Brie preschool graduation

 My Gabriella is officially ready for kindergarten and done with preschool(insert tears here). I am blaming the pregnant belly on the overdrive emotions with this event. I held it together pretty well during the program but was a wreck the whole day inside! As always the program was very sweet and Brie was one of the louder singers, she did great!

her and her little friend had the giggles during the set up but then got it together and preformed well!

The group has grown by 20+ in the last year! way to go preschool. 

 While a shy, nervous look she was VERY excited to get her "diploma" and walk across the bridge!

A few shots of some of Brie's favorite buddies at school!

The lady is not only Brie's teacher but also the director and she has been just wonderful!! We absolutely LOVE her and the preschool program, so sad our 6 years is coming to an end. Until..... September 2018 when another one will go through. So glad this is not a final good-bye!

Way to go Brie cheese we are very proud of you and all that you have done. You continue to amaze us!

ducks

On our way to Brie's school the other day we had to stop a take a picture. This momma duck and her 9 babies decided to cross a big bridge that leads out of our development. It was a very sweet moment, Brie was so excited but also very concerned someone would run them over. I thought they would be fine, however they made it a third of the way and they all just sat down, needless to say we did not wait to see what happened but we did say a prayer for them that they would make it to the other side safely.

Maggie turned 9!

 Maggie's birthday fell on a very busy Tuesday this year. So as a family we took a time out the Saturday before and spent quality time together celebrating Maggie! We started off at Build A Bear. No matter how old a person is you can always find something special there! I neglected to get a picture of all the new friends we acquired from that store! Then it was off to Justice for a little shopping, Maggie was able to pick out a shirt of her liking. Then is was time for pizza and fun. We have not been to our arcade pizza place in a LONG time so the kids had a great time playing all the games and relaxing. They really do like each other and traveled pretty much like a four pack the entire afternoon/evening. They always checked in with Maggie to make sure she was happy and getting to do what she wanted, very nice to witness(unprompted by us, too!)

 Tuesday was the BIG birthday so we hurried supper in between other things and then also rushed presents during another break.  Cake was also done on the fly! Maggie's cake request was "I want a splatter cake, just a messy birthday, cuz that is how I am and I like it!" Well Pete once again created exactly what was asked.

 The more the pieces to the present the better and top left was definitely the favorite gift of the night, Easy Bake is always a smile maker as well.

Maggie requested a mixed up cake so she and Pete put food coloring in the mix and tada! a messy, mixed up cake - she LOVED it!
Happy Birthday sweet girl! you have a heart of gold and a honest, sincere love that we are fortunate enough to enjoy!! Love you dearly!

winding down

 I am happy that in one weeks time we had our last soccer game with the littles. The 6 weeks went very quickly and they both did very well.

 Makayla had her last volleyball practice and game and was able to improve her skills greatly!

Makayla and Maggie both take piano lessons and those too are now done for the summer!


We all enjoy our activities a lot but to have Wednesday and Friday nights and Saturday mornings open again is going to be wonderful!!

Mothers Day

 It was Happy Mother's Day to me day!! The kids all made cards and were so excited to give them to me. It was a very relaxing day. It was a rainy afternoon so that meant snuggles on the couch watching a movie and maybe a quick nap! Pete did some shopping that he wasn't supposed to but I love the pieces he got for me! Hanging out as a family is really one of my most favorite things to do. So happy to be these little people's  momma!!

Brie is just a goof! she was so squirrelly all day! we all had some good laughs because of her!

Velma/Barb

Happy Mother's Day to these two wonderful ladies. Without your love and openness to life my family would not be possible. I will forever be grateful to each of you because I could not be happier than I am now. Thank you both also for being such great teachers and wonderful helpers in raising my family! Yours is an example worthy of following! You have taught us responsibility, how to love unconditionally, and strive to be the best we each can be.  I love each of you to the moon and back and I keep each of you in my daily prayers! May God Bless each of you everyday!

Charlotte's Web

Never mind the very blurry picture, it was a quick on the fly kind of moment! We all went to our local theater to watch a dear friend play the friendly spider in the play Charlotte's Web. It was a very cute, well done play! We all enjoyed watching our friend who did an amazing job!!

Makayla as Ellen Wilson

5th grade has to do a big presidents project, the kids are in a "wax museum" and they prepare reports to give you. Makayla drew Ellen Wilson. It was a perfect match for her! This first lady put off marriage, after raising her 3 younger siblings to attend art school. Makayla learned a lot and had fun doing the project as well. I did not get a picture of her dress as they had to dress like them as well, shoot!

PJ's program

 PJ had his Mother's Day program this past week. It is such a sweet and lovely little program of songs and poems. PJ did a good job, but he is a boy! I got a couple eye rolls, and he had no desire for any pictures with friends or teachers. The girls were all over having many pictures taken and were very proud of themselves. PJ was just happy it was over! I am glad I have seen it twice, helps my emotions prepare for what is coming. Being pregnant this time I thought for sure I would be an emotional mess from the innocence of their songs and voices. I only had tears during one song! Pretty proud of myself!

closet and yard flip

 I am HAPPY to report my kids' closets are DONE!! those that know me remember how much I dislike this job and put it off forever. Not this year, mood struck and I went with it! All closets done, storage totes returned to storage and a huge pile gone to Goodwill.
While I did the inside Pete and the kids worked hard outside! Mulching, trimming, mowing, and planting the garden. They also dug up a tree and planted a new one. Usually I help but this year I continued to work inside and he had the kids help him. It was a very productive weekend! I spent the beginning of the week recovering from all our efforts. Good feelings and good jobs done!

May Day!!

 It is not May 1st around this house unless we do May Day bags and deliver them to our neighbor kids! We are on our 6th year and the kids just LOVE it! really it takes about 20 minutes and just makes them feel so good making others smile!

and they are off to deliver and hopefully not get caught! PJ had NO desire to receive any kisses from getting caught! Brie however said she would take hugs if caught but no kisses.

my Godson Matthew

 Matt turned 11, caught up to Kayla again. We went in for the day for his party. Hard to believe that these guys can be getting so old! You cannot see if but the cake has green on it and Matt decided to try it and the green completely stained his mouth! A good time was had by all!!

First Communion - Maggie

Our sweet Second grader Maggie Jean made her First Holy Communion in April. She was so excited and had so much fun getting dressed up for the day. A HUGE THANK YOU to her "auntie" Jill, really a cousin but a person my kids absolutely love to pieces! Anywho she came into town and made Maggie look beautiful for her day. Maggie wanted just a flip out straight hair look.  A few pictures of our day. We had a nice group here at the house and at church for Maggie, she was very happy with her visitors.  I may add more pictures to this blog later, the wonderful Jill took very nice pictures with her camera and they will be arriving via mail.

Gift opening brought out a few unique faces of Maggie.

 She wanted a simple angel food cake, her daddy had other ideas. As usual it turned out beautifully and Maggie loved her cake!

 A picture with Maggie's Godfather Mark and her Auntie Carol who stands in a "godmom" when needed. She loves you both and was so happy to have you be a part of her day!

Maggie's Godmother is her "Auntie Karen" who took a time out from her busy life to fly in for the event!! Maggie was so excited to have Karen here just for her! All the kids enjoyed her visit and had to get in one last large snuggle before she headed back to the airport! THANK YOU again for making the trip and hanging out with us!!We love you!!