Frist Day of Summer Party!

Emma is a very busy child. She always has been, and I truly believe that is why she was such a screamer as a baby. She wasn't happy that all she could do was lay there!! Every day since school let out she has planned a different kind of "party" for each day. There were plans for a dance party, a party where she wanted to put on a play, another one was an all day party... For each of her parties she wanted to invite all her friends to come celebrate. "They'll love it!" she'd say. I tried and tell her that her friends (and hers...) mommies need a little bit more notice then just a few minutes.

I felt bad to keep saying "Not today" and dashing her hopes and plans, so we sat down to look at the calendar and set a date for an actual party she could have. The first thing she saw was, "THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! OH MY GOSH THAT IS A PERFECT DAY FOR A PARTY!!!"

Plans for the "First Day of Summer Party" started right away. Of course it had to be at the pool, there would be a parade with hats, and cupcakes! Then we spread the word!

As the day got closer she worked on the hats for the parade. For each one she drew a picture about something to do with summer. Then we attached an elastic around the back. She picked the music and the route for the parade. She would be the leader (of course...) and they would start under the pavillion and go around both pools. When they got back they would take off their hats and all jump into the pool at the same time! She was cracking me up. She would turn the music on and practice leading all the kids around.

The day before the party she asked me, "It's always warm on the first day of summer, right?" I couldn't lie so I told her that most of the time it was. Well, the next morning we woke up and it was raining cats and dogs. She didn't seem worried though. She started frosting and sprinkling the 24 cupcakes (which she did all be herself with only a little help from me...she's awesome!) and said, "It'll stop!" She was right. A couple of hours before everyone was to come the sun burst through and the party was a success! She is the sweetest dang thing in this world. I'm so happy to be her mom! I love watching her little mind take over. Nothing is impossible for her! It was the best First Day of Summer I've ever had!!

The party planner:

From The Coleman's est. 2003

With his towel over his floaties, Tal looked like he had huge muscles :)

Lining up for the parade with their hats on!!!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

I have to write down what Emma drew on each hat. Starting with Emma: icecream cone, swimming pool, purple flower, funny squirrel, sunflower, a kite, glass of lemonade, a cool sun, a tree, another icecream cone, and Tal had the popsicle!

Queue music...off they go...


Tal's popsicle hat!
The finale! 1, 2, 3, JUMP!!!!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

The kids were so cute. They had a lot of fun.
The dark clouds started to make an appearance again, so she thought it was time for cupcakes!

A cupcake goatee!

Emma did a great job and she had so much fun!!

Swim lessons!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

Emma and Tal just finished swim lessons. These lessons showed me just how different Emma and Tal are. Emma, of course, jumped right in, did just what her teachers said, and all with a smile. Tal was a different story. He wouldn't get in without a struggle, he did what he wanted to do, and he only had a smile when we were leaving!

He loves swimming that's why I don't understand it. In our pool he jumps and splashes and blows bubbles all day long, but when his teachers asked him to blow bubbles he said, "I blow bubbles amorrow." He would show us everything he was supposed to be doing at swim lessons when we'd go to our pool and say, "Look what I do at 'himm yessons'?! He did master one thing he was supposed to do though, he loved swimming to the boat. As long as he had that boat he was fine. Sigh...I was the girl who always did what a teacher asked me to do . I think this kid was sent to me to test my patients!!

He would sit and watch...that's all.

Oh Tal...gotta love ya!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

Emma loved every minute.

Ready, set...

Jump!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

"T" is for Train!

Recently we had an old but enormous steam engine rumble through town. It was part of a series of historic train rides and exhibits. Tal is so enamored with trains. He could barely take his eyes off of it. Matt and I are convinced he dreams in train! He tells us some pretty great stories about train rides he's taken!!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

He saw the train, but he didn't hear much of it :) It's whistle was super loud!

Museum of Transportation

After the train puffed away, we still had to drag Tal back to the car. He was sure there was another one coming. So that weekend we planned a trip to one of Matt's favorites place to go as a kid: the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. Tal comes by his obsession of train honestly. Matt was just as crazy about them.

Both of my Coleman boys definitely got enough train action here. Trains from all time periods, trains that they were still restoring, and a ride on the mini steam engine! It was a really neat place.

There were plenty of "steamies" to been seen here!

From The Coleman's est. 2003

From The Coleman's est. 2003

From The Coleman's est. 2003

From The Coleman's est. 2003

A "red" Thomas!!!! Tal couldn't even stand it!
Matt really enjoyed ringing the bell!!!
They gave rides on an old restored street car.

From The Coleman's est. 2003

Grandpa and Grandma Coleman joined us. They have spent many an hour at this place with Matt!!

They didn't just have trains either. There was an old car exhibit with cars from famous old movies, a few models of airplanes, and a tug boat!

A very fun Saturday to say the least. I'm sure it won't be our last visit here!

Happy Mother's Day!

I have been so blessed to have some of the most amazing women our Heavenly Father ever created to be in my life: My mom, my mother-in-law, my sister and sis-in-law, and to many friends to mention. You are the true meaning of motherhood. We have the best job in the world and this is for you too:

From The Coleman's est. 2003

Joy School Graduate!!

Emma wasn't the only graduate we had! Tal and his buddies from Joy School had a fun day of their own! A few friends and I rotated homes during the year and had a couple hours of fun and learning...mostly fun though! On the last day the kids coloring their own graduation caps and all! They were so dang cute!

From The Coleman's est. 2003