Happy Birthday Hubby

Today is Dirk's birthday. I baked him a German chocolate cake with pecan coconut frosting and he grilled some steaks. We also had baked sweet potatoes. YUM!! I felt bad that he had to cook his own dinner but that was his choice. Maybe he doesn't trust me with the grill.

Our power went out this morning so I ended up baking the cake at Mom's apartment. First time her oven was ever used.

Dirk, you are a wonderful husband, father, son, provider and friend. Thanks for being in my life and inviting me to share it with you. I love you!

By the way, he's 44 now.



Another shot taken by Kaitlyn.

My Little Dancing Queen

Yesterday was Kaitlyn's first dance recital. She was in one number, called "Bubble Kisses". She had invited her best friend Sophia and sister Isabella, along with Grandma Ziegler and Mattie. (Amy had to work and Grandma Ann was out of town or they would have been there too.) Her teacher had promised them that if they did a good job she would give them a goldfish because the song was about a fish. Kaitlyn did an awesome job.....the best of the class, of course! She was so excited to get that goldfish and named her Goldie.

Another highlight was wearing make-up and having her hair in a bun. I've been braiding her ponytail and that made for an easy bun. It looked so cute!

After the recital she did a private show for the Faro family. She would have invited the whole neighborhood I think. She was still dancing at 10 last night.

She likes to put different CD's on and make up her own moves. She's quite the little choreographer!

Classic Renee

I keep forgetting to post this hilarious story about Renee. It happened months ago and I know most of my faithful readers (all 3 of you) have heard it but I'm posting it anyways. Sort of my journal.

We were talking about what you want to be when you grow up. Kaitlyn has consistently said she wants to be an artist, a teacher, a babysitter, a mom etc. It may change a little but the first job is ALWAYS an artist. Well, Renee wanted to get in on the conversation too. She perks up, "I want to be a pig!" She has told us this more than once. We still laugh and laugh about this.

Notice what animal Renee is riding on the merry-go-round?

Father's Day

Yesterday we celebrated with Dirk's father. His dad didn't want me to have to cook him a big meal so suggested we just go out. (That was fine with me because I had cooked a big meal on Mother's Day so didn't really get a break. I'll take one whenever I can get one.) We thought it would be fun to just grab a good burger (that means no McDonald's) and then go to Bazil's on the lake for funnel cake. So we went to their house first, in Greece. Then we drove to Penfield to go to Bill Gray's. I know what you're thinking........I agree!!! There are closer Bill Gray's than going to Panarama Plaza!! Anyways, they didn't really want funnel cake so we headed back to Greece. At the price of gas, I was a little annoyed but bit my tongue. (I guess I'm not really biting my tongue by posting on the internet for all the world to see.) We ended up going to Charlotte Beach, which isn't too far from their house. The girls loved the merry-go-round and the playground. We got ice cream so that made me happy!


Last week one day Kaitlyn wanted me to straighten her hair with my flat iron. It was a humid day so it didn't get very straight but she was thrilled.



At the end of May Renee had her first dentist appointment. Considering it was with a complete stranger and not the hygenist that we know who does Kaitlyn's teeth, she did OK. Kaitlyn loves Michelle and Renee has met her several times so I was annoyed when someone else was scheduled for Renee. Michelle had Princess toothbrushes too. The stranger tried to entice Renee with a Lightning McQueen brush. Yeh right.......my little dress-up queen had her mind set on Princesses!! She wouldn't get on the chair so finally just sat on my lap. I passed the camera to Kaitlyn to capture this moment of history and held on to Renee.

This One Takes All

We have very limited kitchen counter space so we have to keep our toaster in the cupboard. Lately it's been acting up when you plug it in. In fact, the other morning it wouldn't work and I had to plug it in and keep flipping the plug probably 5 times before it finally worked. All that introduction for today's "quote of the day".

Kaitlyn usually watches PBS Kids while I shower and then we get breakfast. Well, this morning when I came downstairs, she told me that she had already made waffles for she and Renee. "I didn't have any trouble with the toaster. I just plugged it in and it worked." Here's my favorite part........"Maybe I'm smarter than you and that's why it worked."

Graduation

Kaitlyn graduated from Pre-K last week. She was soooo excited but nervous too. At one point she told me she was just going to mouth the words to all the songs and Miss Becca would think she was singing. But she didn't. She had a great time and sang her little heart out. I knew she would. She had her hair in 2 french braids for 2 reasons: she likes it that way and more importantly, to keep her hat on.









Here are the Buono girls. They are the best of friends. Sophia and Kaitlyn have been together for 2 years now. We're anticipating many years of friendship with them. (Isabella and Renee are only about 3 weeks apart.) The Buono's live down the street, in the new section. Almost every week we get together for a play date, alternating houses. They eat lunch at each other's house and it gives me a free afternoon every other week. It's funny how both of the sets of sisters have tried things to eat at the other house: my girls like orange slices now and the Buono girls like egg salad now. A positive effect of peer pressure.


Kaitlyn, Sophia and Samantha

Where's April?

What happened to April??? I just realized I never posted the whole month!! As you all know, I went to Florida for 6 days the end of April. This was a pretty big thing for me because I had never left my children overnight, let alone for 6 nights!!! Aunt Ginny kept them the first day and I had to chuckle when she told me she only caught Renee slapping Kaitlyn twice. Grandma Ann kept them the next day and they had a ball going to the church garage sale with her. They came home with several "treasures": an ironing board and iron (which I have yet to see them play with), 2 little parasols and a card game that we put in!! Guess who bought the card game? (Yep, Renee.) Dirk took 2 days off from school to be with them the other days.

The purpose of my trip to Florida was to fly back home with my mom. She doesn't fly well, especially without my dad. She was very appreciative and did great. I also helped her clean her house once the moving truck left. Nothing too difficult. Bev, Ginny and Harold had already done the work of packing.

The girls did great without me. So did Dirk. He managed to get Kaitlyn's hair combed and it looked great. He even did some laundry. I had bought little gifts for the girls and each night they would open them. They loved them and were a little sad Mommy was coming home because they knew that meant no more presents.

Here are some pictures of the huge moving truck. The driver, Aaron, already had 2 other loads on the truck when he picked up Mom's stuff.

Uncle Bob and I measured the truck. It's 13.5', in case you're ever curious when those 18 wheelers fly by you on the thruway.

The cab was bigger than most of them. Aaron told Ginny he had a double bed, fridge and shower in there. Probably a microwave too.




I don't think I ever posted pictures of Kaitlyn's big mouth-hole. She pulled the second tooth at Hoselton Toyota the end of March. Oh yea, we got a new car the beginning of April. Toyota RAV4. LOVE it.



And of course, what would a post be without some wacky pictures of Renee? Here she is riding her bike, wearing her "tap"shoes, dress-up skirt, undershirt, pearls and headband. What a girl!!