Crossroads

Kira's Preschool program has an end-of-the-year field trip every year to Crossroads Village in Flint, a historic and old-fashioned little town complete with a blacksmith, lumber mill, cider press, farm animals, a real train ride, etc.

Here's Adalin and Kira with their little friend, Brooklyn.

The big girls on the train.

This little one on the train.

Preschool (year 1) graduation

Kira with Ms. Ani and Ms. Talisa, her preschool teachers for 2010-11.

Evening Swim

We live in lake country. There are a dozen or so lakes within a 20 minute drive from our house. Lake Fenton is 2 minutes away, so as the weather warmed up enough to go, we would hop over there after dinner for a leisurly evening swim. Given that I'm writing this 7 1/2 months after this picture was taken, and it's the middle of January, that entire concept of a beach and swimming at one after dinner feels completely foreign.

But, it happened. Truly.

And it shall happen again!

Bowling in Kindergarten

The Mason Horse

Chuck Mason, a friend from church, lives quite close to our house and rode his horse over one day so the kids could go for a ride! The Richey girls and our had a grand ol' time.

The Detroit Zoo

A few weeks ago my friend, Kaileen, and I took the girlies to the zoo! Besides Ava feeling the need to walk herself around for the last hour at her 1/2 mile/hour pace, we had a pretty good time. Afterwards was National Coney Island.

Good Day.

Praying Mantis Pod

There is a cool bird and outdoor store near our house that sells praying mantis cocoon-type things that I call pods. I bought one a few months back, along with a butterfly netted house to hatch them in, and Kira's preschool teachers kept a close eye on it for us. One day when I dropped her off it hatched and out came hundreds of baby praying mantises! Uh, what is the plural for of mantis? :)

It was cool.

What is even cooler is that these little critters are lethal bug eaters. They are great near any garden area, which is where they are now! Well, I think they are around my garden... they also are very good hiders. I haven't seen one since I released them!

Dance Recital 2011

Adalin and Kira started ballet last fall and had their very first performance this past Saturday! They were beautiful, danced wonderfully and melted my heart.

Mother's Day 2011

The porch was there.  The hooks were there.  But no beautiful hanging baskets.  It was sad. 

Until... Adam was at work and secretly sent my mom to pick up these hanging baskets for me.  It was a very sweet, thoughtful gift.  

Bonus: I even kept them alive through the summer.  :)

Adam is old

Just kidding.  30 isn't old.  I gave him some grief for turning 30 (I mean, why wouldn't I?), and so did some of his friends... (see below)