The Patio

After much hard work (none of it mine) the patio is finished. Unfortunately, the contractor miscalculated the amount of stone needed and we had to wait an extra 10 days to have it completed. Now we are just waiting for the grass to grow in - it is - and the wind to die down - NEVER - so we can spend a lot of time out there. We did hang out there on Memorial Day with some of our neighbors. It was fun. Max, Ryan Springer, Megan Springer, Quinlan, Brandon Henry and Connelly Springer hang out on the new steps.... centerpiece of the patio (designed them myself).

View from the swingset.... that dirt is now budding grass. The ropes were to keep the kids off the dirt. They helped, mostly.

Another view, from the side.

Matt with the tamper prior to putting down the pavers.

Digging up the soil, Step 1.

Reilly - then and now

2008 2009
Reilly really liked going up on the stage at the ice cream social. It is amazing how much she has changed in just one year!

Ice Cream and Art Show

We attended the State Road Elementary School Art Show and Ice Cream Social. It was a lot of fun. In addition to looking at all the hard work that Max and Quinlan have done at school, we had ice cream and the kids had their arms painted. Max had a train! Quinlan had a green kitty cat and Reilly had a horse.

Connelly Springer, Megan Wade and Quinlan - It was fun hanging out with the kids we always hang out with!

Max's symmetry design

Quinlan's purple cow

Dance

Not the greatest pictures, I took them during dress rehearsal, but at least you can see Quinlan and the other little girls from the Deborah MacKay School of Dance doing a run through of their recital piece "Brother for Sale". They did a really great job and were all in step together. The costumes are adorable but the hair and make-up, now that is another story! Have you ever tried to put eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara on a squirming 6 year old?

Megan Wade (our neighbor across the street) and Quinlan strike a pose!

Max makes his First Communion

Max made his First Communion at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday, May 9th. We invited our family to join us and then come back to the house for lunch. Luckily, it didn't start raining until after Uncle Billy finished the grilling. We even set up some tables in the garage for everyone to have a seat. Max did a really good job and we are very proud of him.

The words were a little to the right (it said "God bless Max) and the color wasn't exactly what I wanted but I decorated the cake at 1:00am so I have an excuse :)

Yes, the girls were in matching dresses and mine was a similar color.

At least everyone knew we were together.

Quinlan, Mima Reilly, Max, Poppy Reilly and Reilly
(can you guess where we got the idea for the child's name?)


Grandma Connor, Max and Grandpa Connor


Aunt Min and Uncle Billy Lang (the Godparents)
and Max

How I Spent My Spring Break

Here are the girls enjoying one of our hot spring days here in Webster

when Daddy got out the sprinkler.

Max is 10!!

Max celebrated his 10th (yes, 10th) birthday at the bowling alley on Saturday. We had a great group there to help him celebrate, the Connor cousins - Mina, Will and Andee, neighbors Ryan, Megan and Brandon and his friend from school, Will. Grandma and Grandpa were there too!

It was a "Wall-E" birthday with pizza, punch (which Reilly wore instead of drank) and Wall-E cake. He got a lot of great gifts and everyone bowled exceptionally well, including Reilly. A fun time was had by all!

Mina, Reilly, Max, Quinlan and WillGrandma and Grandpa gifted Max with his very own Wall-E robot. He rolls, dances and talks. He is adorable! And the robot is cute too.

Daddy helps Reilly bowl. Her shoes were 4 sizes too big but she didn't care!

Here is Max and his Wall-E cake. Those are little figurines of the movie's stars. The little green thing is the plant that they find on earth (in case you couldn't tell). I made and decorated the cake and, luckily, he really liked it.