May Leftovers

We visited the Exploration Place.

We learned how to wear masks and shoot webs.

 We were proud of the "city" we built.

We woke up sleepy-eyed and happy.

We watched the world go by.

We showed off our beautiful blues and bed head.

Gymnastics

Anna has been taking gymnastics lessons this year. It has been a great experience and she's really improved leaps and bounds in coordination and skill. It's been fun to see her work hard and get stronger each week. 

In May the gymnastics program put on a recital for all the parents (who aren't allowed to sit in on classes) to see what the kids have been working on. Each class prepared a sampling of skills they had been working on and each student performed a floor routine. 

Anna waits for her turn.

Warm-ups. (This was an actual part of the program.)

After each individual floor routine, the kids were presented with a medal. 

When the recital was over, parents were invited to take pictures and the kids could show what they had learned on the other apparatuses. 

Bird's nest position on the rings.

 Balance beam. 

 Uneven bars.

Camping at Biggs

Never have two kids been more excited to go camping than these two. Seriously, it was like Christmas in June.  

Thankfully Jeff was willing to take Anna and Isaac to our ward camp out at the Biggs property. I, gratefully, had the excuse of two eighteen month old terrors so I stayed behind. 

These pictures almost made me wish I had gone because it's just so darn beautiful. 

Almost. 

(Cora & Aaron Gepelt, Harris family, Anna & Jeff)

(Morning steam, Melanie & Jamison Lemon, Jeff fishing)

(Brother Gepelt, Jeff & Isaac, Nathaniel Harris and Tiffanie &Kayleena Nelson)

 I did show up the next morning for pancakes and lounging on the beach. Thankfully Ben and Sam were more interested in the sand than the water.

Man alive, I'm grateful for all these wonderful people. They really are our family away from family. 

Gma and Gpa Visit

Jeff's parents came for a quick visit in May. It is always so wonderful to see them. 

On Friday we checked out the Museum of Wonders in Old Town. Anna had fun working through a scavenger hunt. 

Isaac was most excited about the t-rex exhibit. He just discovered the movie, "Night at the Museum" and was thrilled to see "Rexie." Such a cutie boy.

We waked over to the plaza in Old Town to play in the fountains.

The rest of the weekend was lovely, but I didn't take very many pictures. We had a great time driving out to Yoder for an amazing Amish breakfast Saturday morning. The cinnamon rolls there are heavenly.

The older kids, Jeff and the grandparents also went to the Speaker of the Plains cauldron lighting which happens every night at 9:00pm. I stayed with the little ones.

Before Larry and Marlene left I wanted to get some pictures of them with the kids.

 Love this one. Anna is Marlene's only granddaughter so far. They have such a special relationship.

Benjamin Larry and Grandpa Larry

Summer School

 Grandpa Marlene and Grandpa Larry gave Anna this cute school set for her birthday this year and boy has it gotten some good use. Anna loves to to set up her "classroom" and teach. Isaac happily participates as one of her students.

At the end of the school year Anna's teacher sent home all her used workbooks and school projects. It's been a fun addition to her classroom materials. 

Anna now says that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Who knows if that will stick, but it sure is fun to watch her pretend. Love that imagination of hers.

Here she is explaining all the different parts of her school set:

 

Mother's Day 2012

It is definitely an honor to be these little ones' mother. I always feel like Mother's Day is good for me because it helps me to remember that little fact. 

Sometimes I forget.  

 I forget how special it is that I'm the first one they run to for questions, comfort, understanding.

 

I forget it is my privilege to bathe and dress each one. 

I forget it is a gift to be able to nurture their unique personalities.

 I forget that I'm one of the lucky ones who gets to spend my days at home.

I forget what a blessing it is to be the first one they see in the morning and the last one they see at night.

I forget that these day will pass, the kids will grow up, and they won't be babies much longer. I am trying to appreciate it. Because heaven knows, one thing I'll never forget is how stinkin' hard it is being a mother. 

Kindergarten Graduation

Anna and Mrs. Chambers

Waiting in line to get her diploma.

Anna next to the Beech mascot, the bobcat.

After the program Jeff and I took Anna out for frozen yogurt. She was pleased as punch to have us all to her self.

Best moment of the graduation: Watching eighty-five kindergartners sing and sign Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me." Adorable.

Worst moment of the graduation: Watching eighty-five kindergartners sing Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA." What the?!