School's out!!!!

WOW May was a totally CRAZY month! So much was happening with the end of school. I went to Brandon's field day at school during his last week of school and got some great pictures of him doing all of the super fun activities. I don't remember field day being that fun when I was his age! As part of their field day the kindergarten classes walked a mile for the Relay for Life to support the American Cancer Society. I went on the walk with them and I was surprised how much they had learned about cancer. It was a lot of fun hanging out with my little guy and his buddies for the day. He also had his party the last day of school where he got the Brightest Smile Award because he ALWAYS has a big smile on his face. I'll miss helping out in his class every week. Those little kiddos kind of grow on you after a while :) My brother, Ethan, graduated from Aims with his Criminal Justice degree so Douglas and I went to watch his ceremony. Then my sister, Hannah, graduated from Roosevelt High School so we went to watch her too. I must admit I feel kinda old with them all graduating. My hubby had two business trips this month so that kept me busy attempting to be Super Mom all on my own but we survived. I think it's harder on the kids than on me when he's gone. My grandma came to visit for about a week, which the kids absolutely loved! They have been missing their GG. I finished my first round of cake decorating classes last week and I'll start the next course next week. I am WAY more intimidated by this next course...it looks like it will be pretty tough! All I needed to learn in the first class was roses. I had learned them before but it was years ago and I needed a bit of a refresher on them. It was fun to get away for a couple hours a week and play with frosting :) And of course we had to get out the big slip-n-slide in the backyard last week. I'm not sure if dad or the kids had more fun with it! And yes, they got me to go down a few times too. Our neighbors behind us were laughing pretty hard at this mommy and daddy slip-n-sliding all over the place! Good times!!

PS - I added some of my favorite movie music moments. Enjoy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Being a mom is my favorite thing in the world! There is just something so special about those tender moments when your baby looks into your eyes and tells you how much they love you. That is what life is all about. My kids are my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. They bring me more happiness and joy than I could have ever imagined. I love every day I spend with them...the good and the bad. I love their sweet little giggles, their bright smiles, their sweet innocence, and their pure love. I constantly learn so much from them it amazes me. They don't judge, they are always optimistic, they always forgive, and they have complete hope and faith in me as their mother, which can sometimes be a little scary. I know I am not the perfect mother. I make lots of mistakes as I struggle through this long journey that still has so far to go. But I give them my all every day and every day I tell them how much I love them. I hope they realize how important they are to me and how my life would be so empty without their sweet spirits. Brandon, Emily, and Katelyn, I love you! Now I also want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mother. You know there are times when you are in middle school and high school and the last thing you would ever want is to be like your mother...well I think it would be the greatest honor in the world to be like my mother. She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She is always ready to help and always puts everyone else before herself. She has taught me how to love everyone through her amazing example. It's so comforting to know that I can always count on her to be there for me, even if I just need to talk to another adult for a few minutes or if I need advice or if I need help. She is an amazing woman and I am so lucky to be her daughter. I hope my daughters will have just as good of a relationship with me as I do with my mom. Thanks for all you do! I love you!!

YAY for Spring!!!

I love spring time in Colorado! One day it will be 80 degrees and the next it's snowing. You never know what life is going to bring! The kids are just happy that most days now it's warm enough for them to play outside. And of course I'm not complaining that they're running around outside instead of tearing up the house either. Douglas and I had our birthdays last month, which was fun. I think the kids have more fun with birthdays than we do though...maybe it's because we don't want to get any older? Oh well! Brandon has been playing soccer and he LOVES it! His team had their first loss today, which was kind of sad, but at least they only lost by one point. At their age it's more herd-ball than soccer anyway. I love watching the little kids play. They are absolutely adorable! Now the girls want to play soccer too so we'll have to sign them up next time around. Of course the other day at soccer practice I thought Katie was rubbing my back and I was thinking how sweet she was and then I realized she wasn't rubbing my back at all. She was drawing all over the back of my white hoodie with black marker!!!!! I got it out though. What a stinker... There's only two more weeks of school left and then it's summer break. ALREADY??? Where did the whole school year go? I can't believe how fast they all grow up! The other day Brandon told me he knows that the Easter Bunny isn't real. I asked him where he heard that and he told me that he just figured it out on his own. He said, "Think about it mom, bunnies are small. Have you ever seen a huge bunny that can carry a basket full of eggs and hide them? I haven't. I know it's not real. It doesn't even make sense." That made me kind of sad...he's only 6 and still in kindergarten. I guess I was hoping it would last a little bit longer. At least he still believes in Santa Claus!