My Guys...Our Guys...

 They make us laugh...a lot!  "Hey, Teddy, go stand by your Dad!  You guys look like you go together...like ketchup and mustard!"

 They take care of us...and our home...and our vehicles!  They both work hard and play hard.

 They fix things...all. the. time!  They are so much alike...it is...funny.

They buy us Frostys...and stuff!  Thank you, sweet love, for fixing my technical difficulty!  We are back in blogging business!

I'm sorry...I'm having technical difficulties!

I can't get my pictures to load into blogger.  I'm aggravated...so I will walk away and try later!  I'm sorry!  I haven't forgotten to blog.  I dumped pictures off my phone.  I sat down to edit and post...and it isn't working right.
We made it to the official start of summer with a trip to Frankenmuth on Monday for Memorial Day.  It was a beautiful day and not busy.  I started summer daycare on Tuesday...and today...I'm just tired.  We head up north for a family vacation for a week and I am ready!  Physically...we still need to pack.  Mentally and emotionally...I need a change of scenery. "Why are you so stressed?"  It is the unending mental prep that I have been doing and continue to do for my job...I don't know.  I feel like a creative-idea-crazy-lazy-on-over-drive-that is going to explode soon.
So...I will walk away from the computer and try again later.  I can write...but it is no fun without the pictures! Hrmph!

Finishing up projects!

 So excited to wear their hats!  In fact, one little guy was so out of control he lost the privilege for the rest of the day's practice.  OH THE TEARS!  Oh...dear Little N...you must learn to obey!

 We have some flowers to be partners for our 3 bumblebees and 3 butterflies who also get wings.  We shall see if that will work in our real dress rehearsal!

 Now...if we can get our little Miss E to leave the elephant head on the right way!  And...I fixed the alligator snout so it isn't covering the face!  We will see if Little N can handle his job this week.  A big thank you to Little S for filling in on short notice! Oi!

Our little robin is so excited she just might fly into the air!

And the other project...helping Mrs. S with her K5 decor for her reception after graduation.  Lots of bright colors for her class of seven girls!  More flowers and pom-poms to make it all pop!

Happy Mother's Day!

I listened to a song this morning that described my mother...yet, I cannot find a copy of it to get all the words.  The Skyline Boys sang "Forever Changed" on Gospel Greats this morning as tribute was paid to all mothers.  Needless to say, I started out my morning with tears streaming down my face...thankful for a mother whose Bible pages are worn with use and who has taught me to pray in and for all situations.  As the song played, I have pictures of my mother in some very vivid hues in the middle of life situations...with a look of faith and peace even with tears on her cheeks.  The song's chorus talks about just reading the Bible to me and teaching me to pray...not having to preach a sermon like on Sunday...but showing me how a Christian ought to live on Monday!  Oh my heart could hardly handle all the truth!  Thank you, Mom, for a life of consistent faith and love for the Lord!  I love you!  Have a beautiful day!

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week!

 We received flowers and treats and coffee and cleaner and crocheted doilies...

 and wine glasses!

 And cookies and pretty cups and cards and gift cards and kind words!

 As I watched our little friends get excited about all the dandelions...

 I stopped and listened..."I'm picking these for my mommy!"

They were so intent and quiet!  And then I remembered the poem about dandelions...that had made me cry when I was in the middle of being at home with my one, two, and three year old children!  We snapped more pictures and printed out the poem to send home to the mommies of these little ones...our way to say "Thank You! to these special Mommies!"

I Wish You Mud Puddles & Dandelions

When I look at a patch of dandelions,
  I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see
  Flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me,
  I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money, and I look away.
My kids see
  Someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love,
  I know I can’t carry a tune and don’t have much rhythm, so I sit self- consciously and listen.
My kids
  Feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don’t know them, they make up their own.

When I feel the wind on my face,
  I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids
  Close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray,
  I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say
  “Hi, God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don’t want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss Mommy and Daddy.”

When I see a mud puddle,
  I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.
My kids sit in it.
  They see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from?
  No wonder God loves the little children!!
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
  I wish you Mud Puddles and Dandelions! 

(Author Unknown)

Sunday dinner with family

 Thankful for times of fellowship with our family!

 Our crazy kiddos entertain themselves and us!

 And my sis makes a yummy chocolate cake for dessert!

 We were all thankful to make it through the earthquake on Saturday!  This made me laugh!  We felt a little shaking...but thought it was the washing machine on the spin cycle...cause...when you live in a trailer...well, you feel every vibration!  What was funny to both Ted and I...we realized the washing machine wasn't even going at the time!

Spring has made a beautiful entrance!

Ladies and Girls Night Out

 To put it in simple terms...an Accessory Swap Meet!  Bring your old, unwanted, gently-used jewelry, scarves, shoes, perfume/lotion/shower gel/fingernail polish/make-up, belts, hats, purses...and a snack to share!  Count how many items you brought and record on the board.

 Yummy girly snacks that guys don't understand how it can equal an actual meal.

 Lay out your items on the tables and browse the goodies as other ladies arrive.

 So many more ladies showed up than expected...we had to add more tables to each "station".

 We ate first and then moved to the circles of chairs for various games that sent you to the tables to choose new-to-you-goodies.  It was fun!

The "grown-ups" acted like "little girls" waiting for their turn!  Lots of laughter and conversation!  Several gals had just gone through their closets and purged before the activity was scheduled and were feeling bad.  Our girls are still just building our accessory collection...so we didn't have a lot to bring this time.  I sure came away with some nice things!  I'm glad one gal didn't like the smell of the Bath and Body gift she received...cause I needed shower gel and I liked the scent!

We all agreed that we want to do this again...next year!  Some of the gals want to add clothes to the mix.  Toward the end of the evening...we just went to the tables to see if there was anything left "that we just had to have".  Anything left...you could take home...or it was boxed up to take to Salvation Army/Goodwill.  It was a neat idea!  And so fun to do with our girls...oops, didn't get a picture of their loot!  They made some good choices...especially nice...since we all three share wardrobes/accessories now!

Friday and Saturday Hunter Safety Class

 Friday night...no children...should have had big plans for a date night!!! Right!?  Yep, not us...this time!  Dropped the kiddos off, ran a couple errands together, and brought Chinese food home so I could crash.  Not feeling good with aches and chills and such a sore throat...but have to keep pushing...so many things going on and so many responsibilities...one of which is singing a solo part for the choir special on Sunday.

 Several hours...and all participants passed with flying colors!  Way to go!  I know the girls thought their Daddy was crazy for signing them up for this...but it makes them well-rounded girly-girls.  Makes me laugh to hear them discuss the finer points of hunter safety..."I will not go hunting because I do not want to see anyone field dress an animal!  What would you do, Mom, if Dad brought home a deer heart to you?"

I laughed and took the opportunity to explain to the girls how I would react.  "I would look at it and say, "Oh, cool! You must know that men don't like drama about every little thing in life.  Even though I may scream inside...I don't always show it on the outside!  Sometimes...I do play along...other times...I act like it doesn't bother me.  It is a good idea for you to learn this now too!  Being the girl that causes a scene wherever she goes is not a character quality you want to feed...and your father and I don't want to feed it either!  Meek and quiet spirit is a good thing!"  We laughed about times as they tried to guess when I was "holding it together or not".  Yeah, remember the whoopie cushion on your chair when we had company?  Yep, I played along...knowing full well the outcome and following reactions...that is what a good mom does...embarrasses herself for her children!

This week's project...

 getting ready for our part in the spring program/Kindergarten graduation on May 15th!

We are singing "The Butterfly Song".  My heart does a little flip-flop when our little friends sing it!  Little E started singing at the start of naptime...I couldn't resist recording...and she got all excited about singing for the camera...then forgot where she was.  "Oops, I forgot that part!"  If I can get the video to upload...grrrr.
We are still working on some of the words.  They are going to be bonkers tomorrow when I bring in the hats for them to wear!  Mrs. K. found the idea for the program piece online.  We both immediately said we needed to do the song.  I thought about ways to do costumes...not using paper!  Mrs. D. crocheted the hats.  I embellished them with felt.  I have giggled all through the sewing process today!  Oops, gotta get pictures of the bees and butterflies too.

THE BUTTERFLY SONG
(If I Were a Butterfly)Words and Music by Brian M. Howard

If I were a butterfly
I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

CHORUS     
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were an elephant
I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo
You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus
I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were a wiggly worm
I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear
I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile
I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for
making me, me!

Just thankful for my family!

 I am now the shortest one in our family!  These kiddos were little just awhile ago...what happened?!  I'm glad we aren't older...or are we?!  Our soon to be 12 year old, 13 year old, and 14 year old!

Weekend visitors

 It is fun to have special visitors for fun things!  Thank you, Papa and Grandma, for coming to the play!

 Girls Outing to Charming Charlies!

 We can always find something to buy at Charming Charlies!!!

 Frozen yogurt to revive us...because we found the new Hobby Lobby...right around the corner!!!

 Home in time to fix supper for the guys...chicken on the grill to make Mexican rice bowls...

 before the Bulls game!  Guys in the livingroom and girls in the diningroom!

 "What's for dessert?"  Ummm...give me a few minutes and I will come up with something!

 Thank you, Pinterest!  Chocolate pancakes with cheesecake cream frosting!

Everyone gave a thumbs up!