Caitlin's Celebration

Of course Caitlin and her friend Aspen wanted to go out and celebrate on their last day of school. Heather and I thought it was a great idea. We took the girls to the mall. Our first stop was Build a Bear. The girls ran ahead of Heather and I when they saw the store. When I walked in the door, Caitlin already had her CAT and outfit picked out. It was so cute!!!!!

Caitlin and Aspen loved being able to go to school together this year. We did a play date every Wednesday afternoon. The girls are going to miss each other next year. Apsen is not going to Mattawan with Caitlin. We are going to try to do the weekly play date though.

We took the girls and their NEW friends to Olga's for lunch. It was a fun afternoon.

Almost Done

Today is my kids last day of school!!!!! It has been a very busy last few days. Madison actually had yesterday off of school because her school was out of power - BUT Blake still had to go to his school... He wasn't very happy about it. Madison was actually a little sad because she was missing her ice cream party. After I let her know that they would probably still do it today, she was happy.

Both girls and I met a friend at Olga's for lunch and spent a few hours at the mall. Of course I bought three webkins, hair accessories, and bracelets. A ride on the carousel was a must and I actually got a few cute shirts for myself!!!! It was a fun afternoon.

I also did a HUGE party for Blake's class on Wednesday. I was in charge of organizing and running the carnival for TWO hours. I think it was a form of punishment from Blake's teacher. We haven't actually seen eye to eye on things this year. I volunteered to do the party because I wanted Blake to have a great end to third grade. He has had a very rough year.

I didn't have a ton of parent support so I put in tons of time preparing (and a HUGE target shopping trip). The party ended up being a huge hit. It was over 90 degrees that afternoon. I had tons of water activities, water balloons, squirt gun fights, face painting, crafts, etc. Blake's face was priceless. I forgot to mention that the teacher wanted it to be a surprise for the class as well. Oh yeah, it ended up being for two classes (51 kids)... Do I sound a little bitter about it all????? All I can say it ended well. Caitlin was a real trooper. We were outside in the heat for over 4 hours by the time we set up, did the carnival and cleaned up.

BRING ON THE SUMMER!!!!! Our calendar is already so full of fun things to do...

Good-bye First Grade

Good-bye Third Grade

Hello Kindergarten - fashion queen

Caitlin loves wearing dresses and headbands...

Wild Cat Trek

The Mattawan Early Elementary had a Wild Cat Trek. Caitlin and I decided to go and support Madison on her mile run. Madison was so excited to see us. She invited Caitlin to run with her. Caitlin was so happy to run hand in hand with Madison and her friends. We were then able to play on the playground for a while. Caitlin had so much fun that she didn't want to leave! Next year when she goes to Kindergarten, she will get to play on it everyday...

The Pink Sisters and Madison's good friend

These four girls ran hand in hand for most of the mile!!!!

Caitlin Turns FIVE

We love birthday's at our house. We went to Red Robin the night before Caitlin's actual birthday because Madison had a dance class that she couldn't miss on the actual night.

Madison was so excited to help me decorate the house for Caitlin's big morning. We always decorate the night before a birthday. We love having our own family celebration in the morning.

We had to actually wake up the birthday girl in the morning. We had so much planned to do before 8am when the other two kids get on the bus!!!!!

Madison woke Caitlin up singing "Happy Birthday"!!!

Caitlin requested pink streamers to be hung from her door...

Aunt Christy, Emily, Aunt Charlene and Eyvind send some adorable American Girl stuff!!!!!!

Grandma and Papa sent Caitlin and Star (her doll) matching pajamas

We love birthday donuts!!!

Sweet 5 year old

Caitlin and I had a play date with several friends in the morning, out to Olga's for lunch, music class (they sang happy birthday to her), Barnes and Noble (she got a birthday cookie at the cafe and a few new books), shopping spree at the GAP, and another play date in the evening at a great friends house. She had a GREAT birthday.

Feeling like SUMMER

I love it when my three play together. It wouldn't be warm weather without a slip and slide. We always get one so that they can play before we get the pool ready to go. Hopefully the pool will be set up this weekend! Only one more week of school.

Preschool Graduation

I have been very sad lately about my little girl growing up. She is just the sweetest little thing. Her little voice brightens my day! The morning of her last day of preschool, I was a mess. I could of just sat down and cried all day. She was soooo excited to be a Kindergartener though. The only positive thing with all this is that it is half day kindergarten. I still get to spend the afternoons with her in the fall. It must be that she is my BABY...

She had a regular day at school and then that evening was her graduation. It was held at the Nature Center. It was a very quick little program. They sang a few songs, had a slide show and introduced all the graduates.

Caitlin was asked two questions;

1. What do you want to be when you grow up? A TEACHER

2. What was your favorite part of preschool? PLAYING WITH FRIENDS

Could she be anymore like me?????

Classic Caitlin Pose

HI - She loved waving to us when she first saw us.

SISTERS

My girls and I

Daddy's girls

Our baby is all grown up!!!!

Aspen and Caitlin - best friends!!!!

Borgess RUN

Having 3 half marathons under my belt, I signed up for this one knowing that I wanted to train much harder. I wanted to get a sub 2 hour time!!!!! I joined a run camp through the winter. We ran in windy, snowy and very COLD weather. I only finished every run because of my great running group. These ladies are amazing :) As each week approached, we kept getting faster and faster. It was awesome... The long runs were hard, but when we were done, it felt amazing to have accomplished our runs so fast. My body was holding up much better this time around. I didn't have all the foot and knee problems as I have had in the past.

Race day was gorgeous. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We were off. I was feeling great. It went great until mile 9. I actually started to cry. I felt like I couldn't go any more at this fast pace. My amazing friend coached me through it and basically wasn't going to let me slow down. After a torcherous mile, GU pack and gatorade stop, I was back to feeling more my self. We picked up the pace and finished our last three miles faster than the others. It was awesome to come across the finish line in 1:54. 6 minutes faster than we had planned!!!!!!! I think that I need to retire a half marathon race. I don't think that I can go that fast again.

More amazing was Brett. He decided back in January that he was going to run the 5K. He lost 40 pounds and started running. Words cannot explain how proud of him I am. He did a great run and even wants to try another one. I feel horrible that I don't even have one picture of him. My race left before he started and finished after he finished. I am ordering the professional ones from the race for him though. Who would have ever thought that we would be doing races together...

Brett even organized runners from his office and designed t-shirts. My friends supported Brett's office and wore the shirts with me for the first few miles.

Kids Fun Run. The kids were amazing. It was packed and very hard to keep track of the three kids. I wrote my cell phone number on their bibs in fear that I might lose one. I really want them to race a 5 K with Brett and I some day.

They had a super fun warm up for the kids. The girls danced and stretched. Blake thought it was "STUPID".

My final few feet. So happy to be done!!!

I was feeling really great for days after the run. I even came in 17th for my age group (out of 190 women). My name was in the paper the next day!!!

I hope that our family can keep up this healthy NEW lifestyle. I LOVE IT!!!!!