June Part 1

Emma's last day of kindergarten.  I can't believe she'll be a big 1st grader next year!

Emma and her teacher Mrs. Kukas.

Emma with her sisters and friends from school - they are such a cute group of girls.  Most of them attended preschool together the year before. 

June Part 2

This year Claire went a new preschool headed up by a member of our ward.  She really blossomed there and made a lot of darling little friends.  At the end of the year, her teacher put together a program for the parents.  Claire got to memorize a poem about spring and performed it in front of quite a few people! It was a great night!

Right before Claire performed her poem.  When she wears her sweaters like this we call her "Ethel".

The kids were broken down into the 4 different seasons.

June Part 3

I'm probably the worst blogger out there - Claire's 5th birthday was the end of May and I haven't even blogged about it! We held her birthday the first week-end in June because of Memorial week-end and so many of her friends were out of town.  We do "friend" birthday parties every other year, so this was her year to have them over! She wanted a Barbie and a Mermaid Tale birthday. 

Courage

Courage should be Emma's middle name.  A couple weeks ago I signed Em up for swimming lessons.  The class started on Monday and goes for 2 weeks every night.  The first class freaked the poor girl out.  Being in the deep end with a bunch of other kids and only one teacher really scared her.  Plus the girl doesn't like to put her head under the water, and that's one requirement for her class.  She bawled Tuesday night about going.  Once there, the girl lucked out with a kid barfing in the pool right before her class started.  So today came around with more tears.  Knowing that Heavenly Father would help her, she asked asked her dad for a father's blessing.  Afterwards, with some deep breaths, she jumped in the pool and faced her fears! Not only did she put her head under the water when the teacher asked her to, but did the back stroke by herself! She came out of the water with a huge smile and said,"I wish the class was for 2 extra weeks! I LOVED it!" I'm so proud of you little Miss Emma!

Today I'm so grateful for...

*the beautiful sunshine that finally emerged this afternoon

*the laughter of my girls playing together on the tramp

*a tantrum free day

*a large McDonalds $1 Dr. Pepper

*2 really good talks with two really great friends

*not getting sick to my stomach

*realizing I have less than 60 days left of pregnancy!

*listening to the beautiful message from Elder Holland on motherhood

*listening to Emma read and seeing her face look at me with pride

*a Heavenly Father that listens to my prayers

*the hug I got today when Dave got home from work

*meeting a good friend from Dave's past

*sharing ice chips with my Hal

*hearing Claire tell me she loves me

Hallalujah!

...we're home! Oh my goodness, I will never ever ever again travel while pregnant ever ever again! I guess since this is the last one it won't happen again, but whoa! Emotions, tantrums (kids, and a few from me probably!) I am so happy to be home! Don't get me wrong, we had a fabulous time! But 2 weeks is soooo long when you're preggo and 6, 5 and 3 years old! Disney was a blast, as well as Port Townsend (although without Dave it was a challenge).  But hooray! We're home and we can get back into the swing of things and get ready to get this baby out! And I don't think we're going for Tess or Tessa, I know what a fickle fickle mind! :) Pics to come! Prepare for LOTS!!!

OFF!

Hooray! We leave tomorrow for Disneyland! Packing for myself and 3 little girls has been really hard! Plus packing all the things we need to keep them entertained for the drive down and back has stressed me out a bit! This is our first car trip, we've flown on all our other vacations.  Sooo, for this trip we bought new dvd players, coloring books, crayons, polly pockets, barbies, a couple new movies, snacks, sippy cups, little potty in case of emergencies (a lifesaver I swear!) snuggly pillows, sound machine, blankets, beach towels...whew! I'm sure I missed a bunch! And we would have had to take the Camry, but my in-laws felt sorry for us and let us borrow their super sweet toyota highlander.  My favorite thing about the car is the video camera that shows what's behind you when you back up! Any accident I've ever been in has been with me backing up into something...;)  So, one week in California and then off to Depoe Bay for another week! Whoohoo!!!

Under 100...

oh my heavens, 96 days to go.  i'm FINALLY under 100!!! the weather's improving, my drugs are kind of working, vacation's in 2 1/2 weeks (still don't have a van though, poo)...I'm finally getting a little excited to have this little one! yesterday Emma got to feel the baby move.  jokingly she said, "what if I put my ear to your belly button, then maybe I can hear her too!" when she did it I said,"mama!" emma laughed her head off...she has got the best giggle!

Just a Little Bit of Nothing...

sounds like I'm going to write something depressing, doesn't it? :) nah... I just did not get a single thing on my list done today.  my sister Jamie and scrumdiddlyumptious niece Charlotte come on Wednesday - so I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish today.  yeah, not so much.  and ya know what? that's ok! As a wise bear once said, "Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not Bothering." - Pooh's little Instruction Book.  so I went on a walk with the girls, pushed them on the swing and relaxed my huge tummy and all on the couch! it was a good day!

Ah Claire....

yesterday my mom came over to help us in the yard since I throw up just picking up a shovel (i need all the help i can get and luckily she's willing).  during our gardening Emma finds a worm.  she LOVES worms.  "Hey dad! I found a worm!!!" Claire yells back, "Emma that is NOT exciting! if you'd said you found a dinosaur bone, THAT would be exciting!" gotta love my little Claire Bear.