Memorial day makeover: backyard edition

We had a pretty suscessful Memorial day.  Not in the traditional sense, because we didn't go on the boat or to the beach, but we did make over our back yard playarea!  The kids had successfully killed all of the grass in the back yard that was any where near their toys.  I had been trying to figure out exactly what to do, when I saw this idea at a friend's house several months ago.  And today we finally got around to getting it done!! My sweet husband did all of the heavy lifting! Thanks honey!!

 before

 AFTER!

MUCH better ;)

 

We did finish off the holiday with some nice (charcoal!) hamburgers and a good old fashion water balloon fight with squirt guns!! So the holiday didn't get totally jipped :)

Finale Friday

Today was Brooke's preschool finale performance.  For the most part this was a much more successful show than the Christmas one.  I mean, she didn't fall on her face, so everything else has to be an improvement :) 
I can not believe this school year is (almost) over for her! Man I feel like the year just started! Where does the time go??!!
She did a lot of jumping around and not too much singing (I will try to add a video soon).  But she IS super cute!

She spotted Madeline and Daddy

 Looking cute :)

 Brooke's, equally as cute, cheering section!

 Funny face :)

Brooke at the farm

Two years ago, when Hana was in the 3 year old preschool class, she went to a local farm (check out her visit... I will not even comment on how much more hair she had than Brooke does!!!).  Now Brooke is in the same class and going to the same farm!  (Man, how time flies!) They were supposed to go last Friday, but they got rained out.  It rained on our way out there, but luckily it cleared up and we had a nice day!
The farm is great, there are lots of different animals to see, feed, pet, and brush!  Brooke enjoyed them all! She wasn't scared of anything and wanted to be the first to pet the next animal :)

 

 Yes, that boy is in the same class as Brooke! (At first, I totally thought he was someone's older brother!)

 They got to go in a little fenced in area with baby bunnies! So cute!

 I guess feeding the sheep tickles :)

 Throwing food to the chickens :)

 Petting the little pony!

Sadly, the pony that the kids normally ride on was sick :(

Hana's cut

We have been having some issues with the girls and their behavior lately.  We are trying lots of different strategies to work on the problems.  I thought it might be good to spend some alone time with Hana, so we decided to go get her hair cut.  Little did I know, she had been wanting to get it cut short.  At first I said no... I mean her hair is sooo beautiful!! But I wanted to let her make the decision.  She did.  She got it cut... short!!

And she loves it!!!

A visit to Nanny's

Our next adventure was a trip to Nanny's :) Madeline and I made the trip to outside of Richmond, to spend some time with Nanny.  Nanny is going through chemo again, so I knew we would be hanging out a lot and spending some time around the house :)  For that reason, Jack graciously stayed with the older two so I could bring just Madeline.  It also gave Nanny and myself some time with just Madeline :)

We also got to see my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins.  Uncle Al decided to take a nap... 

Einstein certainly enjoyed his nap!

 Madeline loved this light up tree :) She would bring it to me and say "tun oon treee pese"

 Spending time with Nanny... reading :)

 ...hugging :)

 ...drawing

 ...cooking

 ...and more cooking

 

It was really great to get to spend some time visiting with Nanny! I love you bunches!!

Brooke's Easter hunt :)

OK... I know! I am a little behind on blogging!! Sorry Sorry!
I will try to do a couple over the next few days to catch up ;)
This is about Brooke's last day of pre-school before Spring break.  They had an Easter Egg hunt ;)

Here is Brooke hunting for eggs :)

 Still hunting (you can see her BFFs in the background... Kate and Claire)

 Brooke and Madeline having a snack after the hunt! 

I thought I would leave you with a Brooke-ism...
Yesterday we were in the car going somewhere and Brooke was talking about how God loved her.  Then she added that Jesus loved her too. So I said "Honey, they are kind of the same person".  After a moment she thought and said "But Jesus has longer hair" 
YUP :)

farmer in the dell :)

Over the last few weeks Hana's class has been studying the farm.  To cap off their learning, the did a farm presentation.  The class worked in pairs and had to present different things about the farm.  There was the farmer, pigs, chicken, horses etc.  Hana did the goat.  Each pair had a table to display the things they had done.  They even made clay animals.  So cute! The presentation was very well put together!  We love Hana's teacher! :)

Farmer Hana

 Hana's clay goat

 her table :)