PARTY TIME!!

Maddy & Mikayla's birthdays are just 5 weeks & 2 days apart. In years past we've planned separate parties... some big... some small.  Last year Maddy had a glow in the dark golf party & Mikayla had a gymnastics party.  Both were a lot of fun but it was costly having two public parties so close together.  This year for the big 8 & 4, I decided to combine their parties and have it at my Dad & StepMom's house.  It took a lot of planning but everything worked out beautifully.  Neither of the girls felt slighted, the party had energy, it seemed like everyone had a great time!

I took a ton of pictures but here's the best of the best. ;)

The girls & cousin Cam

Grandma K, Kayla, Grandpa, Gregg & Mike

The kids jumped right in to the pool & the not so hot tub!

Cam's jumping in mid-air!

Allison was appropriately dressed in pink for the party because she & Mike just found out that Baby Perno #2 is a girl!  AND they picked her name... Reese Elizabeth! 

Grandma & Grandpa

Mike, Allison & Cam and Gregg & Lauren

splishin' & splashin'

Conner, Brad & Collin... we missed my best friend Jackie, but she had a good excuse for missing the party, she had a baby 3 days before, another boy! :)

I love taking group pictures, all the kids in our life are growing so fast.

Everyone loves making silly faces!

Karen & Kayla

Kerri & Josh

The pool was cool!

Time for CAKE!

MAKE A WISH GIRLS!!

Cousin Cam loves cake!  We lit the candles again so he could blow them out too. :)

All the kiddos!

Double the presents!

The whole group!

Back to the pool! Our little surfer girl in training!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's MIKAYLA!

Mike & Sarah

Miss Mikayla, so pretty!

Testing out the new snorkeling gear from the Allison, Mike & Cam!

The girls are swimming so well with their new snorkeling mask & fins.  It might be time to try the gear out on Siesta Key soon!

Cake, candy & fudgesicles?  Why not... 

The party was a huge success, Maddy & Mikayla were happy girls!  They loved everyone coming together for them, and so did Mike & I.  I took so many pictures the battery in my camera was dead by dusk so I didn't get many pictures of the after party.  With all the birthday formalities out of the way it was great hanging out with our night owls who stayed late.  So, I have to say a big "Thank You" to my Dad & StepMom for letting us have the party at their Florida home & helping us organize it.  It was a memorable day & night and we couldn't have done it without them.

Schoolz OUT For Summer!

Having two kids in school was an experience this year. Twice the fundraisers, twice the uniforms & supplies, twice the volunteering but best of all twice the FUN!  Maddy has been blessed with wonderful teachers every year since preschool and this year that same streak of luck continued with Mikayla.  Here she is with Ms. Jenny, Mrs. Rogers & her class during their end of the year field trip at Shamrock Park.

Mikayla only went to school two days a week but she had a lot of fun, learned a lot of new things & made a bunch of new friends.

Mikayla & her buds had a great time playing at the park, afterwards we went to McDonald's for lunch!

On Mikayla's last day of school she & her teacher presented me with a beautiful scrapbook of Mikayla's year in preschool. I absolutely love it, words on this blog will never do it justice.  I can't thank Ms. Jenny enough.  This is the poem that she included in the back. 

Now I know my ABC's

Colors, shapes, and Days.

I sang new songs, learned some poems,

Rhymes and finger plays.

I played inside on rainy days,

And outside in the sun.

My little hands and little feet,

Were busy having fun.

My teacher was Ms. Jenny,

I kept her on her toes.

She combed my hair, tied my shoes,

Even wiped my nose!

Now it's time to say "Good-Bye"

To all my preschool friends.

School is over, summer's here,

But learning never ends!

Mikayla's class on the last day of school.  It was a bittersweet day for everyone.  There wasn't a dry eye in the room at during parent pick up.

Ok... we always have to take a 'silly faces' picture!

Mikayla absolutely loves Ms. Jenny and the feeling is mutual. Ms. Jenny is the kindest most loving teacher, we were so lucky to be a part of her class.  We are going to miss her but we have a class reunion playdate to look forward to this summer and in August, Ms. Jenny will be right down the hall from Mikayla's new classroom.

After school on Mikayla's last day my friend & I took our girls where? McDonald's of course. Jean & I met though our preschool but we also discovered we have a mutual friend named Alba, who I originally met through my neighbor Savannah. (Didga get all that?)  Here are Olivia, Mikayla, Sammie & Shay.  Sammie also has an older sister who's Madelyn's age.  With 6 girls between the ages of 8-4 we have a some fun playdates to look forward this summer. 

Maddy's last day of school was a Monday, but all of the teachers planned their end of year parties for Friday. Maddy's class wore pajamas, played board games & had snacks.  They had a fun day.  

And can you believe we got a picture with the boys?

Mrs. B was amazing this year.  Maddy struggled with Math, she carried a C average all year but without her teacher's dedication her grade would have been worse.  Mrs. B has even arranged for a summer Math tutor for us to get & keep her prepared for 3rd grade.

Love this Dr.  Seuss quote, perfect for a classroom!

Mrs. B had several classmoms this year, myself included.  She was so grateful for our help she took us all to lunch at a shabby sheek organic cafe & bakery called the Upper Crust.  I ordered the veggie quiche which came with a side salad & a small croissant.  It was delicious and a lot of fun.  We are so lucky to live in this charming little town, with great schools, great teachers & great families. 

A Special Visitor & A Special Delivery

May & June are fun-filled months, we have a lot to catch up but first I want to mention 2 special events.  One was a visit from my favorite Canadian. My Great Aunt Betty is very special to me, not only is she my Grandpa's sister & my Dad's favorite Aunt but she's the lady who took Mike & I in for 3 weeks when we first moved to Florida in 1997.  On short notice, no questions asked, with never even meeting Mike... she welcomed us with open arms into her Florida home.  She & my Uncle Jim were snowbirds for many many years.  After Jim passed away in 2002, she made some changes.  First she sold thier Florida home & chose to rent, then she began shortening her stays from 6 months to 4 to 2.  Last year we were so sad when she decided she wouldn't be coming back to Florida at all, but this year she couldn't stay away.  She felt fit for a trip so she flew down for 2 weeks!  We were overjoyed!  She was on the go the whole time she was here but she did squeeze in two dinner dates with us.  We loved having Aunt Betty in town, it was just like old times.  We've really missed her and are very hopeful that she'll be back for another short stay next Spring! 

Several weeks later, my best friend Jackie gave birth to her 3rd son, Cameron Karter.  Born at 4:34 in the afternoon on June 1st, weighing just shy of 8 lbs.  He looks just like his older brothers in this picture.  What a cutie!  I can't wait to see him again.  I'm planning to drop in on Jackie next week after her Hubby returns to work, she is going to need all the help she can get with a newborn & her active 5 & 7 yro sons!

Stay tuned... lots more updates from May & June to come!