Hailie's Promotion and More May Fun

Hailie had her 8th grade promotion and luckily it was on a day that we had no commitments so the girls and I were able to make the trip to Topeka for it. Jane immediately found someone to read a book to her before things got started. 

I can hardly believe that Hailie is going to be in High School next year. It makes me feel a little old. I can still remember holding her as a baby and it doesn't seem like that many years could have gone by already. 

After the promotion Anna was all about Hailie.

Cousin Love!

Love this picture!

We couldn't get the littles to look at the camera but I still like this picture with the first child I ever fell in love with. Love you Hailie!

3 out of 4 of my favorite girls!

Mom and Dad were able to pick up Seth a little early from school that day (it was early release and the last day of school) so we went out to lunch to celebrate.

The girls other Grandma and Grandpa brought Adell into town so that they could take her and Anna to a dance recital (Kevin's cousin's daughter- they live in Olathe too). Jane was a little bummed to not be going (definitely not old enough to make it through an entire recital) but she was happy to be in matching dresses with the big girls. 

There was quite a bit of rain one week so we had to go in search of puddles. The next cul-de-sac over has a nice big one.

Jump!

I love how happy stomping in some water can make a child.

Frogs, Strawberry Picking and Soccer

May was a fun month. The nicer weather meant more time outdoors. In princess crowns and rain boots of course!

Kisses!

Our neighbors down at the end of the cul-de-sac have a basketball goal set up and they keep a ball out so every now and then Kevin takes the girls down to shoot hoops.

Kevin found a toad when he was mowing and the girls were pretty excited. 

I'd been wanting to take the girls berry picking and we finally made it out to Gieringers Orchard in Edgerton for one of the last weekends for strawberries. 

We'd checked out a book about berries at the library and Anna desperately wanted to go pick some. 

Found a BIG one!

So many strawberries!

Jane ate quite a few while we were out there. 

Delicious.

It was a fun morning and I hope we are able to make it back out there for blueberries and blackberries later in the season.

Anna had her last soccer game and Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle James, and Aunt Michelle all came to cheer her on.

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Anna's team was the Blue Cobras. We passed out toy snakes to all the kiddos afterward and it was a pretty big hit. Even though watching Anna play soccer was somewhat painful at times I do think she learned a few things (she can run and dribble but will not do it during practice or a game!) Coach Max was great though and kept working toward keeping her engaged in the practice.

After the game we went to Le Peep to celebrate Aunt Michelle's birthday. Jane wore her sunglasses the entire time (basically the entire weekend haha)

Jand and Grandpa giving 'the look'

Silly Uncle James!

We usually let the girls run around outside for a bit before we make them sit in the car again. Makes them happy!

Mother's Day Weekend

This first picture isn't actually from Mother's Day weekend but the weekend before. It's the only picture we took the day we spent celebrating Kevin's birthday so I just decided to throw it in with this post. Kevin requested we play laser tag so that's what we did. We had an awesome time and it made Kevin very very happy. We also were able to grab dinner and a movie. A rare treat!

Mother's Day weekend was a very jam packed weekend. Anna had soccer Saturday morning and we left not long after that for Topeka for my cousin's baby shower. Kelly is due in June with a little girl. Can't wait to meet her!

After the shower was over we spent the evening celebrating Mother's Day with Kevin's side of the family. Jane roped Uncle Scott into reading book after book. When he grew tired she moved on to the next willing person. 

Anna and Adell played so well together that evening. 

Matching dresses!

We ran into a little drama that night when we had to take Jane to the Emergency Room. She was rough housing with Grandpa when there was a pop. Jane was very upset and wouldn't use her left arm. They got us in very fast (it may have helped that Jane was very upset and not exactly quiet about it). It ended up being nursemaids elbow, a dislocation of the elbow joint, and they were able to pop it back into place. Once she realized it didn't hurt anymore she quickly became her happy charming self again. We were just glad it was nothing serious!

Sitting with Grandpa after getting back from the hospital.

When we got back to the house Anna was watching a movie with Uncle Scotty. A cute picture even if I couldn't get one without Scott making faces. 

Kevin with him Momma.

I had to drive back to Olathe after all this drama to run a 5k with my friend Amanda in the morning. Amanda asked me a while back if I wanted to do a race with her and I agreed. Over the last year my exercise has been fairly non existent so I was excited to have motivation to get active again. This was Amanda's first 5k and my first in about 4 years. I finished in 26:20 which was 11th in my age group and 60th overall (out of 2,635). Not bad considering my level of training!

Post race picture

After the race I cleaned up and then headed back to Topeka. The girls made me an amazing card with their handprints that I LOVE even though it got ripped while attempting to take a picture. This was the best photo of the bunch. 

From here we went out to Auburn to celebrate Mother's Day with the Copp side of the family. Jane fell asleep in the car right as we were getting there and didn't stay asleep coming inside. She was a Grandma's girl and snuggled up for the longest time. 

At this gathering we were celebrating several birthday's including Kevin's.

Anna was pretty happy about the chocolate ice cream.

Janell, Grandmom, Me, and Anna

Cheryl doesn't come to many events so I don't get many pictures with her. 

Sisters!

Back at my parent's house Jane was all about Grandpa!

Another rare photo with Seth. He broke away from his devices for a while and I managed to grab a picture. He's even smiling!

It was a fun and busy weekend. Happy to be living so close to our families. 

Forest Mini Session

In April we did a mini session with the talented Elena with Glass Lantern Photography. I'd been wanting some new pictures but prices have gone up significantly over the last few years (great for Elena and her growing business but bad for my wallet!) so I was planning to wait until fall. Anyway, I was excited when she announced she was doing mini sessions this spring. Here are just a few of our favorites.

The props were beautiful. Elena made the teepee herself in addition to many of the tiebacks and headbands available for the girls to wear.

We ended up purchasing a couple extra images and it was soooo hard to narrow things down. There were a couple that I really wanted but Kevin talked me out of. 

Our little family.

I LOVE this picture. These girls have my heart that's for sure. 

April phone favorites

Deanna Rose opened up for the season at the beginning of April and we made our first trip out there. In the past it's been free during the week ($2 each Friday-Sunday) but this year they are charging so we went ahead and bought a membership. I like taking the girls there during the week rather than the zoo. It's much closer, not as big, and the girls love going.

Their favorite part is feeding the goats. It was fun going early in the season and seeing so many babies. 

On this particular day we went over to some friends house. They had just put in a sandbox and the girls loved it.

It's been about a month and Anna has asked to go back over to play in the sandbox several times.

Picnic at a park!

Jane thinks Eric is cute :)

Smile!!!

One weekend we made a trip out to Holton to meet baby Jack. We're so happy for Carli and Trevor and the newest addition to the family.

Anna really really liked Jack and was pretty excited that she got to hold him. She's asked to go back and see him. Even Jane (who didn't like me holding Jack) randomly tells me "I love baby Jack" and "He's so cute". 

Theresa and Carli gave Anna this umbrella (a belated birthday present) and she absolutely loves it.

Fun at the park while Anna was at Young Explorers.

Eating dinner outside around the fire pit.

Anna is still playing soccer. She's improved slightly but her favorite part is still licking the orange slices. 

We had a fun month!