Tra la! It's May!

May's kickoff weekend was packed with fun!

Friday evening found us at the Valley Interfaith Childcare Center (Adele's daycare, and Miles' former daycare) for their end of the semester family "picnic." The rain on Friday made it an indoor picnic, but didn't do anything to diminish the little ones' enjoyment.

Adele and Maisy, still best orange room girlfriends

Meanwhile, Miles was reunited with his bestie, Aaliyah. They hardly stood still long enough for a picture; in minutes they were once again thick as thieves and capering all over the room.

Daycare 1-year reunion

We had to scurry from that event to drop Papa and Adele off so that Miles and I could attend the "Boys' Night Out" held at his school. The event was a combination dance, dinner and playdate for the  elementary boys and their adults. And the theme? Cowboys!

That's his hat I brought from Guatemala

Miles with one of his preschool and now kindergarten buddies, Jackson. 

Saturday morning found us, as usual, at the dance studio. The kids were having a dress rehearsal for their recital, coming at the end of the month. I got to see the costumes, and I'm going to wait for their official pictures (which will be taken next weekend) to post photos, but just take my word for it... these costumes are dangerously adorable.

After dance, we attended Virgina Tech YMCA's Healthy Kids Event held in the athletic portion of campus. Leadership at the event included a lot of Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets members. I have never felt so warmly toward them as I do this week!

Cadets led games, crafts, bubble contests, kite-flying lessons and helped kids all day long to learn and play at this event. They were superior role models on Saturday!

Miles in his pink shirt got called "she" quite a lot. He rolled with it. 

Ships and Sailors is Miles and Adele's new favorite game!

Miles' facepaint: "Make me a ladybug!"

Adele: "My favorite animal is a sheep." 

The kids saw the kite flying and were begging me to let them fly kites. I wasn't sure they'd be able to get or keep them in the air, so I was hesitating, but these guys stepped in to teach them for me. I got a break and they got to fly! Thanks, cadets!

Miles kept up a running pace for probably 15 minutes

Sunday morning was church, of course. I got to read the epistle lesson from 1 John on love, which was a huge honor. After church, the kids and I had a wedding to get to! Lisa is the administrative assistant in my office and she's a kind, strong, warm-hearted person I've come to love. I am so happy to see her so happy with her new husband.

The sunshine on the rural Southwest Virginia landscape made the perfect backdrop. Afterwards there was barbecue, music and dancing! The kids were thrilled when they played The Twist, and Miles jumped up at the end to do the Cha-Cha Slide with the bridesmaids. Nothing like a May wedding in the country for a reason to celebrate!

At church, a woman who is frustrated with the lack of superhero clothes for girls has started making superhero skirts for her daughter. On Sunday, she gave one to Adele, who has long admired Claire's skirts. She wore it all day Monday without having accidents in it, so I'm quite willing that she should wear it again today.

"HulkSMASH" is her favorite, of course. 

Meanwhile, back at work for the last week of classes, spring is beginning to resemble summer. And I spotted the first crop of ducklings!

Today marks five years since the day in 2010 that we learned we'd be moving to Blacksburg. I'm considering making it a family holiday.