Our Girly Girl

We've been painting Ashley's nails for special occasions since her first birthday photo shoot but it had been a while since we had last done it.  Lo and behold our girly girl found the nail polish, brought it to Mommy and asked for her nails to be painted.  

 She loved getting her nails done!

 She sits so still that it's quite easy and fast!

 She watches and smiles and when we are all done with fingers and toes Mommy breaks out the hair dryer to make sure they are nice and dry before she runs off and plays.  Fun!

Last Days of School Celebrations

Of course last day of school week for both kids was made a big deal.  It is a big deal when your 'baby' goes off to kindergarten and your 'big girl' spent 3 days a week at Primrose making friends and learning ton the past school year.  One day when Ashley was in school Trevor went over to his friends Jack and Claire so Mommy could get her hair done.  As usual the three amigos had a blast!

 On the eve of the kids last day of school they had a special meal.  Trevor requested 14 shrimp and boy was he excited to see his wish served up on his plate!  And yes...he ate them all and even requested more if we remember correctly!

 No celebration would be complete without cake!

 So we made what is known as a donut cake (aka bundt cake)!

 Love their little excited faces!!

 Then on Thursday we dropped Ashley off at school.  Doesn't she look so old?  Tear.

 She wanted a picture of where she hung her bag every day.  She always pointed out the purple around her name and the fact that her picture was taken outside.  

 Trevor had his last goodbye with one of Ashley's young toddler teachers.  Ashley was now in older toddlers but Trevor always made it a point to wave or stop and say hi to Mrs. Puig.  They both remembered each other when Trevor was one of the first students to attend the new Primrose when it opened!

 Then it was Trevor's turn to go to his last day of school!

 They had an ice cream celebration...

 ...along with a little goodbye party in the classroom.  While it was a little sad, Trevor is so ready for kindergarten!

 After that it was time for his last Trevor Thursday of the year!  Our big guy picked 'the place where you get your own food' (aka Sweet Tomatoes) and boy do they not know what they are getting when he walks in.  For the few dollars they charge for him he sure gets his money worth.  A whole plate of bacon bits, 2 bowls of soup, some veggies and croutons and two desserts :)  He is a growing boy.  

 Plus he needs energy for jumping!  He chose to go to AZ Airtime after lunch.  He asked that Mommy jump too so she bought a pass only to find out after oh say five seconds of jumping that it is not for her.  Oh well, he still had fun!

 Thursday night involved Trevor's swim team and early lights out.  The next day summer vacation began!  We kicked it off with painting before breakfast!  This is going to be a great summer!  Although quick one.  Kindergarten starts August 10!

La Casa Graduation Day!

Trevor's graduation day from preschool at La Casa de Cristo is here!  Crazy to reflect back on his first day at La Casa in November 2012 just two weeks before Ashley arrived.  Mommy had a lot of anxiety about this day and it's meaning but when she saw how happy he was and thinking about how much more living we have left to do even without his smiley self at home as much during the day with going to kindergarten, it all just made sense.  She helped prepare him for this day and for his next steps. So did Daddy obviously but we're sure it is understood that when one parent stays home this is kind of like their review for a job well done!  ;-)

They played a song and the kids walked out one by one with their balloons.  

Lined up as a class...

...then took turns walking over to their 'hand circle' as Trevor called it.  

And when the time was right they released their balloons.

The kids were in awe!

Bye balloons all the kids said!

And then they all went chasing after them!

A wonderful memory and symbolism to capture what is happening moving on to kindergarten!

After that they had a ceremony in the worship hall.  One by one they were called up.  Trevor was so proud!

He definitely earned that diploma.  With a November birthday he had 3 years of preschool at La Casa plus the one year of full-time daycare in MN prior to that so he is ready, ready ready for kindergarten!

We grabbed a few pictures next to Trevor's favorite statue on campus.  

Grandma Pauline and Papa John made the festivities too!  It's nice to have them so close by for these special times!

Afterward we grabbed a quick picture with his teachers Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Vahabzedah (think that is spelled right anyway).  

And then he wanted to go visit his first teacher at La Casa, Mrs. Harvey who we just adore and think so highly of.  She also taught us more about the  Love and Logic parenting style so we owe her big time because that helped change our lives.  And we are so happy to announce that Ashley will have Mrs. Harvey next year!  Yay!!!  The cycle continues.  Life is good.

La Casa Water Day!

This is the third year Trevor has been at La Casa for preschool but only the first year Mommy has made it to see water day.  What a hoot!  Even the Director Mrs. L gets into it and acts as one of the lifeguards!

After some quick ground rules the kids were off!

Trevor didn't take his smile off the entire time!

They had two of the same things plus little play pools and ball sprinkles scattered around the courtyard.

Happy boy ran from slide to slide with only a quick pit stop for Mommy to take a picture!

Go, go, go!

This is the one and only picture he wanted Mommy to take.  Too bad his friend Max wanted him out!

Monkey cheeks!

Weeeeeeeeeee!

After they were done they went to a grassy area, set out their towels and had an ice cream treat.

Mommy and Ashley snuck over to the mall quick between water day and when school ended an hour later.  Ashley was excited to have her own fun too!

Happy girl!

After we got home from school (no lunch bunch or discovery time this week), Claire and Gracie came over so their Mom could get their hair done.  We car pool with Claire so she and Trevor are quite the buddies.  Ashley and Grace have a 6 month age difference so they will be buddies too.  Claire and Trevor wanted Grace to be happy so they brought down all the dollies for the girls to play with.  Such good big siblings!

After that it was swim team and dinner.  That night Daddy had to work late so Mommy did baths too and look what the kids wanted to wear?  Their animal robes!

Two pals/buddies forever :-)

Kid Fun!

More fun at the Hillins household.  We know you are all shocked.  ;-)  First up Miss Ashley finally discovered the iPad.  Over a year later than her brother so we consider that a win!  She is a pro at swiping to turn it on and maneuver through the apps.  Monkey Lunchbox is her favorite app but one day Mommy heard her say 'Santa butt' and start laughing.  Then she said 'no no Ho Ho Ho.  Naughty Ho Ho Ho'  ... Apparently she found an app where Santa opens presents but sometimes he moons the camera.  Oops better delete that one, although we remember Trevor laughing about it too so maybe it's just a rite of passage!

Trevor Thursday came upon us again and this time he voted for going to AZ Air Time.  He had so much fun running and jumping.  

He wore himself out!

Mommy gave him $1 for the vending machines and he chose to spend it on Star Wars Angry Bird tattoos.  A great way to combine two of his favorite things right now!

The down time also gave him a second wind and before we knew it he was racing this older kid who loved the attention!

On Friday it's Mommy and kid fun day until Daddy gets home for family night and this particular day we met a new friend for a playdate.  Not before Ashley discovered a new place to do her puzzles!

We met at this indoor playground that was a hit for the kids.  

Trevor and Ashley couldn't get enough!  We were there from 9:15-1:15!  Trevor was the leader of a lot of the kids and decided to make himself a throne higher than anyone else's.  It was kind of funny but the kids seriously all sat in their lower chairs until Trevor told them what to do next.  Scary for the future!

Ashley even got enough guts to go with brother on the big kid equipment.  They were so good together.  Can you see brother helping little sister up to the next level?

Went down slide...

...after slide!

That evening Sara organized a gathering at Buffalo Chip for 30 friends and neighbors but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate.  So instead a few of us went bowling instead.  The kids big and small (some pictured here) all had a blast!  

What a fun evening!

On Saturday Ashley woke up saying that her ear hurt here so after a frustrating hour and a half trying to get through to her pediatrician with no luck we drove to the office only to find out they were closed for a retreat that day.  So we went to Minute Clinic at the CVS by her school and discovered she did indeed have an ear infection in her left ear (also the one that her ENT stated had fluid in it from a cold).  So on amoxicillin for 7 days, done just in time to go to MN.  

Later that day Sara's cousin Katie visited us from MN and it is always wonderful to see her kind soul.  She's like a sister to Sara and it could have been very easy to lock her up and make her stay longer but luckily we'll see her again in MN very soon!  After she left we hit the hot tub for a quick soak.  Ashley insisted on wearing a new suit given to her by our neighbor.  Hilarious!  Especially because Stella outgrew it at 4 and Ashley might be able to wear it only this one time at 2 and a half!  

Trevor and Toby continue to be best buds.  On this particular it occasion it may look like Trevor is choking his pal but in reality Trevor brought down a laundry basket along with his bed and put it up for Toby to watch TV with him.  Trevor always wants his buddy to be right next to him!

Last up was dentist Monday.  Sara had her cleaning at 10:00am with Dr. Libby and then Trevor had a 2:00pm appt across the street with his wife Dr. Libby at the peds dentist place.  Like he's been doing since he was three he rocked his appointment.  Not sure he even noticed the hygienist digging around in his mouth with the tv in the ceiling LOL