The Graduate

 Carter graduated kindergarten May 17th.  He looked so cute in his cap and gown!  This is a picture of his graduation picture from school.  The school has them taken for a slide show showing their baby picture and graduation picture during the ceremony.

 Walking down with his class to pomp and circumstance

 Getting his diploma

The ceremony included songs sang by the kids and 2 different slide shows A baby picture-graduate one and one of pictures from their different school activities throughout the year.

 They had a reception afterwards with punch and cookies.  The graduates also got gifts from the school.  We were able to get a family picture before Chuck had to go back to work.

 Carter and proud Daddy

 Grandma Debbie flew in for the ceremony.

 We grilled out and ate dinner outside that night.

I got Carter and mini chocolate ganache cake for dessert.

It's hard to believe that he'll be in 1st grade next fall.  It sounds too old.

Triange Park & Irondale Cafe

 We have enjoyed triangle park since Carter was little.  We had one last visit to it with the Grahams and Grimms.  The kids had a good time as always.  Audrey likes to swing on her belly and tells me she's flying.

Carter taught Noah and Lee a fun thing to do with the big dump trucks.  Carter does this every time we go to that park.  It cracks me up every time.  They were entertained for a long time doing this.  We had to make them leave for dinner.

A couple days later, Ashley, Laura, Meredith and I ate at the Irondale Cafe.  We all have been wanting to go just to say we've been.  It's the one from them movie Fried Green Tomatoes.  I think it's called the Whistle Stop Cafe in the book and movie.  Not sure.  Anyway, it's right next to the train tracks and serves good ol' southern fried food.

first of the good-byes

 The other week we met my friend Cary and her two girls Caroline and Margaret at the zoo one last time before we move.  Cary and I met through JCRMA (resident spouse club) back when her hubby was just an intern.  It's been fun to see our kids grow up over the years and support each other through the training process.  We will miss our play dates with them but promised each other that this wasn't good bye but until next time.

Audrey didn't want to be in the picture at the zoo so I had to post this one of her.  She wore these devil horns all afternoon.  She called them her dragon ears :)  That's our Little Miss

23 weeks

 The first weekend in May I was 23 weeks and finally took a belly pic.  I'm bigger with this baby than Audrey.  I'm closer to the size I was with Carter at this point.

 That weekend we also got the pool out for the kids.  Sasha always loves to catch their splashes.

She eventually ends up getting in the pool with them.  She quickly got out once Carter started pouring water on her.

Post party fun

 Carter had been asking to go to the Lego store to spend some of his money he had saved.  We took the kids after his party and they both found a lego set they had to have.  Carter picked out a new Star Wars ship and Audrey found a little princess set.  She loves it!

 

 Once we got home Carter opened his presents from his friends.  In one of the presents were these punching balloons.  The kids love them and are entertained for hours.

 

 They had a punching balloon fight until it was time to get ready for bed.  They were so funny to watch!

Sasha was smart and stayed out of the line of fire.  She was safe on the couch cuddling with one of Audrey's babies.  We'll see what she thinks when baby #3 arrives :)

Tae Kwon Do Party

 Carter had a Tae Kwon Do party for his birthday this year.  He invited all his friends from school and a good number of them were able to attend.  Master Scarcella and the other instructors did a wonderful job with the kids.  They all had a great time and the parents enjoyed watching the fun.

 They got to learn all sorts of kicks, punches and combinations.

 Carter got to demonstrate with Master Scarcella what they were going to do next.

 Audrey didn't want to participate.  She just watched from the edge of the mat.

 After they were done with the lesson they all got a headband.  Master Scarcella tied it on each of them then they bowed to their friends and they applauded them.

 They turned out the lights and brought out the lit cake while we all sang to him.  Carter thought it was pretty cool.

 The kids waiting for the cake to be cut.

 The party ended with the instructors doing a board breaking demonstration.  Carter got to start it off by breaking this board.  I forgot to change the speed on the camera so I missed getting a picture of the board breaking but we have it on video.

Group picture

I painted these chinese take out boxes for the goodie bags.  I filled them with tae kwon do stickers, tattoos, fortune cookies and other goodies, touchable bubbles and little ninja figurines.  It wasn't easy finding things in this theme but it worked.

Carter turns 6!

 Last week Carter turned 6!  Where does the time go!?  He went to the store with me and picked out Spiderman cupcake liners and toothpicks.  We made red, white and blue cupcakes (spiderman colors) with chocolate frosting with red, white and blue sprinkles for his school treat.  They turned out yummy and everyone in his class enjoyed them.

 He wore a birthday headband at school and brought home the class birthday bear.  Inside the birthday bear backpack was a journal for him to draw a picture of what he did to celebrate his birthday.  He got to share it with the class the next day.

 Later that afternoon we had his Tae Kwon Do lesson to get him ready for his party on Sat.  They got him a uniform and everything.  He looks so cute in it!  He's in his kicking stance here.

 Practicing his front kicks with a target

 Punches to the target

 The side kick.  This is the kick he will do when he breaks the board

 HI-YA!

 Daddy was able to make it home for dinner, which in our house is a treat.  After dinner Carter got to open his presents from us.  He was super excited about the Optimus Prime Kre-o lego set.  He got some other things from us too but I won't post all the pics.

 Time for cake!  He wanted a Dairy Queen cake so I took him the day before to pick one out.  He picked out this Sponge Bob one.  I don't let him watch that cartoon so I was surprised that's the one he picked.  He loved it though.  We can't sing happy birthday to him without him wearing his birthday hat :)

My big boy!

Water gun fights

 Carter's birthday presents started to arrive in the mail.  He got this massive super soaker from Tita Angela & Uncle Brett.  He's showing me his tough guy face in this picture.

 He had to take it outside to try it out right away

 That resulted in several days of water gun fights.  It's been so hot here it's been a great way for them to stay cool while playing outside.  We will not miss the Alabama summers.

 Audrey wanted to show me her tough guy face

 The kids have also been obsessed with touchable bubbles.  I have to admit that I even have fun with them.  Carter caught a bunch on them on his hand.  If your kid has not experienced touchable bubbles you need to get some.  They are so fun!

 Here are our latest house pictures.  The basement is ready for the floor to be poured.  Rain had delayed it from happening though.  It's so much easier to visualize the layout of the basement with these pictures though. 

Can't wait for the weather to clear up so they can pour the floor.  Then they can start the fun part, framing!

Field trip & Little Miss

 Last week Carter's class got to celebrate the end of the year with a field trip to the zoo.  Even though Carter's been a million times already he had a lot of fun going with all his buddies.

 Audrey continues to be quite the little miss.  She loves her sparkle lips and thinks these fancy dresses are every day wear.  She even sleeps with a tutu over her pjs most of the time.  She asked me the other day if baby is going to be a princess like her.  So cute!

She's also been getting into video games more.  She likes to try and play along when we play wii games and loves the mobigo.  We got her a princess game for the mobigo that is at a good level for her.