A Great Ride...

Me, Rachel, Annie, and SuLee

I don't think I've blogged about it before, but for the past 7 years I have been a part of an incredible moms' group called MOPS (mothers of preschoolers).  Weird name (if you ask me), but an INCREDIBLE group! For the past 2 years I have been the coordinator for our group. It's a big job, actually I knew it was too big when I accepted it, so I did the smart thing...recruit some of my best friends to help me.  This year we had about 110 moms in our group, and 33 of those women were in  leadership. 

Just 2 weeks ago we had our last meeting of the year and also celebrated with a fun party for our leadership team that evening.  We may or may not have kicked off the party with a few margaritas...what?  Don't judge, it's been a lot of work!  So, after 7 years in MOPS, 6 years on leadership, and 2 years as the coordinator...I'm done!

MOPS has been a blessing to me...I've gained amazing ideas, priceless advice and had excellent discussions. I had a ton of fun.  Laughed and cried.   But the most prized thing that I walk away with, is the amazing friends that I have made.  So, thank you ladies for being wonderful friends, for carrying a huge leadership role, and for the great ride!

A sneak peek....

Last weekend I took a photography class from the wonderful Tom and Nicole Schauer, of Life and Lens Photography.  It inspired me to get behind my camera and use the new knowledge that I gained.   Today I did a little photo shoot with Benjamin.  Here's a little sneak peek...


Can I just say that this picture of Benjamin is SOOC...really truly the only thing I did was crop the picture and round the corners.

Linking this picture up to Naked Sunday at This is Me, Getting a Life.  And, no, it's not naked pictures...it's about unedited pictures. 

This picture was an unexpected surprise.  Benjamin adores Natalie,  and I love how he is looking right into her eyes.

JOY!

Aaron was pressure washing and periodically would stop and shoot a mist of water into the air.  Pure joy I tell you, pure joy!

Thanks Luke, you're the best 7 year old photographer I know!

Cutie Patootie....

Hello sweet boy!

Don't you just want to kiss these sweet little chubby feet?  Well, I do!

Can someone please remind this baby that he's 4 1/2 months old?  What's he doing getting up on his elbows and knees?  Doesn't he know that we want him to stay still for at least a few more months!

Love this expression.

Jenny and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day....

Have you read that book...Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?  If you haven't, you should.

Anyway, that's beside the point.  The real point is that I WON...today I won the World's Lamest Mom award!  It's a prestigious award, I know you're jealous!

Really, the lameness started yesterday when my 4 year old went to lunch-bunch after preschool, without a lunch.  He only gets to go once a week, and absolutely LOVES getting to take a big-boy lunch and eat with his friends.  For the record, we did pack him a lunch.  But, he forgot it in the car and no one noticed.  Afterwards he said, "mom, I didn't have a lunch today.  But don't worry, the teacher gave me some cheese and crackers and juice."  That should make me feel better, but really I just felt even more lame.

Today was worse.   Aaron called me at 11:30 to ask me if I knew that our beloved childcare provider was out of town for the week,  and asked who was picking up the kids from preschool?  (Natalie had just been delivered to his office by the preschool teacher.  Thank goodness he works at the church where our kids go to school.)  I quickly glanced at my calendar...I knew she was going to be gone, but didn't see it written on my calendar....of course, that could be because I wrote it on the WRONG month.  Yep, there it is, in JUNE, marked on my calendar.

I jumped in the car thankful for my flexible work schedule, and determined to roll with the punches.  The afternoon was fun.  Natalie and I (and Benjamin) had a great afternoon while Peter played with a friend.

When I went to the bus stop to pick up Luke I was greeted with a very VERY unhappy 1st grader who informed me that his entire day was ruined because instead of getting to have his FAVORITE hot lunch~ french toast~ (which they only serve once a month) he had to have the "emergency lunch."  Which is the lunch you get when you have no money left in your hot lunch account.  You'd think they'd just give him hot lunch, but OHHHHH NOOOOO, he got a cold cheese sandwich, an orange and milk.  Hey, at least he got lunch.  But, he was wondering WHY I didn't know that his account was empty.  I wanted to say, "because the system is stupid and they should send me an email letting  me know that it's getting low."  But instead I just smiled, apologized that his day was ruined by a cheese sandwich,  and assured him that we'd re-fill his account right away.

After all of that, I cracked open a diet coke, which Natalie picked up and spilled on the carpet...the carpet that was professionally cleaned earlier today.  Yep, the day just keeps getting better.

So, unless I drop the baby, or accidentally give my children food-poisoning with a bad dinner, I think I've humbled myself to the maximum level today!

Some days are just like that!  Thank goodness tomorrow is a new day!

Okay, enough with the bad mommy confessions!  Check out how adorable Natty is with her new haircut!

A whole new level...

Natalie calls her big-girl bed, her Princess Bed.
This is how Natalie fell asleep tonight.
This brings the Princess Bed to a whole new level!

...goodnight princess natty-pants.

Happy 7th Birthday, Luke

Happy Birthday to our sweet Lukie...who recently informed me that he'd rather just be LUKE...you know, with a silent "E."  I informed him that I gave birth to him, and he'll be LUKIE for as long as I want...but did concede that I'll just call him that at home!

Dear Luke,

Dad and I are so very proud of you!  You have a soft heart, strong mind, and a great sense of humor.  I admire so many qualities that God has given you.  This has been a big year for you.  You started 1st grade and have learned so much.  You are a fantastic reader and have such an enthusiasm for learning.  You are very smart!  You have had a lot of fun playing soccer and coach-pitch baseball.  You sing in the kids choir at church and love it.  You have made many new friends this year as well.  You are a joy to be around and I am proud of who you are!  Keep being who God made you to be!

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy

How can this boy be 7???  Time flies when you are having fun!

The Lesyks gave Luke his first skate board.  He's THRILLED.
We'll be sending them the emergency room bill!  

Luke is very musical.  He's been begging us to let him play an instrument for a long time.  Since there is no room in our home for a piano right now, we chose to give him a guitar (and lessons of course)!  Aaron is a great guitar player and Luke admires him so much.  So, I'll be looking forward to some father/son jam sessions in the future.  Here's Luke with his new guitar...he looks like a natural to me!

Finally, the tooth fairy is headed our way...

TWO days before his 7th birthday, Luke has FINALLY lost his first tooth!

Who's that???

Who's that baby staring at me???

I don't know, but he's pretty cute!

Four months old...

Dear Benjamin,

You are FOUR months old.  I can hardly believe it.  Time is flying by too quickly.  

You've had a fun month.  You had your first trip to the beach, your first Easter, and many other adventures.  This month you started laughing,  rolling over both ways, and you are sleeping through the night...okay that last one is not true at all...but really wishful thinking.  We've gotta work on that sleep thing...I'm pretty sure if you had a motto it would be, "sleep is for suckers." Good thing you're so sweet!

You are a HAPPY baby.  You hardly ever fuss, and you go with the flow.  You love your play gym and bouncy seat, and you are grabbing and kicking at the toys, which is adorable.  You've decided you are done being swaddled, which breaks my heart a little.  But, I have to admit it was becoming a challenge...like trying to swaddle a octopus...arms and legs flying all over the place.  

As your mommy, I love getting to know all the little things about you...like how when you're tired, I put you on my shoulder you'll fall right to sleep. Or how if you get really wiggly when you're nursing, that means you have a big burp.  Or, how you cry in the car if the kids aren't there to entertain you.  And,  you have a cute fat roll on the back of your neck, and you've got ticklish chunky thighs.  I love how you wake up happy in the morning and give a big stretch and smile to greet the day.  I love you in blue because it makes your eyes the color of blueberries.  I could go on and on and on....

Just yesterday I was thinking about how last May I had no idea what God had planned for our family.  And here we are, a year later, incredibly blessed by the gift he has given us in you.  I am over-joyed to be your mom.

I love you more than you can ever imagine!

mommy

Because every parent needs blackmail for the future....

Sometimes there are no words.  You just have to watch it for yourself.

And if you're wondering why my child knows this song, I don't really have an answer for that.  Just comfort yourself, knowing that this pastor's kid knows a whole lot of Bible songs too.

Huggle Buggle Bear...

Last year, Great Grandma Lawler gave Natalie the book, "Huggle Buggle Bear."  It is her absolute favorite.

Several times the book says, "Where oh where is Huggle Buggle Bear?  I can't find him ANYWHERE."   Since we have read this book about a hundred-thousand times, Natalie has now adopted this saying.  So, I will say, "Natty, please get your shoes on." And she'll reply, "buuuuut I can't find them ANYWHERE."  Usually they are sitting right in front of her, which just adds to the humor.

One night, she was "reading" the book to Peter...it's pretty cute!