Catching Up

I was just looking at my most recent post, which was just over two weeks ago... and the trees look so brown and barren in the pictures! I guess spring really has sprung since that day... everything is green now! Green as far as the eye can see! We've had heat waves, too, leading to actual dead spots in the lawn (very weird for this time of year). We are actually in desperate need of some rain! But I am sure this heat will break soon and we'll be getting our daily thunderstorms. I can't wait for the rain to wash away some of the pollen in the air, too, which is EVERYWHERE. The news is calling it a "pollen tsunami." Our spring went from 0 to 60 in less than two weeks-- all these plants are making up for lost time!

Anyway, time for pictures.

Baseball is now in full swing! Niko is having a great season. He's had some awesome hits and is showing a lot of improvement all around. And he's even learning how to play catcher!

And the sliding... oh, the sliding! it wasn't allowed in t-ball, but everyone on Niko's team slides at every possible opportunity. Even when it is completely uncalled for. Because, you know, it's COOL. haha!

And this nice weather has been perfect for the bounce house

And riding scooters

And eating popsicles

And hula-hooping

And getting sprayed with the hose

Mother's Day was one of the hotter days we've had-- I actually got a sunburn! But I woke up to breakfast in bed, and then we had an early baseball game, and then we spent the rest of the day at home. Niko made this Lego sculpture for me. I love my boy!!

And then I had Gus take an obligatory pic of me with my babies to commemorate the occasion. The black and white version hides my sunburn and our horribly clashing outfits. Perfect!

The very next day was a local election day, which meant that there was no school. After going to vote, the kids were very helpful in getting our garden started! It doesn't look like much yet, but we will have tons of good stuff growing soon!

We also had dance pictures that day. I actually took these shots the week before, but this is what her costume looks like! And her hair was great on picture day. I can't wait to see the official pictures this week!

Also, somewhere in there, the kids got their spring pictures back from school. Niko messed his hair up after getting on the bus (sigh!) and the foregrounds are a little odd, but at least they had nice smiles!

In other very important news, our local seasonal restaurant opened last week! We tried to go there for dinner on Friday night, but it was an absolutely madhouse. So we went yesterday at 4:30 for a very early dinner. And it was STILL crowded, but we found a table and didn't have to wait too long. I heard that it got pretty bad later in the evening, though. Everyone in town was just as excited as we were! The crowds should calm down soon, but the kids were just happy to have their first dinner there of the season. Something to cross off the list! This place is synonymous with nice weather, so it felt SO GOOD to sit at our little picnic table again!

And that pretty much brings us to today! Of course I am skipping over a lot of day to day stuff, but life has been good. Today we have baseball pictures and then another game, and it is supposed to get up close to 90 degrees with humidity-- blechhh!! We need a thunderstorm!

Parade Day!

Today was Little League Parade Day! And it was actually warm and sunny!! Our first year, it was overcast and cold. Then the next year it was warm. Then last year it was cold and gray again. So I guess it fits with the pattern!

Anyway, we had a break from baseball games today, which was nice. We headed to the field to line up for the parade at 12:15. At around 12:50, they marched down the road to the main field here in town (formerly the site of the town dump, we learned!). A few people spoke, someone sang the national anthem, and a local businessman threw the ceremonial first pitch.

And that was it! They had a bounce house and snacks and whatnot, but it was pretty claustrophobic. Gus had suggested we take the kids to frozen yogurt, since it was such a nice day, so we bribed them with that to get out of there. Success! After that, we picked my car up from the shop where it was getting its summer tires put on. And then we hung out at the house until dinner. Tonight we went out to dinner, and Maya got to choose (she's the birthday girl!). She chose the local Mexican place, and she specifically wanted guacamole. They make it at the table, and it was so good!

Right now, they are staying up late because they are hoping to see bats flying around in the back yard. We shall see! We DID see a big fox standing right by their swing set this morning. We live in the country!

Maya's Excellent Day

As hard as it is to believe, our BABY is six now! And she celebrated in style. She began her morning with cinnamon rolls (the tradition in our house) and presents. We used to open presents after dinner, but soon realized that the morning was much easier on everyone involved (and allowed for more time to PLAY with said presents)!

After that, she was off to school. Gus and I followed her there an hour later to see her kindergarten sight words performance (they're called Heidi Songs). You can see Maya in action just after 14:30 and 22:55. She did great! I checked her out early after the performance, just as pretty much all the other parents did. We came home for a bit and got ready for our big adventure-- lunch and shopping at the Boston American Girl store!!!! It's not actually *in* Boston, which is nice-- it's a little closer. About a 50 minute drive. But we had reservations at the American Girl Bistro, so that's where we went first. We had a delicious lunch, with lots of special attention for our birthday girl!

After we finished eating, it was time to shop! I had promised to pay for her doll's ears to be pierced, and she also had a gift card from my brother and his family. So we took care of the ear piercing and began the excruciating search for the perfect outfits and accessories that fit in the budget. She ended up with a beautiful dress set, a swimsuit set, and a hair accessory. She was very pleased with her purchases!

Shortly after we got home, Gus and Niko had to leave to go on a Cub Scout field trip to our local historical society (a few blocks down the street from us, haha). Maya enjoyed the quiet time with all her presents. She was so happy! For dinner, we had pizza, and then we had cake. But we didn't have just any old candles. Oh no!!! My niece had a candle like this on her cake two weeks ago, and I NEEDED one for Maya, haha! It was spectacular! And now our little six-year-old is up reading a Magic Treehouse book in her bed. I can't believe how big she's gotten! But I loved getting to spend the day with my favorite girl in the whole wide world.

Maya's 6th Birthday Letter

Dear Maya,

Six years ago today, our lives changed for the better when you came into the world, a little 7-pound, 11-ounce ray of sunshine! I know I am repeating myself when I say this, but you were the missing piece in our family. Your easy-going nature perfectly complemented your big brother's more demanding personality. Not only are you the sweetest daughter we could have ever hoped for, but you are the kindest, most loving little sister. One day, Niko will realize this! We promise!!

This past year has been one of huge growth for you, as always. Most importantly, you started kindergarten! And right off the bat, your teacher was telling me how independent and well-behaved you are at school (she said I should teach a parenting class on how to get kids ready for kindergarten, haha!). You like to fly below the radar, but you are incredibly competent at so many things. Maybe it's partly because you have an older brother, but you pick things up really quickly. Like reading! You were so ready to learn, and it came quickly this year. You went from reading simple words and phrases to now reading Magic Treehouse chapter books! A whole new world has been opened to you!

In fact, you are doing great across the board in school. We expected nothing less, of course! But the thing that makes me the happiest is seeing how kind you are to ALL of your classmates. Even though you share that they sometimes annoy you, you never have an unkind word to say to anyone (not counting your brother, of course!!). I have seen the way that some of the other girls in your grade can be rude and catty, and I am so, SO glad that that is just not who you are. At all. You are friendly to everyone, and I hope that is something that never changes. The world is a better place with people like you in it!

It's been a fantastic six years, baby girl. You are so loving and so loved, and deserve every happiness the world has to offer! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maya!!

Love (times infinity!),
Mommy, Daddy, and Niko