May pictures

There were a few pictures from May that never made their own post. Here are a few fun things we did!

Dresden and Talmage love having play dates! In fact they often plan their own as we are leaving the gym. They could have one every single day. I love that he has a little buddy! They play so well together! This play date they had fun in the sprinklers!

The kids painted rocks one Sunday afternoon. Sometimes Sundays can drag so we have to entertain ourselves. Eric also taught Ava how to do headstands with your knees on your elbows! She was pretty proud!

She is getting so much better at her back bends too!

They kids climbed up on the counter one day and just started making their own snack from peanut butter, Ritz and graham crackers, and chocolate chips!

I'm not sure these were from May but Dresden was my helper in making green smoothies! Eric told him if he drank them he might turn into the Hulk! Of course that made him super excited to taste it!

Dresden was sick one Saturday so Eric took Ava on a little Daddy daughter date to the Children's Museum. They had a blast and even got a treat on the way there! Their new exhibit is a construction zone!

We went to Daddy's school and got ice cream from the University dairy store! We love visiting daddy at school!

Swim Lessons

We started the kids in swim lessons a couple weeks ago at the YMCA. They are two week sessions. They absolutely loved going every day. Dresden was so cute, he always had a smile on. But he didn't want to put his face in. It's crazy though because last year he was jumping in by himself all the time! Ava was a champ and passed off everything she needed to to move to the next class. Next week they start another two week session. This was their first day.  Their classes were right next to each other so I could watch them both.

It took some time this year but they are warming up and being brave in the water again. Ava pretty much swims by herself and can go across the deep end of the pool with out touching. It's so nice not to have to worry about her!

Memorial Day

Wow I can't believe how behind I am on this blog! Way back on Memorial Day we had a little BBQ with our friends the Nehrings! Earlier in the day we went swimming at the YMCA and the kids all had a blast! I still miss not having a pool in our little community though! :)

He loves his spider man goggles and flippers! I think he looks so dang cute in them too!

Ava was behind me one day while I was looking on Pintrest and saw these caterpillar grapes. She had been wanting to make them for awhile so we thought this was a good time.

The girls

The boys!

Dresden is being the Hulk here and then doing the "Hulk smash" on the ground!

Ava got a splinter and would not let Eric get it out! It was quite traumatic! He got half out but ended up having to get the other half out at home.

We had a great time hanging out and letting the kids play in their super fun backyard! Thanks Nehrings!

Ava's First Dance Recital

Ava had her first dance recital on May 19th.  It has been quite the experience being in dance. She was in the same class as her friend Isabelle which was so fun. She started in August and as the time had gone on she got a little bored with it. Most days she loved going but some days she was just tired and let's be honest, dance just ins't that much of a workout when your 5. It wasn't keeping her attention very well. I think her favorite part was the stretches, which was more like gymnastics. She was doing great at learning the dances though and it got more exciting when they talked about costumes and being on stage for the recital. They did a tap dance for the recital.
The other hard thing was that the recital was on a Sunday. One of the crappy things about living in Lincoln, alot of things end up on a Sunday. The teacher was definitely annoyed by us not doing it! I've never had to explain my religion and try and get someone to understand why we don't do things on Sundays. Mormons are definitely the minority here. Lucky for us the dance rehearsal was full costume and on a Saturday. So we just let that be the real thing. I think she kinda wondered why when they came on stage it was just Eric and I in the audience with our other friends who were also not performing on Sunday. She still was so excited and we tried to make it fun for her. She was awesome. They danced to Calendar Girls and each girl's costume represented their month in the song. Ava was November so she was a pilgrim. I was worried. Not exactly the cute girly first dance recital costume I was thinking of but it didn't turn out that bad, maybe the hat could have been different! :) I have some video I need to post too but here are some pictures.

Her whole class!

Ava and Isabelle

She got this cute key chain and chapstick from a friend

Lily, Ava, and Isabelle in the dressing room

Ava's solo part! She did awesome!!!

She was beyond excited to get flowers from daddy!

She really did have fun but I think she is just more into gymnastics right now. She loves dance just not ballet! Next year we will switch to gymnastics for a change.

Ava's preschool program

Ava had a little preschool program a few weeks ago. I didn't realize they were not giving them a preschool graduation and that this would be the closest thing to it. I was actually a little sad about it. The program was super cute and Ava was excited about her part in it. She was a L.E.A.P reader. She got to demonstrate the proper way of getting a friends attention and asking to join a group of friends. She did awesome and even helped her friend with some of her lines. :) She just seems so grown up and old now! It's crazy! I'm so proud of her.
She has really loved preschool this year and we all love her teacher Mrs Carlow! There were also two other teachers in there, Miss Molly, and Mrs. Mandy. They take such great care of the students and really get to know them. And since the preschool is at the elementary school she is already familiar with everything at the school. They let them eat in the cafeteria towards the end and see the kindergarten classrooms. Mrs. Carlow can also help her Kindergarten teacher understand Ava's unique personality and the best ways to deal with her. :) We love our Ava but sometimes she is sassy and has a mind of her own! She is so smart though and we know she is going to do great in Kindergarten!

Dresden being a great big brother watching from a closer spot!

Miss Mandy, Mrs. Carlow, and Mrs. Molly