May Meanderings

May started off with a wonderful trip to California to see my oldest and dearest friends.  Tammy is having her first baby, so Jessica and I flew out for her baby shower and a weekend of wonderfulness.  I love these girls, and I am so grateful for their longstanding friendship.  They are amazing examples/inspirations to me on so many levels.

Aside from that, we always have the best time together and do all of my favorite things.  Hiking in beautiful scenery,

 dining on delicious food, and then shopping and a rendez-vous with Paige.

 Tammy's baby shower was in Tracy, where I grew up, so we drove by my old house - and it was crazy to see it -

And a Jennifer - a very dear friend that I haven't seen in FOREVER - also made it out.  

Seriously great weekend.

Lucas is already a veteran traveller - having gone to Palm Springs for the weekend with Mario and I to see the tennis match, then flying with me to New Jersey for 36 hours so I could attend a work meeting and then this trip to Cali - all before 2 months old!

 In May we also played outside a lot before it got too hot - sometimes in the rain,

but most of the time in the sun.  And on lazy Sunday mornings, in our pijamas.

I love this pic of them totally lounging in their play house.

Gabe's complete obsession with horses and making ranches continues.

 They also love to help with anything and everything - here helping their dad plant new flowers.

 They also LOVE pancakes, and ask for them daily, and I don't really love making them or eating them so I resist as often as possible.  However, when I do cave I try to make it fun by making shapes...

 I need better tools to create better shapes!

 Gabe had both his end-of-year program at preschool and his preschool graduation.

I love to watch him singing the songs - he LOVES the music!

 Lucas and I spent most of the program in the foyer while he fussed.  Overall, he's a pretty calm baby, but they always decide not to be at the most inconvenient times...

 All the kids were animals on Noah's Ark.  Gabe and Kirsten were horses - how fitting!

 Lucas busting out with his first smiles.

 Lucas at 2 months old - not cooperating for photos!!

 Mario and friends during a bocci tournament.

 Mario looks all pro, but apparently her "lets" the others win.

 The group.

 All the kids joining in for bath time.

 Cute baby in his carseat.  I don't know why his arm is like that, I swear I don't put him in the car like that!

 How Lucia spent Gabe's "Moving Up" ceremony.

 The school info said "Sunday Best" for the kids.  Apparently mine is the only one who wears a tie on Sundays!

 I was so cute to hear him say the pledge of allegiance and sing America the Beautiful.

 Gabe LOVED his teacher - Miss Yvette and I think she might have loved him even more.  He will miss her so much!

 Apparently this is the best backdrop we could find for a family pic???

 Gabe spent the first two weeks after preschool ended behaving HORRIBLE, and crying about leaving preschool and saying he did NOT want to go to kindergarten.  Poor sensitive kid has such a hard time with changes.  Hopefully that will get better as he ages???