A Spoonful of Sugar

Emily's dance recital was last weekend. All the classes in her section danced to songs from Mary Poppins. She did ballet to "A Spoonful of Sugar". She did a great job and looked so pretty. She really has the body of a ballerina with her long, long legs. I am very happy that my mini me loves ballet like I did. But she says she doesn't know if she wants to take it next year. She says she wants to take karate! WHAT?! Where is my girly girl? I am pretty sure they don't wear ringlets and makeup at karate...gatherings. What are they called anyway, I know it is not a karate recital. Karate meets? Karate tournaments? Clearly I need some education on this.This is not a very close picture but she is the tall blonde third from the left

School's Out!!

Hurray! We have another year of school under our belts. Emily got to go out for milkshakes with Timbri because she finished her schoolwork a day before Porter got out of school. Thanks, Timbri, for that motivation. I think it is the only way we got done! I am so looking forward to the break! It has been a good year though. I actually made it through driving Porter to and from school for a whole year. And he survived a year of school at the brick and mortar schoolhouse. I think it was good for him. But, at the same time, I am so glad that he has chosen to come back home next year. I should be breathing a sigh of relief and looking forward to some rest (or at least some new work to fill my day, like, ahem, maybe cleaning my house). However, Noah said the other day, "It is the last day of school, Mom, and I don't even know how to write my name!" Not sure how I overlooked this minor detail. Obviously he is not my firstborn. I remember the first day Porter went to Primary and the little girl in his class had written her own name on her paper (and her name was Kaitlyn, not something easy like Jill). Well, I was determined not to let someone else's kid get ahead of mine, so Porter learned to spell his name before the next Sunday! So on those hot summer afternoons when we all head indoors for some respite, I will be reading with Emily, drilling math facts with Porter, and helping Noah write his name. Maybe I should get started with Aleise too, primary is only 18 months away!

Thursday was our first official day of summer vacation. Guess what my kids played all day? Yep, school! They got out all their little workbooks and got busy. I even had to fix them school lunches in little lunchboxes and they ate in the schoolroom. Why could they not be this willing and cooperative for the last nine months? Crazy kids!

Spring Thaw in Cancun!!

Kevin, aka Soup Czar, won a soup contest this winter sponsored by Campbells. The prize was a week at a five star, all-inclusive, unbelievably amazing resort in CANCUN!!! It was beyond fabulous! I admit I cried as we drove away from our four kids, leaving them overnight for the first time ever. But it got better and I knew they were in excellent hands with Timbri. We had an amazing vacation and were spoiled like kings! The resort was all-inclusive so we could do anything and eat anything and it was all free. Being with a bunch of food snobs, there was plenty of eating! Their were seven different restaurants, including a french restaurant that is rated 4 diamonds. The food presentation was really pretty and they even brought lime sorbet to cleanse our palates between courses. Never thought I would eat somewhere they did that! If you didn't like your meal at the restaurants, there were fantastic buffets and 24 hour room service. There was nightly entertainment and an on-site rental service where you could get sailboats, ocean kayaks, paddle boats and snorkeling and scuba tours. The second largest barrier reef in the world was just off the coast of our resort. The water was so warm and clear so that you could see far down into it. The different depths of the water and different vegetation on the bottom made the water so many amazing, brilliant shades of blue. We were able to play in the sand and the sun all day and then get dressed up for dinner and entertainment at night. The weather was warm (mid 80s) and humid, just the way I like it! I did a lot of things that I have never done before (besides leaving the kids). I went out on the ocean on a hobie cat with Kevin as the captain and he did a great job. It was really fun! I ate escargo (it's chewy). I went to a world class spa and got a pedicure, and I went snorkeling at Xel'ha. Kevin spent a lot of time on the water in sailboats and also got to go swim with dolphins. We saw some amazing Mayan ruins and got addicted to pina colodas "sin alco" (I learned to say that phrase fast!) It was so great to have the biggest decision of the day be "should I lay by the pool and sip my pina coloda or should I go out to the beach (and sip my pina coloda)?" Now that I am home where it is cold and windy and back to doing laundry and listening to my kids complain about what is to eat, it seems a lifetime ago. We had a wonderful time and made some unforgettable memories. WE LOVE SOUP!!