Out on the town

Wheeewww...it's been a busy week! Our family has been all over lately.  This past Sunday, we celebrated Rana's graduation by attending her open house.  Amo Basel had plenty of surprises in store for all the kids in attendance.  From the ginormous bounce-house, to Aaron, the magician, what a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  

Nothing keeps this kid more occupied than a cooler of ice and water. (A close second is dirt, rocks, and a little more dirt and rocks.)  Zachary has very little interest in his toys and nothing really holds his attention for more than a minute or two at a time.  He is all. over. the. place.   Randy and I have come to agreement that this is probably the hardest stage thus far with the 2 kiddos.  It's literally impossible to cook or do any kind of chore around the house while he is awake.  On the other hand, Helaina has really turned into a great helper.  She finds many ways to keep herself busy and continues to do more and more on her own.  We definitely don't want to wish time away, but we do look forward to a few months/year from now when Zachary can play a bit more independently.    

Helping daddy wash his NEW car!

Today, with the help of my mother in-law, we took the kids to the Detroit Zoo.  It was our first time this year, and we're still enjoying our year long membership from Uncle Omar.  Helaina always enjoys going and is beginning to learn more about the animals with each trip.  Zachary loved the new carousel and threw a small tantrum when the ride was over.

Teta Helen with the kids on the train

Train ride

I spent a good portion of the weekend in Indianapolis with my very best girl friends.  Randy, with the help of his parents, watched the kids so I could have a day to celebrate the bride to be.  And what a day it was...a trip to Costco (kid free), lunch poolside, afternoon pedicure, a leisurely shower (kid free), Wine and Canvas event in the evening, and a night cap on Mass Ave.  Couldn't have asked for a better day or a better way to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Megan and Jon.  Couldn't have asked for a better husband either.  It was just what this mommy needed!

All the ladies and our portraits.

If this week was any indication of the fun that is about to be had this summer, I'm IN!!!

Ready for Summer

This past Tuesday was Helaina's last day of the "mommy & me" class.  Starting in the fall, she'll attend the same school, but on her own for a couple hours, two days a week.  She really enjoyed socializing with the kids and participating in the various crafts, stories, and musical activities.  Randy and I don't anticipate it will be much of an adjustment for her, especially since a couple of her current classmates will also be in her class this fall.  

Helaina, Edgar the Bear, and Ms. Jeanne

Ice cream treats on the last day with her friend, Delaney (Delaney will be in her class this fall)

Under the parachute!

When I first met Randy, his cousin Rana was 8 years old.  Today she is 18 years old and graduating from Ladywood High School.  I can't believe that I've known Randy for 10 years, and I feel very blessed to have watched his cousins grow into beautiful young women right before my eyes.

With this awesome, warm weather, the kids have been playing outside as much as they can.  We have the smallest plastic pool from when Helaina was a baby, but both kids (and even the older neighborhood kids!) still love to slide down their "castle"  and splash into the pool.

So this a video for Zach to remember.  He's a tough little guy, mostly because his sister treats him like he is her age.  I love that they usually play together, however, you never know the outcome...laughs, bumps, bruises, a little bleeding.  I couldn't be more happy that summer is just around the corner!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Earlier this week, Helaina spent a good hour working with her new play-dough toy, the drill-it and fill-it dentist kit.  She received the gift from the Khoury family for her birthday, and shockingly, it is relatively accurate in regards to dentistry.  It comes with an actual drill and amalgam carrier to place restorations, and if you're super crafty and patient, one can place brackets and wires for braces.  Mom and dad were diggin' it too! 

Brother and sister having story time in the morning.  Zachary doesn't like to "read" as much as his sister, however, he will spend quite a bit of time flipping through each page of the book.

On Saturday, the four us attended The Jackson Center's Ice Cream Social.  Helaina has her last day of school this Tuesday, and the school celebrates with an end of year picnic.  We met a couple of her classmates and their families at the park, and the kids enjoyed several different activities.  Below, Helaina is getting a butterfly "drawing" on her leg.   

Ring toss with her friend Delaney.

Perched high above us in the firetruck.

We celebrated Mother's Day all weekend.  After the kids' naps on Saturday, we spent the evening in downtown Plymouth.  The park and fountain were enough to keep the kids busy, while mom was able to purchase her "Made in Detroit" Mother's Day gift.  After a bit of shopping, we had a nice dinner with Randy's parents and then some dessert back at their home.

I had an event at church this morning, followed by quality time with all of the family this evening at Randy's Grandma's house.  Mother's Day and Father's Day are two of my favorite weekends of the year...guaranteed time with the family, and equally as important, extra hugs, and kisses, and I love yous!
This prayer was in our church bulletin.  To both of our mothers, our grandmothers, and all the special mothers in our lives...

A Prayer For My Mother 

Thank you, God, for my mother. How many times have I said that I will 

be different from my mother - “better,” unusual - not like her. Yet here I 

stand, morally and lovingly hers. 

Thank you God, for all that she said and that she did not say, for all that 

she did and all that she left undone. 

Thank you, God, for letting me become so many of those good things that 

were my mother - the things I had not the wisdom to see in an earlier day. 

Thank you, God, for my mother. 

Amen 

Shots, Shots, Shots!

It may be Cinco De Mayo, but those aren't the kind of shots I'm talking about...not at this age anyway.  After several months of studying and preparation, I completed my local anesthetic course this week at University of Detroit Dental School.  It was a 3 day course that consisted of lecture and hands on clinical practice and competencies.  I gave my first 19 oral injections and also received 19 injections, all within a 24 hour period.  Wheeeww, I'm quite relieved that is all over with.  The only thing between the needle and my patients is the board exam that I plan to take at the end of this month.  When I graduated hygiene school in 2004, Indiana hygienists were not able to administer local anesthetic, the law has since changed in Indiana and Michigan, and I have been longing to take this class for quite sometime.  With all the changes in our lives for the past several years, it was never the right time. However, I couldn't be more thankful for my husband and family for their support. Randy has been a valuable resource through this entire process, and both our families (parents, aunts, cousins) have helped with childcare and meals.  Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to reach this goal. 

Not one of my pictures, but helps you get a good visual, right?! 

 (Courtesy of RDH magazine online)

After a busy week, it was great to spend some quality time with the Khoury family.  

 The girls made their own pizza for dinner. It was a hit...mushrooms, black olives, tomatoes.

 The finished product.

 Can you believe this guy is already 4 months old? Such a big boy!