Eli's First Time Sparring

 

He's been looking forward to this for a long time, so this was a big night for him!

 

Happy 8th Birthday Eli!

 

We celebrated Eli a few times! 

His actual birthday is May 20, but he got a few parties with the families.

Celene made and decorated a lemon cake for him 

Spring Beauty

 

Sometimes the spring weather is just stunning!

My orioles arrived mid May! We always watch for their return.

And for the first time ever, we glimpsed an indigo bunting taking a rest and snack at the feeder before moving on! Such an amazing treat! Only the second time in the my life have I seen this bird.

Some Things in May

I've always been suspicious that May just might be the busiest month of the year.

I know it doesn't make sense, you would think December with the holidays, or maybe September with harvest and school starting.

But gaging by the fact that May has completely disappeared without me posting here, its another confirmation that May goes by all so quickly.

I do need to remember that, as I find often feeling like a limp noodle after May has finished.

Anyway...

not sure what's going on here...looks like a Hannah selfie maybe?

Hannah's got glasses! And she's so very happy with them. All the things she didn't know she could see!

Theo making kabobs for lunch

Theo and Eli have been helping out a lot with the cooking lately! 

Suzie has gotten so round she fills up the napkin bowl.
Don't worry, it was empty, and of course we wash it before using it again.

A lovely misty spring afternoon and the boys get a chance to play at a park.

We held a fun spring birthday event celebrating our friends 40th

Celene and Theo playing with my sunglasses 

Miles took this cute shot of Lu

It's official! Miles has his work permit!

 

Spring Includes Snow

And it wouldn't be a correct blog if we didn't include the snowstorm on Shawn's birthday, April 21st!

haha

 

Kids Trip to AL with Grandma!

 

Grandma treated Miles and Celene (and cousin Sullivan) with a very special trip to Alabama Gulf Shores!

All photo credits to Miles, Celene, and Grandma

Games in the car

Getting a little stir crazy with the looooong drive!!

Dinner at Cracker Barrell

Grandma also took them to the Tennessee Aquarium as a treat for Celene's birthday!

Petting the sting rays

Miles' one hope to see at the aquarium was an octopus...he's never seen one in real life before.
He was delighted to find one there!

a mini golf friend

a lovely view from their condo balcony

Celene and Grandma having a special dinner

go carting!! (Grandma spoiled them)

the kids love the wildlife

armadillo!

going on a shell hunt

there were heavy rains some of the days, and the kids enjoyed playing in the parking lot

their favorite store, naturally

on Miles' night to cook dinner, he used his googles to chop onions, as usual!

they loved the big waves most of all!