Mother's Day

Last Mother's Day, the fam took me to Young's Jersey Dairy and it must have made an impact because the girls asked to do it again :)  We headed out there early and played for hours--even through a few sprinkles. 

The girls and Eric got me a sycamore tree for our yard and a wind chime for the back porch.

Amara wanted to visit the animal barn, Cora opted to play in the corn with the trucks, so we split up for a little bit. The girls did the softball cages too, but just like Amara last year, Cora took a ball to the finger and that was the end of that :(

Because we got there early, the train/wagon trams were empty. The girls took several rides together and then Cora even went alone--it was so nice!

We had a little more luck on the tees--Cora has a happy gilmore swing and Amara was really making some contact! I even got to hit a few balls (with a jr. club, lol) but it was fun. 

And the highlight (other than the ice cream) is always this big slide--we ALL love it. Even though they charge $1 per slide per kid (yeesh) we do it a million times every visit and love it.

After that, and as it got close to lunch time and was getting crowded, we headed inside for ice cream. We also loaded up our cooler for home, but we wanted to visit my mom too--so we didn't stay all day. I loved Mother's day with my fam and am so thankful for this tradition!

Ms. Bice Kindergarden zoo field trip

Amara's green class got to go on a fieldtrip to the zoo and I was lucky enough to be able to chaperone with her. Callie's mom and I and Callie, Amara, Mia and Caden were all paired up together and spent our time together. 

We started off headed towards the polar bears (since it was still cold enough that the Africa portion of the zoo was still closed) and the kids loved all the bears there. We worked ourselves up and around past wolves, fish, birds, and then all the way over towards the gorillas. 

The kids were really well behaved actually and we didn't have to wrangle them too much--and as an added surprise we met up with Ms. Bice and Ms. Littlefield in the Congo exhibit. Amara posed like a little celebrity with the two of them (she ADORES Ms. Bice) and we started heading towards the entrance. 

Everyone was starting to get hot and tired, so the timing of it all was great--we enjoyed the animals and our group and no one complained about wanting snacks or toys or anything--I was so impressed. I hope she gets to stay with her class buds next year for sure, i've grown kinda fond of these kiddos. 

prom with Hannah and Hollie

Carissa's girls Hannah and Hollie were both going to prom this year and it happened to be on a Friday--so Cora was there as they were getting ready. I took Amara with me to get Cora, and the girls were just in awe of how pretty and glamorous they looked.

Hollie and Hannah were so sweet, posing with the girls--I love how down to earth they both are and I know the girls love spending time with them. I hope they had a great night!

Nate's pool party!

Lil Nate, from Hip Hop, had his 6th bday party at a pool downtown and we had a blast! Some of the kids from hip hop were there, and the kids were all over the place.

She had to do a swim test across the pool before she could go in the 12 foot diving area, (I was a little nervous) but she took off right across the pool!

Amara went off the high dive, and by the end of the party was doing running flips off of the low dive!

We had a blast celebrating with Nate and literally didn't stop for 2 1/2 hours--so thanks again for inviting us and for making the hip hop team so fun~

Cora's a blue jay!

After passing on t-ball last year, Cora was on board to play this year. She signed up with the Jump Start bunch for 3-4 yr olds, and plays at Windsor ball fields every Friday for 6 weeks. Eric signed up to be an assistant coach and tonight she met her main coach, Jay--and all the kids got their shirts and hats, and even coach Eric got a shirt!

She hit from the tee really well and did a little fielding in the grass. Amara was a roving photographer throughout that part of the practice.

When they moved in to run the bases and field though--the distraction set in. I think she'd had enough practice at that point and things ran a little long, but I was really proud of her!

We went over to the park to celebrate and play a little--Cora climbed a LOT and I was thrilled to see Amara on the monkey bars--I just kept thinking 'no loss of muscle in that left arm" the whole time. Amazing ladies.

DQ was the dinner spot tonight too--they dove into their ice creams while the chicken cooled and getting them to bed was not an issue. We had such a fun night at the park and I hope she sticks it out. I think the snacks at the end were a nice treat (pun intended) for her sake too.

Art scholarship

Leaving my volunteer time at the school this week, I bumped into Ms. Kozman. Jen and I were friends in school and I knew she was Amara's teacher, but we hadn't crossed paths all year. I bent her ear a little and asked her how Amara was doing in art--which was a bit of a loaded question because since Amara was big enough to care, she has had a flare for creativity. 

Ms. Kozman told me that her fish (that the did in the fall) was "better than hers" and she seemed serious. I figured she was just trying to make me feel good--Jen was always an amazing artist and I can't draw a stick, so I had to trust her eye. 

She REALLY REALLY went on and on about how good Amara's art is, how much above and beyond she is than her peers and then told me about the Columbus Museum of Art Camp and mentioned I should look into it.

The next day I did--and I saw that they had scholarship opportunities (which I always hear go unused) so I decided to reach out to the teachers (which is suggested) for recommendations.

What we got back in Amara's backpack was truly humbling! I texted it to several of my friends and of course mom and dad--I mean she is the art teacher, but WOW! The next school day, I got a letter from Ms. Bice--equally flattering about our little 6 yr old and couldn't believe it.

Of course i sent the letters right to the Cols. Museum of Art with the application and I still can't believe it all. I mean i'm happy to do it--but wow. And not from a doting mom or dad, but from her teachers mouths. I could NOT be more proud.

Kamryn turns 2

The ONLY other little girl in either family turned 2 and the girls were excited for Kamryn's party! We went up to Matt and Stephs on a PERFECT Saturday afternoon and it was just us and the other cousins--so lots of kids on swings. 

Eric went out to look for 4-leaf clovers, but got distracted...

but all the kids came running up when it was time for cake and singing (Cora's favorite part of any kids birthday party). 

All the kids shared cupcakes and smiles and like a flash were back down on the swingset playing. 

Darbydale spring carnival

We got to go to our first and last spring carnival at Darbydale elementary school, and we had a great time! Amara was like a celebrity--greeting friends and teachers alike and making a B line for Mrs. Powers, her principal and she ADORES her--but is sadly retiring next month. 

The school was collecting canned goods for the local food pantry too, so Amara enjoyed helping put donations together at home to give. 

We played lots of games and the girls enjoyed snow cones and pizza slices for dinner in the cafeteria together. We are all sad to see the school go and wanted to take it all in. 

The girls especially loved the bracelet making station in one of the classrooms and though Cora had luck with the toy walk game, Amara did not. I had to promise to order her a dolphin poster to convince her to "walk away" after quite some time. 

We updated anyone who knew (which was most of the school) about Grandma Young's botulism status, collected our tickets and prizes and headed home for the night. We could have stayed forever they were having so much fun, but the girls were exhausted in a great way as it was.