The Kindergarten Graduate...

Like I mentioned in my last post, Keaton graduated as well this last week. I can't believe he is officially done with Kindergarten, and his next graduation will be from high school! We were so happy to have Kim, my mother-in-law join myself, Chad and the kids for the ceremony in the middle of the day. (Thanks again for coming down Kim :) This was Keaton's teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, who is such a great teacher.
Here he is trying to smile for the camera... I don't know why it is so hard... :)
Keaton on the stage during the program with the other "morning" kindergartners.
The whole group. If you can't find Keek, he is on the back row, just right of the tallest kid in the class. I was frustrated that they put him, probably the shortest in his class not only next to the tallest kid in the class, but also behind another tall kid from another class. We had a hard time seeing him at all during the program... arrrgghh! Why does it always seem to be like that?
Chad, Sam and Emmi waiting for the program to start. And below, a short clip of Keek receiving his Kindergarten diploma, Yay!! Congrats Keek!

May 2009 078

Graduation Day...

This past week we had 2 different graduations, a preschool and a Kindergarten. First up, Sam graduated from his first year of preschool. Next year he will officially graduate from preschool, but as you can see in the photos, he was excited nonetheless. He cracked up Chad and I during their little program how he just couldn't seem to stay still, even through the songs. He is just like his father in that way :) Sam has been to both of Keaton's preschool graduations, so I was happy that he was finally able to have his turn. He did such a good job. Here he is below with Miss Amy, his teacher. We think she is just the best.Up above is some footage that I took of the program... Sam is the one in the orange sweater vest. Stay tuned, next up will be Keaton's Kindergarten graduation!

Whistle While You Work...

As some of you already know, I have recently purchased this cute chore board. The girl named Janette who makes them did such a good job that I told her I would try to spread the word to help out her business. They are customizable from the color of paint, to the font, to the words. You'll have to check out jboards.net if you are interested.

Today has only been the second day we have used ours, but already I can tell a difference with my boys. See, I was talking to a good friend who had told me about this great parenting book by Merilee Boyack (that I have put down below). Her message is that as parents our responsibility is to help our children grow up to be independent, successful adults. She talks about mothers who do everything for their children so they never learn those basic skills of cooking, cleaning, gardening and on and on.

I realized through her book that my kids, even at 2, 4, and 6 can help out more than I thought. It may not be done as perfectly as I would like, but they can help. In the book she tells how she has friends and neighbors who want their daughters to marry Merrilee's sons because they can cook, clean, garden, everything that a man should. (ha ha ha). Well, I want all of my children to be competent around the house too! I also came to the realization that the earlier my kids learn how to cook, clean and so forth, the more years they will have to practice with me and therefore, the better they will be at these things by time they leave. (I can hope, right? :) I'm sure that you would think that kids wouldn't want to do chores, but you would be surprised. Today I gave Sam the chore of helping me with lunch. I let him help me make his favorite, quesadillas. He got to sprinkle the cheese on the tortillas, put them on the skillet, and I let him flip them as well. He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time, just as the author of the book predicted and even said, 'Mom, I love this." The finished product wasn't perfect, but I know he has learned a few things today and that makes me happy. Already, the biggest hurdle of the chore board has been getting myself to let go of those responsibilities, as well as taking the time to teach them what they don't know how to do.

I am all about the kids helping me with the housework in the years to come and lighten my load a bit. I think it will be awesome. Right now I guess I just need to teach them patiently and hope that their enthusiasm for helping will continue... ha ha ha.

My Baby Girl is 2!

Just yesterday my baby girl turned 2. And wow, has time gone by fast! At her young age she is already into the Disney princesses, so we bought her a Cinderella tea set, dress-up shoes, gloves, a purse, a tutu, pretty much everything a little princess would need :) I have probably written this before, but I am so glad that my Heavenly Father sent her to me. She is my little peanut, my little shadow, and my little love. I especially love:

* Her almost reddish tight little curls and big green eyes.

* Her little growl-ly voice.

* How she loves her "Papa" and has to give him a kiss when he gets home.

* How she hates medicine and spits it back out (just like I did to my Mom :)

* How her new favorite word is "bum-bum" and she likes to tap mine and Chad's when she gets a chance.

* How seeing the dog in the morning makes her so happy.

* How sensitive she is compared to the boys. (Before long I'm sure long this will be a bad thing:)

* How she loves her brothers and yells their names all the way home when we drop them off at school.

* And finally, I love her little hugs and kisses, and how she likes to snuggle with me when I can't seem to get out of bed.
Enjoying her new tea set.If you look closely you can see her new little shoes that she literally clomped around the house in all night long.We were so happy to have my Mom and Dad come and "crash" the party. We got to take them to our favorite Chinese restaurant and help us celebrate. I didn't get a picture of my mom, but this is my cute Dad with Po, because Po, (and really all dogs), love my Dad. Thanks again for making the long trip you guys, we always love to have you.

Happy Birthday Emmi! We love you!

The Best Day of My Life...

...happened just 8 years ago today. Though much has happened in the last 8 years, there are so many things about my wedding day that I will always remember:

*The first sound and sight that morning was of my sweet mother. She came in and sat on my bed. She was playing with hair and saying "It is your wedding day," in her cute little voice.

*I remember getting dressed in the Bride's room in the beautiful Bountiful Temple. It was just me, my mom and a sweet little temple worker. I remember my Mom crying and thinking I'd always remember this moment with her.

*I remember sitting with Chad in the Celestial room, just before the ceremony. I don't remember either of us being nervous, just really excited.

*I remember walking into the beautiful sealing room filled with all of our friends and family. I remember trying to sit down with my big dress and my Aunt Janet giggling because I couldn't get it to stay down very well. I also remember being so happy that my Mom got to sit next to me and hold my hand through it.

*I remember my sweet Grandpa Hess, who is now gone, doing such a beautiful job with the ceremony. I felt so proud and lucky to have such an important person to me to act as the sealer. I will be forever grateful that he was able to do that for me.

*I remember hugging all the family and friends when the ceremony was over and how I couldn't stop crying. I was so overwhelmed by the spirit, and seeing all those people that I love in one place. I was so happy. I also remember that I my veil kept falling off every time I tried to hug someone. I remember wishing my other siblings were there too.

* I remember waiting such a long time in the bride's room for Chad to get ready, so we could go out and take pictures. Finally, the sweet temple worker said "There is a handsome young man out there waiting for you," and Chad and I walked hand in hand out of the temple doors.

*I remember going to the yummy luncheon that my Mother-in-law prepared, and doing a terrible job at introducing my extended family to everybody.

*I remember the beautiful white church on the hill that my brother Jared transformed into a beautiful reception hall with, even strings of lights across the ceiling.

*I remember being so happy to see a lot of friends that I hadn't seen in years come through the line.

*I remember being very nervous that Chad was going to get cake all over my face, and very relieved that he just got a dab on my nose.

*I remember dancing with Chad, my cute Dad and my sweet Father-in-law.

*I remember Chad dancing the "Charleston" with his Grandma Thornock, and making me laugh.

*I remember finding my cousin Cole buried in the backseat of Chad's car as a stow-away, luckily before we left the parking lot.

*I remember very mixed emotions as we left that night, knowing that my home was no longer my home and Chad and I were now a new family. I knew that my life with Chad wouldn't be perfect, (who's is?) but that it would be a very happy life and looking back over the past 8 years, it truly has been just that.