Mother's Day

On Friday afternoon, I arrived to find the Force (a performance group of about ten kids) waiting for me in my kitchen. They sang me L-O-V-E
and handed me a gift from Sadie. I was so SURPRISED! It was so nice to be sung to and a very special mother's day gift!

Mother's Day began with a big breakfast.
Mike made waffles, scrambled eggs, fresh-squeezed orange juice and served some strawberry yogurt on the side. He had Trevon pick me a rose that added a nice touch to the breakfast tray. It was yummy and very filling. How could I resist a breakfast so generously given? I just couldn't!



After I was dressed for my day, we gathered together and the kids brought me a basket of gifts. WOW! I loved reading their cards and opening a few presents. Most of all, I loved being together and feeling love for my family. I am so thankful to be a mother and for what each child brings/adds to our family.



Some of my Mother's Day Treasures:


One of my favorite gifts was a game Kristi gave me. It was fun to play with the kids:





My kids are GREAT and I love them so much.



I wish I had taken a picture of Mike. He really is the one that made possible my special day. He was very thoughtful and made a great lasagne dinner for our day too. Some people don't like Mother's Day but I really do enjoy it. I don't reflect on the things I do wrong or what improvements I need to make as a mother on this day. Rather, on this day, I count my blessings and ENJOY motherhood for the special people that are in my life; my parents, my husband, children and family. I celebrate what it is to be a mother. Motherhood is love and I LOVE it!

Anne of Green Gables

Sadie's Middle School put on the play "Anne of Green Gables" this past week. Sadie played the part of the grown-up Anne. She did a great job. Below are a few clips of her performance. In the first one, I see some resemblance to her great grandma (Mary).


I helped gather some of the props that were needed for the play and spent a day making rocks for one scene. I had cut out cardboard and shaped boxes to look like rocks. Then, with a paper mache, I covered the rocks and painted them. Sadie's teacher (the director) decided to cut the scene and so the rocks were never used. I am hoping that they will eventually find their way to a play that needs them. Sadie asked me to sew four skirts for the play as well. It was good to help, but I must say that I am glad the school activities are winding down, and that summer break will be here soon.

EIGHTEEN!

It was with MANY mixed emotions that we celebrated Cari's eighteenth birthday. I have been fine (planning on her graduating from high school and going away to college), but the day before her birthday it hit me: SHE's an ADULT!!! In about three years, I'll have three adult children (and there's nothing I can do to stop it....not that I'd really want to....it's just hard to think that life is changing, and changing fast). I think what really affected me was when Mike told her she wouldn't need her mom's signature anymore - I think in a way I felt like my job as her mom was being taken from me. In some ways that is true, but I know no matter what, I will always be her mom and here for her if she ever needs me.

She had a great birthday. I placed a couple of signs up in the house to tell her she was loved, and happy birthday. While at school, in the middle of her seminary class, a big wrapped box and a bouquet of balloons was delivered to her. She opened the box to find three large boxes of Frosted Flakes cereal inside. It was a gift from her prom date, Tony. It made her feel good. This picture was of her getting home from school.


I made Cari's favorite for dinner: Beef Stroganoff with broccoli. She wanted a yellow or white cake with chocolate frosting. I made her a french vanilla cake with chocolate fudge frosting. Corban helped me make it and also put on the candles.



We sang Happy Birthday and ate cake and ice cream at about 9pm when we were all able to be together.


Corban wanted to open her present, and because it wasn't for him, he ended up a little sad:



Just before she opened it, her present started to "ring." It was Papa Beutler calling her on her new (and first) cell phone! Mike had given him her phone number and his call was perfect timing! She was excited to get this gift, though she does NOT have any texting with it. We are looking forward to being able to keep in touch with her when she moves away from home.



The pop-up card pictured at the beginning of this post was made by Kristi for Cari. She also received cards from Cameron and Elise and Grandparents.

Lawn Boy

Saturday, Cameron had his first lesson in mowing the lawn. Trevon got him started and then he mowed part of the lawn (a sign he is really growing up). It was great to see him work!!!

Teacher Appreciation

How do you say "thank you" to a teacher during teacher appreciation week? At my children's elementary school, we decorate the doors of all the teachers and staff. I decorated Mrs. Gubler's door with twenty three little kangaroos (representing her students) and one "mama" kangaroo. Then, I thought of a rhyme to tie in the kangaroos to my purpose = teacher appreciation. I liked the end result:

Broadway Magic

On Thursday and Friday night, Sadie performed in Broadway Magic. This event is held every year as a fundraiser for Grad Night (Monies earned help pay for a fun night (Grad Night) for the graduating class after their graduation. Sadie was invited to be in the "show" by one of her friends. She had a fun time learning their dance to the song "Zero to Hero" from Hercules. Mike and I decided to go to Broadway Magic as part of our date night and we had a fun time. We enjoyed watching Sadie and I was glad that she was able to be involved and participate in this fun event.

Stone Soup

Elise's first grade class put on a play this past week. It was the best!!! It was STONE SOUP!




They sang and danced; helped paint the background (set); wrote out invitations and helped color the programs too. I thoroughly enjoyed their play. Elise was a narrator and she did a great job, knowing just when to speak her parts.





I loved watching her sing and dance too. Corban enjoyed the play too. He gave Elise a big hug afterward.