Influenster

OK...so my sister convinced me to sign up for this site called influenster.com.  I think she probably just wanted me to so she could get points or something, but it turns out I ended up getting free stuff! They offer you free stuff, once you get it in the mail you review it and post it to all your social media sites.  Then you get points for doing so.  WELL...I got the most delicious package the first time.

Let me tell you!  This stuff is absolutely delish!  I don't know that I would have purchased it off the shelf if I saw it.  One thing, Max is allergic to peanuts...so I'd probably have stuck to Nutella.  But, now that I know!?!  Wow...we've pretty much eaten it with pretzels, Salerno Butter Cookies, or just straight off the spoon.  

The best things in life are free from @Influenster! ‪#‎ReesesSpreads‬

ENJOY!

Allie comparison

Hard to believe that same skinny little baby...

Is this chunky silly little girl!

First Day Last Day

Quick update to show the first day and last day of school comparisons for Max.  Next year he goes to Kindergarten!  Hard to believe!!  He looks so grown up in the second picture.

Easter

This weekend was such a blur.  I am lucky I got any pictures at all.  It seems like Easter came so quick this year and it was here and gone before we knew it.  It seems like life is just zooming by like a train these days and I'm hanging on the back flying behind it...along for the ride.  I know everyone feels this way, but whew!  I would love a breather.  Anywho...here are a couple pictures from our Easter.  

Go Orange!

We have a soccer player in the house!  Max really enjoys playing, but even more, loves going to the field and running around.  He told us that the other day and Michael told him that would be Track...LOL! 

See...You can really tell in this picture how much he loves it!  He has a great time and is totally exhausted when it is all over.

We can't have a post with out the beast!  She is such a joy and such a beast all at the same time.  You can really see it in the picture below.  see "the look".  LOL!  We have our hands full with this one for sure.  Michael calls her our sour patch kid...sometimes she's sweet and sometimes she's sour. 

Preschool - age 4

Welcome, Max, to the first day of preschool. 

This year we decided to change preschools to get Max closer to home, near where we live. Hopefully he will be there with some kids that will be in his kindergarten class next year. He goes three days a week, all day! The school he attends is the same preschool that Michael went to and, up until her recent retirement, the director was Michael's teacher.

 Max with his teacher, Ms Lisa

 Max and his Cubbie

 Don't forget to answer the question of the day.  Are you excited to meet new friends?

 Max and the teacher aid, Ms Lin.

 We are so excited for Max!  It's going to be a great year.  They have so many fun things planned.  I can't believe he's getting so big so fast! Next step...kindergarten!  YIKES!

Grammie and Pop Visit

Grammie and Pop came to visit and brought a really fun project.  Thanks Pinterest!

The kids had a blast pounding the blocks of ice to get their goodies out!  Allie loved getting the money out.  Everytime she got a dollar or quarter out, she would say "my money, my money".

 Don't let the big girl panties and the potty chair fool you...this girl is far from potty trained!  When Pop asked her why she won't go on the potty, her response was "I don't yike it"!

 Someone LOVES her Poppy Yeggs!

Go Orange!!

Max started soccer this year. He was so nervous so we talked about it. I think he was nervous to play in front of other people and that he wouldn't be good at it. He said he "felt better after we talked about it". Once practice was over he was so excited and now counts down the days until the next soccer practice.

Here's number 3 for the orange team!

 Of course, sissy had to get in on the soccer fun too!

 Personally, I think she is just in it for the snacks...LOL!

Farm Fair 2012/ Allie's Birthday

Of course we couldn't let the summer go by without going to the Farm Fair.  Unfortunately it was so stinkin' hot, we couldn't really enjoy ourselves.

 You can see Allie's wet, sweaty hair in this one...

TWO YEARS OLD!!!  Can you believe it, I know I can't!  Allie got a new baby for her birthday and she goes everywhere with us.

 Such a princess..

 Always good for a goofy face.

 She even blew out the candles all by herself!  Such a big girl!  Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

Tumble Bus

Max and Allie were invited to the birthday party of one of their daycare friends.  The Tumble Bus came and the kids had a blast.  They basically turned this school bus into a tumbling ring and had organized activities for the kids.  It was really cool and the kids were so excited to see the big bus pull up to the party.

Visit to Chicago

We always have so much fun on our visits to Chicago.  We are definitely always sure to see Great Grandma Helen.  The kids loved visiting her at her new place, eating icecream and popcorn.  They were so good sitting and waiting (a long time) for their dinner.  So fun!  Thanks for letting us visit Grammie Helen.

One of Max's favorite things to do is go to Fair Oaks Farm.  It is sort of like a diary museum all about cows and how they operate the farm to be self sustaining.  It really is a neat place.  Allie LOVES cows...from a distance.  She is not quite so fond of them up close.  We were lucky enough to get to see a baby be born that day.  Acutally they have several baby's born there a day.  The whole process is a bit gross, and when I asked Max if he wanted to leave he said no.  He said it was kind of gross, but really cool to see.  So funny and grown up!

 You can see how much fun they had...I am not sure we were even out of the parking lot.

 All the Grandbabies on Grammies bed for a photo shoot!  I don't think Molly is really enjoying herself.

Last Day of Preschool

Today was the last day of preschool with next Wednesday being the closing program.  Here is a comparison of Max from the last day to the first day.

He looks so grown up to me in that top picture.  Still a chubby boy in the bottom one.  Always a silly kid

We have Piggies

I almost fogot!  Allie loves having a pony tail in her hair lately.  She's such a goof.  Well, this morning Mommy got piggies in it!

So cute!

Oh...yes, that is a bandaid.  She fell several weeks ago and got a scrape...literally a scrape!  She has picked at it, and dug at it until it is a hole.  So... no we keep a bandaid on it so it will hopefully clear up soon.

Mother's Day Observance

Today was the Mother's Day observance at Max's preschool.  It was such a nice day.  I was actually the mom helper in the class today so I got to be there for the whole class.  Every time I am in the class Max's teacher and her aid always tell me how funny Max is.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing ;)

The kids made banana muffins for their mom's and they also had some fruit for everyone to enjoy.  It was just wonderful.  The kids also sang songs and had gifts for the moms.  One of our gifts was this short survey the kids answered.  When Mrs. Messick handed Max his survey he announced "Mommy I drew you with one eye"...why thanks buddy, I didn't know I was a cyclops.  Later, when i asked him why he drew me with one eye and he said he ran out of room.  Here were the results of Max's little survey:

My mom is 20 years old.
My mom's favorite color is pink.
My mom always says "Can you please get your pajamas on?"
My mom is very good at knitting.
I love my mom because she helps me finger knit.

Field Trip to the Farm

Today was Max's last field trip for this year's preschool.  We went to the farm up at the local high school.  The high schools here in Harford County have what they call a Magnet Program.  Which means, each school has a specialty.  The high school nearest our house has an agriculture program, so they have their own farm.  I was actually suprised at how much they had at the school.  Two sheep, two alpacas, two bunnies, two cows...no it's not Noah's Ark...they do have three horses and some chicks.  We learned a lot on the trip and got to pet the animals and feel some of their fur that had just been sheared off. 

This was the biggest horse I had ever seen.  I think his head was bigger than some of the kids.

I love this picture of Max with Ernie Alpaca.  He wouldn't go any closer to it, especially since the teacher that lead our tour said they spit.  I think it's hilarious that Ernie is looking over Max's shoulder posing. 

 This boy LOVES tractors!!!

 Welcome to the farm Good Shepherd Lutheran!