact, the feeling is mutual, I received a telephone call last night from one of my friends, whose daughter was having a meltdown because she missed Arabella and couldn't understand why she had to leave Canada.  Poor thing, we have a FaceTime scheduled for tonight so Arabella and Sam can chat.  Thank goodness for technology!  Anyway, one of her friends, Cam D, sent her the cutest homemade birthday card and beautiful pink butterfly wings, wand and skirt.  She loved it and couldn't wait to dance around in it.  I just love seeing the smile that something as simple as this puts on her face.  Thanks Cam D and Erin for thinking of our butterfly princess on her birthday!!

Wordless Wednesday

Last Day of School Celebration

I learned from my mom that it is important to celebrate all the milestones in life.  I try to do special things as much as possible for Arabella and I will do the same for Max.  I needed to do something special for her on her last day of preschool.  It was just one of those important things.

After I picked her up at school, we went to a fun little restaurant called Zoe's Kitchen.  They serve Mediterranean food and Arabella loves their chocolate cake.  It was a beautiful day and we ate outside.  It was a fun way to start our Summer vacation and celebrate her milestone of finishing preschool.

Yummy Orzo Salad!

                                                Check out that chocolate cake!

I also made her a little basket of some fun things to keep her busy this Summer.  She was so surprised and has already broken in to some of the items.

Sweet Potatoes!!!

We started Max on solid food last week!  The breast milk and rice cereal just weren't cutting it for him.  Poor little guy was always hungry.  So last week, I decided to give it a try with organic sweet potatoes...he is loving it!  Arabella was a big help and even wanted to try feeding him...she did a pretty good job.  I am so lucky that she wants to help out so much!  Anyway, since he has been doing so well with the sweet potatoes, we are going to try adding in carrots in the next day or two.  Good job Max!!  Keep on growing and eating!!

Wild Man

 There are no words for how cute he is!  Look at that hair and then when he smiles and sticks out his tongue, he is hysterical.  My little wild man!

Arabella's Preschool Graduation

This is such a bittersweet post for me to write for many reasons.  It is hard to believe that Arabella has completed 2 years of preschool - where did the time go - and will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall.  I also thought she would finish her preschool tenure at Magic Circle in Montreal and graduate with the group of kids that she has become so close to.  And for the first time since we moved here, I totally felt alone.  I was the only parent alone, I did have Max with me, but no other family was with us.  Jay was out of town and it was just the three of us.  Arabella didn't seem to notice, she was too excited, but it was hard for me.  So very, very hard and I felt alone.  No other way to say it...just alone...

Earlier in the day, she had a party with her class.  You could see the excitement in their eyes and all the energy that was in the room.  All of the kids filled up on sugar and then we went home to get ready for the graduation ceremony.  In 2 1/2 short months, Arabella tried her best to acclimate to the new way of doing things and enjoyed going to school.  She would be excited when I picked her up and she would tell me all about her days, but you could tell she missed her old teachers and friends.  She even told me that she missed Magic Circle because they did really fun crafts.  All the changes aside, she did really well at Cranfield Academy.  She picked up the recorder in her music class and played right along with her classmates at graduation and she was given a nice sized part in the graduation play.   

Arabella was so excited to put on her fancy party dress and head to her graduation.  She was happy to have Max be there and wanted me to sit in the front row so that I would be able to see her and the play.  I also wanted to sit there so I could take pictures for Jay and our family.  She was so proud of her accomplishments.  It was adorable to see.

It is so cute how her beloved Ted is never far from her side...

Saying the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

 Playing Mary Had A Little Lamb on the recorder.

Walking across the stage to get her diploma.

 They did a play of the book Miss Rumphius...it was so adorable. 

 Arabella and her teachers - Miss. Heather and Miss. Laura.

Proud Mommy Moment.  Me and my Graduate.  I love you Arabella and I am so very proud of you!