Monday, May 10, 2010

Being A Mom

Mother's Day .... a day that today has so many different emotions tied to it than it did last year. It was a day of ups and downs for me. There was laughter and there were tears.

Being a mom is such a gift, especially to these 3 little blessings. I feel so blessed that I get to do what I love everyday and that is be a mom. From the time I was little I couldn't wait to be a mom. I knew I desired to be home with my kids and I am so thankful that God has provided that for our family. I am also thankful that Eric has supported and encouraged me in that adventure. Even when times got tough and finances would get tight with the business he would always say we will figure out what we can cut to make it work. I am thankful for the role model my mom was to me. She was an active part of our life even when we went off to school. She helped in the office and classroom, drove on field trips and was always there waiting when we got off the bus.

Eric is such a good cook and often he takes over in the kitchen on the weekends. He enjoys it and it is a nice break for me. Well I knew for Mother's Day he would have something special up his sleeve. He made homemade bread dough from scratch. That bread dough turned into these yummy cinnamon rolls.

We also had fruit, yogurt and granola parfaits, scrambled eggs with mushrooms and onions and some sausage. It was a yummy brunch! After brunch he sent me out for some time by myself while him and the kids got some things ready. The kids were so excited. I was welcomed home to this ....

A little bouquet of treats. It was so fun to read and see the cards and pictures the kids so carefully made for me. One by one they read the notes they had written me.

Alexa had drawn this sweet picture of her and I.

She also had one of those cute fill in the notes that she had made at school. My favorite part is that she said I was 10 feet tall and weighed 78 pounds. I also love that she said she wouldn't trade her mommy for all the money in the world.

Emma too was so excited to read me the little book she had made for me!

She wrote about and drew pictures about all the hats I wear as a mom! I love hearing the little things that I just do that are things that they love. It makes me think more about the little things that I can be purposeful in doing that just make my kids day.

And Shane painted a picture too. He was so proud!

I was able to catch a little nap in the afternoon and then Eric finished the evening with some homemade rolls topped with some fresh halibut and made into a yummy melt. As we sat around the dinner table Eric had the kids list all the things that mommy does for them. I have never really heard a list of all the things that I do as a mom because doing all those things comes natural and it brings me such joy except maybe folding socks. But those things are the things I love about being a mom. I love taking care of my family, our home and all the other things that are on the mom to do list. I couldn't help but to feel overwhelmed with sadness and the tears again flowed easily as we sat at the table. I kept thinking about 3 precious children miles away who had just lost the most amazing mom you could find. As the kids kept listing things off I just kept thinking that every child needs a mom and why did these kids get that taken away at such a young age. So once again it was a day of joy because of the joy I feel as a mom but also great sadness as I continue to grieve the lost of my friend but today more importantly I grieve 3 little ones loss of a mom.

Eric's big Mother's Day project/surprise was ripping out all the overgrown evergreens in our front landscaping and replacing them with rose bushes and other flowers to give it some color.

The finished project! I can't wait for all the flowers to bloom!


Friday, May 7, 2010

A Scavenger Hunt

I was able to spend the day with Alexa and her class on their last field trip of the year. Alexa had a wonderful year. Her teacher was amazing and her class was such a great group of kids. I am so thankful of how easily Alexa adjusted to her new school. She has such a great group of friends.


It started off as a beautiful day. We were ate a state park and ready to start our scavenger hunt.


The kids were so excited as they searched for all the items on the list and then were able to check them off.


We traveled up and down many trails. What a beautiful day enjoying God's creation.

The rest of the day we had lunch and the kids were able to spend the afternoon playing.

These are Alexa's 3 best friends. They were a group from the beginning of school until they end. They had a friendship that grew in such a special way this year.


It was such a fun, relaxing day with a great group of 1st graders. It is hard to believe the year is almost over.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Happy May Day

May Day baskets are so much fun! We decided to hit the Dollar Store and put some little May baskets together for some of the kids friends.

The kids got busy labeling cups ....



sorting candy ....

filling cups ....

adding a little poem ....


finally making sure the cups were full and ready!


The kids had so much fun going from door to door ...

and then jumping back in the van before they were caught. After a few stops they decided they would rather stay at the door and talk to their friends rather than run.

Happy May Day

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Girls Day Out

I surprised the girls on a little girls day out. We went to a local college that was putting on the the play Cinderella.

The girls were so excited. They were vert excited when we walked in and they saw the castle. Notice the pose that Alexa came up with as they held their skirts.

The play was so much fun. The girls loved it and were very excited to get a picture with Cinderella.

Cinderella's step sister was so funny. The girls giggled and giggle at her whenever she was on. They wanted a picture with her too.

It is always such a treat to have some time away with just the girls. They kept saying isn't it so nice and peaceful without the boys (really meaning Shane)!

We finished off the day with a stop at the ice cream shop!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Morning At The Book Store

Shane's preschool had a special story hour at Barnes & Noble this spring.

The girls had fun tagging along and listening to stories too!

Shane and his friend hanging out looking at books.

He thought it was pretty cool that his artwork was on display in the Cafe' in the store.


The girls never have a problem finding books that they love. Emma quickly found all the books they had about Kit, her American Girl Doll.

One of Shane's favorite things at Barnes & Noble is the train.

A Night At The Circus

The Circus was in town so we decided that every child should experience the circus. Well let me take that back. Every child and adult should experience the circus. This was the both Eric and the kids first circus experience.

The kids got free tickets from their school so we met some friends there. Shane and Brietta spell one thing ... TROUBLE!!!!!!

Emma and Sidney are two peas in a pod!


A highlight was of course the cotton candy!


The kids were wide eyed as they watched each act. The kids thought the tigers were pretty neat!

I always think it is amazing they can get an animal that large to do the things they do but I guess that is why it is called the circus.

The puppies were just plain cute!

Shane loved the biker who did tricks. He watched very intently. Eric and I reminded Shane that we don't try to do those things at home .... for example we don't stand on the handle bars.

We had a fun time as a family at the circus!

 
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