Big Boy

I have a lot of pictures to share from our great week trip to St. Louis and Louisville. 

But, first BIG news for the BIG Boy!!! Jimmy is in a bunk bed. 

Here are the kids shortly after David and Paul assembled the beds.  They came from Amazon.com and in TWO boxes. There was a lot of assembly required, but I LOVE how they look. 

(The ladder is not near the bed unless an adult is in the room.  Jimmy was a little too comfortable on the top bunk from the get go!)

Who is a Big Boy? 
As I was leaving the room and him in his bottom bunk to go to bed.
I stayed...and calmed him down a bit. 
I just checked and he is sound asleep. Sleeping the wrong way and only staying on the bed, thanks to the child-safe railing. 

Happy Fourth of July

My pink Flip

I got a Flip video camera a few weeks ago and I LOVE it so much! The first video is of Jimmy and Maddy the other night. 

The second video is a little 'movie' I put together on my Mac from videos I took of Eleanor at Gymnastics Camp last week.  I will put together a video of Lucy too.  Stay tuned....

FINALLY....

The sun is finally shining!!! It has been over two weeks since we have last been to the pool. The weather has been horrible! But, today...the sun is shining. It is 9am and the kids are already in their suits and ready to go.  

The girls started gymnastics camp last night and loved all of the fun activities.  Here is a picture of the kids right before we left. I love how Jimmy is looking at Lucy. 

Here are the girls looking out the door as we were getting ready to leave.  (Lucy looks so old in this picture!)
Here is Sassy Eleanor posing in her gymnastics gear. 
The girls start swim lessons tomorrow and I promise to get some pictures. Eleanor is very excited and Lucy is not so sure.  

It is hard to believe that June is already half over. That means Eleanor starts Kindergarden in two months.  I can't imagine what they days are going to be like with her not here.  One child being gone COMPLETELY changes the dynamics around the house. Lucy will also start preschool.  Which means Jimmy and I will have some alone time in the mornings.  

Off to work on Kindergarten and Preschool workbooks. 

Our little dancer

Eleanor had her dance recital tonight. She did a GREAT job. She was in two dances and was as cute as can be.  This is her second year at Carrie's studio and will be joined by Lucy Jane next year. 

Here is Eleanor before we left for the recital. 

Here is Eleanor with her wonderful teacher Miss Mindy.  She has been Eleanor's teacher for the past two years. 
Here is Eleanor with her favorite babysitter, Sara.  She was in SIX dances in the recital and Eleanor loved trying to find her on stage. Instead of Where's Waldo, it was Where's Sara? 
Here is Eleanor in her jazz costume. They did a hip hop routine to Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.  Last year I gave her a bear with a matching costume and of course had to do the same this year. 
Here is Lucy Jane with me getting Eleanor ready in the Green Room. David and I can't believe SHE is going to be dancing on stage next year. 
Here is Eleanor posing in her tap costume. This was to At the Hop and a great little routine. 
It was a fun year of dancing and a great recital.  I can't believe how much she has grown in the past year.  The days go by way too fast these days.  

Save, save, save....

I know how to save money shopping online. I can find codes for this and that, stack them and get the most bang for buck.  But, actual shopping takes a little more work and organization. 

Tonight I set out to Target with some coupons in hand.  Here is what I came home with for a grand total of $5.60!!! Not bad, huh? 

Here is what I paid AFTER coupons

Chips Ahoy snack pack - $1.54

Kool Aid - $1.37

Kool Aid - $1.37

Ritz Crackers - $.79

Triscuits - $.29

Lorna Doone Snack Packs - $.04

Kraft BBQ - Free

Eleanor's Birthday Party

Eleanor Anne had her first ever friends party today! She had a great time. We had lots of neighborhood friends and lots of preschool friends.  She has been talking about today for a few months.  I am exhausted, but it was well worth the effort.  

Here is the princess before everyone started to arrive. 

Here are Lucy, Jake, Emily, Anna & Eleanor making their magic wands. 
Penelope, the balloon lady/magician brought this for the birthday girl. 
She also made Eleanor her favorite princess, Cinderella!
Cake time.  She had a tough time blowing out the candles and it took some help from friends to get the candles to go out. 
All of the kids got to choose what balloon they got.  Most of the boys chose CRAZY hats, like this one that Blake got. 
Here is Jimmy with his monkey.
And Josie with Snow White. 
Eleanor and Norah during the magic show. 
Eleanor was Penelope's assistant and got a special hat for the job. 
David was asked to participate. He became a human rocket and had to run around the room.  It was quite the sight. 
Jimmy was loving all the kids and took a liking to Maisy. 
I am tired and ready to head to bed.  All the effort was well worth it to see the look on her face when all of her friends were arriving to HER party!  

I can't believe my baby is FIVE!!!