Preschool Graduate Twins!

Can you tell which one is Lia and which one is Ella?  My goodness, these two girls sure look alike when comparing pictures of them at the same age!

Ella's Preschool Graduation

Our entire family was able to attend Ella's preschool graduation this morning.  Ron was able to go into work late and Lia and Logan missed the first hour of school so that all of us could go and root our preschooler on!  Since I had just pulled down Lia's size 5 bin of clothes from the loft in the garage, Ella decided that she wanted to wear the exact same outfit that Lia wore to her preschool graduation six years ago.  She looked so cute walking into the chapel in her 'new outfit' with her paper, mortarboard cap on her head.  As always, Ella did a great job singing the songs and was absolutely adorable walking up to get her diploma from Pastor Nathan and a hug from Miss Vera.  She has had such a positive experience attending this Lutheran preschool this school year.  She has loved coloring, crafting, writing, singing, and playing on a weekly basis and also being the snack helper/line leader/show-and-tell sharer every month.  She has grown up so much and has just thrived in this environment!  She is definitely ready for Kindergarten!

Ella walking down the aisle to the front of the chapel with the rest of her classmates.

Ella smiling at me while waiting for all of the students to get lined up at the front of the room.

The children singing their first song.

A close-up of Ella singing away!

Ella doing the hand gestures while singing.

Ella waiting in line to get her diploma.

Waving to us while waiting in line.  She just looked so cute up there.

Ella giving Pastor Nathan a 'high five' while getting her diploma.

Hugging her amazing teacher, Miss Vera.

Mama and her four kiddos--three of them official graduates of Celebration Friends Preschool.

Our proud graduate showing off her diploma.

After the program was over, the kids enjoyed cake and juice before heading to school/home.  I was able to get a picture of our three preschool alums with their beloved teacher, Miss Vera.  I absolutely love that all three of our children have shared this wonderful, preschool teacher.  She is seriously one of the kindest and most loving people I have ever known and it has been such a blessing for our children to have had her as their teacher.  Now, if only she wouldn't retire in the next five years and could be Emmett's teacher, life would be perfect!

Lia's Annual Piano Recital

Lia wrapped up her fourth year of piano lessons today by participating in the annual, Spring recital. Like in previous years, her piano teacher had her choose two songs to play that she had learned this winter to play from memory today.  Lia chose to play "Raisins and Almonds" and the "Hunting Song" and had them memorized a few weeks in advance.  We were all set to head out as a family this morning until a little past midnight when I woke up feeling queasy.  After laying in bed for a few minutes confused as to why I was feeling this way, it dawned on me that I must have caught Logan's flu that he came down with on Wednesday morning (he actually threw up on the garage steps as we were heading out to the car to drive to school).  By 12:30, I was throwing up and by 8 in the morning, I had last four pounds.  It was a pretty brutal night.  Needless to say, I had to stay home from Lia's piano recital.  I was so exhausted and week when Ron left with the three older kids a little after 10 o'clock.  After feeding Emmett, I was able to put him down for a morning nap and the two of us slept from 10:30 til 12:45 which is right when they came back home.  I was so disappointed to miss Lia's piano recital, but was also so grateful that I was the one who had caught the flu bug instead of her.  Little did we know that she was going to throw up later on this evening while getting ready for bed!  So, the timing worked out pretty perfectly on her side.  Regardless, my parents were able to come and watch her perform for the first time ever and so she had a decent sized cheering section.  I was able to watch the video after they got home and she did a great job playing both of her songs and only made a small mistake on one of them.  Overall, I am so proud of her and how far she has come in her four years playing piano!  You've come a long way, baby!

The cover of Lia's piano recital program.

Lia's name along with the songs she chose to play.

Lia's piano teacher is a master at stamping/crafting/scrapbooking and always makes the cutest, handmade decorations.  Here Lia is standing by the refreshment table.

Lia pausing next to the program table before heading into the chapel.

Lia announcing one of her two songs before playing it.

Playing away on the grand piano.  I always love how impressive it looks when she plays on this large piano.

A close-up of our girl.

Due to our recommendation, our nextdoor neighbor signed their 7-year old daughter up for piano lessons this fall and so they were also at the recital today.  This is the darling picture that the father emailed me afterwards that he took of Ron and Ella during the recital.  Just precious.

Emmett's 4 Month Pictures

I slipped in to the photo studio this morning while Ella was at preschool to have Emmett's four month pictures taken.  Although I had just fed him before we left, I knew that his 'performance' might limited due to the fact that it was time for his morning nap.  Although I made the appointment for 10 o'clock when the studio first opened (and is 'guaranteed' to still be running on schedule), we were forced to wait for over 20 minutes while the photographer trained a brand new employee on how to set up the studio.  As a result, we lost some valuable time when Emmett was still happy and cooperative.  By the time we got in there, he only lasted a few pictures before he hit a wall.  Luckily, by giving him his pacifier in between poses and taking it out after he was situated in the next pose, the photographer and I were able to squeeze a few more pictures out of Emmett before he totally collapsed in my arms.  However, this allowed us to get some sleeping photos of him at the very end of the session which was an absolute first for me in all my years taking my babies into JC Penney for pictures.  After a lengthy and exhausting 1 hour and 45 minutes, I was very relieved to leave the studio with a sleeping baby and grateful that we do not have to return for another four months.  Here are the pictures that we were able to get out of my tired, baby boy!

Mother's Day 2019

We wrapped up a beautiful, Mother's Day weekend this evening.  Ron and the kids really did a nice job of making me feel special and appreciated.  Yesterday, I was able to slip away during Emmett's afternoon nap to get a pedicure which was pure heaven since the bottom of my feet look and feel like sand paper these days.  It is just so easy to neglect myself during this busy, mom stage of life.  After taking Ella and Logan to a birthday party after dinner, we got the kids to bed by 9 p.m. and stayed up until midnight (something we have not done once since the baby was born) to watch the movie, Glass, the sequel to the M. Night Shyamalan's movie, Split, that came out a few years ago and which we absolutely loved.  Ron and I have both enjoyed watching this talented man's movies and one only comes out every few years.  I was so bummed when I learned that his latest movie was being released the week of my due date with Emmett as I immediately knew that we would not be able to go see it in the theaters.  As a result, I asked if we could watch it this weekend since it had recently been released as a rental.  I woke up today and was able to stay in bed with Emmett while the kids helped Ron make a delicious Mother's Day breakfast of eggs, sausage, cinnamon rolls, and fruit.  After breakfast, we headed off to church where I was able to go back to Relief Society and enjoy a lunch and listen to an enlightening message prepared by the presidency.  After church, we took some family pictures outside of the house before heading back in for lunch and gift opening.  After a slow afternoon, we packed up and headed off to Chris' house to spend the evening with the rest of my family (minus my dad who was driving back from Utah).  All of the men contributed to the dinner and Chris barbecued delicious salmon and shrimp on his grill which tasted so good it was like eating at a restaurant!  After dinner and dessert, we left the younger kiddos at home under Garrett's and Bryce's supervision to head down to the beach to see the property that Chris and Natalee have recently bought where they will build their dream home in the next year.  As funny as it was to leave our kids with these two, older boys, they actually did a great job watching them and led the children in playing 'Sharks and Minnows' and 'Capture the Flag' while Ron and I enjoyed a relaxing walk on the beach at sunset with baby Emmett in arms.  It totally felt like a slow and lazy summer evening and made us all itchy for summer to come.  It was the perfect way to end this special day!

The kids and I sitting down at the table for breakfast.

Ella, Emmett, and I getting ready to eat.

Since it was so warm the day before, Logan opted to only wear his pajama bottoms to bed.  Hence the topless picture with Lia in the background.  He is such a silly boy.

Posing outside with the four great reasons why I get to celebrate this special day!

Another shot of the children and me in our 'Sunday best.'

Just like my birthday a few days ago, I enjoyed reading all of the cards and opening all of the gifts that the children had made for me.  Here I am reading Ella's card that she made at preschool.

Listening to Lia explain the gift she made for me at Activity Days.

Reading Logan's awesome, pull-out card that he made for me at school.

And, lastly, reading the family card that Ron bought and everyone signed.

A final, funny shot that Ron snapped of Logan while sitting on our other couch.  Although he is making a silly face, I can't get over how grown-up and handsome he looks!  I decided not to take my camera to Chris' house tonight as I just wanted to enjoy the evening and not worry about being behind the camera.  As a result, I don't have any pictures of the group eating dinner, playing in the yard, or walking on the beach, but it was a beautiful way to spend my Mother's Day evening.  Thank you to my family for making it so wonderful!