Ridin' on a Bike

 A few months ago Target had a super sale on their bikes. I got one for Leah, as I knew this would be the summer she would say good-bye to the tricycle. She has been staring at in in the box in the garage for months. We wanted to wait until the weather warmed up, and of course, to get a helmet. Those things finally came together last weekend. 

 Leah was so excited and got on the bike like she had been riding for years. She is so little that she has a hard time "starting" and is still getting used to braking (there's been some "Aahhh! Helps!"--just like the last time her Mama rode a bike). Overall, she is doing really well. She's learning how to get past the "tippy" feeling of going over curbs. She is really proud of herself, and takes the suggestions that Daddy and I give her seriously. She wants to be good. :) 

 Juliet is happy as a clam to have taken over Leah's old tricycle. Her feet barely reach the petals, but she really tries, anyway. We are getting used to her crazy steering. :) Now, on walks, Juliet insists on riding her tricycle and won't go near the stroller. 

Leah Graduates from Kindergarten Readiness

Juliet was very excited about watching Leah graduate. She thinks she belongs in a little kid chair. She loves school so much, and always asks to go. I am actually going to register her for school next year (only 1 day a week). I think she will benefit from it!

 Leah's class came out and said "The Lord's Prayer". It was so sweet to see the group praying! Leah looks so little up here! She was front and center, like she always seems to be. Today on the way home she said, "I'm the shortest kid in my class. I grow the slowest! I just wish someone else was the shortest kid." I told her she won't be so short next year, and she was pretty happy about that. 

 The kids also sang, "Let It Go" from Frozen and "Jesus is a Superhero". It was so sweet! I love kids all dressed up and on stage. 

Then, it was the big moment.....TEARS from Mama! I remember dropping her off like it was YESTERDAY! She has grown so much. I really wanted her to learn about "school". I wanted her to make friends, play cooperatively, maintain manners, and learn the verbiage/routines/schedule of school. I really feel like she mastered everything I wanted her to. She always got great reports and conferences from her teachers. I am so, so proud of her!

 Dear Lord. Please help me in a few years. Look at Juliet copying Leah's "sassy" pose and Leah throwing out her hip as far as it will go. 

Leah got sad that I wouldn't let her pose in random ways and then told me that the below was the only pose she was willing to do.  

She perked up after getting a cupcake, the Father's Day present she made for Chris, and her Memory Book.  

 This comparison kills me. Leah on her first day and Leah on her graduation. She looks so little in the first shot! She was a brand new big sister here. I am so, so proud of our little graduate here. 

Last night I told her we had school today. She answered back, "Umm...No, I don't. I GRADUATED, remember!?" Ha! 

Elsa Party (Complete with a "real" Elsa)

This has been a crazy year for Birthday Parties at Leah's school. In the past few months, it seems that she has gotten birthday invitation every week. Usually, I ask Leah about the kid and she's not too interested. Her friend Sina's birthday party had ELSA. Leah was so excited for both Sina's party and Elsa.  

 The girls were asked to wear princess dresses, and most we more than happy to do so. Leah wore the one from Grandma for Christmas. Technically, it is the "Good Witch" from Wizard of Oz (The new one). Leah told me she would have to explain to Sina that it could be a princess dress, too. Turns out, she didn't get any questions. 

 Sina was so excited to see Elsa. All the other girls, were, too. It was so cute to see! 

 Princess Elsa played games (like Hide-the-Olaf), made balloon animals, and sang "Let It Go" with the kids.  The adults were all impressed with Elsa's singing voice. And the fact that she didn't break character once. 

 Elsa also painted faces and applied make-up on each kid. There was another girl pushing in front of Leah, and it was so cute to watch Leah  telling her again and again, "Excuse me, I was here first" The girl didn't listen to Leah and her mother seemed to be unaware of the drama. Leah kept her manners (just like a princess). 

 Leah was so happy to show off her face and makeup. 

 All the princess and Leah. One girl at the party had a "real" Elsa dress (Leah has one, too, but it is waiting for her birthday). The mom said that she had to drive to Toledo, wait in line, and win the Disney Store lottery to get it. What we do for our kids! 

 Leah was so thrilled with meeting the "real" Elsa. She was so excited and was telling everyone who would listen. 

By the end of the party, most of the kids were over Elsa. They were running off to jump on the trampoline and play on the play set. Leah stayed close to Elsa. :) 

Elsa Doll

 Little Leah Bean,

Frozen merchandise is hard to find. Really. Unless you want to spend 3-4 times the amount on E-Bay (I don't). So, because I know how much you love the movie, I stalk the webpage. And  I did it. After 3 months of searching. I found you an Elsa Doll. Not the Barbie kind that looks all disheveled and old within a day. Not the "baby" kind that they sometimes sell at Target. The real, soft, plush Elsa doll that you have wanted for months.

Thank you for being so appreciative. This Elsa has kicked "Bitty Baby" out of the favorite circle. Elsa now rides to school with you, stays in your car seat when you are gone, and sleeps with you every night. You carry her all around. You love her. I am so thankful. This is your "main" birthday present. I told you that since you got it early (I couldn't make you wait any longer), that you needed to stop asking for everything under the sun for your birthday. And you have. It's kind of amazing. I can't wait to see how long it lasts.

Central City Dance Recital

 Leah has been asking to dance since she was 2. When she was 3, I looked into it, but was put off by the 1 year commitment. I had her wait until she was 4. However, I remember reading on the Central City website all the recital information and getting really put off by the "Stage Make-Up" section. I wasn't really into putting lots of makeup on Leah. Thankfully, we were staying with Aunt Renee for the week, and Hannah was more than willing to do her hair and makeup for the big day. Leah loved the attention and the makeup process. 

 Leah, once again, was happy to pose, but only if it was poses of her own invention. She came up with some pretty funny poses (like leaning against the wall, 1990's style). 

 This pose was called the "twisty" pose. 

 Little sister was not be forgotten. We had to pull her out of almost every shot. She so badly wanted to be included. When we let her, look what she does. Stinker! 

 I love, love, love the series below. Be still my heart. Seriously. I take back everything I said about stage makeup. One day a year, what the hay?! 

 Leah loved the recital and all the attention. She did well on stage. She did all of her parts and didn't get lost like some of the other kids. She loved watching the other kids perform afterward. She told me that next year she wants to do tap. I've tried discouraging it (those kids never look happy!), but she is DEAD-SET on it. So, one year from now, we will probably be seeing some tap pictures. Juliet CAN'T WAIT to be included, too. 

Toad

 Chris and I spent the weekend outside weeding last weekend. I found a toad and Leah was so captivated by it. She wanted to walk all around with it, put it in her pool, and watch him hop around. Juliet was not so captivated. She kept telling is that the toad was going to eat her. She wanted nothing to do with it. 

Love These Girls....

Juliet LOVES this skirt. Every time she sees it she just giggles and laughs. Leah loves it, too. These girls really like dressing alike. Every time Juliet gets a dress, Leah will say, "I really like that dress. I wish I had a dress like that." And when I put Juliet in a dress that Leah has, she will run right over to Leah and proudly show her and shout "Leah's dress! Leah's dress!" They also both have Happy Meal dollies in their pockets. Neither girl could get enough of this toy for 2 days, and neither girl could care. It's always funny like that with kids. 

Our Friend Goldie

 Each year, Kindergarten classes in PCCS hatch baby chicks. This year, we didn't get the eggs until after Easter, so we had them much later in the year than we typically do. So, when it was a 3 day weekend, and all the teachers had 3 day old chicks, we mostly all brought them home for the weekend. Leah and Juliet were thrilled. Leah immediately latched onto "Goldie" who was her immediate favorite. Goldie was so domesticated towards the end of the weekend. We would put her down in the grass, and she would immediately jump back up onto Leah or I. 

 Leah wanted lots and lots of pictures with Goldie to remember her. She kept coming up with different poses and different expressions. 

 I really like this one. 

 Brain was intrigued, too. Leah was pretty sad when the chicks had to go back. She will have a lot to look forward to in Kindergarten! 

Toledo Zoo Day

It's a tradition for us to go to the Toledo Zoo for 2 year old's. We went on Leah's birthday the year she turned 2. We couldn't make that work for Juliet, so we went a few weeks late. I learned from the last trip, though, and took the family picture by the fountain BEFORE exploring the zoo. I'm glad, because if we had waited, I'm sure we would have been worse then the below picture. :) 

We saw lots of animals. My favorite part was having lunch with a view of the giraffes and zebras. Juliet was so sweet as she was munching her sandwich and looking at the giraffes running. She kept saying, "Me happy, Me happy". 

 We also saw this cute little polar bear playing.

 Leah loved the carousal, but Juliet just wanted to "watch" so her and Daddy sat on the bench while I stood with Leah. Chris and I were laughing because Juliet thought nothing of riding an actual horse, but wanted nothing to do with the carousal. 

 Flamingos. 

 The penguins had more ducks in the water than penguins. 

 A bear sleeping right against the glass. Juliet was convinced it was going to eat her (as she was with most of the animals she saw). Leah stood close by for a photo.  

 Leah trying hard to take a cute picture. Juliet had no interest. 

Sweet baby elephants. These guys were so cute! Juliet could have just watched them all day. Leah was not so into the elephants. 

 Naked Mole Rats! 

 Juliet was getting tired and ornery towards the end of the trip. She spotted a sand box and got a second wind. She played in the box while Leah went on another ( this time "historic") carousal ride. 

All in all, it was a fun day. And I'm glad I can cross off a zoo trip from our Summer To Do List.