The Last Day

Emily drew a picture of an "Ice Cream Girl" and asked me to make it into a softie so she could give it to her teacher on the last day of school.

See my craft blog Isby Blue for more about Emily's softie. Emily even picked out the colors and fabrics. I think it turned out rather cute- all thanks to my softie designing daughter!

One last hug goodbye. It hasent quite hit Emily that she is no longer going to be in Mrs. Masterson's class. I am not looking forwards to when reality sets in. I have found that leaving their kindergarten teacher has always been hardest on my little ones.

So Very Grateful!

I am once again late but here I go-

This week I am grateful for

Seeing my dad and grandfather

Finishing Emily's Ice Cream plushie that she designed for her teacher

Jacob winning his i-pod. Seeing that smile was priceless!

My dad giving Rocky a welding machine. Rocky loves it!

Getting goodies in the mail from a sweet friend

AND

I have to add one more to the list this week:

I am grateful for my smart kiddos WONDERFUL report cards!!

A Winner, A Beach Party, & A Welding Machine

What an incredible day it has been!! Busy busy busy but wonderfully so!

Emily's class had their end of the school year Beach Party/ Hot Dog Roast. Aside from being a little cold from being soaked after their play in the water, she had so much fun! What a fun way to end the year!

Jacob was a big winner! He has perfect attendance this year and was entered into a drawing for an i-Pod shuffle and he WON!! Woo hoo Jacob! He also received an i-tunes gift card with it. For my music loving boy, it couldn't have been a better prize!

My grandfather flew in to AZ (from TX) and drove up to CA with my dad to see all of us family here. It was so nice seeing them. The kids were very excited to see Grampy! My dad, who is a welding instructor, brought over a big present for Rocky- a new welding machine. Rocky's head is full of all the things he wants to build- and a few things I want him to build!

She's Growing Much Too Fast

This school year has flown by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was walking my nervous little girl up to her kindergarten class. Now she has "graduated". It was such a cute graduation ceremony! All those little kindergartners up on stage- all brimming with energy. Emily was so proud up there. Her smile couldn't have gotten any bigger. As I watched her singing her beautiful little heart out, I must admit I did have to fight hard to hold back my tears. I just can't believe how fast she is growing!

So Very Grateful

"All fathers are invisible in daytime; daytime is ruled by mothers and fathers come out at night. Darkness brings home fathers, with their real, unspeakable power. There is more to fathers than meets the eye."

~Margaret Atwood~

This week I am grateful for:

All of the strong and loving fathers in our huge family.

Cherry Pickin'

The cherries are finally ready! A few days ago, Jacob, Emily and Luke picked a bowl full of the hugest cherries I've ever seen! We were going to make cherry shakes but the flu was going around in our house and our plans were put on hold. Well, now that everyone seems to be feeling better (or close enough to feeling better), we plan on making those shakes tonight. Yum!

So Very Grateful

And so very late- but with good reason! Last week the kids were playing 24hr flu tag with one another. Starting with Jacob who passed it to Brenden, who gave it to Luke, who then passed it to me, who gave Emily a turn. And after all that, I guess somehow one of us gave it back to poor Luke!

So, for this week, I am grateful for:

The kids being nice enough to take turns with the stomach flu instead of all getting it at once.

It only being a 24hr flu

having lived through it (because at times I really thought I was not gonna make it!)

having the house disinfected- though I'm sure there are spots we missed. But I refuse to think about that right now!

having such wonderful help when it was my turn with the flu Friday and Saturday. While Rocky was at work, Jacob helped by fixing breakfast and lunch for the little ones. Rocky was awesome at helping me out when he got home- fixing dinner & bringing me meds, blankets and anything to make me feel better. They took such great care of me! I love my guys!

Catching Up In Photos

Making a huge bubble storm

Reading On The Green at Emily's school

Emily and Luke- testing out their rain jackets in the sprinklers

A Sun Rainbow. The two bright spots on either side are called Sun Dogs.

Emily with her (and Luke's) friends. They had to take them to the store with us because you don't leave friends home alone.

Oh So Grateful!

This week I am grateful for:

Rocky spending some time with the boys making little motion sensored spiders. Their eyes blink when someone walks by. (if youre interested in a blinkybug kit to make these, you can get them here )

These three getting along and coloring together

Goofy boys

Rocky finding something that keeps all the kids interest!

Brenden's love for his family- out of only 10 exposures in his film pack, he used 7 taking pictures of his family.

We Rock!

No, really we do! A few days ago, Rocky and the boys went to the store in search of Polaroid film for a couple cameras (that the boys bought at a garage sale). Well, they came home with not only the film, but Guitar Hero III. I was a bit skeptical at first (I protest video games for the kids- they need SUN!). But soon everyone was in the living room playing and laughing together. And you should see the 3 little ones dancing! They're more fun to watch than the game! I had to agree with Rocky-this was a good idea.

Oh So Grateful

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible."

~Marion C. Garretty~

This week I am grateful for:

All the beautiful, strong and amazing mothers in our family.

And most of all, I am grateful to be a mother myself

Kids, Cake and a Piñata

Saturday was little Aziza's 3rd birthday party. We all had such a great time! Jamie really went all out for little Aziza! Even Snow White made an appearance for some face painting and balloon art! Watching the kids trying to break open the piñata had to be my favorite (mental note- pixie sticks do NOT make a good piñata filler!!). The kids had so much fun!

This picture just makes me laugh...