This week

Memorial Day proper- joyous time w friends at pool. Jim has been working his butt off and the kids miss him terribly so keeping busy helps! 

Payton and Jackie are legit the best of friends.  Just watching them hang is so damn cute. Benny adopted jack's fedora. 

Mem day dinner at Grammy and pops with daddy. Showing them macaroni William. 

Hannie checking out the goods.

Tues was all about showing off the new pet. We babysat drew. 

Kids and Mac.

Ben woke up w a fever saying "mommy water? Please? Please?" Just this memory breaks my heart.

Hamster on my bed. 

Annie. We chilled at home. 

Until we were saved by a park invite with p and crew.

Started out rough. I actually read my girls an anti-whining article. 

Now they call each other out on it. 

Gymnastics. We crammed 2 make up classes into 1 day. For nice sleepy children! 

Macaroni William

The day started ordinarily enough- or so they thought. Below is Hill reading to Benny. 

I found that Jackie was hosting a pool party of ill repute in the playroom. A real player, that Prince Charming...

After making the kids clean all day, we went to Persmart. Well, Giant first. Then Petsmart. I asked an employee about the hamsters and rest was history. 

Below is Jack meeting MW. She was absolutely silent but sooooo excited. 

While paying Jack saw his fur sticking out a hole in the box and excitedly pointed. She was over the moon. Kept saying "I can't believe we are us and we have HIM!" And thanking me profusely. 

They've been inseparable ever since. She is soo gentle w him and so in love. 

Hill and Jack fought over who had the best view in the cage and they kept yelling "Now I can't see his beautiful face!" "now I can't see his beautiful face!"

The entire neighborhood met him when we took him outside for fresh air.  

Below is Em- she is super excited to babysit while we are in Disney. 

Yesterday we left dear Macaroni for a Mem Day picnic at my dad's. Below are the kiddos in the pool. 

Hill stole the phone as usual. 

A great pic by cousin Jenny. 

A pic of cousin Jenny. 

A selfie. 

My man Benny eating hot dog.

Hilly was super emo at this picnic. I don't know if it was bc she didn't want to be outside, it was too hot or what but it was tough to deal with. She had a 30 min tantrum when we first arrived. Just trying not to sugar coat our day! In fact, she upstairs crying as I type. 3 year olds are tough, man. You can only hear crying and whining for so many hours a day before you start to feel insane. 

Below are Ben and Hills eating dinner. 

Overall it was a really fun day! 

Reunited at last. 

Post-Graduation Festivities

Above is Hills drinking a cherry vanilla smoothie.  "Milkshake," if you will.  She was hellbent on eating and drinking things that would make her sniffles go away.  Homegirl does not suffer in silence.

Below are Benny and his woman Lala at P and crew's for an end of the year bash.

The preschool's year end picnic. Truth be told, one of my favorite activities of the year.  All the kids know each other so well and everyone gathers at this playground and the kids get to play together for a few hours.  They get to say good-bye to their teachers and classmates that they don't play with on the reg. Last year I wore Ben in the carrier and this year he ran off and played with his friends.  He trailed Kyle like crazy and Betsy told me he kept on wanting her to watch him slide so basically Ben is trying to be adopted into a different family but as long as he is having fun at this picnic, that is fine by me!!

See above? Ben with his new prospective family. 

We then headed to Abby's for lunch.  This house is so uncluttered and wonderful that everytime I leave, I am inspired to unclutter my own house.  Yesterday I collected about 5 bags for Goodwill. 

I also have major backyard envy.  Ben was totally into the soccerball and goal.  He isn't that into being dirty or wet. 

Enter: water table. 

We then drove to Gma and Pop-pops for a small gathering to celebrate Conman's 6th birthday.  Above are aunt D and Hills.  I thought that was Aunt D's phone when I happened upon them but it turns out that it was Gma's phone.  I don't know if my mom set Hilly up w a game or she found it herself.  But Hill has a major bee phobia and by association- flower phobia- and prefers to be inside.  Sigh.  I had to drag her outside to play.  Every flying object is a deadly bee. 

Since Jim has been working his butt off late nights we had to leave a bit earlier so that he could see the kiddos.  Jack kept saying "But we haven't celebrated his birthday yet!" The kids LOVE singing and the candles and cake, etc.. As you can see, particularly Gabe.

And the pic below - is from the picnic.  That little guy just plopped himself right there among the girls.  I love him.  He is in Hillary's class and the 2 of them play together like crazy.  She calls him Sammy and tells me he is her best friend.