Pool + Birthday = FUN!!!

On Saturday we headed over to the other side of Orlando for a 1st birthday party. Mady's friend Carly's little brother Reed was turning 1! The pool was great and had zero-entry, fountains, and a swimming area. We also had a tent to hang out under for lunch and cupcakes.

Here are some pictures of the kids hanging around the pool.

Hanging out under the tent finishing up lunch and waiting to sing "Happy Birthday"

The birthday boy Reed! And the girls eating their cupcakes!

Since I love all things party-related, I offered to put together the favors for the birthday party. The buckets were filled with all kinds of beach and pool toys. I also rediscovered my love of paint pens!

Our Own Royal Wedding

I guess the girls have been watching way too much coverage of the Royal Wedding. It doesn't help that on that morning I had the tv on and we watched the processional, etc... Also, I have just about every magazine with the wedding on the cover! I was in the house and Jacob was in the front yard working on our sprinklers when he yelled at me to come outside. I was expecting a snake or something, but instead this is what I found. KK was dressed in the wedding dress-up dress, Mady was in some kind of "suit", they had a beach towel down with leis as flowers and then you can see the wedding guests. They were so funny I was dying!

Here they come! Originally KK had on a veil and Mady a hat!

Must have dancing!

The Royal onlookers, they look so excited!

Kindergarten Here We Come!

Tuesday Jacob and I took Mady to Kindergarten Orientation at Lawton so she could tour the school, peek into some K classrooms, etc... Since she already goes to Lawton it wasn't that big of a deal, more of a rite of passage! We also paid for her school supplies for K ($41!) and met some up with some of my friends' kids that will attend Lawton in the fall. We still had a great time spending the morning with her and Jacob was even able to stay for lunch.

Waiting for orientation to begin at 9.

Mady and her birthday buddy Bryce.

Practicing going through the lunch line!

Hanging out in the library!

Hanging out in the computer lab!
Back to being line leader with her class!

Swim Lessons

For the past 4 summers Mady has attended swim lessons at Double R in Chuluota. We love their program and their approach with the kids. It is definitely intense and parents are asked to leave if their child is uncooperative. KK is now 2 and ready for swim lessons. They don't start until age 2, so we know she is ready. She loves playing in the pool, so we knew she not only needed swim lessons, but was ready for them. Mady is a great swimmer and is there for moral support for her sister, as well as working on her dive and perfecting her strokes. This will probably be Mady's last summer of swim lessons, but KK will continue for the next couple of summers.

At the first lesson they let the little ones get a feel for the water and practice kicking and arm strokes above the water. The second day and from there on is a whole different story! We are now practicing swimming to the steps under water!

Mady's class immediately went to the deep end so Mrs. Allison could assess their strokes and see if they've regressed from last summer. By the end of the class they were swimming laps! They are now working on diving and learning the different strokes.

Just Beach-y

Part of my Mother's Day weekend was that I wanted to spend the day (or a few hours) at the beach with the family. Rarely do we go over to the beach just for the day. In fact, this was KK's first trip to the beach for the day. Jacob was in charge of packing everything and getting the girls ready. We left around 10 and stayed until 2. It was packed, but the girls had a great time playing in the sand, water, and eating lunch. Towards the end KK wanted to go to the pool (oops!) so we knew it was time to head home and take late naps. The girls had a great time and KK has even asked about the beach every day this week. Our first beach trip of the summer will be June 6, so she'll have to wait until then, and yes, there will be a pool!

Always have to build a sand castle while you're at the beach!

Mady is making sand cakes as she calls them.

Time for a lunchable break!

Getting close to nap time and ready to head home!

Birthday Party

The spring is full of birthday parties for our friends. Last Saturday was no different and we celebrated Meghan's 4th birthday and Ethan's 1st birthday at their house. The theme was Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the kids loved playing in the bounce house and painting Mickey magnets. I never got a picture of Mady with the birthday girl, probably because none of the girls would stay still long enough for me to get a picture!

The only time I could get any pictures was when the girls were painting or eating!

We are excited about another birthday party coming up on the 21st, it's a pool party! I am also in the middle of planning Kaitlyn's Cupcakes and Crafts birthday party and helping a friend plan a Very Hungry Caterpillar 1st birthday party!