Preschool Graduate and Memorial Day Weekend

Our cute little "kindergartener-to-be." So excited for all he's done and learned and all that is yet to be. His sweet teacher will be someone he misses. She has been so good for him!
Our weekend was memorable, fun, and provided some great moments to explain what it is all about to Isaac. It consisted of:


Time at the Heber "Air Museum." Steve is in his suit because one of his choirs performed at the festivities. Isaac really quite liked all the planes and was able to go in a couple and sit in the cockpit of a 1941 Steerman replica that regularly flies over our house doing tricks and dives.


A trip along with members of my family to Idaho where I was born, where my Mom was raised, and where my Dad's family lived for a while. We visited graves, had lunch with my sweet Aunt and Uncle, drove out to where my granparent's lived and homesteaded after the war(picture above), and enjoyed conversation via walkie-talkies while driving.
Our sweet little smiler laying on a seat in the car out of the Idaho wind. Our kids did fabulously! Less than a few minutes of crying, except when Andrew got hungry. It was great!

-My sweet Aunt sent the kids a package last week that included sunglasses for all of them. I couldn't resist snapping pics of them all (before one set bites the dust).
-Isaac finished his spring soccer this past week. This round of soccer has been so rainy that two games were rescheduled and two of the other six were so cold and wet that the kids barely wanted to be out there, much less the parent spectators. All-in-all he did much better this season. Hopefully next year he'll be a little better match as far as size and experience.
-I found Kate sitting on the kitchen floor today drinking the chocolate syrup bottle from the fridge. She had such a happy look on her face that I couldn't get mad at her. Besides, I can't say that I've never had a day where that wouldn't be somewhat tempting, desperate times call for desperate measures. I guess a craving is a craving.
- I guess we need to revamp some eating habits since Kate told me on the way home from church that she didn't want to go home, but wanted Wendy's instead. (To which Isaac replied, "It's not open on Sundays." I honestly don't think I told him that, but since we don't eat out on Sundays I don't mind him thinking that.)
- As a family we are recovering slowly from a period of bad habits/survival called "pregnancy." I am so much better about feeding my family decent foods when I have energy to cook. Don't judge me by the foods my toddler wants. Tonight's menu: Bruschetta chicken, pasta, brown-sugar carrots, and a salad. But, since I got distracted and forgot about the grill pan heating up it might end up being more of a blackened chicken... If you live in the neighborhood and are reading this, don't be alarmed at the smoke or the smoking pan sitting on the deck. When the sealer who married us gave Steve the advice to overlook a burnt meal I just thought he was speaking in generalities, because I thought I was this great cook who was always on top of things, but his advice has proven very helpful as kids and other distractions have entered the picture. Maybe we will have Wendy's for dinner :)
- Along the same lines of re-establishing habits, I made a job chart. For myself. And for the kids, but mostly for myself. I am trying to get into a better flow with my chores and need the visual reminder.

Birthday Fun!

The birthday boy at his party.

My little boy 3 years ago...

The party-ers making their cars.

Five years ago I entered the world of motherhood and Isaac's birthday was a reminder of all that entails: the wonderful and those other moments.
We woke up early to let him open a birthday outfit before rushing to his Kindergarten physical (no shots since he had them before registering for Kindergarten). Kate has entered full "princess" mode and wanted to wear a red velvet and taffeta (?) dress, but I talked her into a pink little tutu that she wore happily. We've had colds that won't quit, including lovely gaggy coughs. On the way to the appointment Kate gagged and threw up all over the carseat and her tutu. So we arrived and were gross!! Isaac had to do a "sample" and ended up spraying me in the process. So lovely!
Isaac passed with flying colors. 32% for height and 4% for weight - perfect Isaac size. The Dr. commented that Isaac could go on a Pediasure IV drip full-time and he still wouldn't gain anything. It is reassuring that my failure to "fatten him up" is not my failure at all.
I had the Dr. check out Andrew, too since he hasn't been eating well and has the cold, too. It turns out that he has an ear infection and he's teething (yes, at 3 months old).
We raced through the rest of the afternoon until his little friends came over for his party. I had so much fun!! What a fun group of kids. They did race themed activities including making their own little wood cars and having our own "derby." How revealing it is to see kids approach an art project. Some slap some color on and call it good, and others plan and execute each step carefully. I can't say enough about how fun I felt it was, and Isaac certainly enjoyed it. We also had his grandparents come for cake and ice cream, which is always a delight!
Even though our day got off to a crazy start, it was really a great day! I can't believe I have a 5 year-old, but he's acted like one for a while now. We love our sweet Isaac boy.

Our World in a Minute

Since I only have 3 minutes to post this, I'll give you a one-minute rundown of our past little while:

• Now that it is May, Isaac is counting down to his birthday. Since November he's been asking how many days until his b'day... Hopefully he'll be happy and feel loved after all is said and done.
• Colds, germs, random stomach bugs... apparently they have found a home at our house. Poor Steve can vouch for that since he got the worst of it. All's well, though.
• I love this time of year with my little ones picking "flowers" that are actually weeds and putting them in paper cups. Aren't they treasures? Isaac also brought home a flower from preschool today and thinks it's the most wonderful thing. He's probably right.
• Andrew has outgrown his 0-3 month clothes ahead of schedule. I am living in memory lane as I dress him in the clothes that were once Isaac's. They look very similiar sometimes.
• I am really feeling awesome since two recent discoveries: aerobics at the rec center (so fun, even at 5:30 am) and Amazon.com/Mom (lots of diapers, delivered, cheap).
  
• Our Easter was great! The fun things as well as the "real"/more meaningful things. Kate obviously was impacted by Easter because she keeps repeating "Jesus died." I take the opportunity to reinforce that "He Lives" whenever she says this. The above pictures are for Sarah since she was only there in spirit.