I Had a Baby

The past few months have been extremely busy and I have so much to catch up on.  For my own journaling purposes I'd like to document the past few months... but for now I thought I'd just throw a quick update on the blog, if anyone actually reads this...  I had a baby.  She is darling, beautiful, and perfect.  And she's 7 weeks old... gasp.  Time really flies!

More blog posts coming, hopefully, soon!

June, According to my i-Phone

June- finished up Sydney's soccer season, complete with messy faces from doughnuts for breakfeast~ Brett's graduation ~ buying bedding for baby sister & loving the ruffles ~ a trip to the zoo with Dad & enjoying the lego animals ~ morning reading ~ Sydney's itinerary for her play date ~ the dreaded glucose test, which I passed! ~ movie in the park ~ lunch at the park & making wishes ~ Father's Day ~ Matt's first soda pop in a year and 6 days ~ saying goodbye to my grandparents with a "Arizona Survival Kit" ~ Bees Game, face/arm painting, and balloons ~ a nap with Dad ~ bowling ~ the pool with friends

MAY Highlights

Highlights from May:  a field trip to the fire station~ a temple square visit & beautiful tulips~ a special, short visit with Kelli~ Sydney falling asleep reading the Children's Songbook... on her head ~ Cooper riding his bike complete with his fire hat and his beloved boots~ Mother's Day flowers & cards~ Sunday time with cousins... Cooper and Benson crack me up just chatting away~ a very hot day without AC~ Sydney learning how to ride without training wheels!~ beautiful baby gifts, first things for baby sister!~ new roommates & a twin bed for Cooper~ visiting the Grandma Great's grave for the first time... Sydney placed flower petals on each corner with a rock on them to hold them down~ Memorial Day Swimming!~ and our first "firecamp" & smores of the summer season!

Brett's Mission Call

My brother Brett is such a stud.  Seriously, I am constantly amazed by him.  He seems to do it all, and do it all amazingly.  He is a star student- great grades, and he will be receiving his associates degree this summer (yes he just graduated from High School).  He has worked so hard in school, many summers taking summer classes, and I am so proud of his work ethic.  He also plays all kinds of sports.  He joins club teams- basketball, baseball, soccer, you name it.  We've loved going to his many games and watching him play.  He also mows lawns to earn some money.  He has quite the social life, and makes sure to make time for friends and fun.  He also is very dedicated to the gospel and magnifies his callings, his priesthood, and makes time for reading scriptures every day.  If there is anyone I look to as a good example of having a balanced life... it is Brett.

Brett's had a couple of busy, accomplished weeks.  We've attended his seminary graduation, his high school graduation, his mission call opening, and his Priesthood Ordination.  Perhaps the most exciting event was his mission call opening.  I've always had a strong testimony of missions, probably because I spent my youth watching my uncles serve missions.  So I have a special place in my heart for missions/missionaries.  It definitely was exciting to find out where Brett would be serving...

We had the map out... with all the guesses...

And about a billion people there... seriously, I've never been to such a crowded mission call opening.  I told Brett, I don't think I have that many friends from my entire lifetime.

Then the big moment arrived...

And he was called to...
ARGENTINA, BUENOS AIRES SOUTH mission!

Sydney cried.  She really wanted him to be called to California so we could visit him when we go to Disneyland.  She sure loves Brett!

Sydney and Brett

There is nothing neater than a call straight from the prophet.

I am absolutely thrilled for you Brett!  I know that you'll be the greatest missionary and we'll miss you to pieces!

Preschool Graduation

 Wow, what a year it has been.  I can hardly believe that I have finished a year of owning, running, and teaching my own preschool.  It is definitely not something I ever thought of doing and just kind of fell into my lap.  Luckily, when I started teaching preschool, I kind of loved it, and it all really worked out.  It has been quite the adventure, and the year even ended on a hectic note.... I think there is just a part of teaching that will always be unpredictable  so you definitely have to learn to roll with the punches and make the best of all situations.

I actually felt very prepared for graduation.  The kids were well prepared, I had all my stuff loaded and ready to go, and had gone through it all in my head a million times.  I do have to say, one of the difficult things is being the teacher and a parent for the same event.  I wanted to have myself and both the kids all dressed up and ready, on top of having all of my teacherly duties covered.  Not only did I have to think of the things for my class, I had to remember to charge the camera, and to invite family, and all of it.  We didn't get great pictures, because I was otherwise occupied, Matt was running the slide show & video taping, and we don't have a good camera right now... just a phone camera... but such is life.

When we got to the library, which I had reserved a room in months ago, we found that there was already a preschool graduation taking place.  I kind of had a panic attack while trying to figure out what to do... We quickly changed locations to another library... called and text as many parents as possible... posted a note on the door... and carried all the stuff back out to the car in the rain.  It was absolutely crazy.  I was pretty frazzled for graduation, but everyone made it to the new location, and I think it all worked out for having been so crazy.  The perfectionist in me, knows it could have been better, and that is hard, but I was so relieved to have it over when it was all said and done that I am ok with it not being perfect.

The kids were great, and I really will miss them.  It is the hard part of teaching.  Having these children a part of your life, a big part, and then just saying goodbye to them.  I hope to see where some of them end up for sure.

Cutest girls... I sure loved having them together and listening to the stories they would make up during reading...

the Pledge of Allegiance

11 Speckled Frogs... a long song, but the kids' favorite

The whole class after graduating!

I was so incredibly happy to have both Sydney and Cooper in my class this year.  They both did phenomenal   I feel so lucky to have been able to teach them and watch them grow and learn.  I can hardly believe that Sydney will be starting Kindergarten.  It will be a big adjustment for me to have her away from me, but I know that she will absolutely thrive.  She is so smart, so fun, and loves life so much.  I love the lessons I have learned from her, and am grateful for what my kids teach me every day.  I'm also looking forward to having Cooper, my best little buddy, with me another year.  These two are my everything and I love them more than anything.  The past two years have been better than I've ever even dreamed, because I never did dream of actually teaching my own kids.  Funny how life gives you more than you could even want!

Sydney's Soccer!

We signed Sydney up for spring soccer this year and had such a blast!  I loved going to all of her games and watching her play.  Life is changing around here.  We are doing things like swimming lessons and soccer, and it is becoming busy.  I can only imagine when I've got all of my kids doing these things.  The lazy days of being home all day are fading, which I am sad about and looking forward to at the same time.

The day she got her jersey... so excited! (Please excuse our messy house... I was very sick and pregnant)

First practice

Kneaders french toast breakfast after her first practice...

Sydney's good friend Bailey...

Annika, Sydney, and Bailey- will all be in Kindergarten at APA!

with Tim & Brea

with Brett & Allie

with Corie & Cadie

Her first goal!

Her second goal!

2 goals in one game!

The trophy!

I love you Sydney and am so proud of you!

April

Highlights from April include:  

Sydney starting soccer-  we went to Kneader's for their famous french toast breakfast after her first practice... it was my first time, and I loved it!  Such a fun morning!

We painted temple blocks for "girls night and one boy" during the priesthood session...

Busted out the kids' kites on a windy day.  It was way too cold for them to actually participate, so they huddled together in a blanket and watched dad fly their kites.

Reading...

Sleeping...

Our little rabbit eating lettuce... who likes lettuce without dressing or anything?

I hit 20 weeks in my pregnancy!

And just for fun, a side by side of baby #3 and Cooper... pretty similar I think.

And... we traded in my favorite car I've ever had...

For a mini van... which I love...

Baby preparations have begun!