Photography is Full of Trickery

My sweet sister-in-law Marissa took some pictures of the girls when they were in town in April and as I was going through a bunch of emails, I found these two that she had sent to me.  Olivia had just gotten out of the pool at Marissa's hotel and had come up to the room where we were hanging out.  I love how these pictures make it look like Olivia is so serious and peaceful.  Marissa definitely has skills with the camera and I always love how she captures our girls.  Check out more of her pictures here.  

Olivia's Promotion Ceremony

I cannot believe we have our first school year under our belt already!  The school year flew by.  Olivia loved her school, her teacher and especially all of her little friends.  I'm so happy that she has met her new teacher for next year and is already excited for her new class.  She's going to "summer camps" during the month of June {school starts back up in July} two days a week from 9-12 and each of them have different themes like Beach Party or Animal Safari.

Anyway, on Tuesday, she was promoted to Pre-K with a little ceremony with her schoolmates.  They sang a song about changing the world and how it starts with them.  Of course my mom and I teared up the second they started singing.  I just can't believe my sweet girl is growing up so quickly.

I took a few pictures of her outside the church where they held the little ceremony.  She was not very cooperative, but I wanted to get a few pictures of her on her "last day" of the school year so I could compare to her first day.

Pool's Open for Summer! {So, here are a kazillion pool pictures.}

We've probably been swimming in our pool for the last week and a half or so and it still hasn't quite warmed up to where I like it.  This afternoon it got up to 84˚ and I still froze {and poor Sydney did too}.  We are about to hit triple digit weather {for the next five months} and so I'm sure it will get to the 90s by next week.

Today was the first time that David got in our pool {he's been taking Olivia to the heated pool at Nana and Poppy's for months} and so it was a little easier to get some more pictures of the girls.  Olivia blows my mind in the pool.  She is such a great swimmer and she absolutely loves it.  It's clear that Sydney is going to follow in her big sister's footsteps.  Sydney wants to be just like Olivia and she wants to do whatever Olivia is doing, so there is no keeping her in a float where she is just sitting down.  So after our first attempt in the pool {with just me and both girls}, I went out and got her a puddle jumper floatie to wear and it has worked out perfectly.  She loves to jump off the side of the pool and in one day she taught herself how to move forward by kicking her little feet.  We are in for a real treat with these two in the pool this summer.  They are having so much fun.  {And, I'd be lying if I said I didn't adore dressing them in matching swimsuits!}

{This lasted no more than 5 minutes.}

Olivia's neighbor friend gave her this dress and she has worn it just about every single day for the last week.  

My Aprilgrams

Here's my collage of my #michelsongirls Instagrams for April {30 days later...}.

That's Some Serious Slackin'

Thirty days in to May and I have only posted two blog posts....and one of them was about our April trip to Disneyland.  Oh man, it has been weighing heavily on me, but I've got some good excuses for not posting.  David and I took a weekend trip away just the two of us and then he went on a business trip to DC for a week {leaving me a single parent}.  I ended up sleeping with Olivia each night and pretty much just crashed in her bed after she fell asleep which is my usual time to blog.  And remember what I said about getting back on the blogging wagon...it's tough to get motivated when you know you have a ton of pictures to upload and post about.  But here goes....


➸➸➸  The whole family went to a Meet the Creature class and this is by far my favorite picture of all of the animals.  I want this bunny!

➸➸➸ I signed Olivia up for a Book Club at her school for two Friday mornings this month.  The class met from 9-1 and Olivia was to bring a lunch to eat there.  The first Friday she went was a milestone for us - we made it to our first 9am class on time AND I packed my first school lunch!  She loved the class and Sydney and I loved having a little Mommy & Me time.  We did a little shopping, got her hair cut and did a little more shopping.  Liv was treated to a cotton candy ice cream cone for doing such a great job at Book Club too!

➸➸➸  Our Nipomo neighbors were in Scottsdale for a few days so we headed up to our favorite railroad park to meet up with them.  It was soooo good to see them and catch up with them.  Oh how we have missed them!  

➸➸➸  Olivia's school class had a little Mother's Day party... Muffins with Moms ... and it was so sweet to see her sing songs for me.  I love that girl so much.  We also spent the evening at my mom and dad's and did our best to take some pictures.  It didn't work out so well...

➸➸➸  We celebrated David's birthday with a yummy egg breakfast {his favorite}, cupcakes and a trip to a kiddie play land with mini bowling, bumper cars and a giant jungle gym.

➸➸➸  David and I were able to get away for a weekend with no kids {thanks Nana and Poppy} and we had a blast in Humid Houston!  We met up with our friends Matt and Christi {and their handsome baby Niles} who we hadn't seen since I was pregnant with Olivia.  We had tickets to a Dave show, but also spent the majority of the weekend hanging out and eating yummy food {and trying to figure out how to combat all that moisture in the air}.

 Not my most favorite setlist of all time...

Bromance!

These boys basically got the biggest steaks possible {tomahawks} and I'm not even kidding when I say they both ate it all.  And got dessert to boot.  

➸➸➸ The girls were well taken care of by my parents.  I loved all of the pictures that they sent me and I was definitely ready to get back to them when our weekend was over.  Because David had a work trip in DC, he flew out from Houston a few hours before me.  I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the airport, snuggled up with a $16 blanket and reading the new Dan Brown book with absolutely no interruptions.  But, I was super excited to see my blonde babies when they picked me up from the airport.

Olivia went to two birthday parties while we were gone...this is sweet Caleb.

➸➸➸  And, one more.  While David was in DC, I took the girls, along with my friend Liz and her two kiddos to Disneyland.  That post is going to come in a few days, but let me just tell you, we had a blast!  And, it was easier going there than being home with both girls by myself.  David had a hard work week, but stayed an extra day so he could meet up with our friend {and matchmaker} Kelly.  We love this girl and can't wait to see her again!

Pheeewww, thanks for sticking with me through this one!  I hope to do better next month!