::end of school stuff::

We're nearing the end of the school year, and life is super busy with all the activities. We've had swim parties, activity days, kindergarten programs, tumbling finales...

Chloe had her kindergarten program on Wednesday night (and also Wednesday morning). I went to both. The morning one was less crowded and I intended to video the whole thing and get pictures. Buuut, my memory card is just not big enough for all that (you'd think it is, 4GB oughtta be enough!) So I recorded half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening. I didn't save myself from standing up against the wall for the entire thing (twice).

BUT, my troubles aside, it was such a cute program! They sand lots of songs (including their abc's backwards!) They did such a great job!

Then yesterday, Portie had his last-day-of-school-activity-day. His class sang a few way cute songs, and did 3 cute little activities. He had fun with it all, and I think he liked that Bubb and I came to school with him.

( His teachers: Miss Wendy, Portie, & Miss Kim)

He colored a summer-y picture, painted a playground, and made a "wihm" pencil. Great little projects-cute, quick, and fun.

Portie's completely done, but Chloe still has 2 more weeks. She's wrapping it up though. Homework's all done, nightly reading books are all done, and spelling tests are all done! She's excited for the end too. Too bad they have soo many more years of school

::ouch!::

7:45 am

It was kind of a rough morning. It was particularly hard to get up and get ready for school, and while I was fixing her hair, Chloe was telling me about how hard her life is...

Chloe: Mom, you just don't know what it's like to be a kid.

Me: Yes I do, I used to be one!

Chloe: Yeah, but that was like 10,000 years ago!

::Chloe's class photo::

Chloe's kindergarten class...

::swimmin' in the rain...::

"I'm laughin at clouds, so dark up above..."

-Gene Kelly

Yesterday was Port's swim party at school. It was 60 degrees and raining. Good thing their pool is super warm! He loved it. He took his Buzz kickboard. When we got there I laughed because before he got in the pool, I had to say "let me have your coat." And Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain has been in my head ever since.

Coopie mostly threw things into the pool. He tried a couple of times to walk down the steps into it.

They swam for a while, and then went in for snack right before it was time to go home. I felt bad for his teacher. She swam with them in the morning, then she had to swim with her afternoon class. She probably had to be wet all day long! And then she had to do it again the next day with her MWF friday classes.

::FINALLY, a warm day::

It was such a warm day today! We were all so excited that we HAD to get out the swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, and SPRINKLER!!

We played with Portie's new Buzz sprinkler that he got for his birthday (from Brandon & Stef). It's pretty neat! It has a handle you can move to make the water come and when it comes out it shoots Buzz's rocket in the air. The kids LOVED it!

Coop didn't really love it as much as the other 2. He wanted to. He kept going over to the sprinkler, touch the water, and then kinda cry on his way back over to my lap. He did that about a million times.

I think the cold and the wet was just not as fun for him. So he and I mostly just watched.

The other two squealed, giggled, ran around, and had a great time.

And when we were ready for a break...

ahhhhhhh, what a beautiful day!

We're glad we soaked it all in before the 30 degree temp drop tomorrow :(

::owie::

This is what happens when you try to do

back handsprings on the trampoline with your 6 year old...

In my defense, I don't really know how to do a back handspring.

I just kind of did it. Twice.

And I landed on my face. Twice.

It hurt.

Now I know that Chloe deserves A LOT more credit for how well she does 'em! It's not easy! She was so funny when I was doing them too. I kept telling her I was scared and she would just laugh "what are you scared of?" I landed on my face, and she kinda laughed, "Mom, you have to have strong arms!" I landed on my face again, and she said "Mom!!, how come you can't do it, you just do this (and she did a perfect one for me). Then I decided I'm either too old, or I don't take her direction very well, and I quit.

::Port's school pictures::

Port got his school

"pick-chas" back.

We thought they truned out pretty cute...

::out to eat::

5:30 PM.

Grandma & Papa Kitty stopped by and took us out to dinner...

...and Chloe wanted to look her best...

(the sun's always shinin' when you're cool

Chloe-6 1/2)

cornbread.rolls.salad.famous rootbeer.Papa's jokes.Portie sleeping in my arms.Coop banging his cup on the table, throwing his chicken on the floor,reaching for anything and everything on the table.Chloe squeezing Grandma's lemon all over the place.chats about Disney Land.chats about Yellowstone.how was your day.have you talked to so and so lately.

They're brave people to want to take US out to eat...we're not the most fun to eat out with-we can be kind of embarrassing. It was fun, and we're glad they stopped by.

::Port's official birthday::

Yesterday was Port's official birthday.

About 2 hours old...

...and 4 years old

He officially turned 4 yesterday. It made me think back to 4 years ago. He was my easiest baby. The delivery was easiest, recovery was easiest, and he was the most mellow. He never took a binky, and has always been SUPER attached to his "mummah" aka his blue blankie. I used to describe him as a "go with the flow" baby because as long as he was fed and changed, he was up for just about anything. He was such a beautiful baby with tons of beautiful dark hair, and the most beautiful dark skin. He's still a beautiful baby, but not quite as easy as he was when he started out-but that makes life fun :)

To celebrate his day, we took him out to eat. He picked McDonalds. I tried pretty hard to get him to want to go to Wingers or Chilis or somewhere like that, but he was set on McDonalds. It has a play area, how can the others compete?? The kids all ate their chicken nuggies and played for a while...

Then when we got home, we gave him a present from us. We got him a Buzz scooter and a Buzz hamper for his room. He LOVED them! The scooter was exciting for all of us. He crashed a couple of times, and when he fell he made sure he did a few somersaults to add a little drama. Coopie was a little sad-he thought it was his scooter. He mostly just chased Portie and cried, but he did get a turn on the "scoot-eh"--thanks, Port!!

Then this morning, Portie was SUPER excited because he was snack friend! He took some Buzz "cuh-cakes" and chocolate milk (his all-time favorite drink). He took his Buzz squirt guns and one of his Buzz towels for show and tell.

He said he had a great day at school (which is rare-he usually tells me some goofball reason why school was not fun). He was hoping to ride his scooter outside today, but it's 37 degrees and raining. My rearview told me ice was possible when I was picking the kids up today...ugh!

I just love this boy! I love his smile, his laugh, his squeaky, excited voice, how he runs, the way he talks, how he loves tractors and Buzz, how much he loves his brother and sister, the way he always makes us laugh, and how sweet and tenderhearted he is.

I think he had a pretty good birthday. He's gotten lots of extra attention and had lots of fun for a few days (which has been a little tough for Chloe). I feel like he's grown up so much in the last few weeks. He's been getting along with Chloe really well, he doesn't get mad and throw fits as much, he's more understanding, and more helpful. I love it, but at the same time, it makes me sad-I'm not sure I like the whole "gwoin' up" thing.

::mothers day::

"Of all the rights of women,

the greatest is to be a mother."

-Lin Yutang

Our mothers day was so nice. We had our usual brunch on Saturday with my mom and Billy & Suzie. We ate at Mimi's, and it was goooood! My mom and I gave eachother the same book. That seems to happen almost every year. It's the Remarkable Soul of a Woman book. (I haven't started it yet, but I'm excited to). And Sunday afternoon, we had lunch with Matt's mom and dad and sister, and (almost) all his brothers and sisters were there later to visit and give her our gift. It was a fire pit. It was cute the way they gave it to her-they gave her a box of s'more stuff first, and then brought out the fire pit. Cute and fun :)

So, Sunday morning, Matt & the kids surprised me with such sweet cards, and a beautiful jewelry box. It's one of those ones that stands up on the floor. I told Matt it reminded me of my Gramma Ruby. It has the little doors that swing open on the sides for the long necklaces. I remember Leah (my cousin) and I used to go in her room and sit in front of her jewelry box and touch all her jewelry. I don't really remember getting it out and playing with it, but we opened all the drawers and looked at her jewelry all the time. Every time I see mine in my room, it makes me smile-because of the Gramma Ruby memory, and because of the sweet man behind the gift. And because when we first saw it, the kids opened the drawers, and then ran to get their cars and hairbows to put in it :)

Matt had the camera ready to

get my surprised face...

(I really debated whether or not to put these on the blog because of the jammies, bed-head, and lack of make-up, but then I thought the memories might be more important than my appearance :) )

Chloe and Port made me some cards at school. They were the sweetest things I've ever read. They made me cry. I think about them growing up all the time, and their cards mentioned that too. It made me sad and so happy at the same time.

Portie's especially got to me since he's having a birthday. I was laying in his bed with him Thursday-ish night of last week, and we were talking about how he was having a birthday. I told him I didn't want him to be 4. Our conversation went something like this...

Port: I have to be "foe-ih."

Me: Why???

Port: Because I'm gwoin' up!!

Me: ohhh. (a sad "ohhh)

Port: But you can still hold me when I'm 4.

Me: I can?!!?

Port: Yep! But you can't hold me when I'm as big as Da.

Sad, but true. It made me think of that book Love You Forever. That'd be me-if you've read the book, you know what I mean.

I love all my babies so much. I'm thankful every day for them, and for being so blessed as to be their mother. I hope I'm doing a good job. I hope they grow up with happy childhood memories. I know I'm not perfect, but I'm doing my best, and I hope they know that. I hope they know that no matter what, their mom loves them and their dad more that anyone and anything in the whole world.

I'm thankful to Matt for making me a Mamma. He makes me feel special and important. I'm glad I get to be with my babies as much as I do, and that's thanks to him too. He and the kids made mothers day so special. I'm thankful to my own mom. She's a great example of strength. She had a tough job, and accomplished a lot for us and herself. I'm thankful for Matt's mom. She's such a great example and so accepting of everybody, and she's lots of fun :)

My mothers day was perfect. I felt lucky.

:)