Ballet Class

Kate went to her second ballet class today and loved it. The girls all love these ribbon wands. They are all so cute in their ballerina outfits. She is already signed up for ballet/tap for the Fall.

Mason patiently waiting to LEAVE!!

They do at least have a lego table set up for all of the siblings waiting.

Little Ballerina

Kate is so excited to start ballet class on Wednesday. We went out today and got the leotard, tights and shoes. Now, if we can just keep it clean until Wednesday that will be amazing! She wants to wear it all day. :) We have had a busy weekend. Two birthday parties yesterday, Father's Day today and my birthday is tomorrow! Good thing we like sweets in this house! I tried to convince Brent that we needed a cookie cake for Father's Day for him, but he said he would be ok without it. I was really thinking it was another excuse to get more cake right?!

Ballerina Kate

Caroline taking a "nap" with her dolls.

Trip to Louisiana

We had a great week in Louisiana. Got to see all of the grandparents, cousins, aunts and friends. We were there for the week for swimming lessons, which the twins loved. Mason and Kate are ready to go back for more! Going back to the same pool where I had lessons growing up was neat. Ok, well it really made me feel old. :) MawMaw and PawPaw bought a swing set for their house and the kids loved it. Their feet actually touch the ground on this one, so they could push off some. We got to go to church on Sunday with Della and Pappy, then lunch with MawMaw and PawPaw and the great grandfathers Pop and Daddy Money! We also got to try out the slip and slide for the first time and ride 4 wheelers of course. We had a day trip to Monroe to visit our other cousins, trying out a trampoline for the first time. And Kate had her first sleep over with her cousin Lydia at Della's house. We also had lots of playground time and extra pool time to practice as well.
MawMaw and Mason.

PawPaw, Kate and Caroline. Can you tell they were having fun?

Caroline and Kate posing for the camera after church.

An attempt to get me with the kids. This is one of the better shots!

Slip and slide time!

Playing at the playground with cousin Lydia.

Caroline sleeping on Della at the pool while the others got to take a dip in the pool.

Icee Time! Nothing like an Icee at the pool!

Last day of swimming lessons for Kate!

Last day for Mason!

Mason & Kate with their teachers.

John, Kate, Mason, PawPaw and Caroline posing on the 4-wheelers!

Last Day of School!

Since we always take pictures of the first day of "school" I thought I needed to take one of the LAST day! School is actually Mothers Day Out right now, but it is school to them! Next year Mason & Kate officially start preschool and Caroline will start a Mothers Day Out program. They were able to go to school in their swimsuits today. Kate was so excited she woke me up already dressed ready to go!

We also had our meeting today with Mason's school for speech and apparently his hard work and lack of TV have paid off! They are dismissing him from one of the two classes he was in and they think that he might not even need to be in that class much longer! Wow! I did not expect that type of result at all! Hopefully we can work hard this Summer and be done with it, even though he loves going!

Not the best pictures, but these are the reactions I got today.

Ready for Summer

We are ready for Summer to get started around our house! This past week and weekend we have all had some sort of illness. The girls and myself have all had pinkeye, Caroline had an ear infection on top of that and I have also had some type of infection as well. Then Mason woke up sick after his nap this weekend and Caroline has a nice knot on her head from playing ring around the rosie with her sister in the garage. New rule is that we only play that game on the carpet. :)
Kate and Mason are ready to start their Summer schedules. We have swimming lessons, gymnastics, ballet and still deciding whether or not to do soccer camp. Plus a trip planned for Louisiana soon, which they cannot wait to go see grandparents, cousins and even the dogs!

Here are a few pictures from this past week BEFORE everyone got sick.

Kate and Caroline. (Kate HAS to pull up her socks for some reason??)

Go Higher

I hear the words "Go higher!" EVERY TIME I push someone on a swing. Since the weather has been so warm, not necessarily nice, we have been outside a lot! It does help to get out of the house and go swing or let them ride their scooters and other toys in the driveway. This has been a huge help to me for Mason. If you don't know, he has been in speech classes this year to help him with language and articulation. As of a month and a half ago I have completely cut TV out of his "play" time. It is like he is a different child! He follows instructions better, answers questions, helps out with his sisters more often. It is amazing! I just wish I had done this sooner. It is hard to not just turn it on for one quick show, but I am treating it like an addiction, for him and me! If I turn it on just once I know he will ask for it all the time. His teachers at school say they have seen a difference as well. We have a few more messes to clean up throughout the day, since I don't have an instant babysitter when needed, but I think it is worth it.
Mason swinging, and most likely telling me to push him higher!

Caroline is new to this swing. Sometimes she wants to do just what the big kids are doing.

Kate is the wild one that wants to stand on the swing and be pushed or tries to do this while it is going. I don't recommend this, nor do I allow it, but she still tries. :)

Mason & Kate with their new folding chairs. I had no idea they were going to be such a hit, but they love them! I had to go back and get one for Caroline too!

I think this is just a good picture of Mason. Not sure if it is the black Saints shirt or the orange camo hat that make him look so good! Haha!

Kentucky Derby Day Party

I think we will make this an annual party at our house! We have not done this much cooking in awhile. Everything was out of Southern Living magazine or the new Southern Living Homestyle Cooking Cookbook. Ham and biscuit's with chives and butter, 7 layer buttermilk cornbread salad, shrimp and grits and peach pecan cobbler. YUM! The only thing we might add to the list for next year would be hats! Just a good excuse to go buy a new hat right?!

Salad and Peach Cobbler. (Shrimp and Grits were on the stove.)

Mommy and Kate

Me with the girls. It is rare these days that I get my picture taken with any of them. I am always the photographer!

Mason Man

Caroline looked so cute in her white dress I had to take pictures of her after church. She was the only one willing to let me take photos!

Another day this past week. My mom made the pants and her monogram lady made the shirts for the girls. This is another outfit I love, so I had to take pictures of this one too!

Caroline in the grass. She is so good about sitting down and smiling for the camera!