Mmmmm...

Georgia got her first taste of a popsicle. Can you tell that she LOVES it?

Long Time Gone

Here are a few of our favorite summer activities (thus far):

1. Our garden is flourishing and I recently picked enough strawberries to produce 3 batches of strawberry jam. Very soon our counters will be full of buckets packed with produce from our garden. The slicing and dicing of veggies will soon fill all my spare time.

2. Annie and Abby had their first dance recital. They danced to "The Cat in the Hat". Over the moon with excitement doesn't even begin to describe how giddy my big girls were. They did a great job and proclaimed they wanted to be breakdancers when they grow up. Georgia didn't move a muscle during the entire performance - she was thoroughly amused by the music and dancing.

3. K-Day - the big kids had their Kindergarten checkup at the doctor. I was a HORRIBLE mom and didn't tell them about the 4 immunization shots they were going to receive, but DID tell them about all the treats they were going to get. Everyone survived and passed with flying colors. Carter is officially 6 inches taller than Annie.

Made by Mom (XVI)

I am making myself use ALL my fabric and yarn stash before I can buy anything new.  It's been fun to use everything up.

I made my first ever hand-bag.  I was surprised at how easy and fast it was to sew.  

I finished hand quilting the very first quilt I ever made and am saving it for a special day.  It sure was fun!

Also thrown in are a few crocheted blankets and tied baby blankets.  

Last Day of School

The last day of school has come and gone.  What did I do with all that free time(well, the few hours a week)?

What am I going to do all summer?  I am grateful for patient, loving, kind, patient, happy, enthusiastic, patient teachers.  They were wonderful and my children adored them.

Kindergarten is fast approaching, but we are going to be living large this summer.  We are doing dance classes, itty bitty ball, swimming lessons, story time at the library, $.50 movies, "Field Trip Fridays", picnics at the park and playing with friends.

It's a Jolly Holliday...

As a child, I loved to reenact movies.  "Parent Trap" and "Annie"were my favorites.  I would make up tickets, "sell" them to my family and make them watch me dance to the movie.  I am amazed my family still loves me after making them watch hundreds of poorly acted shows.

Unfortunately, my kids have discovered that trait.  Their favorite shows are "Mary Poppins", "Annie", and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (I love it that they adore those old classics).  They sing and dance and perform on our coffee table.  Even Georgia jumps up to be part of the action.

The local jr high put on a production of Annie and we took the kids to see it.  They sat so nicely in their seats and chomped on their treats.  They were spell bound.

Abby told me she wants to be Mary Poppins for Halloween and wants Tim to be Bert.  Then they can sing together!  I am happy to watch all their renditions of their favorite shows.  Hooray for creativity!

A Little Slice of Heaven

In our "pre-kid"days, Tim and I would frequent 5:00pm movies. The streets would always flood in Houston and we would be stuck in traffic for hours. There was a movie theater right by my office, so we would catch a show to let traffic pass. The tradition of eating a big bag of movie popcorn and a coke for dinner became one of my favorites.

Tim had a business trip scheduled in San Diego this weekend and I was able to tag along. AND guess what we did tonight - we went to the movies and had popcorn and a coke for dinner. It was a slice of heaven.

Mother's Day

Can I tell you how much I love my kids?  Though they push my buttons, are very loud and messy - I love them and wouldn't trade them for any other.  My very favorite attribute about my wild banchees is their willingness to forgive and forget.  What an amazing quality to have and something I need to learn.

They have been so excited about Mother's Day and happen to let a few of their secrets slip.  They served me breakfast in bed (scrambled eggs, toast, and water) and help me eat it.   Luckily this year, we were NOT the children singing REALLY loud into the microphone while the primary kids sang at church.  BUT when they got to the front of the chapel, they all waved and yelled "Hi Dad".  

Every year, Tim and the kids make me bookmarks with their pictures and this year they wrote their names on the back.  It is my favorite gift all year long.  They also made me frames at school and put their picture in it.  

There is nothing better than being Mom!