bike ride

Nina and I rented a tandem and the three of us had a glorious bikeride to Abita Springs on saturday while Julian was napping and Nate was working. It was a beautiful day after some cloudy, rainy, cold weather and we all had a wonderful time.

some very cute julian pictures

boys drumming at disney

"scary monsters"

Finally getting back into the blog. We have some catching up to do. 

I'm glad Julian has graduated from the short phase where he took every workbook off of the bookshelf.


And I love this one, taken several months ago now at the park. He still likes talking about monsters.

Random pictures

game night

watching Yo Gabba Gabba!

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Nina's birthday

New friend Olivia C.

Nina's favorite present

A month later, Nina gets her party.
The kids know that they didn't get a party last year because Meecie was dying. So this year we splurged a bit. For Kai, we took 10 newly-second-grade boys to Planes, followed by freeze dance, water balloons, pizza, cake, and chaos at our house.
For Nina, we had a random assortment of old and new friends and their siblings over for an art party. We made bead necklaces, arranged flowers and decorated the vases, and painted on little canvases outside. Ate rainbow fruit kebobs, veggies and hummus, mini sandwiches, and the most awesome rainbow cake ever. The kids ran through the house and yard and back again between projects. Tibo was the first one to show up with a beautiful rose bouquet. (Tibo could have been the only one here and Nina would have still been happy.) Then precious Ari and her little adorable sister Tea showed up with the biggest smiles on their faces. Ari took Nina's hand and just started running. The day after the party, as Nina and I were debriefing, Nina said, "Ari made be not be shy with anyone!"
Here are some pictures, thanks to Sara. Nate was too busy chasing Julian to take pictures. (We lost Julian at one point. Terrifying. He was on the top of the tree house.)
We don't have a picture of Matthew, who is probably Nina's favorite new friend. He's the little brother of Kai's twin friends Hunter and Britcher and he is a hoot. Nina said about him, "Tibo will be so surprised that Matthew likes pink AND princesses!"

Nina and Savannah

Kaelyn, Kaiah, new friend Olivia painting

My martha stewart cake

Kaelyn and her flower arrangement

Big sister Gracie

Old Montessori friends Ari and Kayley

Tibo, proud Nina, Kayley and big sister Kaiah

Nina and Montessori friend Kaelyn

Nina with Montessori friend Belle and big sister Gracie

another nina setup

Nina set up this cozy little nook in Julian's room sunday morning.
This was the day after her party. She's still wearing her dress from the day before. We went to DeSchutter's after the party and the kids were SO tired when we got home at 10 PM. Nina didn't change her clothes or brush her teeth before bed and she had a major, major meltdown. But sunday she woke up happy and glad to have a mellow day at home. And it was a nearly perfect Sunday. No fits from the kids. Kai rode his bike alongside Julian and I with the jogging stroller to bogue falaya. Nina and Nate did housework, took apart the extra bed and hauled it outside. Went to Sonic for a quick pick-me-up diet coke with vanilla (not as good as Frostie Freeze), Nina had a sprite zero and Kai had a slush. Took the folding table to the yard and did legos TOGETHER while Julian napped. Kids did lots of drawing and painting. Nate swam with the kids when he got home from work. Ended the day with Julian quietly in bed and the rest of us had our game night. It was a hezellig day.