Gates Town Celebration

The Rochester suburb that we live in hosts a town celebration the weekend before the 4th of July. They hire a few bands, inflate a few bounce houses, the fair food wagons show up and all the neighbors gather at the high school. Convieniently for us, the high school is very close to us, so we loaded up the wagon with chairs and blankets. I think while we were there we saw about 15 of our neighbors (and there are only about 20 houses on our street) 

We listened to the music play....

Michael bounced. Next year Lizzy can too!

The fire fighters gave out hats (and safety tips)

We listened to more music

And rather than fight the crowds once the fireworks were over, we camp home, put Lizzy to bed and Michael watched the show from our driveway. In his car. 

Visit with the McCarthy's

Liz and Aunt Susan

Playing in Colonial Park

The boys pretended that this was an ice cream shop and 

bamboozled park guests into paying high prices for "ice cream"

Successful vacation.... 2 tired children.... 

Jess and Coco's birthday

Aunt Barbara inspects Lizzy's curls

Lizzy LOVES wagon rides!

Bouncing in the trampoline! (Mikey is in the yellow)

The birthday girls and the cousins getting ready to blow out 

the birthday candles

She really does like to swing. I swear!

The Crayola Factory

 They let the kids color on the floor... hmmm... wait...

 They let the kids color on the walls... oh wait... hmmm...

 Who's that behind the red crayon???

Michael with the worlds LARGEST crayon!

Outdoor Summery Fun

The weather has been GORGEOUS lately! I'm ok with it remaining this way all summer. I'll compromise. I'll take this weather on the days I'm home with the kids. It can rain when I'm at work! 

 Liz ADORES to dig in the dirt... and to eat dirt... 

Playing in the sprinkler!

Pre School Graduation

Our baby boy is a pre-school graduate... It doesn't seem possible at all that he'll be going to Kindergarten this fall! Wasn't he just born last year? 

 singing songs they learned this year

 The Procession

 The family

 Michael and his teacher, Mrs. Grant

 Receiving his diploma

 Lizzy being a patient observer.... She and Dino did have to pace for a while, but she did great!

Graduation dinner... Michael's requests clams, olives, asparagus, broccoli, chicken and his favorite MUSHROOMS!!! He gobbled them all down!

Mother's Day Tea at St. Jude's

 Mikey and his Mama on their way to the Mother's Day Tea

 Mikey snapped this one of me wearing my special crown that he made me. It was a surprise for us Mama's and he did pretty good keeping it. It slipped out at dinner just before the event what I'd get to wear for the evening.

The kiddo's sang songs about their favorite ladies.

A special Mother's Day craft we did together. There very few photos of Mikey and I together, but this is 1 of my favorites. Our first photo together! Hard to believe just 56 months ago he arrived... 

Mikey and most of the kiddos in his class.... just 2 more weeks together for them... and then Graduation Day...