Preschool Graduation

Friday night I had my 3rd annual Preschool Graduation Party. It was so perfect. The kids sang their little hearts out! I am not an emotional person but I always cry on the last day of school. I really get so attached to the little kids I teach and miss seeing them each week. However, this year most of my kids live so close that I get to keep an eye on them all summer. 5 of them are in my ward and since I'm the primary chorister, I get to see them each week.

Here are my kids on the last day of school

Singing My Country Tis of Thee {I love that Kaylen is sticking her tongue out at Isabelle} Singing Your a Grand Old Flag...
This is them rapping the alphabet Elmo styleMe and Erin Wilford {She is the sweetest little girl}

I can't believe how fast this year went by. It honestly feels like it all happened in a dream. One day I was getting to know all of these little kids and then they became like my own. I really will miss them so much.

...I'll cry if I want to

Last night after Iza's party I wanted to give her the present from our family. She really wanted the Barbie bike. Since I'm a recent cheapskate I didn't want to spend the extra $20 for the Barbie bike that's exactly the same as the "Sea Star" bike.

This is her reaction to the bike. I'm really feeling like a crappy mom for not spending the extra $20. I start thinking that we can go and trade it in and get the one she really wants... So I ask "why are you crying? I thought you wanted a bike?" Iza said, "I thought you were going to get me a Polly Pocket!!!" Seriously? She wants a $5 Polly Pocket! What the heck! So I said, "No problem Isabelle. We can take the bike back and get you a Polly Pocket." As you can clearly see from her smile, we won't be trading the Sea Star in for a Polly Pocket. She didn't even notice it wasn't the Barbie Bike! Phew...

Princess Party

So much for my "no friend parties this year" vow! I'm such a softy when it comes to giving in to birthday wishes! It was so worth it to see Isabelle and her friends have so much fun. These little girls sure know how to party! Here is what we did...Face painting (much harder than I thought)A relay raceGo Iza!!! Princess arts and craftsPoison apple (A.K.A. hot potato)Iza and BrookePresents!Cup Cakes!

It is such a great blessing to live in a neighborhood with so many awesome kids. They all had so much fun. I'm glad I wasn't a Scrooge and gave in to Isabelle's birthday wish for a princess party. It was worth it and I'll probably do it again next year.

Happy Birthday Isabear!

4 years old today!!! If I could only stop time... Four years seems like a lifetime to me. Only because I feel like I have know her my entire life. She is so much a part of me. The day she was born I knew and felt that I was reuniting with someone I had already loved and lived with. It's hard to put into words the strong bond we have that defies time as we know it. I love it that I am her mom. She is one of my greatest blessings. Happy Birthday buggy! You are the best four year old I know!This is what I loved the most about age 3:

We have to say at least 2 bed time prayers every night. (Just in case...)

She knows all High School Musical songs and will sing them to anyone who wants to hear

She studies the alphabet intently and figures out how to spell words. (I think she's a genius)

She gets mad if you forget to call her "Mackenzie" when she's playing make believe. (Even if you don't know she's playing.) And she gets mad if your too loud when her baby is napping

She dresses herself in the most "creative" selection of clothes (mostly pj's) and is already particular about how I do her hair.

Most of all I love her sweet sweet kisses and snuggles

Eight Years

Today is our anniversary! 8 years!I read a while ago that the most important decision you will ever make is who you will marry. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery. If this is true then that means I owe 90% of my happiness to Brent! Thanks for bringing so much happiness to my life. These are just a few reasons why I love being married to Brent:

He has a love for the Gospel and honors his Priesthood calling

He is the best father to our girls

He is the most positive and enthusiastic person I know

He has a grateful and forgiving heart.

He cooks dinner at least 5 nights a week

He does laundry and gives the kids their baths

He is true to his word

He loves me!

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day! As much as I don't care for this day for me, I do like celebrating the Moms in my life. So, in honor of the day, I dug up these vintage pictures of Me and Brent with our Moms. Take a look...

Wow Mom! I never knew you were so fond of perms.Mary Kay! I'm shocked! Is that a bikini you're wearing? And on a public beach!!!! Well, if I looked that hot after having a baby I'd be on a nudist beach. Mary Kay you look beautiful! I'd wear that dress today. Brent on the other hand... What were you thinking? The poor boy! From the look on his face you can tell he's just waiting to get the crap beat out of him!

There's nothing shocking here. In fact this is my favorite picture of me and my mom. I have it in a frame in my bedroom! I think I look just like Lucy in this picture.Again with the beach picture Mary Kay! At least you had the decency to cover up! Good Grief! Ummm, I have no word except these: Thank goodness for disposable diapers!

I really wish I had more pictures of my mom and me together. But, as I am the 5th kid, the novelty of taking pictures had worn off by the time I came around. I'm just glad they bothered to take two!

A Perfect Sunday

Sunday is always my favorite day of the week. For our family, it's a day of rest, big family dinners (with dessert), naps, and of course church. This last Sunday was especially great. Sommer and Dave blessed Millie at their church and then we went to their house after for food. When we got to the house we were surprised to see Brent. He had been in Texas for the last four days and got home early. We spent a few hours at Sommer's talking and watching the kids play!

I got to spend some time getting to know my Dad's girlfriend Carla. The more I know her the more I like her! She is great and her and my Dad seem very happy. I know this because my Dad rarely smiles in pictures. He usually likes to look like a tough guy. I really hope that she is around for a long long time (if ya get my drift).I love these pictures of my girls... Trinity has the most darling playhouse that makes for great photo ops. It was given to her from The Make a Wish Foundation a few years back while she was in treatment for cancer (again). A proud Papa! Doesn't Millie look sooo cute?The happy family. I give them my full support on all their upcoming goals.

Best in Show

Saturday I took the girls on an outing to our very first dog show. We wanted to see Mary Kay's (Brent's Mom) dog Ginny compete for the title as best Bitch. Not to worry, you can use that word all you want at a dog show. I know I heard it A LOT while I was there. I was a bit disturbed at first hearing dog handlers use the word so freely. I wanted to cover my little girl's ears and protect them from such vulgarity. But try as I may, it was no use. After a bit I became accustomed to the word and now I use it all the time! Seriously though, I was very impressed at the show. I saw every kind of dog I could have imagine. The best part was how much the girls were into it. They l-o-v-e loved it.

It's almost Ginny's turn to wow the judge.

This is Katie, Ginny's Handler. She is the one who does all the work The competition... How'd Ginny do? Well, she placed 2nd two times and third once. She wasn't the best Bitch after all. Better luck next time.

{This iswhat a mini Schnauzer is supposed to look like. Poor Walter. He never gets his hair fluffed like this.}

Farm Country Field Trip

I don't usually post my preschool on the family blog but I thought some of these pictures were cute. This was the last field trip for the year. Phew! I always stress about taking all the kids out but usually calm down once we are in cars and driving to the adventure that awaits!

In case you didn't already know... I've been teaching preschool for three years now. It's great being so involved in my own girls early education. If I thought I could pull it off, I'd home school them all through elementary. But they stop listening to me after a while... I'm lucky to be able to do what I love. Hang out and play with kids!

Me and some of the kids

My IzaThe Animals...