texas-sized rain storm

we went to the zoo with our friends, the maas's, yesterday and it poured the entire time we were there! it was hilarious...we spent lots of time looking at animals inside like spiders (and let me tell you, the dallas zoo has some creepy, southern spiders on display), naked mole rats and snakes. when we decided to run for the car in a rare moment of dryness, we couldn't resist the giant puddle in the practically vacant zoo parking lot!

i wanna pet a bunny (said while sobbing)

we've been crying (literally) for weeks about wanting to pet a bunny. it started out of the blue and became a total obsession for lucy. she really wanted to go buy a bunny, but i told her she would just have to make do with the loaner bunnies at the zoo. she was in bunny heaven.

even emma got into the action!

chuck e. cheese

we went to chuck e. cheese's for a birthday party this weekend and lucy was obsessed with this horse! it was hilarious. you pulled the reigns and could make it jump and all, but lucy just kept running the thing into the imaginary wall around the race course. every time it ended she would ask, "did i win?" i lied every time and said, "of course you won...you're awesome!"

no more teachers, no more books...

lucy and her sweet, sweet teacher, ms. nora! we love ms. nora at our house! we'll miss having her next year.

emma had a killer end-of-school party at a classmate's house. it was fun for the girls and mommies alike! on to first grade!

time in the tub

this is the only place the girls are allowed to hold the micro-rats. i figure that escape is less likely and i really can't tolerate the thought of them running amok in my home.

we've got rats

well, hampsters, actually. this is what lucy decided to buy with her birthday money!

okay, so they're actually pretty cute. yes, rodents. but small and without the creepy tail.

lucy is practicing her letters on her new birthday present from grandma nelson. thank you, grandma nelson! we really needed these...

we move between smiling maniacally and throwing temper fits. let's hope she picks up on this writing thing soon. applications start in the fall!
homework, homework, homework.
finished math, nearly done with reading!

singing happy birthday. i know she looks beyond thrilled here, but please believe me when i say that she was actually smiling about a millisecond prior to this photo. darn delay with digital cameras. i miss so many great shots!

it took several attempts, but eventually she was successful.
just waiting for the cake.
yummy....
the birthday candle ring...4 candles! big girl!

lucy turned 4 on sunday! here she is with her loot.

stuffed animals, a couple of books, awesome tracing cards for learning letters and 6 packs of gum. a great haul for a little tiny girl.
our traditional "celebratory" orange rolls breakfast. all birthdays and major holidays call for these little dreamboats.

lucy has become much braver with the birds at the dallas zoo, although caution should always be used with these dumb birds...they attack me and try to rip out my earrings every time i go in there. i'm thinking the term "bird brain" has substantial validity.