Our favorite week of all time

If I could make every week just like our one week at N Topsail I totally would.  This is the one week a year I truly feel relaxed and at the peak of my world.  Hanging with the kids, Jacob and my mom.  This year was different since my mom took the kids back home so Jacob and I could hang out to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  Huge for me as it was the first time I left the kids more than over night.  But at the end I can not repay her enough as it was so refreshing to be away.

 We made friends with the people who rent the other half of our house last year so we repeated again this year.  May just have to happen again next year.  Good times with good people.  Anyone want a free weekend or more at a beach house and then take the kids back so they dont miss much school in October 2015?

Moo's Turn

This year marks our 6th year at preschool between the two kids.  Here is the big girl ready to go.  We got new boots this weekend and of course she had to wear them despite being 90 degrees today.

Less than a week ago we found out that Moo was being forced to change classes.  Her teacher she was suppose to have has rheumatoid arthritis.  Since her immune system is compromised the teachers doctor felt that Marli was a risk.  At first I was pissed but then it all seems like it will be for the better.  The part that makes me shake my head is that people/kids who get vaccines also carry their own risks.  Like anyone who gets a attenuated vaccine have been proven to shed the virus for up to 6 weeks after the first week being the highest risk.  These are things like the flu mist, MMR, chicken pox, polio oral, etc.  Guess what many 4 year olds will be getting this year, you guessed it those vaccines.  So I feel like they singled out Moo since no matter what working with kids with a compromised immune system is a risk.  But her new teacher is awesome as is the assistant.  She gets to go on a field trip to the assistants house at Christmas, one of the dads who is a chef is talking about coming in to teach the kids how to cook.  All good things.  Although this is the first year Moo will be without her sidekick Sawyer it will still be a fabulous year.

Another first today is Emmi started Hip Hop dance.  Down here in the South Dance is huge with competitions, etc.  We found a low key place near our house that Emmi loved.  So hopefully we can dip our toes in first before we get too deep. 

Here fishy fishy fishy

We started the summer with Emmi just learning how to swim, not quite able to swim 5 ft.   Now she is in the deep end swimming with more and more confidence each time.  As well as her skills get better and better from using her arms more to kicking stronger and stronger.

Then we have Marli who started the year with only playing on the stairs.  Now she is a swimming machine.  Although she hasnt quite got down the idea that if she pops her head up real quick to gasp some air she can keep going.

Of course our days are numbered before the pool closes.  It gives great hope to next year being a great year of swimming with these two.  May have to make sure we hit the Y some in the off season.

First day of First Grade

Big year this year.  Emmi was lucky to get the same teacher this year as she had last year.  All the kids in her class chose to move with the teacher so she is starting the year with 18 or so kids of the 23 in her class that she was with last year.  Marli even wanted to get up early to take sissy to school.

 The street gang.

 She is also taking the bus home.  This is big for not only her but for me.  :)

Blink....

Where did the time go.  I cant believe it has been months since I posted.  Plenty has happened.  School ended.  Summer Camp started.  Our yearly MA vacation happened.  My Gramps turned 90.  Burns family get together.  And the summer is continuing on.
Here are moments captured in that time.

April to May all smooshed into 1

Again time is flying.  School seems to be fast forwarding to the end.  Today we had Emmi's play Frog and Toad.  Was a cute little song and skit that 4 classes did.  Here she is on stage.

Then after with her n'hood buddies since we all got our kids out of school early.

While waiting for her sister to get home she vacuumed her playroom and bedroom.  Who knew this could be fun.

Here is a picture from Easter.  

Moo did her own make up.  Had to run to the neighbors for help getting this stuff off.  :)

A few weekends before Easter our neighbor hood had a kids event with pony rides, easter egg hunt, etc.

Then we have also been busy with soccer.  Moo likes to get in on the action.

At Marli's school they had a Mother's day lunch.  Again where they stood up sang songs then ate lunch with moms.  Very cute event with Marli still being the smallest of the group.

Emmi is loving playing soccer this year.  Even got to buy her own soccer goalie gloves.

This is just a typical day in our hood, kids coming and going playing.

I also ran my first 1/2 marathon in 2 hours and 11 minutes with only crossfit training.  OK I did run once for 8 miles but that was it.  I did end up wearing a walking boot for one day after since my Achilles was a bit tight and irritated so it was just enough time to calm it down, stretch it out to rebound like nothing ever happened.  Also learned to eat plenty the day after, dont just take Ibuprofen with snacks or else you may get almost like an ulcer and can only eat yogurt for a day to two.  Through all that now.

Here is my super strong husband in every way but just got beat down with kidney stones.  He ended up passing 2 over the last week and a half.  However the last one he finally had a procedure to blow it up.  The entire process definitely seemed extremely long since he was almost paralyzed with pain at times.  He does seem to get these every 5-7 years so hopefully he will be done with them for a while. 

Just adding this photo which is from our friends wedding back in the fall.