Bella

The neighbors got a new puppy a few weeks ago and Carter loves playing with Bella.  Grace came over tonight with Bella and Carter played outside with them all evening, he did not want to come in.  The giggling, running, and playing was non-stop.  Of course, then the begging also began to get his own puppy, but that's another story altogether!

Jewelry

I wrapped up jewelry orders for the summer months.  I am really looking forward to 3 months off!  I'll start again once my boys go back to school in the fall.  It seems like a long time, but I know it will go by in the blink of an eye - it always does!

Instagram

Time for an Instagram dump:

Bright sunshine and peep shoes make me happy:

Carter peacefully sleeping, waiting for the tooth fairy to arrive after his 5th lost tooth!

Homemade ice cream blended with fresh strawberries.  Delicious!

Ryan's last soccer game of the season:

The ducks are back and in my pond again for the season:

Good morning!  I took this on my way to the park and ride early one morning.  It was a gorgeous sunrise:

Ryan and Carter's first sleepover.  Josh didn't make it all night, hopefully next time! :)

Mother's Day stash from the boys.  I LOVE handmade gifts!

Evan surprised the boys by waking them early one morning to take them to breakfast and to one of his jobsites to watch a demolition project:

Carter was sick a couple of weeks ago.  He didn't move from the floor ALL day on Sunday.  That's when you know he doesn't feel good.  :(

Scoring for the River Bats, #16, Carter Mackey!

A cold, windy, rainy night at baseball.  Brrrrr!

Adam, Jimmy, and Ryan on the Wargo Nature Center Field Trip.  Triple the fun, triple the trouble! :)

The boys and I stopped for yogurt sundaes on a whim after baseball:

Carter and Caeden on their Como Zoo Field Trip:

Grandpa and Grandma also chaperoned:

Ryan at lacrosse pictures:

Lacrosse

Ryan had his lacrosse pictures and practice last night.  He is so excited for his first game.  They play in a tournament next weekend and then start games the 3rd week in June.  He has never played lacrosse before but is catching on quickly and loves it so far!

He is in the front on the right, tossing the ball in the air:

Como Zoo Field Trip

Carter's class went to Como Zoo for their kindergarten field trip.  We lucked out on the weather - storms were predicted all day, but they held off and we had an overcast and nearly perfect zoo day.  Carter was excited to see Grandpa and Grandma when he got off the bus, he didn't know (or didn't remember!) they were coming.  We had his buddy, Caeden in our group for the day.  It was a perfect day, but it went a little too quickly.  The kindergartners all seemed to have a good time and it went as smooth as possible.  I am so glad we could be there for Carter's special day!

In the conservatory:

Caeden and Carter outside the Sparky Show:

Carter, Caeden, and Jack on the gorilla statue:

Caeden, Griffin, Jack, and Carter in the Conservatory:

Carter's Track and Field Day

It just so happened that Carter's Track and Field Day fell on the same day as Ryan's Class Field Trip.  Thankfully I could attend most of Ryan's trip before I had to leave to watch Carter.  The kindergarten kids had so much fun.  The teachers stressed the importance of teamwork, cheering on your classmates, and having fun rather than on winning.  I am not sure how much sunk in, but I loved how much they talked about it.  There is plenty of time for competition as they get older!

Stretching before the events began:

Carter and his buddy, Caeden:

Carter running for the long jump:

Mid-jump:

Taking a water break between events:

Lining up for the distance run:

Carter is (not surprisingly) the tallest kid in his class.  He is also one of the bossiest, making sure everyone started behind the starting line and keeping everyone in their place all day.  This is not unique to track and field day - this carries over into the classroom, something we are working on!  ;) 

Coming in on the long distance run:

Finishing with high fives:

Starting the obstacle course:

Tunnel crawl:

Sommersault on off the mat:

Carter volunteered Evan to help with all of the events:

I'm not sure this is what the teachers had in mind with the pile of mats:

Carter and his BFF, Grandpa:

Taking the corner on the egg race:

Soccer kick:

Hockey shoot:

Evan (and Ryan - who just returned from his field trip) volunteered to demonstrate the sack race:

Hmmmm...and Evan wonders where our children got their competitive nature?

Carter cheering on his friend, Jack, in the sack race:

His turn:

Tug of war - their class won all 3 events.  What a FUN day for them!

Grandpa teaching Ryan how to blow grass between his thumbs to make a loud squeaking noise.  These are the days my kids will remember as they grow up.  I love that they have such a close relationship with their grandpa and grandma! :)