spring-summer update

Sorry for not posting here for a while; we've just been too busy doing other good stuff! Leighton keeps getting praised at work (and given more and more work and responsibility); Lilly is thriving at her Montessori preschool (the school keeps a photo album of their activities here); and I'm looking forward to the fall publication of my book on feminist porn.

We had a lovely Memorial Day weekend, spent one day family birthday partying, another day at the beach, and a final one at our local Memorial Day service followed by a local afternoon baseball game. We barbequed on the sunny days, sipping margaritas, and felt quite lucky about our lives. (Beach day pictures here.)

Lilly got her first two-wheeler this spring (hand-me-down from good neighbors). Pictures from our first family bike ride outing are here (confession: Leighton and I had to bike really slowly... But it was so much fun to bike together! And we all enjoyed our lunch and ice creams afterwards at the cafe in Welch village.)

I've been teaching Lilly ballet since this past winter when she first expressed interest. Then it got boring for her with no other kids around. In March, she joined (as the youngest student in the entire school) a class that had been practicing for the spring performance since January. I'm proud to say Lilly did wonderfully at the final recital at the high school theater Friday a week and a half ago. Not afraid of being on the stage at all! Just so happy to have her mom and dad there watching her and cheering her on. More pictures here.

It's just wild to us that Lilly will be finishing her first year of preschool on Friday; in three days! Thank you family for your financial support with that. And to think she will turn FOUR two weeks after that (BTW Cheryl: ladybug-swimsuit still fits!). Lilly is writing and reading letters, excited about the pool opening on Friday (goggles are on her wishlist), and speaks enthusiastically about our vacation to look forward to this summer. She is grateful for her friends (and so looks up to her older ones), in love with her mom and dad, and totally into changing clothes every ten minutes, especially dresses. It's that stage. And it's very cute.

Oh, and we got new IKEA patio furniture last week! And we are so into barbequing and eating outside on the porch. Lilly is loving her (cold) hotdogs with ketchup (Leighton and I prefer both those and our chicken grilled). We got a big nice umbrella too for some shade when it gets too hot.

Here's to a good summer to us all!