Memorial Day Weekend

I always look forward to three day weekends like this.  I love the time that we get to spend as a family together.  Whether it be running errands to the market, playing outside in the backyard, or just making each other giggle.  This three day weekend turned out to be a little different than we had planned....

Yesterday we spend the day running errands and cleaning house, because we were to have all of Eric's family over for dinner on Monday.  Then this morning we had planned to do a family bowling morning.  We have never been, and the girls were REALLY excited!  Especially Ella!  She was up BEFORE 6 am this morning, all excited about the event!   Then Abby woke up much later and just wasn't herself.  Very sleepy and not real hungry.  She did manage to eat two strawberries, but then went back on the couch and fell asleep.  So I sent Eric and Ella off for a "daddy daughter date".   It was a little more crowded than they had expected, but I think in the end they had fun.

While they were gone though, Abby got sick.  And not just the "fever/cold" kind of sick.  I mean SICK. After taking her temperature (when she woke up from sleeping for another hour) to see that she had a low fever and she took a sip of juice, she threw up.  Poor thing!! (Can I just say that I was NOT thrilled that the only thing she ate was strawberries..... Yep, you can imagine.) Two loads of laundry, two baths, and 3 or 4 more times of getting sick (all before 10:00 this morning), I was REALLY glad she didn't try to go bowling!  So we let Eric's family know we had to cancel dinner tomorrow, which we were disappointed about, but we would rather not pass this bug on to anyone else.  Hopefully we can try again another weekend.   =)

So our afternoon was spent laying low.  Abby (who has not napped in 6 months) slept for over two hours, and then was finally looking (and acting!) like herself.  Whew!   =)   Both girls fell sound asleep on the early side tonight, and hopefully this bug was a quick one and everyone else will be free from it.

Even though it is not the weekend we had planned, it has still been really nice to just all four be together!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Growing up...

You know how parents will always tell "new moms" how quickly it goes, and how fast the little one will grow up?  Well, it is true.  It is happening way too fast!! This week my baby girl proved that to me.  She had her preschool graduation on Wednesday.   I didn't think I would be as emotional as I was.  I mean, come on, it is PRESCHOOL!  But....it still made the tears flow.  Monday was her last day of school, and I was surprised when I was getting teary driving her there.  Seems like it was just yesterday that we took her to her FIRST day of preschool two years ago.  And now it has come to an end and she will be starting kindergarten in the fall.  KINDERGARTEN! When I taught first grade, those kindergarteners always seemed so little.  Now looking at Ella, she seems so big.

The school did a wonderful job with the ceremony! Eric took the morning off, and his dad was able to come too.  So it was very special for Ella to have family there.   The night before I ironed both her cap and gown, and yes, was reminded all too quickly that in 13 years I will be doing this again for high school graduation.  (Which my dad reminds me will be here before I know it!)  That morning she got all dressed up and was ready for the "big day".

When we got to the school, moms and dads were busy taking pictures of the "graduates" and the younger kids who were being promoted to the next class (preK).  I laughed that it was just like a high school graduation would be:  The graduates were all hanging with their friends before, commenting on what they will be doing over the summer and remembering the past school year; The moms were emotional; Parents were gathering their kids and friends together for group shots.  And yes, we were right in the middle of it doing all of those things.  Ha!

Pinning her cap in place.

Grandpa brought flowers.

The whole ceremony was VERY cute!! The graduation music was played as the classes walked down the main aisle onto the stage.  They all sang about 3 songs (which were ADORABLE!!), and then the younger students were called one at a time to walk the stage and receive their "promotion certificate" and afterwards the graduates received their "diploma".  So cute!!!  Some of the after school clubs preformed and then there was a great slide show at the very end.

Singing one of the songs.

Receiving her "diploma" from her teacher.

That evening we celebrated with Ella's favorite dinner, and the girls helped me make and decorate a cake as well.  We got Ella the book "I Knew You Could" as a gift, and it is AMAZING! (Based on the train from The Little Engine That Could.)  HIGHLY recommend it for any graduate (of ANY age) or for reaching a milestone.  

It was a wonderful celebration and I was surprised by how emotional it was.  (Can you imagine how I will be at her high school and college graduations?!  Yikes!!!)  

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  We are SOOOO proud of you!!!!

PS- The next day her new glasses came in.  She is SOOO excited!!  We had a sense she needed them (some squinting and occasionally saying things looked a little blurry), plus the fact that I was her age when I needed them, so we wanted her checked right before kindergarten.  Turned out that yes, she does need them and she is THRILLED!!  But goodness, she looks grown up!  =)

Isn't she cute in them?!  =)

Moments that make me smile...

Ever have one of those moments that you just want to bottle up?  You know the ones; The moments that you are smiling at and your heart is full of love and joy.  This was one of those special moments:

After dinner tonight Ella wanted to read some books with Eric.  So the two of them spent about 20 minutes reading her phonics books.  It was wonderful to see Ella READING, and the joy it brought to Eric's face as well when she did.   =)   She loved having him help her and they had fun reading together and taking turns.  Love this "moment", and I LOVE MY FAMILY.   =)

My baby is three!

Three years seems to have FLOWN by!!  Today my sweet baby girl turned three, and it seems like just yesterday we were at the hospital with her.   Abby is such a happy, fun loving little girl who loves life!  She giggles often and LOVES playing with her big sister.  We are amazed at how much she has learned in three years, and how much she continues to learn every day.  Such a smart girl! As a baby, she was SO shy and quiet.  Yet now she has turned into the little ham who likes to be the goofy one and make people laugh.  

Yesterday we had a fun "cupcake themed" birthday party for her with family and some friends.  She had a wonderful time!

Here are some fun "birthday highlights" of years passed:

The day she was born!

1st Birthday:

"I'm ONE!"

2nd Birthday:

3rd Birthday:

"I'm THREE!"

And of course a cake for her actual birthday....

I can't imagine what our family would be like without her!  Without sounding too "Jerry Maguire"....she really does "complete" our family.   =)    We love you Abigail Grace and are SO blessed!!!  Happy birthday to my sweetie!!!

Little Readers

Today Ella and I were practicing her sight words.  She is becoming SUCH the reader these days!  I am SO proud of her!!

And look who ELSE is reading!!!! (Ignore the nakedness - ha!  She had spilled some yogurt on herself just before.)

Ella's dance

So today at Ella's dance class, her teacher invited all the parents in to watch the routine they will do for their upcoming program.  Ella will not be in it (going to Hawaii!  Woo hoo!!), so it was fun to be able to see her do the routine.  So cute!!!!

Cousin Fun

This last weekend my niece came over to play with the girls.  They had a lot of fun playing board games, dress up, dolls, and here are Abby and Madison playing My Little Pony together:

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!  

Here are my two BEST reasons for being a mom:

The day Ella was born - 2006

The day Abby was born - 2008

They make me SO happy and I am VERY blessed to be able to be their mom!!!!

Mother's Day Tea

Ella's preschool is always so good about making holidays and events special.   Today they had a nice "tea" for all the moms.   The last hour of school, the moms got to come and there was a beautiful "tea party" set up for us.  The long tables were all decorated very pretty with food, gifts, and a craft:

After the moms got to enjoy some yummy treats and drinks, the kids all sang us three songs.  ADORABLE!!!!!

Then the girls and I made a craft together.  Every mom had a cute tea pot picture frame to decorate with their kids.  It was lots of fun for Ella, Abby and I to do together.  They each put their initial on it as well:

"Happy Mother's Day!"

Here are some pictures of the final picture frame product we did, and the gift from Ella.  Each student in her class made an ADORABLE pen holder!!  The pen is a flower and it stands in a little pot.  Very cute!  I just love "homemade mom gifts"!!  =)  Such treasures!

Happy Mother's Day weekend to all of the WONDERFUL moms out there!!