He wanted to go outside...

I told him he needed to put some clothes on first....
So he did...

......and then he struck a few poses for me, and man, sometimes I just have to squeeze him, he is so cute:)

On my mind...

I wrote this post several weeks ago, but didn't have the courage to post it. Carla sometimes reads our blog and I didn't want to make her uncomfortable, but it's been on my mind, so here goes....

Several weeks ago Chris's mom, Carla, was really sick. She spent several days in the hospital with pneumonia. Chris visited her there, but we didn't take the kids to see her because, well, quite frankly, trucking 5 children through the hospital is never a great idea if you plan on retaining any of your sanity. Once she was out, we went up for a visit. She is living with Chris's sister now. She has been there since we moved her out of her house in December, shortly before Christmas.

We had a wonderful visit. Traci is so accommodating and doesn't bat an eye at opening her home to our rambunctious crew.

Owen was in heaven watching the big boys play basketball.

Lily loves her dogs.


Chris even managed to sneak a nap in.
It was wonderful....but I have to say I hate reality checks. Carla had lost nearly all of the movement in her arms and hands. She could kind of move her fingers (barely). We took turns feeding her and we held the baby down close to her, but she couldn't actually hold her herself. It's been a quick deterioration, she came when Ava was born and was able to hold her independently. I think some of the loss of movement is simply from her body being worn down from being sick and maybe not the ms. She has started physical therapy and we hope she will be able to regain some strength and function in her arms and hands.
After we left I cried.
I cried because life is just not fair.
I cry now as I type this.
I cried because she danced at our wedding.
I cried because she danced at our wedding with the love of her life.
I cried because she cared for Grace and delighted in cooking meals for us after the long Saturdays we used to spend renovating our 3rd street house.
I cried because she loves to sew and has made many of us quilts.
I cried because we had to move her out of her handicap accessible dream home that her sweet husband had worked so hard to build for her.
I cried because her sweet husband is now gone.
I cried because my heart sometimes breaks for her.
I could go on and on because sometimes life is just not fair. She is truly one of the most amazing women I've ever met. In the 10+ years I've known her, I've never, even once, heard her complain about her deteriorating health. She bears the load with courage and grace. She is happy and kind and loving. I have honestly never even seen her grouchy..not even once. I don't know how she does it, but she inspires me every time I am around her. She inspires me to stand a little taller, work a little harder, and to be more patient, humble, and caring.

Putting on a Show

The girls' Tavaci concert was last night. They did a great job and we had a wonderful time. Chris's family came up and it was so good to see all of them.
I missed getting a pic of all the girls together, but there was a dashing doorman and I just had to get a pic of him in all his handsomeness:)

Backstage before the concert.
Some cousin time after the concert. Love you Mikala....and I think there are a few kids who do too:)
Crashed in the chair after a very long day.

Our Little Graduate

I am going to keep this post a happy one, but you better believe there is a mushy one coming because I am having a VERY hard time thinking about losing this smiley girl to all day kindergarten in a few short months.
Here is our happy little Lily at her preschool graduation.

 Where she performed such numbers as...the VIP song, My Baby Bumble Bee, The Itsy Bisty Monkey and 6 Little Ducks.
She got her diploma along with a congratulatory handshake.
And gave the crowd a wave.

And what exactly does one do with a preschool diploma?...use it for a telescope, of course!

Or you could swing it around your finger.

When it's over, take a bow,

and smile because preschool is so dang fun.

After the main event, we had to take advantage of a photo-op with a few of our besties...

Like the very best preschool teachers on the planet....seriously, we LOVE them!

And best friends like Maddie 

and Alex, and somehow we missed Carter, but he is definitely a bestie, after all, according to Lily they are betrothed.

Our JoySchool Friends. 

I do believe I heard one of the moms (I think it was you, Jill) say, "surely with all of us snapping pics we are bound to get at least one decent shot".....uh, don't count on me for the "decent" shot. Unless, strings in your mouth, hats in your face, eyes either closed or bugging or basic mayhem was what you were going for. (Click to enlarge if you need a closer look in order to get the full effect)

Here are a few outtakes.
Like Owen hiding,
and snacking,
and princess Cancan sporting some shades.

And Sophie discussing babies with Mr. Edwards. She thinks "Owen's baby is stinkin' cute," I think I'd have to agree.

He loves her

Showered

I was showered with gifts on Mother's Day...and I do mean showered...literally. I took a few pictures just to give you an idea of what I am talking about....and what I am talking about is 40+ individually wrapped gifts. I had already opened a few by the time I got the camera out.

Lily loves me...and she wrote it on every. single. one.
I'm holding baby Ava. Isn't that the sweetest picture ever? I love that girl.
My gifts from her ranged from bubbles to Barbies and even included some princess flossers.  She also gave me several cards she made, the one she made at preschool read "My mom makes me laugh when she tickles me! And she always does funny things. She is so silly!"
And Emma, she made me a sweet little bookmark,  a book and several cards and gave me a hand-painted jewelry box.....oh and some tootsie rolls and fun dip too....and we know how much I LOVE fun dip! Remember this?
She also gave me a journal, a princess one, that actually used to be hers, but she erased everything in it so I could write in it. So thoughtful, that girl.Grace didn't give me an official Mother's Day gift, but I did find a paper she had typed with the following on it, and I am totally counting it as one of the best gifts ever. Love her.
"I am grateful to have a loving + caring mother like I do. I can tell that I have a mother who loves me. I know that I have a mother who really cares and always will. She always has something nice to say. I know she always will. She does things the fair way. She makes my life a ton easier. THANKS MOM."

......as for Owen, well, apparently he didn't get the memo that it was Mother's Day and he is supposed to lay off the tricks because he gave himself a little haircut. Oh that boy, I love him too.

Who ever said being a mother is a thankless job?

To my mothers,

all of them.... 

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."

-Abraham Lincoln

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." 

~Washington Irving

"One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one."

 -Thomas S. Monson

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother."

~Abraham Lincoln

We Love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is why...

I simply cannot put this baby down....(unless, of course, I am taking her picture;)

Can you really blame me?