photoshoot

Amara has become more and more interested in my camera and lucky for her she has a willing subject in Cora. I have NO idea what the conversation was that prompted this session but wow, to be a fly on the wall...

This one is pretty cute, a little forced but i really can just HEAR Amara directing her.

A yard lamp? really? like a glowing yard decoration? she's selling it buddy...

And serious. note the jutting out hip and arm tucked behind. I know she will hate me in a few years but i should put this on a wall. 

We got Amara her own camera just last week for vacation, so i can't wait to see what she comes up with, but I am SO glad we have digital these days--can you imagine a roll of these coming back from Cord camera at $8/ roll!? lol.

ball girls

The girls have had a bang-up softball/ tball season this year! Cora wanted to play and so did Amara--so it's been fun chasing them around. They both have impressed me with their great attitudes, so it's been fun to watch.

Cora has been all over the place, but can really swing and is hilarious to watch running bases. 

Amara goes in spells of hitting or not, and the same with fielding, but man has she improved! It's too bad--by the time they really get into it, the season is over ;) there's always next year!

Green class field day

Amara had her first field day at Batelle-Darby park on Friday with her green class and the rest of the school. It was an absolutely beautiful day out and I was thrilled to see the old school games and activities I was hoping for and also some surprising new ones.

The park rangers showed up with their horses and the kids LOVED that of course. Amara loves anything competitive, so whether it was relay races, or the hippy hop balls, she was all over it. Tug of war, homerun derby, and time on the swings were also huge favorites. 

Aysia, Callie and Sarah took a quick lunch break and Callie's mom Miranda got this cute pic of them, while I was at the parachute station whipping those kids into a frenzy!

Her class didn't actually get to do my station, i guess it was the one which got cut if kids ran over, but i got to high five her a few times and see her, which was plenty for me. It would have been nice, but I'm just super lucky to get to see her and be involved as much as I can.

That night, she told Eric how much fun she had and I really want to go back to that park and visit soon, and this winter to sled too!

Payton & Kennedy's recital

Payton asked us to come to her dance recital MONTHS ago--like i'm sure the first day they announced it. It was so sweet how excited she was, so we put it on the schedule. Regardless of it being the day after Amara's party and what else, we were going to do it!

The girls were excited and we talked about it for days. It was on Capital University in Bexley. On the day of, Eric decided to stay home and work on the swingset with Grandpa and we made it a girls day.

Kennedy's ballet and tap were in the first session, then we scooted out and headed to lunch at McD, then came back to the second session for Payton's tap and hip hop numbers. There were some cool wading-type fountains right outside of the performance hall that I let them kick off their shoes for. Wish I could have ;)

Payton and Kennedy looked SO AMAZING!! The girls LOVED watching their friends and as a bonus, Amara saw several friends from school and was cat-calling to all the girls during their performances. Caroline from her class did a few numbers too--I think she was more excited for them than at her own competitions.

We were so proud of them and that we got to see them--even though it was a long day, it was great and we are so lucky to have the Blacks' as friends (and thanks for saving seats!! lol)

I grabbed a quick pic of them as everyone was leaving, what cuties are these four?!

projects

between spring, Pinterest and Amara's birthday, we always end up in a handful of projects this time of year. We decided to repurpose some old banquet tables we got at the Beulah park auction for her party with chalkboard paint.

Amara loved the little mouse (palm) sander and Cora went to town with the paint afterwards. 

There was enough space and work and enough tables that they really didn't get in each others way...

But then Amara decided to help me paint a pallet too--for the kids names to keep score of their challenges at the party.

And lastly Eric got started on one of my honey-do projects, the cooler repurpose stand/ table. He's using flooring and wall clad from the kitchen remodel, ripped down some living room boards and only had to buy I think one piece of lumber (go Eric!) I can't wait for him to get it finished--now the biggest detail is picking out the perfect bottle opener for the front of it to set it off completely.

Sailing with the Stephens fam

The Stephens family invited us to Hoover Dam for a sailing adventure/ open house day and we were STOKED to accept!

The day could NOT have been better--well, weather and scene and friends were perfect, but could have used some more wind ;)

We headed up to see their new house and they surprised us that they had bought a boat of their own! That was an exciting start and their house is awesome! We could have stayed all day--but we headed to the Hoover Sailing club.

Probably BECAUSE it was so nice out, it was packed--and I think the calm winds made the boat trips take a little longer, but the kids were very patient. We got our life jackets on and got in line--and after a little waiting we finally were ready to board.

It was so amazingly calm out there! I guess only having been a power boat person, had no idea what to expect. The girls were leaning over the sides trying to "catch" catfish--Amara's hat fell into the water once but daddy rescued it.

But the sun and the wind (when it blew) and all the ropes and sails and waving at our friends was really just an awesome experience and we are SO thrilled Annie extended the invitation to us. They will no doubt be there a ton, so maybe we can go back--I don't think we will buy one of our own (they both grew up in boating families) but we can admire the scenery!

These little 18-20' ft boats were a nice size for the 4 of us and captain Tim--they did point out the kids lessons that Amara JUMPED at. Could she pick a MORE expensive sport? I think Heli-skiing has lessons too, lol. 

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!