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This girl.....

is FINALLY

riding a bike (and pedaling by herself!)

talking in sentences

saying, "No, Thank you"

asking questions like, "what are you doing?" "what's that" and then when you respond she says, Oh"

Still calls Trevor; "BUH"

LOVES to play in dirt.

The other day, I dropped Breanna off at school and she turned around and said, Bye Mom, Good Day"(Have a good Day)

Thank you girl, for giving me a reason to cry tears of joy when something I have wanted so badly for so long has finally happened, you are talking and I am getting to know you........

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This boy.......is Daddy's little helper. He must have all his tools out working a long side him building our new deck!!!

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The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure....

-Joseph Campbell

Today......

was totally unscheduled (but started WAY too early!), and I even found myself reading a book in a lawn chair at one point while these two were doing this. I knew was exactly where I was supposed to be, and my life is exactly what it is supposed to be and there is no feeling greater than that.

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Today was all about preparing for our big night out, for our sleepover, and for six kids being watched by one FANTASTIC babysitter. W had the best time out in the old port, eating great food, drinking great drink, laughing and pretending we were 10 years younger. Here's to Captain Phil....

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You are getting to the age where everything is just better when you have a friend over (usually spontaneous neighborhood play). I LOVE it, but I'm also sad that Mom and Dad aren't number 1 any more (when did that happen?!?)........

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EVERYDAY.....

You need to have your drinkable yogurt (or three or four) with a " Christmas straw " .

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The simultaneous lick (from last evening, but this photo deserved a day all on it's own)

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As they drift off to sleep tonight, tired and with full bellies, they feel the small grits of sand between their toes and taste the salty air and ice cream still on their lips. They remember the warm breezes, running and jumping in the waves, walks with mama, and making sandcastles. They drift off and dream of these summer childhood days. I hope they always take these memories with them (I know I will....)

Happy Birthday Girls!

WE LOVE you!

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The Shooting Stars preschool garden......adorable!

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Taking down our old deck (well only 4 years old---Josh said that the person who built this deck shouldn't even be building a birdhose..)

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Today....

Some lawn mowing, yard work, errands and housecleaning

A baseball game that lasted too long

An 8 year old friend birthday party that was "the best party EVER"

entertaining the Day family.... (it's been FOREVER!)

a cookout with some delicious burgers, salads and homemade strawberry shortcake

kids playing (and crying) and one three year old playing football with a baseball helmet

a two year old learning how to ride a bike

catching frogs (or just poking them with a stick)

a campfire (that was too hot!) and S'mores

finally... a movie (so the adults could sit still)

This IS the good stuff.......

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.......And Another season of growing begins.

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This boy.

(who in this picture got himself dressed with his pants on inside out and underwear on backwards--but YEAH for indepenence:) )

IS REALLY giving us a hard time right now. As much as we try to focus on the JOY, it is hard to not want to kick this little three year old to the curb sometimes. He is just dying for attention (even though he has it constantly), has taken a step backward after he was potty trained last week, he talks over people constantly, and needs everything NOW. He is clingy, very clingy. I know someday I'll miss it, but really?

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I wish I could describe the heartache I feel inside sometimes when I pass a group of teen girls hanging out at the playground together, shopping for a dress for the school dance , getting their hair done, or playing a on a sports team. Sometimes, I have a hard time holding back the tears for something I want for you so badly, but you may not have. I know it will be hard, but I wish so badly for you to have that sense of belonging and friendship someday---things that are a given for any typical girl. Sometimes, though, I have to tell myself that I can't forsee the future, and that maybe, you will be OK. I don't care what else you learn in your life, I just want you to have friends.

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The newest fad in the elementary school, Silly Bands. I wish I would have thought of them. They are little rubber bands (that cost $5!) that come in different shapes. The kids collect them and trade them and wear them as bracelets.

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just finishing up our antibiotics from some Strep throat that was going around here (Lucas and Bre) last week.

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Happy birthday party to two very sweet little girls, I hope you had a fun day---WE love you!

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Saturday+Spring=Baseball

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the sky couldn't have been any bluer, you were so excited about your first baseball practice!

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Trevor's submission to the 2010 K-12 Art Show. We're so proud of you Trevor!

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You two:

do everything together these days. I swear you understand each other like no one else does. You have your own little language. You are so good for each other. I LOVE it.

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Right Now YOU.....

• are REALLY into Kris Allen and listen to his CD on my iPod at least 20 times a day
• LOVE riding your scooter as fast as you can go down the hill by our house then ask how many miles per hour you have gone (or ask me to time you).
• Are playing baseball three night a week
• ARe about to get your WOLF badge in Cub Scouts
• Worry about getting your work done at school b/c you talk too much to your friends (my social butterfly)
• Vanilla Ice cream or twist on a cone with rainbow sprinkles
• Share a room with Lucas and don't mind
• are still into Star Wars guys and Legos
• Are begging us to take you to How to Train your Dragon (3D movie)
• Love watching PBS still
• read books to Us every night before bed
• Are working on a Power point presentation and a 7 page story (Underwater mission) at school
• know the song, "The Fifty Nifty United States" and can name all the states
• Are into the Silly Bands (all the kids at school have them-elastic bracelets)
• always needs to know what is for breakfast before going to bed at night pancakes are the usual request
• You are in your LAST month of elementary school (I can't believe it!)
• Help your little sister and brother with everything and are very patient
• have 6 big teeth and a few more getting loose
• want to play the electric guitar when you grow up, but also want to be a "scientist"
• In School you Love Science, Social Studies and Gym, and dislike Math and writing
• Go to bed at 8 O'clock

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I drove by the homemade memorial in the woods twice today with a sick feeling in my stomach. It happened at an intersection I used to drive through 2-3 times a day when we lived at Carter Brook. Tragedy, it seems to be happening all around us, and I don't know if it gets worse as we get older or if we are just more aware of the sadness of it all. It could have just as easily happened to someone I know, or one of my kids. Trying to figure out WHY these things happen and the uncertainty of this life weighs heavily on my heart. There is no WHY. There is no "well you kids better never leave the house again because you might not come home" either (even though I wish it some days). You can't live like that. There is only making every day and every moment count.

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Mother's Day:

Spent the morning at a 5K race (I beat my last year's time by 4 minutes!) and it was REALLY cold and windy.

Josh made us a huge brunch of French toast and bacon (my favorite!)

Trevor gave me cards, chore coupons and letters he made at school saying why I'm a great Mom, Breanna gave me a magic Hug wand.

WE hung out at the house, read the paper, rested on the couch, watched a movie (Lucas' potty reward), played outside a little (still too cold).

Trevor emptied the dishwasher without complaining

Mom and Dad came over and we had steak and salad for dinner and whoopie pies and ice cream for dessert.

Josh gave me a night off to work on blogging, pictures and a little scrapbooking

We watched our favorite shows on DVR , 24, Kitchen nightmares and Friday Night Lights.

just the best day!

On Motherhood.

It's my seventh Mother's Day, what an amazing ride it has been.
I have learned so many important lessons, First of all, that Life is not perfect, it's OK to not always pretend that it is.

It's OK to throw yourself a pity party sometimes, when your 5 year old had a potty accident, when you are cleaning up your 2,000th mess of the day, when your three year old won't go to bed or take a nap or throws something and hits you, or when your seven year old is complaining about chores, taking a shower and homework. There are so many difficult choices and so many worries. Above all though, it all makes me who I am. I am the blessed mama to three beautiful children, all so different, all taking me in many different directions. It's really all that I ever wanted.

Happy Mother's Day!

To My Mom......

For making it look easy, when it definitely wasn't---- Happy Mothers Day!

Thank you Mom

For Letting me have the bedroom with the bathroom

For taking me to the beach all summer and letting me have the friends I wanted to have

For letting me play in a pile of dirt, make forts in the woods and taking me camping

For taking me to visit my grandparents often

For staying with me at night "for just a few more minutes"

For making me "bring in wood" when I was fighting with my brothers

for driving me to all my HS activities (30 mins away)

For freezing your butt off to watch me in all those Marching Band Shows

For taking me away on a roadtrip when I was depressed about breaking up with my first boyfriend

For taking me to your exercise classes

For moving me and all my "stuff" into college and for crying on the day I left

For giving me the Mustang

For helping me pick out the perfect wedding dress

for waiting outside the hospital room into the middle of the night until Trevor was born

For cleaning my tile floor on your hands and knees when I was taking care of my first baby

For doing the laundry and chores when you are visiting and never complaining about having to sleep on a blow up bed

For helping me with the whole "cry it out" issue, and standing by me as I worked out those new Motherhood bugs

For buying cribs and toys so we wouldn't have to bring much when we visited

For taking care of the kids when I was in the hospital, or sick, when Breanna was having heart surgery or just so I could get away

For listening and crying with me through heartache and pain

For telling me that I'm a good Mom when I most needed to hear it

For believing in me.

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at the Civic Center waiting for Curious George to start (which was a really good show by the way). Breanna, well, she was a little annoyed with the waiting beforehand, and the intermission (she kept asking for MORE), but I'm pretty sure that by seeing Curious

George Live on stage, well, I think she is set for life.:)

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Some new Lucas-isms:

"Look at my big smelly butt"

"Stop it Mom, I'm on a call..."

" I need to hug you"

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And just like that, the jean skirts, shorts and sandals are pulled out of the closet. The car is packed with sand toys, beach chairs and life jackets. Thunderstorms roll in and roll out, cool ocean breezes are felt. 40 something days or less are left of school. Kids are playing outside ,riding bikes, catching frogs, digging in dirt, sliding, swinging, and carefree until it gets too dark to see. And just like that, summer is here (and don't blink, you'll miss it.)

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Today.......The BIG meeting. It feels like the day we have been planning for, thinking about and worrying about for at least the last three years is here (and OVER!) . We had to decide EVERYTHING about Kindergarten for Bre. There were about 20 people sitting around a child size table in the art room (I wish I had a picture of it, but whipping my big camera out in the middle of it all might have been a LITTLE uncomfortable). They were all there for MY child, pretty amazing when you think about it. It went great, more than great actually. We have FULL inclusion for next year (with supports) including the bus (with a seatbelt), gym, music, art and everything. Just a regular Kindergarten kid (who hopefully will get invited to at least one birthday party). My head is still spinning.......I'm nervous, but excited. I LOVE our school, Our principal, and I LOVE her teacher for next year, This is going to be good...not perfect (nothing is) , but good. (ANd I'm exhausted!)

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What Breanna drew today (without any help)

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last evening........was spent preparing for the big IEP meeting. I can't WAIT until Wednesday is over.

For more information on what it might be like to go through this process with a child read here, here and here.

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TRYING to be good in church.....

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A fantastic weekend spent with a friend, shopping, eating out, sleeping in (a little) and cropping the night away (not the best photo). Thank you Heidi!