The Kindergarten Graduate

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Today we celebrated Maria’s Kindergarten Graduation.  She has had an exceptional year. She has made friends and really blossomed socially – honestly this is the part I was most worried about. I never doubted that she’d be great at reading or math or art or any of that stuff.  Although I must say I am very proud that she is coming out of Kindergarten reading chapter books and understanding basic math (including multiplication).

So proud.  Can’t believe how far she has come since last year’s graduation.
The Graduate!

More Graduation Pictures

May / June

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Well I’m glad I didn’t put as a May goal to blog more! because that did not happen!

Here’s what happened in May:

  1. Maria’s Birthday Party – Success!
  2. Watch Silver Linings Playbook. Excellent!
  3. Follow up with Doctor re: fingers – Wasn’t able to get an appt until July 1st, but switched to brand name for my prescription and that worked! Wearing my ring again!
  4. Donate clothes
  5. Charlie’s 3 year book
  6. Run some more…  5K on June 1!  Technically I did run more, but not enough to be prepared for the 5K last weekend…  It all worked out anyways, because Charlie threw up 4 times the night before.
  7. Books Read = 2 – Yes. One. Two.
  8. Plant Flowers

Other things I did?

  • Got braces – yes hopefully for just a year, to correct some shifting teeth.  My teeth weren’t bad, I just don’t know if I could have handled them shifting more.  So if you see me not smiling in pictures, that is why.
  • Finished up my year as a Daisy Scout leader. I’ve stepped down for next year.
  • Bought a juicer and started Juicing. It is fun coming up with different variations as a means to get the good stuff into my body quickly.

Plans for June:

  • Charlies 3 year book.
  • Maria’s 6 year book.
  • Exercise.
  • Clean up landscaping.

Honestly – that doesn’t seem like much but I will actually be stretching myself knowing all of what else is on the schedule (barbecues, family reunion, Chad’s class reunion, Maria’s sleepover with her BFF, swimming lessons) And that also assumes no curve balls,like the stomach bug that 3 of us have experienced in the last 10 days…

Maria is SIX

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Six years ago – I introduced my baby girl on my blog.  Six. Whole. Years!

We celebrated last week with our family.  It was a fun party – We also had a girl scout event, so her friend celebration is post poned a few weeks.  We had a tired 6 year old after all the celebrating.

At age 6,  She is just 2 weeks from being done with Kindergarten.  She is starting to read chapter books all by HERSELF! Ivy & Bean are her favorites right now.  She loves princesses. (The theme of her party was princess with emphasis on Sofia the First).  She wants to dress like a teenager (?!)  and loves having her nails painted.  (which we do every week to celebrate her NOT sucking her thumb)  Maria is really close to learning to ride bike on 2 wheels.  She loves to play with Charlie (even if she may not admit it).  They play “babies” a lot. He loves to have her nearby. Even if he isn’t playing nicely, he gets upset if she leaves him at the sand table by himself.

We get the occasional eye rolls and sassy-ness.  Typical things like negotiating for dessert and trips to the Mall of America.  And also times when she forgets things and loses focus on the task at hand.  I’d say pretty typical for her age.    And really, it could be a lot worse.

She is loving school, loving having friends, writing notes to the 6th graders who are going to junior high next year. A real social butterfly.

We are just blessed to have such a special girl!

Birthday Presents!

Birthday Party w/ Cousins

Birthday Girl & Cake

More Birthday Pictures

Mother’s Day Reminder

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I saw this online.. you know on one of those social networking sites, but wanted to post it here for everyone (and for myself to come back to…)  what a good reminder of what being a mom is all about.

Happy Mother’s Day!

For the days we are running on empty. For the days we just don’t think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it together. For the days… we’re sure anyone else would do this job better.

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid’s summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest’s standards.

2. I shall not measure what I’ve accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I’ve tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we’re building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they’re already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore this child or children out loud, especially if I have a daughter.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children’s forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love or respect their father, step-father or other male role model and make sure they know we are blessed they are in their life.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my vehicle this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they’ll all be in college.

April Results & May Plans

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So I feel like April zoomed right by.  But I enjoyed it, even if I didn’t get all my plans accomplished… I blame it on the snow! Here’s how I did:

  1. Read 2 books.  One. Two.
  2. Exercise at least once – hopefully running outside! Come on spring!  Ran Twice. Yoga Twice.
  3. Date Night.
  4. Girls Night Out.  Twice!
  5. Help Maria choose a birthday theme. – Sofia the First!
  6. Charlie’s 3 Year book.
  7. See if I can get my fingers to stop swelling…  No but I did get to the doctor and am on some new medication.
  8. Sell or donate off the pile of clothes/toys I have in my guest room and basement right now. – Not quite, but scheduled for pickup this Thursday.

So May …

  1. Maria’s Birthday Party
  2. Watch Silver Linings Playbook.
  3. Follow up with Doctor re: fingers
  4. Donate clothes
  5. Charlie’s 3 year book
  6. Run some more…  5K on June 1!
  7. Books Read = 2
  8. Plant Flowers