It has been awhile, a couple years at least since we all came to the airport to do a drop off for a Vegas business trip... one of the last times the kiddos were there with me, they bawled the entire drive home... sobbing, "I miss Daddy!"  So very glad we are past that stage... that was heart wrenching... especially when they had no concept of time.

This Vegas drop off was full of smiles...

I'm always amazed at how big the kiddos are getting... in my heart they will always be this age...

This photo just cracks me up of Luna showing off her pearly whites...

It's been almost a month since Willow had her TPLO surgery and she's doing great!  Her incision has healed and she can now lounge in the sunshine on the deck... her favorite thing to do. Doesn't she look like she's smiling??

The vet gave us the okay to extend her walks and the first day out I let her go at her pace and it must have been too much for her because she started limping and not using her "bionic leg" as much.  That was a week ago and she's just now starting to use it again.  She goes in for her 1 month check up on Monday and I'll see about getting her some more doggie ibuprofen.

This is the current talk around here... "I know that it's hard to think ahead 20 + years but you've got to remember at the very least to put your face lotion on to protect your skin!" And "When you are outside at cheer for 2 hours you need to put actual SUNSCREEN on!!"

Once again she forgot sunscreen before cheer practice and fried her nose and cheeks... again!  Having lots of talks about the importance of protecting against sun cancer and how it takes just 1 bad burn!  This is her, "Really... I thought we were done with this picture!"

I'm off to traumatize her now by showing her skin cancer pictures so that she will remember her sunscreen tomorrow!!

They were found under the kiddos beds... washed and photographed for the last time.

They have been a constant fixture in our family from the very beginning...

and a part of every childhood milestone...

A best friend to cuddle up with and read a good book...

or a comfort when they were sick... hurt... or scared...

They were there for all holidays and celebrations...

And have even been lost... found and mailed..

You were very much loved Phyllis and Bear... thank you for all the wonderful adventures and memories!!

I think Winnie the Pooh says it best...

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever!!"

This happened May 24...

He wanted to help make his cake this year...

He decided on Chocolate Sheet cake with yummy homemade Chocolate frosting.  His Birthday celebration included all his favorites... first stop was to the movies to see Tomorrowland... so good! Then for dinner his choice was Firehouse subs...

Then home for birthday cake... ice cream and a few presents...

So love this kiddo... geesh... 11!!

It really did come fast... the last day of Elementary School for Little Bug... probably not fast enough for him when he was in kindergarten/first grade crying and gripping onto me but thankfully we overcame that!!  I was glad I had to get to school myself on the last day of Elementary school for him... otherwise there could have been big alligator tears from the Mama this time.

I am so very excited for him to grow... learn... succeed and start new adventures in Middle School. He will do awesome... he is ready!

First day of Kindergarten and last day of 5th grade... blink... it happens fast!!

Ainsley did not get the annual last day of school picture on the front steps since she was at cheer practice but a friend got this picture of her on the last day of school... it pretty much sums up her 7th grade year... happy... confident and adventurous!!

So very proud of both you kiddos!!

Already 1 week into summer... and our lives have been revolving around Willow. It's been 1 week already since her TPLO surgery and she is doing great.  Took her to her post op check up yesterday and the vet was happy with her recovery process. We can start doing some physical therapy by taking short walks to the end of the block a couple times a day.  So very glad I got this Exercise Pen to contain her.  You can tell she is on the mend... using her leg and wanting really badly to run and play with Luna. This summer will be a boring one for her... being cooped up or attached to the leash which is attached to me but by Fall she should be running laps in the backyard!

Ainsley received an award yesterday that was decided on by her peers...

So very proud of her!

I have a love/hate relationship with the last 6 weeks of school... it is so jam packed with activities that most days we go non stop from 3pm to 9pm.  There are way too many miscellaneous dinners... too many carpools... last minute projects that need to get finished and the list goes on.  As crazy as it gets I do love the times you watch your kiddos grow and shine and I try my hardest to carve these moments into memory because life really does fly by.

The blur of April/May happened like this...

Walker had DARE Graduation.

There were a lot of Volleyball Practices... right after track practice that made for Ainsley eating her dinner in a thermos. Saturday games with lots of cheering... this is her sport... one she constantly excels at.

Lots of stories and non stop talking about the going-ons at middle school on the bus to track meets and school.

Lots of procrastination from Little Bug to do his state report project which equaled lots of frustration and consequences from the parents... ugh.  It got done as usual but man oh man lots of talks!

Lots of waiting and cheering at track meets... Ainsley made it to the City Meet in all of her events and even had a personal best jump in long jump of  9ft 3/4 inches.  Her medley relay took 4th place and while she didn't throw her best in discus, she found a new event she wants to focus on and practice on over the summer.

Walker completed all the cub scout requirements and earned the highest cub scout achievement.. the Arrow of Light... so very proud of him and US for completing it... it was a 3 year process.  He is really excited for Boy Scouts and I think it will be really good for him to grow in this new troop.

Some where along the way we found time to rip out a few stumps and get the yard under control... now that they Bayberry bush is gone my flag can go back up and not be ripped to shreds by the branches... really happy about that.

As things wind down for the year we can start to look ahead to the summer and can finally schedule Willow's TPLO surgery to repair her torn cranial cruciate ligament.  This summer will be all about getting her leg back to functioning properly. Love this little face and so glad I have the time off in the summer to help her heal.

A few more things to happen like the Spring piano recital this afternoon, 5th grade breakfast and award ceremony, Ainsley's 7th grade field trip and a whole lot of cheer stuff but winding down the 2014/2015 school year is in our sights... yay!