Preschool Graduation!

Dear Emmi,

Once again you were the cutest little preschool graduate.  I was so proud to during the program.  Through preschool you have shown that you are not only cute but very smart, and anxious to learn to read and count like your big brothers.  

I was not the only one that was proud.  Lots of family also came to see you graduate, including grandparents, great grandparents, and even a few cousins. (Even though I did not get photos of everyone).

This year made such great friends, like sweet little Lola, who we will be hoping to see again next year in Kindergarten.

You know that you had the BEST teacher ever too, just like your brothers had.  Boy, do we love Miss Amy.  It is crazy to think that she had all three of you... wow, time flies!

The Thomson's also came down for the day, and while all the boys went to see The Avengers, us ladies went for cupcakes!  It was a great day.  I am so glad to have you as my little girl.

Lucky

I am a very lucky woman.  I have a husband who works so very hard at work, in his church calling, and at being a great father.  He also does love me very much and helps me clean the house, do the shopping, bathe the children and occasionally spoil me gits and flowers for special occasions.  I have no idea how much this beautiful bouquet was that he brought home for me, and as much as I love my husband, they cannot compare in value to the other Mother's Day gifts I was given.  

I am sure that I am not alone in this.  These handmade gifts and love notes that my children are giving me now each and every May mean so much to me.  I know that I am not a perfect mom in any sense.  I daily see things that I need to improve on.  And daily, again, I have to stop myself and ask, what would my own dear mother do in this situation? How on earth did she do this, and raise such good (ha-ha) kids? And that might sound arrogant, but I really do believe that I have the best and most wonderful siblings in the world.  I often ponder at what she did exactly for it to be so, and honestly, I still have not found a clear answer.  I am sure that it has to with her personality, love, and a Christ-centered home.  In the meantime, when I am around my mother and watch her interact with my children, I try to learn from her gentleness, kindness and humor, and try to remember that when she isn't there.  Again, I know I fall short, but I am trying to do better.

I know it is really cliche, but being a mother has indeed been the most challenging thing that I have ever done in my 31 years of life.  It also has been the most rewarding thing that I have ever done, and Mother's Day is one of those sweet rewards.  I am blessed to be in a house surrounded by those I love and who love me back and for that, I feel lucky.        

5 and a 2

Since my last post, you can pretty just say that we have been partying.  May 4th was Chad and I's 11th wedding anniversary, and then right after we celebrated Emmi's and Jack's Birthdays in which they turned 5 and 2.  

We all went to Winger's on Emmi's birthday, where she got sang to and got her own little dessert. 

Sometimes Jack was not happy...

and sometimes he was.

We even put all 4 of the kids for a ride on the train. 

 

The next night was Jack's birthday and we got him a toy Dyson vacuum and some new Crocs, among other things, but those are indeed his favorites.  Notice his shoes are on the wrong feet.  Jack now wears these shoes all day everyday, and you can bet they are on the wrong feet 95% of time, just like his big brother Sam had.

I new he would love them just for being able to take them on and off by himself. 

That night we also enjoyed a Blizzard Cake from Dairy Queen for the birthday kids.  We sure love them.