Emily 
Madeleine
May has been a very busy month for Madeleine and Emily, and consequently, one of limited blogging for their mother. The girls' Spokane grandparents flew in on April 30th and left on May 13th. The girls' German grandparents flew in on May 15th and left on May 29th. The result is two happy little girls, who were given lots of time and attention, having to return to a routine that involves just one full-time adult.
The month began with Madison's (friend from school) birthday party. I completely admire the courage Madison's parents demonstrated in hosting an event that involved this many preschoolers (there is a reason our girls didn't even know a party was an option this year!). This is the third time Emily and Madeleine have been invited to a party, but the first time it's worked with our schedule...it was quite a success with face painting, a jumpy castle (for lack of a better term), a visit from Cinderella, a huge cake (thankfully our prep work about taking the piece you are offered and not asking for more frosting paid off!) and treat bags!
The girls had a great time with both sets of Grandparents. A major treat was that each side of the family had a grandparent who had recently celebrated their birthday...this meant we could "recelebrate" and there was much excitement regarding the procurement of cake! Grandparent activities included trips to Busch Gardens, Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, the playground and of course the park.
In hygiene news, every time we give the girls a shampoo we are informed they do not need another one "until Christmas time". We have repeatedly pointed out this would not be socially acceptable and would result in the girls being "stinky girls". Madeleine and Emily were told that kids at school don't talk to stinky kids and that is why they need regular shampoos....this was contemplated over a period of time until Emily announced "That okay, I be stinky girl" with very little concern for her future social status.
"School" for the school year came to an end two weeks ago, but thankfully summer session starts this week. In an experiment of our making, we have enrolled the girls in separate classes with Madeleine attending on Thursdays and Emily attending on Fridays. Our hope is this will allow a group of children to get to know each of the girls as an individual and not part of a set....we shall see how it goes.
Madison's party - Madeleine is 2nd from left and Emily is 6th from left. The birthday girl is noticeable due to her crown and coveted position on Cinderella's lap!
Emily's face paint!
Madeleine's face paint!
The girls playing in a "bathtub", dug by Grandma, in the sand at Yorktown. The game was to take turns pouring buckets of water into the tub while the other girl "took a bath". The adults' motivation was having the girls lug buckets of water led to a good nap! Madeleine pouring and Emily bathing.
Grandma, Madeleine (white suit) and Emily (lavender suit).
Grandpa filling buckets of water. Grandpa, Madeleine, Emily.
Madeleine (left) and Emily (right) playing with a gift from Uncle Paul....those gelatin caplets with a foam "animal" inside that is "released" once the caplet melts in warm water.
What a difference a year makes! This picture was taken pretty much to the day from our blog's first post Horses And Then Some which depicted a howling Madeleine and did not show Emily at all because she had had to be removed from the ride due to her tears. As you can see, we are no longer intimidated by the horses at Busch Gardens. Emily on the left, Madeleine on the right.
Building a Lego tower with Oma and Opa. Madeleine in the purple shirt and Emily in the pink shirt.
Celebrating Oma's birthday - left to right - Emily, Oma, Madeleine, Opa.
