Small Treats

HIGHLIGHTS of the past few days

Makayla's end of the year program for preschool - Graduation & Promotion.

Makayla finished her second year of preschool and still has one more year to go before she gets to go to kindergarten.  She's already looking so forward to kindergarten and is constantly asking questions about kindergarten.  One of her most repetitive questions she asks is "Will people hold me in kindergarten?".

Makayla is a smart girl who loves to learn and loves to go to school!  

 It's been exciting to watch her grow and learn over this past year and she is constantly amazing us with all of the knowledge she carries with her!

We are so proud of her!

Makayla's program was very sentimental.   I cried and Kevin cried got teary-eyed...

and it wasn't because Makayla was being promoted from preschool class to the next, but it was because we had to say good-bye to Mrs. Wright - 

Her preschool teacher of the last two years has retired and this program was her last 'hurrah' as a teacher.  

I love Mrs. Wright and I love her assistant for this past school year - Miss Kaiser - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Miss Kaiser will be staying for next year.  If not, I just may cry again...!

It was very emotional to say good-bye to Mrs. Wright and although it makes me sad to see her go, I'm very happy for her that she is able to retire in happiness and good health.

Every single one of the preschoolers got to go up the microphone and say
"When I grow up, I want to be..."

It was the cutest thing!!
There were future

teachers,

dinosaurs,

police officers,

soldiers,

volley ball players,

pop stars,

scientists...

and of course, baby doctors!!

Kari and Corey's Wedding

(warning: lots of pictures)

My cousin Kari married Corey in an outdoor ceremony at a winery.
It was beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful!

...and Makayla made another debut as a flower girl!

It was a picture perfect evening - 

 

Me and my girls! 

Where I come from -

Me with my mom, dad, and sister! 

Great Grandma Allen with Mia! 

Daddy and his little girl! 

Makayla and Mason - with the way they were dressing up, you would have thought that they sneaked a glass or two of wine!

I've never been to a more beautiful wedding ceremony and reception!
the vineyard,

the storm clouds in the distance with the sun shining over us,

the pond,

...and a gorgeous bride and handsome groom.

I'm so happy to have been a part of Kari and Corey's Happily Ever After and I'm thankful that Makayla was a small part of their day.  It filled my heart with joy to see by beautiful baby girl walk down their aisle in her pretty dress tossing her flower petals.
Thank you for the memories!

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 ...and besides Makayla's program and Kari's wedding,  the last few days were also filled with -

*buying suntan lotion!!
*having 'girl time' with Aunt Nina - Makayla, Mia, Nina, and I went dress shopping and out to lunch...

just us girls!

*we got to dine outdoors at a couple of restaurants...one of my favorite things to do in the warm weather.
*attend a couple of graduation parties - one for a friend who graduated high school and one for a cousin who graduated college.

*i got to spend one-on-one time with one of my kids...rocking in a rocking chair...outside...in the peace and quiet...all alone...just us two... - that may not sound like a big deal, but it's a huge deal!

*relaxing & visiting with good friends on a patio.

*playing in in the sprinkler!
*setting up a tadpole habitat for the kiddos.

*planting flowers.

...just living life - being happy and having fun!

One of the secrets to a happy life is continuous small treats.

-Iris Murdoc

the rocking chair, makayla in her flower girl dress, celebrating graduations, a preschool diploma...these are my small treats.

Mother's Day 2013

How to really love a child:

Be there.

Say yes as often as you can.

Let them bang pots and pans.

If they're crabby, put them in water.

Read books out loud with joy.

Go find elephants and kiss them.

 Encourage silly.

Giggle a lot.

 Remember how really small they are.

 Search out the positive.

Keep the gleam in your eye.

Go see a movie in your pajamas.

Teach feelings.

Realize how important it is to be a child. 

Plan to build a rocket ship.

Stop yelling.

Invent pleasures together.

Surprise them.

Express your love. A lot.

Children are Miraculous.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Being a mother is what I live for...

Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know you had. 

- Linda Wooten

(I know I'm still a fresh mom with my oldest being only 4, but I can 100% agree with this quote...and I know that I still have a lifetime to go!)

The Week Mia Turned 6 Months

Mia Grace -

6 months old.

Whew!

You are a beauty!!
With your blue eyes and gorgeous smile,

those dimples,

the way your hair lightly touches the top of your ears,

the way my lips are drawn to your cheeks,

the smell of your skin,

your sweet giggles,

I love you...

I love you to pieces.

- 

I could stare at you forever.

I could smell you forever.

I could hold you forever.

You LOVE to play Peek-A-Boo, Patty Cake, and sing The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

You are super cute when you rub your itches.  Your hair is at just the right length where I think it tends to tickle the top of your ears.

I know you are going to LOVE riding roller coasters.  You love to be bounced, rocked, and flown around the room as an airplane.  One of your favorite things to do is lay on your belly and ride on mommy's knees high into the air.

You have really enjoyed tasting new foods and expanding your flavor palate.  Last night for dinner you had sweet potatoes and white beans.  You loved it.  I think your favorite thing to eat right now (besides your mama's milk) is bananas mixed with in with avocados.

Mia is getting smarter, prettier, and bigger by the minute.

Time flies and I'm trying to hold on with all I've got!!

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Besides Mia turning six months old this week, 

We spent time at the park walking and exploring.

The kids were blowing on dandelions and making wishes.  When I asked Makayla what her wish was, she told me that she wishes she was a mommy and that she had a baby girl. 

We went swimming in Grandma and Grandpa Allen's backyard.  Mason is a fish.  He loves to swim - He loves to jump in and he loves to go under water . He hasn't perfected the whole idea of keeping your mouth closed when you go underwater and that's definitely something we'll need to work on this summer! 

We went on a field trip with Makayla's preschool class to Fondulac Farm Park.  We got to see and feed the farm animals, milk a cow, play at the park, touch a toad, and have lunch with Makayla's friends. 

We had another program for Makayla -

her 2013 Kids Club Finale.
Makayla's class performed on stage, singing and acting out several songs.
Makayla did a great job and was presented with a medal and certificate.

Besides being busy with the kiddos this week, we've been busy with other grown up things as well...but taking the time to do things like a walk at dusk to Dairy Queen and a relaxing drive at night to smell the country (I LOVE smelling the country) helps to balance out the stresses...
...and thanks to Nurses Week, we got free massages at work yesterday!  A free 15 minute massage was a fabulous way to end the work week.  

I moaned and I drooled...