Backyard, evening

A study in contrasts

I always joke that if someone saw the two of them in public, my dad might get arrested for kidnapping this little girl.

"She's my granddaughter!" he would protest.

But to no use...who would believe it?

But oh man, Phoebe would tell them. "He's my Nonno! He's so funny! I love him!"

And boy does she ever.

What, no pictures?

Nope, just some stuff I want to remember:

LUCY:

-Turned 4.5 yesterday

-Is obsessed with Toy Story and the "Woody Boots" we got at Walmart. She walks like a cowboy in them (I think, heels first) and she wants to be Jessie (the cowgirl from the movie) for Halloween

-Thought for a few brief scary moments that she had entered womanhood when really it was Mommy who forgot to flush something...'nuff said

-Swims on her own with no flotation device and is even working on swimming under water

-Is obsessed with art...loves loves loves drawing

-Is starting to read and write...often writes me love notes at school that say "MOM" inside a big heart

PHOEBE:

-Is potty trained...and is doing much better pooping on the potty

-Will now go into the pool if we hold her and she loves it and doesn't cry, unlike a week ago. She actually jumps in now!

-Called Home Goods (the store) "Home Great" today

-Spilled her potty on her bed (why it was up there, I have no idea) and cried to me in such a sad little voice, "I got my trampoline wet." Trampoline = mattress? I guess so.

My little swimmer!

No flotation device! Just pure Lucy...

Where have we been?

At the beach, that's where! More soon, I promise. Ok, I kinda promise. I promise to do my best!

Intrappy

Phoebe was described by some friends of ours as "intrepid" and "scrappy." Apt? Well, let's see...

Intrepid (as defined my Merriam-Webster): Characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance

Scrappy (as define by Urban Dictionary):

• A person who is little but can really kick some ass.
• Seemingly small and unthreatening but shockingly able to kick your ass and anyone else's
• Someone or something that appears dwarfed by a challenge, but more than compensates for seeming inadequacies through will, persistence and heart.

The verdict? She is both intrepid and scrappy. Those definitions are so apt, I am just going to start calling her "Intrappy."

The Graduate

Lucy graduated from her preschool class this week. She is in preschool for another year after this (she'll be darn near 6 when she starts kindergarten) but still, there was a graduation. It was very bittersweet. I am so sad to see this year end...she had such a great teacher and a wonderful group of friends. And, honestly, the end of the year just really snuck up on me. Lately, time just seems to be sailing by waaaaaay too quickly. I think it may be because I no longer have a baby in the house...rather, I have two "kids" who just keep getting bigger. I love all their changes, but oh man I do mourn babyhood.

We started out the day with me trying to take a few photos at home...I got both girls special new necklaces to wear...Lucy wore her reception dress and headband from Stacy's wedding and Phoebe wore the "watermelon dress" that I always loved on Lucy. However, as always, I simply could not get a good photos of my two kids together. Poor Lucy, she even heard me say that and it made her upset. I explained that it's not her, it's me, etc. But, really -- it's not me, it's them. Just don't tell them that :)

The highlight of the graduation was when the teacher called each student up to receive a "diploma" and introduced the student by saying their favorite color(s) and what they want to be when they grow up. Well don't you know it, my Lucy was the very first to be called. And her teacher introduced her by saying, "Our first graduate's favorite colors are purple and yellow and when she grows up she wants to be a nurse." Isn't that so cute? Most of the other kids said they want to be ballerinas and super heros but not my Lu...nope, she is pretty much career-oriented.

Now, we are on a two-week break from school, during which time I am going to attempt a bit of a home school program for the girls -- just to give them some structure and also to teach them a few things that require more individual attention than they get at school. I think I can have Lucy reading by the end of the summer if we spend some quality time on it. Wish me LUCK!

{daddy & phoebe enter the classroom}

{lucy's chair}

{and here they are...the graduates!}

{MY graduate!}

{waiting to begin the ceremony}

{we're still working on "how to sit like a lady"}

{i see u!}

{first to be called up!}

{receiving her diploma}

{lucy's wonderful teacher, andrea}

{three cheers for the graduate! and one word: plastics}

Some random, unedited photos!

Taken before Lucy's May Show at school. Yes, LAST month. So sue me.

Two signs of a big girl

Phoebe is officially...

1. Potty trained! She still has a few accidents (all of the number-two variety) but all in all, I am amazed at how well she is doing. She even naps in panties and wakes up dry -- though overnight is a different story and she wears an overnight diaper. But at 27 months, I can say that I am truly impressed with my petite powerhouse.

2. Sleeping in a big girl bed. Isn't it darling? And yes, just about everything in her room is PINK.

What-a-melon

A wedding

My cousin Stacy got married on Saturday to her wonderful husband Dan. And guess which special little girl got to be her flower girl? That's right, Miss Lucy Elise! She looked oh-so-adorable in her dress and headband and of course her very fancy basket. The wedding was supposed to take place inside but the rain forced it in -- but the smile never left Stacy's face. She's been dreaming of this day her whole life and even used a cake topper that she has had since she was a child. It was so great to be a part of her day. Many thanks to Nonni & Nonno for watching Phoebe for the night :)

Some highlights for Lucy included getting to sit at a kids' table where she dined on french fries and a Shirley Temple; throwing the rose petals from her basket (and continuing to throw them until they were gone, even though her trip up the aisle was complete); running back and forth to the bride's dressing room to rest her ears from the music; talking to Stacy's dad, who does one heck of a Donald Duck imitation; dancing with mommy & daddy; and getting a whole night out without little sister in tow.

{the beautiful bride}

{pre-ceremony}

{first dance}

{stacy & lucy...lucy is in her comfy "reception dress"}

{mr. & mrs.}

{making a wooden airplane at the kids' table}

{pretty pretty}

{stacy has had this since she was 12}

{these were our great-grandma's earrings. i also had them on my wedding bouquet}

{two princesses}

{shoes}

{super duper flower girl}

La La La Lovely Lucy

May I just brag for a moment?

What do you do?

Q. What do you do when you finally remember to deposit the check your grandmother sent for Phoebe's birthday (which was in February)?

A. You march right into the toy store to pick something out for her (before you accidentally spend the money on yourself at Starbucks).

Q. What do you do when you spot, in that toy store, a doll that looks EXACTLY LIKE PHOEBE (except with pink hair which, come to think of it, Phoebe once had)...

A. Well, duh, you purchase it immediately.

Guest post today!

On my friend Courtney's blog. Check it out here.

Monday morning babies

I had a vision...

I pictured a red swing, hanging from the apple tree...


...and I made it so.