Zach's 2nd Birthday

Today was a great day.  Again, we had all family and friends join us in celebration of little man's big day! It was a stinking hot day, but we all survived.  The pool at the end of the afternoon really helped cool off the little ones.  Thank you to everyone again for making Zach's day special!

Opening presents - one piece at a time!

We had to bust open the pinata while sitting on the truck!

Then he hid his candy in his truck!

Once he figured out the candy necklace we had a hard time getting it off of him!

Forget the candles! Let me play with the trucks!

Alyssa and Zach's Year End Concert

This year Alyssa and Zach were both involved in the year end concert with Teacher Lori.  Alyssa sang all the songs wonderfully and was such a joy to see.  Zach, well, did Zach things.  Played with the kids, stood in line for about two minutes (on the opposite end of Alyssa - yep, I'd have done the same thing), and ran back and forth between all the grandparents.  Great job kiddies!

Alyssa's poster

Zach's poster

So excited to get started she was doing a little dance for us

He's excited too :)

Alyssa and her friends

Belting out a song with hand actions

Singing to the crowd

Alyssa being a goof saying her name

"My name is Zach" - seriously, it's what he said!!!!

For a kid who at this time struggled to get more than two words together, this was a great accomplishment.  So proud of them!

Lookin' pretty smug

Alyssa singing her ABC's

And then sings "Mary Had a Little Lamb" with the lamb on her head - she cracks us up!

With teacher Lori - an amazing and patient woman! Love her!

Alyssa and her friend Charlot...they get along great!

Kids weekend and Grandma and Grandpa's

The beginning of June is always a challenging time for me.  The summer is so close yet I have so much to do, mainly on end of the year wrap up stuff and report cards.  My parents were so helpful in taking the kids off our hands for the weekend before my reports were due and Craig left the house for the weekend as well.  It was just me and the dogs and my computer.  I got them done without any major issues (not counting the fact that I had to write 28 very long reports).  Here are some of the pics of the kids and the fun they had at Grandma and Grandpa's (and with Uncle).

Mr. Cool just chillin' watching some Mickey

She's totally mine lining everything up!

Love how he sucks in his lower lip when he's focusing on something.

Counting to three before he slides

Random shots

New sand in the sand box!

As much as they fight, I LOVE finding them like this

Alyssa's garden for the 2nd year

Calendar Girls Fashion Show for Itsy

Ever since Alyssa was born, we have kept in touch with Mat and Laurel Lunnen who are the co founders of the charitable foundation Itsy who supports families who have infants in the NICU in London.  Since Itsy’s was created in 2008, close to $65,000 has been raised to alleviate the costs tied to gas, groceries, hospital parking, medical equipment rentals needed by families and much more.  This year Alyssa was invited to participate in the intermission portion of Fanshawe College's fashion show.  The Calendar girls show was a collaboration between the fashion merchandising students at Fanshawe College, and Itsy.  Alyssa came out dressed in attire for the month of March with a four leaf clover and a pot of gold.  She did a fantastic job!!

Each premie had their birth weight on the back of their costume.

Story - Laurel and Mat's daughter who was born at 24 weeks.

Check out itsy.ca for more information about the foundation.

Visit with the Hardings

Alyssa LOVES her cousin Abigail (not Abby, as she likes to remind everyone).  When the Hardings came for a visit, Craig and Dustin went for a trail run in Exeter, Christy and Abby hung out with us and the kids.  It was so cute seeing my kids interact with a two month old.  Both were so calm and gentle.  A far cry from how they are with each other. 

Alyssa comforting Abby as she starts to get fussy

He loves babies heads

And then comes back offering her Minnie (which Uncle Dustin and Aunt Christy gave to Alyssa on Zach's baptism)