More May

I have lost sleep (not a ton though) over how much money I have spent in mulch, over the past 4 years, when I found out I can buy a whole truck load for $2 at our county yard waste recycling place. A whole truck load for $2!! The boys went with me to witness the big backhoe in action. They were amazed!

They have been helpful spreading the mulch where we need it. It's nice have a few set of extra hands!

Lincoln's handwriting has come a long way. This was a paper he had to write a few weeks ago. Now, he can write on each single line. I have enjoyed having him home this year, but he has decided (after making a list of pros and cons) that he will be returning to public school in the  fall. I think the biggest deciding factor was that Drake was going to be starting Kindergarten.

Here he is playing a made-up game with Drake on the trampoline. He told me he was on level 15. I'm pretty sure the pool floatie was being used as handcuffs.

We had non stop rain for about a week. We got to the point, where we still had to get outside and play. The lightning stopped, so we played in the puddles.

I even jumped in with them too! It will be a precious memory for me; all holding hands and squealing together.

Beauty Parlor!! Dorothy loves to sit in front of her vanity and have me put on as many bows as I can get in her hair.

Grandma sings a song to all the grandkids that goes, "Rock a bye, don't you cry, we'll go to grabdma's. Around the hills and down the bends to see all of the ______ (animal and then do animal noise)." We were singing that together one night and I asked her what Doroty says. She responded, "that mine." She is big into playing with babies right now. She took baby outside for a nice swing.

Drake is now a preschool graduate. After all that hard work of coloring, singing songs, and learning letters, he was able to walk down the aisle in his cap and gown.

They had an after party where they introduced each child. Drake said he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. He was so sweet to give his teachers long, tight hugs. I'm really so proud of this little guy for having such a great year!

We start Memorial Day weekends off with a Family Home Evening to explain to the kids why we have a long weekend. I think it's important to have them respect the holiday, but I also think it's a great time to make some family memories.

Friday, we went swimming with some friends and then we went to our neighbor's house for dinner. The boys played hard outside! The Sherrills always tease Dorothy about how much she can eat (In a very loving way), so they laughed  when Lincoln came over with his plate and said, "Please keep my burger away from Dorothy." Saturday, we had a great family day. Lincoln finished the 4th Harry Potter book, so he was able to watch the movie. We also went swimming again and went out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Get this...the kids were angels at dinner!! We didn't have to entertain them or pick up tons of food off the ground. They all enjoyed their food and SAT in their chairs. It was pretty epic!

Cleve and the kids came down to hang out on Sunday after church. The kids got along great and spent most of the time racing and playing on the trampoline. It makes me so happy when kids go play outside!

The kids planned all of our activities for Monday. It started off with a little daddy wrestling time. 

Followed by building a birdhouse.

Our finished product...

Drake painted the front and Lincoln painted the back red. It turned out pretty patriotic with the colors and the pennies on top!

The kids jumped on the trampoline with a hose attached. They were sliding like baseball players, and Dorothy figured out how to do a somersault.

We took a break for lunch and a nap for Dorothy, but came back outside that evening. Lincoln hooked his big wheels to the cozy coupe with a bungee cord and have Drake and Dorothy rides around the driveway. Everyone was so sweaty, we came inside to eat snow cones before baths.

4 more days until Lincoln is done with school and we can really do Summer!