A Hoppin Good Time

Have you ever noticed that some of the best times....some of the times you laugh the most are the times that come out of nowhere...unexpected and

so

much

fun

June Catch Up

MAN it's hard to blog in the summer!  Before I know it another week has gone by and I haven't updated a bit.  Oh well.  We're busy people.  Here are a few little things that have been happening.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit for a few days and Jilly talked Grandpa into playing princess.  She had a ball dressing him up.  He was a good sport!

We are fully into baseball season.  Both boys are playing so we are at the fields 3 days a week twice a day.  Good thing we all like baseball.  I'm not going to lie...Calvin takes it a little more seriously than Nathan.  Nathan would rather stand on the field and have a conversation with someone.  He can't be bothered running for the ball. 

Calvin got a new job around our house.  Trimming!  I love it!  This has never been a favorite chore of Marc's.  Calvin got his own new trimmer, and I'm telling him exactly where to trim like crazy!  He loves it.  

Jilly tried on a dress that was mine when I was a little girl.  Is it just me or is she cute in anything she wears?

And finally, our beloved fish Dorothy died.  We got Dorothy and her sidekick, Goldie, last year at the fair in August.  Goldie is still kickin (floppin?), but Dorothy couldn't quite make it a year.  This might sound strange, but they were funny together.  We had a little funeral and Nathan sang.  I tried to upload it, but for some reason it will NOT work.  Bummer.

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Earlier this month Marc had a birthday.  We made his traditional banana cream pie, and bought him some clothes.  The best part of his gift, however was when the kids went downstairs to make him some coupons.  Calvin did all the writing, but made sure everyone was included. 

A few of them were...

A free hug from Jillian

A tractor ride with Nathan

Fishing with Calvin

Playing baseball with Calvin

Wrestling with Nathan

A backrub from Jillian

I had not looked at the coupons before the kids gave them to him so I was totally entertained as he was reading them out loud.  When he got to one of them he looked up at me and raised his eyebrows before reading, "Free make out time with Mom".  We both turned our heads to look at Calvin who was cracking up. 

Apparently eight year olds can be quite clever.

My Belle

On June 2nd Jillian had her first dance recital.  It was just plain adorable.  I had my doubts about whether she would get up there and actually do it, but she didn't even hesitate!  She was excited about wearing a tiny bit of make-up and about having lots of people she loves come to watch her on a stage!

Here she is before the show in the dressing room...you can tell she's a little nervous....

but mostly excited!



Her cousin, Tate, couldn't wait for the show to start.  She was there with her mommy and her big brother, Grandma Lona and Grandpa Rodger, GG, Nana, and of course Daddy and the brothers. (As Jillian refers to them)  

Here she is mid dance...I think she was the tiniest one in her class.

Is this the cutest thing you've ever seen or what?  I've been waiting a lot of years to watch my own tiny little girl in a dance show.  I was glowing.  And I think Jilly had a pretty good time too!

She had three bunches of flowers waiting for her afterwards.  She LOVES flowers.

Mommy and Daddy with their princess.



Jilly with her cousins Will...

and Tate.  Tate's going to talk to her Daddy about being in dance now so we can come watch her!

Bring Joshua Home!

My friend Heidi and her husband are adopting for the second time.  They are an awesome family and need some help with the enormous cost.  If you can spare even $10 they have a very exciting give away going on on her blog.....you can win a Kindle Fire among many other things.  Right now there are not many people entered, so your chances would be very good!

Check it out!

http://hopkinsfamilyadoption.blogspot.com/2012/05/kindle-fire-giveaway.html

School is Out!

The last week of school the girls and I got to head to the State Park with Nathan's class.  It was a cold windy day, but we had a good time.  The kids, of course, hardly noticed the weather.

Here is the whole group!

This is Nathan with his sweet teacher.  It was her first year of having her own classroom.  She was awesome, and we'll miss her like crazy.  She was so good for Nathan and seemed to really understand him and love him!  

This is Miss Kelly who was the para in Nathan's room.  She too was amazing.  Next years teachers have some big shoes to fill!

And here are my sweet girls who went along on the K1 field trip.  They braved the cold and were so good.  Jilly fell asleep the second we got in the car.  

Now Nathan is done with K1 and ready for Kindergarten and Calvin is done with 2nd grade and heading to 3rd!  We are all excited for summer.  I always look forward to this time of year.  I love having my kids all to myself....watching baseball, going to the resort and having a less hectic schedule. 

Bring it on!