All about me week...

This week we are revisiting "All about me" week. We have some new faces for summer and thought this would be a fun them to find out our new favorites and update our pictures for cubbies and helper board!
Today we worked on name posters. Each kid sat with me as we found their letters and put them on their poster. Then they decorated it to make it extra special. Most of them said they wanted to hang them up in their rooms!
Here are a couple pictures as they are coloring their posters...

My diamond devil

This is KK's first year playing softball on a team. She plays on a lake league and her team is the Diamond Devils. I will be the first to say I love for my children to try something and be good at it. I will also be the first to say if they are not so good at it. Well, K is just not digging the softball thing this year. Each game consists of bribing, walking her back to the team dug out, and lots of tears! It's GREAT!

Kadyn looks so cute in her uniform and glove... I really wish she liked it more!
Last Thursday Kadyn was over tired, we had a long day, and no nap. It was her turn to play catcher. I had to fight with her to try the gear and after everything was on, we had one more thing... the helmet. I tried putting it on and the melt down started! It was a proud mom moment as I yank the gear off of my child, rip her into my arms, and carry her away so she can have a time out and continue to throw a fit!

Most days I am her biggest fan... my mom, Dustin, and Mia all have shirts that have her name and number printed on them.

Kadyn likes to bat but hates "going to the field" as she calls it. Here she is in action...
I am nowhere close to being the perfect parent, if you need proof come and see me at the ball park! Here's to a fun and busy summer!

Would I ever do this???

Would I ever, write on my husbands arm just so he knows how much I love him and blog about it? (and have everyone know how much he puts up with me?)
Would I ever, tell my best friend from High School to join Face Book and tell him I have to be his first? ( person he adds as a friend that is)
Would I ever run the dish washer again just so I don't have to unload the dishes?
Would I ever sleep in my workout shirt so when I wake up at 5 am I am almost ready to go to class?
Would I ever take the phone off the hook during nap time so pesky calls won't wake up my sleeping children?
Would I ever call, FB, and text my sister in law all in one night right before her first "date"?
Would I ever be so behind on folding laundry that I take a table outside so I can fold and watch children at the same time?
Would I ever change into a tank top so my back that is facing the sun will get tan while folding the mountain of laundry?
Would I ever blog about all the silly things I have done in the last 24 hours just to avoid riding my bike during nap time???

outside shots...

My littlest girls like to be where I am so if I am on the deck, they are on the deck... if I am on the grass, they are on the grass. Here comes my peeps!!!
Every time I get the camera out, A says, "CHHHHEEEESSSSEEEE"

Lil A is showing me a bug that is on the ground. She wanted to come up the stairs so badly but not until the bug was gone!!!

K just smiles when I take her picture... so fun! And yes... after the picture, I tied her shoes! =)

Today my boys learned "Follow the Leader" which was a really cool game until everyone wanted to be the leader then we had some good practice at using our words! =) Every one took turns after we set some rules and time limits!!! We had an excellent morning outside!!!

I like being an "Us"

Dustin and I met back in high school. We were best friends then started dating. And that is where it all started. I will spare you story after story that proclaims my love for my hubby of 9 years. But I will tell you that he is the best friend, soul mate, husband and father that I could ever ask for.
We have come along away... We were married May 19th, 2000 at our home church, Topeka Bible Church. Dustin and I both were in school,working full time, and living in my parents garage (after we got married, of course). We found out that following March we were expecting Gaby, we didn't wait too long to start our family. Fast forward 9 years and we own our own home, have 3 beautiful daughters and a strong marriage that I am thankful for everyday. We are certainly not perfect, but we are still smiling!

Tonight D and I celebrated our endless love by going to... China Pavilion! It was great. It wasn't too full so when we all got a little silly it wasn't bothering other people! Tonight was Mia's first time with an Oreo cookie... the above picture was her first smile after eating it, priceless!

My very own Peanut Gallery... Gaby, Kadyn, and Mia

On the ride home I was taking requests for Killer's songs. They are my favorite group and it puts the biggest smile on my face to hear my 4 year old and 7 year old call out their favorite songs from my play list! I have raised them right!

Dustin and Kadyn goofing around at the CP...fun times by all!

I was playing around and snapping pictures, in the course of one evening, I took 62 pictures. After I got home, I was playing with the affects and goofing them up a little. This one is for FaceBook... I am sure it might make a profile picture of mine soon!

When we got home... more fun, happy couple pictures! I LOVE this man more then cheesy pictures and words could ever start to describe! He just gets how I am, no need to explain and he loves me for it!

I made him take this picture... we are so flippin' cute!!! We need our own Hallmark card, I tell ya!!!

This is another silly picture/pose! This is for all of my young Facebook peeps that always stick their tongue out or pucker up their lips... I can do it too!!! =)

I like being an "us"... I know the last 9 years are not all perfect and happy times... together we have been though deaths, births, family fights, tears, laughs, school, melt downs, sicknesses and more but we have made it through, Us, Dustin and I!

SHES Field Day...

Friday was Gaby's second field day at SHES. This event at the school is an awesome time for all of the kids. They have stations of games and time limits so when you are finished you move on to the the game.
Above is Gaby guarding her pin for one of the games. I should have posted the picture that comes after this one... but it is sad and breaks my heart so I didn't. Gaby was stuck on the end and none of the balls were coming her direction. One of the balls came towards me. I thought I made eye contact with her and kicked the ball to her, well, she didn't see the ball and it ended up knocking over her pin. I know, I suck... nice one mom! She wasn't to happy with me that I was the one that ended up knocking the pin over. Luckily for me she forgives and forgets!

Gaby is on a mission to tag people so they can then put on a yellow shirt. The teams that recruits the most members, wins!

Gaby running on the relay races... she has good form!

One of the last events is the "tug a war". Each of the 1st grade classes take turns pulling... somehow they all had a turn to win... hum!!!
Even so, I have to give the folks at SHES credit. This event goes on without a hitch. It is organized, well thought out, and they have lots of help! Awesome time was had by all!

looking ahead....

While Spring has certainly kept us busy, summer looks to be no different. This year Kadyn (4) and Gaby (7) are first time softball players at the local lake league. We are spending on average 3-4 nights a week at the diamonds. We have found out that Kadyn is not a sports kid but loves her dance and Gaby is. Or at least she really likes playing softball...

As for daycare we are done with all of the learning lessons per say and moving on to nature and hands on activities. We are slowing down to spend more time outside, gardening, and relaxing. I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks when we buy our pool (last years had leaks...) and get water toys out. This is always a highlight for me and my girls as well. I must admit the summer isn't as light as I would like it to be, but it will still be a blast with all of our new and old friends. We have 2 new children coming and a school aged helper. I am excited to welcome the new faces.

Family life is going good as well! I live day to day saying, "God will provide". And He does! I came into May very on edge as I knew car tags are due, our first payment of medical insurance is coming out, and both kids had activities that needed payments. But as He does, things will be covered... I got a call 2 days ago asking if my summer care kids could start early. What a blessing.
Dustin continues on his job search as many of people are praying and giving him leads. He really enjoys the work at his part time job but doesn't know if/when he would move up in hours. Dustin is also fixing peoples computers as they need help too, pretty neat that he is so well rounded in the skills that he has! Whata great hubby I have!
Looking over the last few months, I know I do not have it so bad. I have a house, a great (full) daycare, awesome family, and supportive friends. I know and understand I still get emotional when making cut backs, but I look around to see that everyone is cutting back and not just because of a loss of a job! I am blessed. Even when I down, I have a husband that picks me up, a God that doesn't give me more then I can handle, and 3 little girls that look up to me as their mommy. I am blessed.
I am looking ahead... for summer, for new daycare friends and activities, sports, swimming, family time, church time, pictures... I am looking ahead!