Preschool graduation

 Mid May Audrey graduated from Preschool!  They did a cute graduation ceremony.

Here's Audrey and her bestie Piper hanging out before having to get ready for the ceremony.

 Walking in to pomp and circumstance

Our adorable graduate! 

They sang a bunch of songs for us. They did a great job preforming for all the parents.

 The teachers had each of the kids stand up while they gave their 30 year prediction.

Her teachers mentioned how she is a girlie girl and always dressed so cute with her hair done up.  They said that Audrey would be the most popular girl in high school and be the captain of the cheer leading squad (of course I say she'll be captain of dance team).  She'll go onto college to be president of her sorority.  After graduation she'll be on Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer.

She was pretty happy with the future her teacher envisioned for her :) 

 They are really going to miss each other!

 Alaina, Brea, Piper and Audrey

Piper, Audrey and Alaina

Wet and wild day

 Audrey's last day of school was a wet and wild day.  They had all sorts of outdoor activities for the kids.  Here she is with her bestie Piper.

 She looked so funny riding that tricycle while eating a popsicle.  I don't know why.  She just does.

 Evelyn thinking about joining in.

 She had a blast!

Being a sweet big sister and helping Evelyn reach the water.

Mother's Day

 My Mother's Day selfie since Chuck was on-call that weekend.  Blessed to be the mother of these 3 amazing munchkins!

 We have an awesome babysitter!  She gave me a coupon for free babysitting.  It was such a sweet surprise.

 While Evelyn napped Chuck took the kids to the pond to fish and I got a bike ride in.  It was a beautiful weekend for it.

 Audrey completed this at preschool.  It's always funny to read their answers.

She also drew a picture of me.  She must not have had a lot of time because she normally does a better job with her drawings.  Still cute though.

This doesn't have anything to do with Mother's day but I had to include it.  Every time we get in the car Evelyn tries to sit in either Carter or Audrey's booster seat.  Audrey helped her buckle and she thought she was pretty cool for sitting in a big kid seat.  She wasn't happy when I moved her to her car seat.

Fishing

 The kids love to fish at the neighborhood pond.

 I think it's one of the only times they are both quiet AND still

 I'm always surprised how long they last

 Carters face every time they catch something

 His goal is to catch a bass

Even Evelyn wanted to try.  The princess pole is the perfect size for her.

Flat Stanley

The Bunkelman family sent Flat Stanley to us from East Lyme, CT.  This is the cover of the little scrapbook I sent back with him about all his adventures he had here in Peoria.

 The kids were excited to have Flat Stanley with us for a couple of weeks.  As soon as he arrived we got snapping and started to document his time with us.

 He visited the Caterpillar Museum.

Peoria is home to the world headquarters for Caterpillar Inc.  Caterpillar is Peoria's top employer.

 Peoria and East Peoria are separated by the Illinois River.  There are 6 bridges that cross the river.

 The Spirit of Peoria is a river boat that runs in the Peoria area.

 We entertained him around the house too.  Audrey took him for a bike ride.

 The kids took him to the pond to fish

 Stanley came with us to some of our favorite local restaurants.

 The Rock Island trail is a 26 mile long public trail.

 Scenic Grandview Drive

President Theodore Roosevelt was said to have proclaimed it, "The world's most beautiful drive" during a 1910 visit.

 The Peoria Zoo

 Behind Stanley is the Children's Hospital of Illinois and the Jump Trading Simulation Center.

 The Peoria Chiefs is our class A minor league baseball team that is affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals.  They play in Dozer Park downtown.

 Kickapoo Creek Winery hand crafts wines from locally sourced grapes and grapes grown in their own vineyards.

 Peoria is home to the world headquarters of Maui Jim.  Maui Jim is a high end manufacturer of luxury sunglasses. 

 Tower Park in Peoria Heights

You ride a glass exterior elevator to 3 observation decks.  On a clear day you can see for 20 miles. 

Flat Stanley even visited the Peoria Ballet to watch Audrey's class.

Carter's Party

 Carter was excited to have his party with his friends.  I gave him a bunch of choices and he picked to have it at the Riverfront Museum.  He also decided to invite boys only.

 They made sail cars.  The Museum staff the helped were great the the kids.

 Chuck helped the boys out too

 Testing out how far their cars could go.  Most of them made adjustments.

 They really got into the activity and took it quite seriously.

A group shot with their sail cars 

This wall is a big dry erase board.  It's hard to see but it says Happy Birthday Carter on the wall above the boys.

 Time for cake!

It's always funny to watch the kiddos open presents at parties.  Everyone crowds around and gets so excited for their present to get opened.

 Carter helped me put together his party favors

 After cake and presents they got to explore the museum

 Bradley University students had different stations set up.  The kids had the most fun at those stations rather than the regular museum exhibits.

 It was a  beautiful day so Carter took his new razor for a spin when we got home.

More fun with his gifts.  This remote controlled helicopter provided hours of entertainment.