I can not get enough of this kid!

Maddison Rose

My little Maddison is 7 today! It seems like yesterday she was the little one in the house making the mess and being the monster. Now, she is 7. It makes me sad. This has been a tremendous year for her. She went from crying EVERY morning while I pushed her into her classroom to running into school when she gets dropped off with a big smile on her face. She HATED anything that had to do with school last year. This year, she reads books to Chloe, is getting straight A's, and i think she may be a little sad it is summer time. Last year, she was pitching fits at bedtime, sleeping in my bed. Maddie is wonderful with Reid. She loves to read to him and sing with him. The two of them share a special bond. She still has her moments, but for the most part, she has turned into this amazing little girl with such a spunky personality! Happy Birthday little Rose Petal!

Mother's Day

Once again, this Mother's Day was amazing. It was the first day after my sugery that I had felt REALLY good. Nothing out of the ordinary happened....we woke up, went to church, came home and Bryan took the kids while I napped (ok, so THAT is unusual). The girls gave me some candles and a really nice sports watch. And, then Bryan cooked us AMAZING filet mignons. I have not been able to eat red meat for a long time and this was wonderful! I am just so greatful to be able to be a mother to these amazing children.

Maddison's attemp at taking a picture....

busy boy

I am constantly saying how busy Reid is. He has developed this amazing personality in the past few months and we are constantly laughing. He loves being the center of attention. But, he is one busy boy. I am constantly cleaning up after him. It is pointless. I have come to the point where I can not even clean the house anymore until he goes to bed at night. He can have it destroyed in minutes. The rooms all have to have the doors shut. So, we live in a messy house, full of laughter, and I wouldnt have it any other way...

Here are just a couple snapshots of what he gets into on a daily basis...Yes, he took a rest after all of the mess he made of my aprons!I walked in the kitchen the other day and surprised him, so he was showing me what he was doing and trying to hand me one of the baggies

Mother's Day Tea Parties

I am so glad that every year, the school makes a big deal about mother's day. Because, we know that with young children, it does not get recognized very well at home.

And, this year, I got the chance to go to THREE of them! Lucky me!

First, we started with Chloe. Interestingly enough, that morning, she BEGGED to wear this dress that was hanging in the back of her closet. It just so happens that it was MY dress when I was 4!

Chloe is a shy one at school. Performances, she cries. Picture days, she cries. So, I was NOT expecting a happy Chloe at the party. I was SHOCKED to walk in the class and see her up front AND she sang her little heart out!

We had treats, lots of lemonade, and shed some tears for my baby girl. She has been BLESSED with the most amazing teachers this year and I am a little sad that it is coming to an end!

Maddison was next. And, a girl who again, cried for pictures in pre-k, cried in performances, and cried at pre-k grad...she was front and center in her 1st grade performance saying her "part".

More treats and goodies to eat.

Maddison and her 2 best friends. These girls get into all sorts of shenanigans!

And then Hana. Of course, hers was at the END of the day. After PE. After Recess. A whole class full of ragamuffin stinky 2nd graders! But it was fun. We played some games, like "Guess which picture is you" where the students drew pictures of their moms and we had to guess which one was us! Singing, poems, and lemonade! And, another realization that my little girl is growing up.

So, another Mother's day. Another day that I am so thankful to have been blessed with 4 great kids. And, to have been blessed with a wonderful mother, myself!

Oh my dear Chloe

I just had to write this down so that I will remember it when she is older.

Chloe is a rough one. She cries. A lot.

She was born crying and has not stopped since.

So, when the times come when she is not crying, I make note of it to keep me sane.

Last night was one of those times.

First, at dinner, this was our conversation. It all started because she was hanging upside-down in her chair, andI am trying to teach some kind of table manners, whatever those are.

"Chloe, please sit up in your chair."

Chloe, "No, YOU sit up in your chair"

me "Chloe, please dont talk back to me."

Chloe "No, YOU dont talk back" followed by 5 very large, and impressive for her age, belches.

me "Chloe, that was rude. Please say excuse me."

Chloe "No, YOU was rude. THAT was awesome."

Needless to say, I had to leave the room so she wouldn't see me laughing.

Later on that night the girls were playing and I hear her singing "I'm a little teapot". Only thing was that her version went like this....

"I'm a little teapot short and FAT

here is my handle, here is my FAT

When I get all steamed up I get FAT

so tip me over because I am FAT"