Avery's last day of preschool and Build-a-Bear, of course!

This is a big year for us.

Claire's last year of elementary school.

Ella's last year at Sayre.

Avery's last year of preschool.

My last year of having any babies at home.

Sniff, sniff, tear, tear.  It's a big year for this mama!

One of the hardest for me has to be Avery

graduating from preschool.  I've had a kid in preschool

for as long as I can remember and I can't believe that

it's over.  As sad as I am that time just keeps defying me

and marching forward, I am very proud of all of my girls

and I am looking forward to many wonderful

years and exciting adventures to come!

Avery heading into her last day of preschool.
She looks pretty darn happy about it!

Avery walking out of her very last day of preschool.
Still looks pretty darn happy!

We had to celebrate this big day, and what better place to 

do it than Build-a-bear, of course!

I wanted to surprise Avery, so I invited her BFF Owen, and

his family, to join us.  She was surprised and thrilled

to see them and especially to see her favorite store!!

Everyone got to make a bear to celebrate our favorite

buggie and her big graduation!

Claire and Anna waiting for their turn.

Claire making a wish on her bear's heart.

Owen making his monkey.

Avery, cracking up the bear maker with who knows what
crazy story!

Making a wish on her bear's heart.  I made a special
wish on that heart too, for safe travels to Kindergarten for my baby!

Avery and her new "preschool graduation bear"!

Ella making a wish.

Avery couldn't decide on an outfit for her bear,
so she just bought a mini-friend instead!

Avery and her BFF, Owen!

Happy Preschool Graduation, Buggie!

We made it through her last day of preschool.

Celebrated with friends and made something special to 

remember the day.

Now the hard part, the graduation ceremony that night....

Avery's Preschool Graduation

Westview Church Preschool put on one of the best

school programs I have seen, and I've seen a lot!

The kids were great!  They sang so many cute songs,

behaved on stage so well, and smiled at and charmed

their parents all night long!

I was quite emotional leading up to this moment,

but once we were there I really just enjoyed it and wasn't

all that sad.

Avery is ready.  She is ready for Kindergarten.  She is ready

for more responsibility and adventure.  She is ready for

some time away from me, to make new friends and 

try new things.

I'm happy for her.  I'm excited for her.

I really am, really.

We had a great night celebrating her graduation.

She did a great job and we are so very proud of her.

We love you so much buggie!

Avery and two of her good friends.

Her pet rock project.  She was quite proud of it!

A collection of her favorite pieces of work~

Avery was all smiles during the performance.

She knew every word and action of every song and 

was so much fun to watch. 

Singing the "wide-mouthed bullfrog". Hilarious!

Their rendition of signing in the rain had everyone
rolling with laughter.  So cute!

Aves receiving her 'official' preschool graduation certificate.

Our star student!

I was a bit picture obsessed and was getting frustrated that
we weren't getting any good pictures.  Avery got frustrated too,
and refused to look at the camera.  Nice.

Her flowers and card from the family.

My beautiful, grownup family!
(I don't know why I wore a mu-mu to graduation!!)

Aves and her good friends!

Avery will really miss her gerbil friends.

Just one more picture, or two, or three..

I love my baby...

.. but she had enough with the pictures!

Avery and her amazing teachers!

Aves and one of her BFs, who will also be attending Shuler!

This has been a big year.

But it's a good thing.

My girls are growing up, but growing up well.

They are good kids.  Caring, responsible,

loving, kind, smart, clever, funny and all-around awesome!

I am so very proud of all of them and I can't wait

to see what the next year brings!!

Claire's LAST elementary Fine Art Night!

This is the beginning of the end.

The beginning of the end of elementary school for Claire.

The beginning of the end of all that I know.

Next year: Middle School. Yikes!

Despite my efforts to make her an emotional wreck about this

huge milestone, Claire had a great night and seemed pretty unfazed

about it being her Last Elementary School Fine Arts Night!

Claire is involved in both choir and band.  She enjoys both

and loves being a part of the percussion crew.

I am very proud of her hard work and dedication

to both groups and I hope she has many more

years of success in both!

Percussion is in the far back.

Hard to see, but they rock anyway!

Dave, and many other dads, on stage to help tear
down the band and prep for the choir.

Claire has really started to love singing, thanks in big

part to her experience with Whippoorwill Theatre.

She loves to sing and I love watching how expressive 

she is while doing it!

Claire and her friend, Ellen, after the concert

Claire, Lexie and Avery

Claire and Griffen

Great concert, great night, great friends!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

First, I want to say thank you to the many mamas that

 help me be the best mom I can be!

I have been so blessed to not only have a great mom

that guides me, loves me and supports me all the time,

but I also have lots of mamas walking beside me and

in front of me. Thank you for your examples and 

support as we raise our kiddos together!

Second, I want to thank my husband.

If it were not for his constant support and hard work

I could not be the mom I am today.  He loves me,

supports me, encourages me and forgives me!

Finally, I want to thank my kiddos.

I have been so blessed with 3 amazing girls.

They are so kind, and caring, and funny, and smart,

and clever, and strong-willed, and confident,

and all around incredible.

They are also forgiving, and patient, and humble

and Lord knows I need that, because one

thing we are not is perfect!

I am feeling extra blessed this Mother's Day.

I'm at an interesting place in parenting.

My girls are growing up.  They don't need me in the

same way they used to.  They are not dependent on 

me to meet their day to day needs.

They dress themselves, feed themselves, care for themselves.

They can hangout alone, entertain each other, and 

even clean up after themselves, if absolutely necessary.

They need me in a different way now.

Not just as a chauffeur, although that is high on the list.

They need me to listen, to encourage, to support.

They need me to step back and let them learn from their

own mistakes and successes.

They need me to be here when they reach out, but

not so close that they don't try something new.

It's an interesting place.

One of more freedom, different fears, proud moments,

friendship trials, tears of joy and pain and pride,

and lots and lots of miles!

My family spoiled me this year!

The best gift was not the actual gifts, 

but how much thought obviously went into each one.

I'm overflowing with gratitude today for 

this amazing family of mine.

Now, I have to go start the car. 

And drive to volleyball, and back, and back again! :)

My first gift arrived on Saturday ~

This is by far the best card Dave has ever given me!

My Mother's Day morning started with:

Avery brought me a granola bar, then asked if she could eat it.

While she ate my granola bar, they watched a show at the foot

of my bed.

All the while, Dave slept.

Happy Mother's Day!

Little did I know, they had a surprise planned for me!

They had the table 'decorated' and gifts ready

for me from everyone!

Ella and I are very excited to start our own garden.
We've been talking about it for awhile, but she surprised me
by going out with Grandma Johnson and actually
buying us garden stuff and our first tomato plant.
Yea! (I say with a bit of hesitation. I'm not a green thumb!)

Avery made me a home-made frame with the cutest picture in it
and a great card!

Claire made me a coupon book that she actually created
completely on her own! She found a poem online and then
made the book herself.  Incredibly thoughtful!
It even included a coupon to go shopping, without complaint!
(That's a tough one for my Claire-bear!)

To top if all off, Claire made me the most beautiful video.
Complete tear-jerker, but a great reminder of just
how awesome I have it!
Thank you to my wonderful family.
I love you so much!!

Claire's Code 411 Graduation

I can't believe it, but Claire is closing in on the end of 5th grade!

And with that comes the end of elementary school.

I'm going to have a middle schooler next year!!!

As part of 5th grade, they participate in a program called Code 411.

It's DARE, for the next generation.

They talked about drugs, tobacco, internet safety, and such.

The program is run by their school resource officer, a 

Clive police officer.  I really like him and I think the program

is well done and pretty interesting for the kids.

All the 5th graders had to write an essay about what they

had learned in 411.

Claire was selected to read her essay at their graduation,

in front of all the parents, officers, and mayor!

She was very excited!

I'm very proud of my sweet Claire.

I'm proud that she worked hard on her essay.

I'm proud that she took this class seriously, and learned

some important stuff.

And, I'm really proud, that she is becoming quite 

the confident little public speaker.

I love you Claire-bear!

Waiting for the graduation program to start ~

Parents, students, teachers, and guest filing in ~

Claire receiving her 'graduation certificate' from Officer Joe.

The 3 speakers, from 3 classes, chosen to read their essays.

At the end they were asked to give thank you certificates to the Mayor and Chief.
This is Claire giving the Mayor his certificate.

The PTO (yea, PTO!) sponsored a reception after the event.
Claire and her BFF Ellen!

We are blessed to have a great group of girls at Shuler.
Many of them play volleyball with Claire, and Avery has
grown quite fond of them! 

Claire was the first thing on the program, after introductions.

I was very proud of how calm and prepared she seemed,

especially being the first one up.

My wonderful public speaker, and anti-drug activist! Love it!

The winter that wouldn't die!

Curse you, oh winter that won't die!

Clive, Ia

May 2-3, 2013

Snow, snow, snow

You know winter has overstayed it's welcome

when kids aren't even happy to see the snow!

Spring, oh spring, where are you???