marshmallows

What is a memorial weekend without a bonfire???   Here she is roasting a marshmallow for her smores (and eating the extras)  I think she enjoyed it a little too much.  In the bathtub tonight she asked for a bon fire with marshmallow again (and then showed me how she would get 2 crackers and smoosh it all together)  When I told her we couldn't do it tonight I of course got the "Please mom, please, please, please"??  Where do they learn how to beg like that?

boating and tubing

"Look Mom, no hands"!!!  What a weekend!!  I couldn't believe that GiGi was on the first tube ride of the year!  She couldn't get to the back of the boat fast enough to get on that tube!  It was so cool!  We wiped out last year so I wasn't sure how she was going to react.   Obviously, it didn't bother her!!

The water was cold but that didn't stop her from going on the wave runner either!  We must have sang every song we knew when we were wave runnin'!  It was awesome.  Then she hung out in the hot tub for a little while and did some four wheeling with the kids.  It still is so funny to me that I thought all this was over for us when she was born.  She is the one that makes it the most fun!  If I only knew....

  

New pink bike

Yeah, yeah, yeah, she should have shoes on but.....  My Mom doesn't go on-line so it's all good! 

Because GiGi loves our tag along bike (with me) so much she hasn't been riding hers as much as she should.  In fact, I caught her a few times looking down watching her feet instead of the road!!  So that is something we will be working on this summer.  Her endurance is really building up.  Yesterday she had to do 2 home-run runs (all bases) at t-ball and did great!!  Actually, when she finished she said "I'm dizzy!"  That is so her!   

St. Annes last day of school performance!

Wow!!  They started with the Pledge of Allegiance and went on to sing at least 12 songs!!  Talk about cool!  She was amazing!  This was the same class that had some parents questioning if GiGi "belonged" in their school.  So it was great to see her do so much better than some of the other kids!  When that happened I was hurt beyond words.  In fact, the very next day is when I committed myself to the national "i have a voice" traveling gallery project.  Though I knew I couldn't (shouldn't) take on such a huge project these parents left me no choice.  I can only hope and pray for their "perfect" children.

Some of GiGi's facial expressions and dancing had me cracking up!  My favorite part was during the Pledge of Allegiance when she said "and to the repubic, for which I stand, one-ation, under dog, individible, wit liberty and just for all."  "under dog"???  Is that show still on???  

It was a proud and weird day.  Knowing people teach their kids to judge others just freaks me out!  OK, I am over it.  (I am sooooo not!)   

  

I can read!!

I am so behind!!!  Between school, baseball, the 5k run/walk, the after party prep, finalizing the new 2009 "Inspire" calendar (which is amazing!!), tutoring, board meetings, birthday parties and my own partying I am buried!!  I usually don't complain but what the?????   OK better now!

GiGi started back in the free literacy program at the Playhouse and she is learning to read a book  a week!!  She is even getting the phonics component!!   Here are a couple of pictures of her and her tutorer Beth.  She is amazing and a VOLUNTEER!!!!!   The Playhouses are so blessed to have people like this teach our kids.  A book a week!!  Sorry, did I say that again??  We were reading earlier today and I am just so blown away by her progress.   

I love summer!!!

You can tell summer is here when the Hannah Montana CD is blaring at 7:30 am and the kids are outside playing in their pajamas before 8!!   I love it!  

I remember reading recently in a magazine that one of the best things you can do for your child is to allow them time to play alone outside.   You guys know me... I am still stalking from the window, but it still gives them a since of independence and they begin to explore a world they might not see with us constantly around guiding them!   

I have to share something I read on one of the 5k registration pages.   It was a quote from a proud Mom.  I wish I had a picture of her son to share but here is the quote.   

"When Vincie came into our lives we had no idea what a blessing he would be and how he would bring our family together in the truest sense you can imagine. When you're pregnant thinking of having a baby with Down Syndrome is the scariest and most taboo thing and when it happened to us we were shocked and a bit scared of the unknown. My sister, who has been Nancy's friend for years and a part of Gigi's Playhouse from the beginning was actually excited and happy for us. Her reaction was confusing to us at first but we didn't know what she knew - how absolutely amazing these little angels are. I feel like God gave us Vince as a gift. Down Syndrome awareness is so important for the quality of life for families, friends and children with Down Syndrome. We are excited to give Vince a good life and let him shower us with happiness as he's already done in his 8 months of life."

That sister is Auntie Ang who we all love so much!!  Vincie is a lucky boy!

Gotta go!  GiGi just came in and wants to do yoga!

Finish last post!

I guess I said Mother's day weekend so I should finish!  

Saturday morning started with a spa treatment for the girls!  (I was supposed to be at a spin class but I had scrapped my knee Friday night playing softball on a play at home. (yes, I got her out! Totally worth the blood!)  I know I could have done the class but I had an excuse! (In my brain anyway!!)  So the girls got up and wanted their nails done and their hair etc....  We had a non stop day ahead of us so it was good to have some girlie time alone with them.  We then headed to the Playhouse to catch the end of the 2 and under group (my favorite!) and attend the Hop, Skip and Jumper class for GiGi, which she of course LOVES!!!   From there we went straight to a party at a hall downtown for a communion party, then straight to Franco's baseball game then to my nephews 21st birthday party which lead to me singing with the band at 1 am!  All this was without my trusty camera so I have nothing for ya!  Except a great weekend with GiGi rockin' along all the way!  (except the later part of Saturday night!)  (Psheew!!)