the last two months...

So this is going to be a lengthy post because I have been meaning to post some pictures for awhile, but no big surprise, I haven't felt well enough to be bothered. Not that I feel particularly good right now, but whatever. So a few weeks ago, a teacher at Kate's preschool gave our name to a photographer friend of hers who was doing a photo shoot for Speedo swim suits. So the woman contacted me and asked me if Kate would like to do the photo shoot. Kate was really excited to do it, and she did a great job. She got paid a whopping $80 :), but that's more than the change she currently has in her piggy bank. We had to drive up to a private residence in Long Beach, and the shoot took about 3 hours. It was SO hot, but all the kids did a good job. The pictures will actually be on the packaging of whatever product Kate was wearing. So next spring, look for her on the Speedo rashguards! :) This is the backyard where we shot. If you look closely, you can see a little boy in blue over by the diving board where they shot most of the shots. Too bad Kate has such a wacky smile. Then we did a two-week stint in swim lessons, but since Kate still hasn't figured out that when you pop your face out of the water you are actually supposed to take a breath and not just look around, we will be doing two more weeks in June. This first picture Grandma told her to pose like she did at her "photo shoot." What a ham! I also had a lovely Mother's Day. Jim gave me perfume, a card from him and one from the kids, flowers and a balloon. I, of course, felt like crap so I did nothing that weekend but lay around. I'm definitely suffering for the cause this Mother's Day. Kate also had a speaking part in our Mother's Day sacrament program. She stood on a chair at the microphone, and she kept waving to me and Jim. Then after her part, she kept standing on the chair while the primary sang a few songs. They must have turned the mic down, but Kate didn't know that so she kept adjusting it to be right in front of her mouth, leaning into it to sing. It was really so sweet to watch. I had her do her part just in our living room, but I can't upload the clip for some reason. I'll keep working on it. We have also had some fun play dates in our backyard with the hose and the sprinkler. Kate loves to play with her friends, and it is actually easier on me if she has someone to play with in the afternoons, otherwise she watches more t.v. than I care to admit. But i love sprinkler play--it just feels like such good old fashioned fun! Look at these ladies....just drying off on the lawn chair! Kate and Avery have the most vivid imaginations, it's hilarious to listen to them play together.
And the rest are just some random photos. Ezra got hand, foot, and mouth disease which was fun for all. I also think my kids have learned to play together a lot more since I got sick...probably because they realized they only had each other since mom has been completely worthless these days. They are both getting so big, and I think every mom out there can relate to what a sweet moment it is when you discover your kids playing together, happily, with each other, without prompting. It is a rarity, because as your kids begin to play with each other, they also learn how to fight with each other as well. But I am now 12 weeks...so hopefully they will get their mom back soon!