Rowan turns 6, School Ends and Cabbage Lives

Not necessarily in that order.

Phew - so much has happened in the past few weeks that this could be a looong post.  First let me explain where I have been and why I have not even updated for Rowan's birthday yet.  At my work I belong to a group that has a contract - we are not a union - but we do have a "memorandum of agreement" that we operate under that lists our benefits and what not.  The current one was due to expire on 6/30/11.  Guess who volunteered to renegotiate with the school board?  Yep, me and one other person.  It was been a very time consuming process.  Between not meeting until after the workday was done to creating spreadsheet scenarios almost every day it has been an ongoing process for the past month.  This past Wednesday we finally reached an agreement that the majority can live with.  And we got it for 3 years so who knows where I will be then - probably still here.

Moving on.

Back on June 10 Rowan's T-Ball team had an end of year picnic.  Parker took Rowan and the two of them played some games, ate some pizza and had some fun.  Every member of the team got a trophy that could hold the game ball they had each earned during one of the games during the season.

Of course June 16 was Rowan's official birthday but it was also her last day of school!  School got extended by two days this year to make up for snow days during the year so it was a surprise to still be in school on her birthday but there she was.  We took in munchkins for the class and she was dismissed at 1130am along with the rest of the school.  I took the afternoon off so I could pick her up and we could hang out for her special day.  First up picking her up and saying good bye to her teacher, Mrs Kircher, who is retiring after this school year after 36 years of teaching Kindergarten at the same school - crazy!  Then I took a peek at her report card on the way home....so proud :)

Then we went for some lunch and did some shopping and came home to open a couple of presents.  A tent from us and a barbie like doll and chalk from my mom.  Then, more cake.  You can never have enough cake.

 Boy this has been all about Rowan so far - here is Lily enjoying a popsicle WAY too much.  Thank goodness for OxyClean laudnry additive!

And in other non Rowan news, Cabbage the goldfish continues to live!  He held on for so long I bought him a new house instead of the glass flower vase that he was a previous tenant in.  As of this morning - still swimming along!

Yesterday Rowan took a tour of  Citzens Bank Park again this year as part of summer camp.  She returned to Kindercare this summer so both girls are in one location which makes life alot easier for picking up and dropping off!  Lily is still too young to do the field trips but she loves having Rowan stay with her every day.  Neither Parker nor I made it on the ball park trip this year but we were lucky enough to have one of the parents take a bunch of pics, alot that included Rowan and then he sent them to us.

And finally I have been dog sitting for the Kembles this past week - as such we snuck a dip in their pool the other day :)

The kids are heading to Joe and Diane's for the weekend and Parker and I are hoping to get the dormer cleaned out and the closets organized for the girls upstairs.  We may actually go on a date to the movies tomorrow night too - whoo hoo!

A Post of Firsts

First I have to mention Lily - I failed to post when this occurred a couple of days ago and I feel bad.  She wore underwear to school for the first time on June 1st!  Underwear - and stayed dry all day, using the potty when necessary - I was blown away!  We have had more accidents at home than at school but they are getting less and less as well - we even take her in public shopping wearing underwear (with backup hidden in my purse just in case) and she does great and just like Rowan she wants to go go the bathroom all the time ( I think so she can see what they are all like outside of our house)  And so I present the strangest picture I took:  Lily's underwear in her drawers....so grown up.

And  second but WAY not least......well, I will just let the video speak for itself....

How GREAT is that????   Parker took her to her school and just the two of them worked on it.  He said she had it after 5 minutes!  The bike is so small because we borrowed it to help her out because it is easier to ride.  Soon we will let her try the new bike we got her a couple of months ago - after we take the training wheels off of it - WHOOHOO!!!!  So proud I could burst, BURST!

Rowan's Family 6th Birthday get together

This past Saturday, yesterday, Joe and Diane came over to celebrate Rowan's birthday.   After visiting with them for a little while we let Rowan invite McKenzie over for dinner and cake with us.  Rowan requested spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread - attagirl :)   Joe and Diane gave Ro some more books to read, she is going to be busy over the summer! a ring toss game, and a tent for the upstairs for the girls to hide and play in.

All the birthday excitement led to the request for a sleepover which we obliged and so this is Rowan and McKenzie at breakfast this morning  - yes they are both playing with iPod Touches.   Remember when a doll someone sewed for you was entertaining for hours?

Updated pics of the girls room

Finally got some pics done of the girls room upstairs as it looks now.  Seems to be the best configuration so far - and works out for when Rowan has McKenzie sleep over.

First their old room - now computer central and the extra TV viewing room.

Now the girls "wing" of the house - all we need is a bathroom up there and we would be set.



Rowan's 6th Birthday Party

Yesterday we had Rowan's friends party for her birthday.  I wanted to do something different that had not been done before so after looking at possibilities I opted to have it at the Giant supermarket where they have a cooking school.  We invited girls only (very sexest of us I know - although one brother tagged along so he participated as well) and they got to work in the kitchen with Chef Dan.  First there was pizza making, then chocolate chip cookies from scratch, fruit kabobs and decorate your own cupcakes instead of a big cake for everyone.  We got lots of complements from the parents that were there - the smart ones did their shopping while the party was on - so I think it turned out to be a great success.

And now this week is free and clear - until Friday when we have our end of season T-Ball picnic.  If you need us we'll all be catching up on our sleep!!