Baby Quote

I just have to share what my baby just said.  She has been sick all week with a stomach virus.  Today is really the first day she has felt better.  Their playroom is a mess and I have promised a trip to the splash pad if they clean up.  My baby (who never listens only talks...) comes into the room and says
"Mom, God just told me I am well enough to clean the playroom"
Me:  "Good baby, go get a clip and let me get your hair out of your face and you can help sissy clean up"
Baby: "mom, I gotta ask you something" (ask means tell to her)
Me: "Ok, one thing then get that clip"
Baby:  "We have to get our bathing suits on to go to the splash pad"
Me: "Only after you do your chores, now go get that clip"
Baby: "Mom, I gotta ask you something..."
Me: "Only after you get that clip.  It's time to obey mommy."
Baby: comes back into the room with a clip in her hand...
"Mom, God told me you were mean."

Oh to be able to hear God's voice that clearly!  

Part 2 A letter to...my sister

Megan,
This one will be more fun than teary, because that describes our relationship.  More laughs than tears, unless you count the tears that come out when we are laughing.  For example:  "Ode to a Fudge Round" or "pixie my pixie, you are my favorite stixie"  Dang, we are some creative girls!  How about the endless hours on Pinterest looking at the humor signs.  So many laughs.  Don't even get me started on "He's Climbing in yo windows, he's snatchin yo people up" or "Baby Got Back"  and Remember our all night sing fest out by the chiminea at mom and dad's?  Both Husbands, mom and dad, the kids  - all sound asleep, and you and I out there till 2:00 in the morning singing Mariah Carey. Scary and fun all at the same time! It hasn't been all fun and games.  There have been the not so fun times too.
I remember the Christmas after my first girl was born, I was postpartum, you were in a transition in a relationship and we both really leaned on each other.  I realized then that you were more than my baby sister.  And as much as I wanted to protect you from any pain, I was also so thankful that we were walking  through that time together.  Remember when Grandma died, it was so hard.  Hard to understand, hard to accept and just so emotional.  We had so many questions, no answers, but we had each other.
So many times, you are the person I turn to when I need to work out how I am feeling about something.  I trust you, I love you, I value your opinion, I rely on your advice and I look forward to our times together.  It is always an adventure.  (like that time in Selma when the super storm blew up from no where and  you were nine months pregnant running through the gas station parking lot chasing a piece of paper with a phone number on it, holding your belly and screaming.  Me, not having any idea what was going on carrying a diet coke and a box of tampons chasing after you... and Jonathan with his head under the hood of the car oblivious to the whole thing!  Hilarious.  You hurt your foot, we got the paper and somehow managed to avoid the incoming tornado!  ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD!
I am laughing even as I type.  Oh and remember Dr. Kiester?  Erik had to literally walk me back to the hospital room.  I was in the fetal position laughing at her name and crying in pain from having my girl and I couldn't even look at you.  I was just crying..."Go get Erik, Go get Erik"  That is what happens when you mix a c-section, pain medication, your sister, and a terrible name together.  Tears and Pain.
All kidding aside, there are so many moments when I have been so proud to call you my sister.  Too many to name, but probably the biggest one was when you gave birth to your precious baby girl.  When you were pregnant, I wondered how you would do it?  After all in my mind you were still a baby yourself ;) But then you had her, and she was perfect.  And you were too.  You did it.  You were a mom.  And you are a great mom.  I am so proud.

  You set a Christian example to all young moms, to all young women you meet. And I am so lucky you are my sister.
I really cannot wait for the future with you.  I look forward to our girls growing up together.

  I look forward to our many more late night laugh sessions, I look forward to our phone calls when we are just be completely real with each other - about our fears, our hopes, what makes us mad, or our struggles and successes.  It is wonderful to have a sister, a friend, an aunt for my girls, a confidant (just had a golden girls flash..."you're a part of me...friend and confidant..." ) Anyway -To sum up this little or not so little letter - you are my sister, my friend, and I am forever blessed to have you in my life!
Love you Megipoo ;)
Love,
Sissy

9 years

Today is my anniversary!  9 years ago I married the man of my dreams and today, is still the man of my dreams.
To my dear husband,
You make me laugh, you hold me when I cry,  you take care of me, you love me, you are a wonderful father, you love the Lord, you are respectful, hardworking, and I cannot believe God picked you to be my husband!  But I am so glad he did.  I love you more each day.  And I cannot wait to keep living this amazing life together  with you!  I love you!
Jenn

In the process of shaving off a beard... but I really love this pic!

Kindergarten Graduation

Well, it happened.  AND I survived.  Although, I must say that my girl almost didn't.  She cried harder than I did.  Graduation was a wonderful program.  The children did and awesome job.  My girl said The Lord's Prayer like a champ.  I was so proud of her.  Near the end of the program they did a tribute to our Director of the school (her husband is our pastor and they will be moving in June) and my girl cried so hard. 
See, the thing with my sweet, tender-hearted, loving girl is that she gets it.  She walks into a room and measures the temperature of the mood.  There is no need to explain the importance, or ramifications of an event to her, because she gets it.  She understood that last night was her last day of Kindergarten.  That she would go to a new school next year.  That many of her close friends - friends that she has been with since 8 weeks old - would go to a different school.  She understood that Ms. Gina was leaving, that Brother Rudy was leaving.  That she was leaving... and really the CEC is all she has ever known.  It overwhelmed her, she cried, I cried, mom cried, Nena cried, MayMay cried... it was a lot of crying.  Most of it was not pretty!  But it was emotional.  However, somewhere in all the tears we did find a few smiles and captured some sweet moments.
 To my sweet Kindergarten Graduate,
Mama loves you, mama is proud of you, mama thanks God daily that he gave you a tender heart, mama will always do her best to protect that tender heart.  I love you so much baby, and I cannot wait to walk through these school years with you.  I cannot wait to hear your stories, help with your fears, cheer with your accomplishments, and cry with you when you realize that your world is changing.  But realize this too - Mama is here.  And as long as God will allow me, I will be here for it all!  I love you!
 Here are the Pics of our Big Night:

Getting Ready for the Big Night

Big Sis, Little Sis

Rockin the Lord's Prayer

Getting her Diploma

Sweet Friends (Notice the puffy eyes.  This was post crying)

We love Ms. B.

With The Grands

Silly MayMay

Last Day of Kindergarten!

What has happened?  My baby is graduating Kindergarten today!  I could get extremely sappy in this post, but that is to come in my "A letter to..." little series.  (by the way...May May, you're next :) ) So I will just keep this post filled with pictures and as little writing as possible.

The Celebration began last night with a dinner at Fish Market with Nena and Papa.

 We made a special snack for her to take to her friends today.  We made sugar cookies in the shape of graduation hats (by "we" I mean - Nena, Papa, The Hubs, and myself...at about 11:00 p.m. last night... and there may or may not have been multiple hair dryers involved to dry the icing ;) ) and I made little diploma roll-ups that had cream cheese and strawberry jam in them.  I tied them up with a twizzler.  It was cute and she was thrilled to be able to give them to her friends.  We found some cute graduation plates, napkins and even bubbles at Target.  So it was a special snack! We started the morning with graduation day pancakes. 

(I used the cookie cutter hat) and she ate on her Graduate plates.  I think her day got started off right.  We will post pictures of the main event tomorrow. But here are the morning pics. 

One Year ago, you graduated 4-K! Seems like yesterday!

 

Dance Recital

May is a crazy month!  It just is.  It happens every year.  But this year we have thrown a family wedding in the mix.  So it has been extra busy.  BUT... The wedding will be awesome!  We are seeing a TON of my husband's family and my girls are flower girls (they are pumped!), not to mention we LOVE the bride (my hubs cousin) and groom... so it will be a wonderful experience.
In addition to this wedding, we had mother's day, dance recital, my daughter's spring church choir performance, end of the soccer season, and KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION! (gulp).  So, like I said, May is busy.
The point of focus today is the dance recital that was last weekend.  We had a blast.  My oldest girl was just beautiful.

  She loves dance and loves her teachers (I love Ms. Danielle too!) It is an all around wonderful experience for her.  And next year she starts tap, so she couldn't be more excited!  She did a great job at her recital.

  The whole day was fun!  My parents and sister came in town and spent the day with us so we had a great visit.  Her other grands came in town for the big day and we all went to her favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate afterwards.

  It was a special day and my girl felt so loved.  My baby cannot wait til it is her turn to dance too!  She looked in awe at all the "ballerinas"  she was mesmorized except for the moment when she decided to spit her gum down the front of my sister's dress.
pause for you to reread...that's right.  She literally spit her gum down the front of my sister's dress - cleavage to be exact!  (Sorry MayMay) but I had to draw a mental pic. for everyone!  What are we going to do with that girl?  (That is another post).  Anyway.  Here are some pictures that captured that special day!  Enjoy.