School is out for the SUMMER

The seats are empty. 

Today was my last day of preschool. We had our preschool celebration with a wonderful program thanks to all the hard work that the kids did to memorize lines, poems and songs.  I'm going to miss my students I hate to see them go but off to kindergarten they go and they are so ready. I'm such a sap and I get so emotional on the last day. I love what I do, maybe that is why. These kids bless my life and leave me little gifts to remind me how special they are. 
 

I'm pretty lucky.

Mother's Day

Lilly's teacher at school held a Mother's day tea party for the kids to honer their mothers.   It was so fancy with real table linens, cards, fancy refreshments, and flower pen as a gift.  They sang a mother's day song recited a mother's day poem. I have really love Lilly's teacher this year. She is a wonderful teacher. I have always felt that she really cared for Lilly academically and emotionally. We have been very lucky to have Mrs. McDaniel this year.

I love the art work. Yep that is me.

Because Lilly was baptised on Saturday I was lucky enough to have my own mother here. John and Shannyn hosted a lovely dinner and we got to spend the day together.  I gave my mom this print.  It's her family tree.  I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it for her.

As for my gifts what more can a mother ask for. Art work, drawings and presents picked out just for me.

 I love being a mother to these 3.

 

May 12th

Hooray for the12th.  Lilly was baptized on this day so I expected to get a lot of pictures. It was harder than I thought. I was too busy playing hostess and chatting with family but I did get 12. It was a wonderful day.

1.  Lilly dressed in her baptism dress.
2.  Mom and dad shot with Lilly.
3.  Family that came for her big day.  We make a nice large group don't you think?
4.  Just the cousins.
5.  Family shot.
6.  Papa and Lilly
7.  The baptism dress. This dress was made by my grandmother for her 5 daughters to wear.  All of her granddaughters wore this dress. And now Lilly has worn it to be baptized in.  The dress such a sweet treasure.
8. My mom and aunt Gay who came all the way from Utah to bring the dress for Lilly to wear.  Oh how wonderful it was to have here and my Uncle Jim here.
9.  A little art I made for Lilly's day
10.  Kevin helping Max prepare a talk for Sunday. The talk was " I can choose the right by being baptised" fitting for our weekend.
11.  The Cake. Any event that involves more people then just my little family will usually involve a Costco cake.
12. After a wonderful day, Kevin and I and family got out to see the Avengers.

A 6 Year old Boy

Max turned 6.  Oh How I wish I could stop time.  Happy Birthday Buddy. I'm so glad that you were sent to be a part of our family.

For his birthday he enjoyed his stack of 6 donuts. He got 2 Beyblades, and a joke book.  Nana and Papa sent him Mario Cart. He got a gift card to the Dollar Tree, some cool shirts and birthday money to spend.  Lucky boy!!

 Boys and their toys. Here are the Beyblades in action.  They are just tops.  But I have to admit they have been fun because he asks me to play with him and we battle together. 

Max got to choose a movie to see in the theater as part of his birthday celebration.  Since Saturday didn't work out, I took the kids to see The Lorax on Monday after school.  We had so much fun because it was a private showing.  We where the only people in the theater. The kids thought that was pretty cool.  Luke sat on my lap the whole time and watched the whole thing.  Hooray I think he will be able to handle the summer movies this year.

A Heavy Heart

On Wednesday morning Kevin called at 6:15 in the morning to relate the awful news that my dear friend's youngest son had passed away in the early morning hours.  I sobbed,  my heart physically ached. I felt so much sorrow for my friend, for his siblings and father that he left behind on this earth. The days following were hard, and lots more tears.  I really surprised myself how deeply this news rocked my world and how much sorrow I was feeling and knowing that I could never possibly know the exact pain the family was going through. 
Many thoughts came to mind of my own experience with death when loosing my own brother when I was 11.  He died at the age of 7. My heart aches for his brothers and sister that will miss him dearly.  At his memorial service on Saturday I was touched so deeply by his parents who both spoke and did nothing but give thanks to the Lord for the time they were given with their son.  I feel so privileged to be apart of such a sacred and intimate meeting.  The truth is that they are an eternal family.  They will be together again as a family because we have a loving Father in Heaven who designed a plan of happiness for us. 
Time stops for no one, it doesn't seem fair that all of us will have to move past this, but onward we go with hope and joy that Lord loves us and will always know what is best for us. 
I found this picture of  Max and Isaac from last spring playing at the park.   He was a joy to be around, he had a contagious smile and was always so happy.