Catalina's 6th Birthday

Before we left for Wisconsin, Catalina celebrated her 6th birthday by having her first sleepover! Kaylie came over to spend the night but first we had many things planned. We went to see the movie Marmaduke, ate dinner at Chick Fil a, and then home to swim with dad.

Finally, an ice cream cake to finish the day! The first sleepover was a huge success. Kaylie spent the entire night and slept in Catalina & Ava's room. Catalina can't wait to spend the night at her house!

Oh Oh...Mexico

The weekend before we left for Wisconsin we traveled to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) in Mexico. It's about a 3.5 hour drive and we had to go over the Mexican border. We stayed at a friend's newly built, 5 bedroom, 6 bath home on a private beach....very few homes around. It was beautiful! We stepped off the stairs and onto the beach. The water was warm and the beach was full of shells and washed up sand dollars. Needless to say, we had a blast!

The girls wanted their hair braided in town. So the ladies set up a make shift salon and started braiding. It only took about 20 minutes each and did not hurt at all.

Ava May really wanted her hair done but cried for the first 10 minutes of getting it done. I felt terrible and kept telling her the ladies could stop. But Ava cried, "No!" so the ladies kept braiding.

Then Daddy bought them ice cream to match the beads in their hair!

Beach beauties!

This was our view for the weekend! We can't wait to be invited back!

Look What We Found!

This was so crazy! When we returned on Memorial Day from a long weekend in Flagstaff, we found something swimming in our pool. It was a huge turtle! It must have crawled up from the lake but we are not sure how it got through the fence. Can you imagine what it thought when it fell into our pool!

It was actually quite big!

The girls were so excited. Every morning that week Ava went out to check the pool to see if the turtle was back!

Even Murray was pretty excited about the find. Back in the lake he goes...goodbye turtle!

First/Last Day of School

The last day of Kindergarten was May 28th, 2010. It was so bittersweet for me. I am so proud of Catalina...she worked hard this year and really grew academically, socially, and emotionally. She is so sweet, caring, considerate and hard-working (okay...and a high achiever). Saying good-bye to her teachers and friends put such a pit in my stomach. Cat's teachers were amazing and understood her so well. They nurtured her when she needed it yet really pushed her to try new things. Catalina did not want school to end either...it was such a safe place for her.

The first day of Kindergarten (7/09).

Ava started preschool this year and went Tues/Thurs all day. Ava is an amazing student (much to our surprise!). She learned so much this year and made a ton of new friends. Ava loved school and never wanted to miss a day. I am so proud of her. Ava is strong willed, very social, funny, and a role model in her class. Next year she will be in Pre-K five mornings a week...and she is ready for it.

Catalina's last day of school with her teachers, Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Loop.

Cat's last day of school...on to first grade!

Ava's last day of school with her teachers, Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Shiverdecker.