Happy Easter

Michelle has had a great Easter. Her Nana is visiting and she's very excited about that. We started out with Easter mass then went to brunch and then had a fun outing to the park with three rides on the carousel. It's been cold and rainy every other day this week but we were blessed with a perfect day today.
Michelle loves her new unicorn pillow pet. I think that brings her pillow pet total to 8.
Yep, that's our silly girl.

Our baby looks so grown up.
She loves to pose.
Supermodel pose.
Our silly princess.


Everyone got a turn taking Michelle on the carousel.


Blowing bubbles on Daddy's head.

Fall Fun

We were all a little sad to see summer end but we're having a lot of fun this fall. We started with Michelle's first time playing mini golf and we've been to a few farms. Michelle loved apple picking and hayrides and she even got to take her first pony ride.

Future Olympian

A couple of weeks ago Michelle's gymnastics class had their end-of-year performance. It was without a doubt the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. We were really impressed with the gym. It's a very non-competitive environment and all the kids enjoy showing off for their families. The show was really well-done. The parents got to go inside the gym and they had the kids waiting outside. Then they introduced each child individually and had them enter and do a somersault before taking a seat. They went to each station and had each child perform a short routine. At the end they gave each child a certificate and a gold medal. It was so precious. We're taking the summer off but are looking forward to going back in the fall.
I have to take a moment to brag. Michelle's teachers recommended moving her into a more advanced class next session based on skill rather than age. The class is only offered on a weekday afternoon so we can't do it but I was so proud I wanted to burst. In a way I'm actually kind of glad we can't do the advanced class. As flattering as it is that they think she's talented enough for that class, I'd hate it if someone told us one day that Michelle could be the next Nastia Liukin. The life of an elite gymnast is very hard and I really wouldn't want that for her. Right now she's just having fun with gymnastics and learning new skills and doing flips around the house. She's a very adorable little gold medalist.
As always, our princess loves to be silly.
And now for the medal ceremony
Isn't that the best monkey jump you've ever seen?
Now competing on the floor exercise is Michelle
Ta da
Demonstrating great balance
Michelle's beam routine

Michelle's bar routine
Moving to the next rotation
Completing her first tumbling pass

Presenting Michelle

Vacation

We took a trip to St. Petersburg, Florida at the end of May. I guess this post is a bit tardy but better late than never. Michelle had a blast. On our first day we went to the Florida Aquarium and then headed over to our resort. We really enjoyed the resort. It was made up of two hotels with a total of 7 swimming pools. We made it to 5 of them. Two were adults only, otherwise Michelle would have gone to every one. Swimming in the pools was her favorite part of the trip. We spent hours each day pool hopping. The sand was very hot during the day so we waited until just before sunset to hit the beach every night and then we brought the shovels and buckets to make sandcastles. Our trip was far too short. We were all a little sad when it was time to go home.
I'm very proud to report that Michelle has been bitten by the travel bug. Every night we pass the airport on our way home and we play a game of "where would you want to go if you were going on an airplane today." The other night we asked Michelle that and she said "Mount Kilimanjaro." Wow! I think she got that from Dora. The next morning she asked where we're going on our next vacation. I love that she thinks about travel like I do. To me travel is as important as oxygen and I'm so happy that I can share travel with Michelle. Some of my happiest memories are of trips shared with my mom (especially the silly moments) and I can't wait to make a lot of memories of our own.
Heading home from our wonderful vacation.
Enjoying a trolley tour. She fell asleep within two minutes.
The sandcastle turned into a sand mountain.
What cute pirates.
Pirate Princess.
Little Miss Manners
Enjoying lunch at Bubba Gump.
Feeling a bit crabby.
Sunset self-portrait.
Relaxing in the hammock.
Those seagulls were the most aggressive I've ever seen. One day we got pizza out by the pool for lunch. Roman got up for about 10 seconds and when he turned around, a seagull had flown off with a piece of pizza.
It wouldn't be a vacation without ice cream.
She loved her squirty toy. She wouldn't let it out of her sight.
Making crafts at the kids club.
Making sandcastles.
Michelle loved riding her "motorcycle."
I really love this picture. Enjoying her first Florida sunset of the trip.
The little boy on the left was Luke. At first they were great friends until he wouldn't share his watering can with Michelle. Then she made it a point to tell him, "Luke you're not my friend!"
Hitting the toddler pool. Look how flexible she is.
Enjoying the Memorial Day festivities at the resort.
Playing on the pirate ship. She loved squirting other kids with the water cannon but she didn't like it when she got squirted.
This is one of my favorites. The water dripping on her head kept making her giggle.
She loved the little waterpark at the Aquarium.
Michelle had a blast playing in the sandbox at the Aquarium.
Michelle said her favorite part of the Florida Aquarium was "pretending to be a seashell."