Bike Day for Chloe

Today was Bike Day at pre-Kindergarten.  Look close and you will see our Beanarina.

Look at that big smile when she first spotted us!

She stayed on the bike course in their big circle through the drop off lanes, but pedaled to us as fast as she could!

We were picking her up to go to the elementary school for a scheduled tour.  Chloe couldn't wait to put her bike away and go on the tour of the school (even though she had just gone on a field trip to the elementary school with her class a week ago).

She was moving quickly ahead of us because she couldn't wait to go on the tour!

But she stopped and waited before crossing the street.  She wanted to be safe.  And waited patiently and gave genuine smiles for the camera before we crossed.  When did my baby get so big?  She's almost a Kindergartner!

But when we got inside, we found out we were two hours late.  I goofed.  I had written it down correctly on the calendar at home.  I just didn't remember it correctly or double check that morning.  Sigh.  Chloe was disappointed that she didn't get to tour the school again, but agreed it was nice to get to go on a mini-field trip with Mom and Dad in the middle of the school day.  And she got to jump right back into the middle of Bike Day at school.  She was pedaling fast on her bike when we drove off to go back to work.

Critters

The pest control guy came by this afternoon.  Before he could come into the backyard, I had to clear out a big pile of branches I had cut off the willow and butterfly bush earlier in the week before our gate could swing open.  When I removed all the branches, I noticed this guy.

While the backyard was being sprayed, I stayed inside to make sure no one tried to escape.  Henry was too tired to move from his spot on the sofa.

Maggie followed me around like a lost soul, but she refused to make eye contact with me or my camera.

Dylan pretended to sleep.  He would open his eyes and quickly shut them again after seeing I was watching him.

Look at how bumpy his skin is!  And the bright golden orange specks in his eyes!  I think some beads may be inspired by this bright coloring in his eyes.

After the kids got home from school and saw this frog, they wanted to name him.  Chloe first suggested we name the frog --> Dora.  Owen yelled NOOOOOOOOOOO and thought for awhile, before offering up Cliff. 

Cliff the Frog is bigger than my two fists combined.  I tried picking him up with one hand while taking pics with the other, but he was too big and wiggly to hold onto.  Subsequent two handed attempts were not any more successful.  Cliff ended up hopping across the backyard in his escape and hid under our cypress trees.  By morning, he was gone.

More Soccer

Have I told you that this boy loves soccer?  Owen throws himself into this sport, heart and soul.  Look at that high kick!

He doesn't care who is in the way, he is going to get to that ball and get it away from his team's goal.

Owen is there to help out his team mates and elbow away the opposing team.

Much of the time he is ahead of his team because he's just so quick.

That left foot works just as well as the right!

Anyone see any other blue shirts around to help this boy out?

Kinda looks like he is leading the pack again, doesn't it? 

Owen has the ball in control.  Ahead of Jake.  Jake is an awesome soccer player who has been playing for a few years.  He's the kid to beat.  The one to stop.  Owen shut Jake down during this game.  Normally Jake scores goal after goal after goal.  

Jake didn't score a single goal during this game.....Owen was on defense and his only mission was to stop Jake from scoring.  

Well done, Owen.  

Well done.

Horse and Bunny Rides

After naptime, we drove to the mall, which is something we normally avoid like the plague.  Neither of us are keen on crowds, parking lots or shopping.  But we needed a new router and knew we could let the kids ride the carousel or do the bungee jumping as a reward standing in line at the always packed Apple store.  The bungee jumping facility had closed, so the carousel it was.

Owen chose a chatty horse and Chloe chose a stoic bunny.

"Ha ha! You can't catch me, Chloe!  I'm still ahead!"

"Better watch out, Owen.  I'm inching up closer!"

Such a happy Beanarina.  She just loved riding this Bunny, going up and down!

Riding a horse is tiring work.  Think this boy could have used a nap?

She's contemplating world hunger and wondering why more people on our street don't recycle.

Owen is looking into the future and likes what he sees.  He says he is never going to get married because he wants to live with us forever and ever.  Owen amends that statement to say he will get married, but only if his wife can live with us, as well.  Owen says when he grows up, he is going to work with Todd.  There have been tears if we bring reality into the conversation and ask what he will do if Todd has already retired.  We could not ask for a sweeter, more tender-hearted boy.

"Mommy, get me off this runaway bunny!  I'm getting dizzy!"

I convinced her to stay on the bunny and she was happy once he slowed down. ;)

Whoops, the boy still had peanut butter and jelly on his face from lunch.  Shhhh.  Just look at his baby blues and ignore the fact his parents can't clean his face properly.

Picnic and Play

After church, the kids changed clothes and we walked up to the tennis courts and playground with Dylan.  Chloe ran ahead of us.

The kids ate lunch in the shade of the deck while we watched Daddy play tennis with one of his friends.

Little mush faces!

Like their Momma, they both just love peanut butter and jelly samiches :)

After they were done eating, we walked over to the playground so they could be little monkeys.

My hamstring hurts just looking at this picture.  But the Bean is so limber.

Little Monkey and Little Dangle :)

Then is was Chloe's turn to see the world from up high.

Once they tired of the playground, we moved to the sand of the volleyball court.  They had fun burying their feet in the sand, as well as the nerf football.

It was a hot afternoon and there were some teenagers hanging out with dirty mouths, so we didn't stay very long.  Which was just as well.  I had forgotten to put sunblock on any of us.  Thankfully, the kids didn't get burned.  But I got a nasty sunburn on the back of my neck and top of my shoulders.  Sunburns in April.  Wow.

Owen's Soccer Game

This boy lives and breathes soccer. 

When he's not at school, eating or sleeping, you can bet this boy is kicking his soccer ball against the front door.

He has no problem getting in the middle of the action to get that ball.

Owen does the best playing defense.

No one has scored a goal against the blue team when Owen has been on defense.

Love the Fives and the Good Games at the end of each game.  This is also Chloe's favorite part.

Easter Bunny

Before we ate lunch, we let the kids eat a little Easter candy.  Chloe chose the big, chocolate, Easter bunny.

Hunting Easter Eggs

After we got home from church, we hid the kids' Easter eggs for them.  They had fun running around the house finding the eggs.

Chloe had to crawl under the dining room table to find one of her eggs.

They both had so much fun hunting for eggs!

Such delight on their faces when they found the particularly 'tough' eggs.