2nd Grade- COMPLETED

Bailey completed her final project for this school year today- The 50 STATES. To celebrate her hard work we went on date that included the purchase of an ipod shuffle. Now we can both listen to our music while we are running together- it doesn't get any better!



To My SWEET BAILEY GRACE,
I had so much fun on our date tonight. Thank you for hanging out with me. I loved that let me choose where we would go for dinner- CORRALES! You are always so thoughtful. I know I said it already (a few times :)), but I am so proud of the work you did in school this year. Your attitude was excellent and every project you were given was finished beautifully. You have many special gifts that are nearly indescribable. You a intelligent, driven/passionate, artistic and compassionate. The thing that I love most about you is your heart. You are tender with your siblings and are always thinking about others. I am excited to see how the Lord uses your unique spirit; and all for His glory.
I am blessed to call you mine,
MOM

Target Practice

He did IT again.

I suppose MOST of you do not need to be updated on Baby M's potty accomplishments, but this post is really so much more than that. YES, he did use the potty again (and this time went poop- for those of you who are detail oriented) but what I want to share involves the rest of the crew.

Last night after spending the day at the beach I sent the kids upstairs to get ready for bed. Mike took Baby M to his room to change into pj's when he announced that he wanted to sit on the potty. On a normal evening we probably wouldn't have gone to great lengths to make this happen, but Daddy was feeling extra generous with his time. *** This might be a good point in the story to explain my potty training philosophy. Ready, it's complicated.... I DON'T POTTY TRAIN! Ok, so maybe it isn't super complicated, but from my experience the kids that have been most successful in our family learned under this rule. No accidents, no crying, and most especially MOM stayed sane. *** I added that part so that you can understand just how excited the kids are to finally see Baby M sitting on the potty.

So there he was on the potty smiling as big as his little lips would stretch. His siblings (who were also trying to waste time so that they didn't have to get into bed) were cheering from the sidelines (i.e. peaking in the potty and giving words of encouragement). When the 'DEED' was finally done our house became PARTY CENTRAL. I am not exaggerating when I say that the neighbors could hear us. We got into a single file line and did a dance through his bedroom ending in the bathroom. I am giggling just thinking about how excited the kids were for their baby brother. And this story is one for the books, or rather one story that is going to be repeated everyday for the next month (yep, it has been repeated 3 times today already!) ;)

20/25

Shouting it from the rooftop... Carolyn is seeing 20/25! UNBELIEVABLE, less than one day post-op... from 20/750 to 20/25. GOD is GOOD!

I once was blind....

This is probably very close to what my sister, Carolyn, sees all of the time. Her vision this morning was 20/750. It wasn't until 3rd grade that she realized that she was the only one in her class who couldn't see what was being written on the chalkboard. To say that her eye sight is REALLY bad would be a stretch. Carolyn cannot even see the numbers on a large clock right next to her bed. She needs her glasses to help with that one.

Today is a different story. She has waited over 30 years for her eyes to mature so that she could be a candidate for laser surgery. She is with the Doctor now. Please join me in prayer for her surgery. Perfect eyesight (or nearly perfect) is something that many of us take for granted.
Update coming soon!

RINCON

I didn't get a chance to post about our visit with the Leach family yet. I was waiting for the pictures that arrived today. These picture tell a much better story than my lazy brain on this hot day. We had such a special time reconnecting with them. I'm hoping they will plan another trip REALLY soon! HINT HINT HINT ;)

ONE GREAT DEAL!

This is silly to mention , but I thought I'd share it anyway. Last week I took the kids to the Carter's Outlet to look for onesies for Tate. We tend to think that he will be in them for quite some time. Thankfully they had a huge supply and a good selection that didn't look to babyish. He wore one to church today and I couldn't stop smiling at how cute he looked. Once my arms were full (of onesie and children) we headed to the cashier. On our way Baby M stopped and grabbed a pair of shorts off a rack. I just happened to glance at the price tag as I was hanging them back up- $3.50 and wait...40% off that. Ok, I know you can find great deals all over the place but this was unreal. My boys LOVE athletic pants and shorts. They practically LIVE in them most days. I bought SEVERAL sizes and colors (remember, I am buying for 3 boys). Here is M on Friday...LOVING his shorts (and, yes, that is his belly hanging over them!).



Thought I'd mention it so that it wasn't weird when the boys are wearing these shorts in every picture for the next 2 years.

Dancing

The girls have been dancing all over the house for the past few weeks. Five days at dance camp will give you the bug and it's hard to let go of. I tried to get a little video at the performance to share, but wouldn't you know we had a lady sitting in front of us that couldn't sit still. I'll save you the nausea and instead show a clip taped at home (minus the crazy lady). This was their sign language song.




The girls weren't the only two that had a blast. Tate joined in on the warm-ups every morning. Dancing is definitely his 'thing'.

Calling all LADIES..

On Saturday we were asking the kids what they want to be when they grow up. Here is the latest.

Bailey- (she wants to be all 4 in this order- starting now) Famous singer, Famous Actress, a Mommy and a Missionary.
Brooklyn- A Mommy and a Orphanage worker.
Emmett- A soccer ball (you've got to love 2 1/2 year old boys)
And BUDDY- "I want to be good with the ladies!" Nice one son.

FIVE LITTLE LOVES

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Big Boy BABY M used the potty today for the very first time! Now don't hold your breath, it was only one time. But hey, it's a start!

Pucker Up

Check out Tate's new trick. He has finally figured out how to pucker up and kiss!

CHICAGO

Daddy left for Chicago today. He's gone for only 4 days, but you'd think he was going for MUCH longer. Bailey spent the morning in her room writing him a letter. The perfectionist in her asked me to proof read it before she rewrote it. She slipped the final copy into his bag right before he left this afternoon. That's when I caught a glimpse of a little tear in her eye. Bailey LOVES her daddy!

Diving

I'm posting this short video clip for my Uncle Boone. I know he will be very proud!

Chicken Pox???

Buddy woke up on Monday morning with some very suspicious looking spots on his face. After canceling our plans for the zoo, we sat at home waiting for his body to erupt. Well, no new spots. And these few are going away, not blistering like Chicken Pox. So, what could it be? Maybe it was a allergic reaction or heat rash? Any ideas?



(The photo was taken this morning so he has fewer spots than Monday)

Gone Fishin'

Buddy: "Mama, can I go fishin'?"

Me: "Sure, Buddy" (Except we don't live on a body of water!)

Buddy: "Mama, can I get my pole?"

Me: "Sure, Buddy" (I was busy, not really paying attention to his question)

Several minutes later I asked Brooklyn where Buddy was.

Brooklyn: "He's out fishin'." She says it like he goes 'fishin' all of the time.

Then I look out the window and sure enough, he's fishin'.

TLC

With five kids 8 and under our home is practically a war zone. Someone is always getting a bump, bruise or scraped knee. One of my favorite things to witness is how all of the siblings know exactly what to do when someone gets hurt.

Step One: One child runs up stairs to retrieve the favorite 'night-night'.

Step Two: One child immediately holds/hugs the hurting sibling.


Step Three: One child runs to the freezer for the ice pack.

If steps 1-3 fail, Step Four ALWAYS does the trick.

*Squeeze your siblings buns until they giggle.

MUSIC

I have been trying to post this video for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, our Internet service has made everything on the computer very challenging. If you are picturing me crouched over the computer on the ground in the corner of the school room, you've got it right. Thanks to my dear husband, last night the issue was resolved (did you hear the cheering?). The computer is another story, this post is about MUSIC; precious, beautiful MUSIC!

My Aunt and Uncle in Idaho packed up their van along with their eight kids and came to California for a visit (yep, more cheering!). We haven't seen Aunt Jo since our trip to Ukraine. And the rest of the bunch, well, it's been a long time. One of our favorite nights during their visit included a family concert. They are ALL extremely musical.

The following is a song WRITTEN by Katie(21). She is singing in three part harmony with her sisters Grace(16) and Ruthie(12).



(Chills? yea, me too!)

Check this out...

http://www.whatshannisaw.blogspot.com/

They keep getting cuter!

SNEAK PEAK

Stacy and Jeff's ENGAGEMENT photo!