Morgan's Preschool Graduation

Little Miss Mo just graduated from her preschool class. She could actually go to kindergarten this year, but since she is barely turning 5 in July I have elected to keep her back one more year. Give her that little bit of an edge (and also to keep my baby home a little longer, I suppose). Kamryn has a September b-day and missed the deadline for kindergarten. She was the oldest in her class and it always seemed to work perfectly. So, I'm not too sad for this achievement as I still have Morgan home most of the time. Next year though, when she graduates from preschool altogether I will be very sad as my baby is growing up!
Her teacher is one of the greatest ladies I know. She is awesome and Morgan just loves her.
This is Easton, Morgan's very first 'boyfriend'. I don't know how this all started, but needless to say he was a topic of conversation almost daily in our home. It got to the point that she would pick outfits because she thought he would like them. She was very sad when she realized he wasn't going to be in her class next year. But never fear his younger brother will be in her class, so the trend may continue. Ok, so I am a little concerned for when she gets older. :)

Baseball

We have been spending the last few weeks at baseball games. Although Jordan's true love is basketball, he really has fun playing baseball. Some day I may invest in a nice SLR to get some really good close-ups but otherwise you get the idea from my point and shoot :). He is playing on the same team as last year. Jord informed me they are in 2nd place right now, I'm so bad I had no idea ha ha (the tournament starts next week, then I will pay more attention, I promise). He plays short-stop and 2nd.

Mother's Day

What a wonderful Mother's day I had. I love the homemade gifts, poems and pictures the kids were so excited to give me (they are always priceless to me). All of the thoughtful expressions of love like breakfast in bed and other well-thought out gifts.

Something else also made this Mother's Day special this year. And it's not about the gift, but the message that came with it that makes it so meaningful. Our bishopric is amazing. In church on Sunday one of the counselors spoke and also our bishop. They talked not only about mother's, but all women, including young women and girls. Bishop mentioned they wanted to do something special this year and had decided to give a pearl necklace to every woman and girl age 12 and up in the ward. They wanted to give it to everyone but the budget wouldn't quite manage it. The message behind it was beautiful. He compared women to a beautiful pearl. And how a pearl takes years to form. It is formed from irritants that shape it into what it is. Just like women, we have many trials and struggles, but when we go through them it helps to shape us into the women we are today. We should see ourselves not as flawed, but as precious daughters of God like a precious pearl.

He also mentioned that by doing this they had ordered them from women in a 3rd world country who are trying to make ends meet by making jewelry. Their average salary is $1/day. So it serves 2 purposes of helping these lovely ladies and also hopefully showing the women in the ward how very special each one of us is. I told our bishop that this is one of the most special pieces of jewelry I own. It will always have a special reminder for me.

Kam's primary teacher is a sweetheart and pulled some strings to get all of her class a necklace. they are 11-12 yr. olds so some wouldn't have received a necklace. Kam now has one and I hope she will think of this message when she wears it. I hope she will see how special she is during all of these growing up teenage years.

Little Miss Mo

Doesn't she look mischievous?

I suspected this day would come. I have worried about it for years and have kind of relaxed thinking I escaped disaster. Only to find out with any little girl it is impossible to escape.

I was combing Morgan's hair when I noticed one side was noticeably shorter. How did this happen? with a little interrogation Mo admitted that she cut her hair because she wanted short hair. Now, if you know me well enough, you know that I have some issues with my girls and their hair. It all stems from my childhood and never having the long pretty hair I always wanted. Yes, I also sported the cute home cut boy's hair do. So yes, I am not ashamed to admit I am reliving my childhood through my daughters and they all have long hair. I will endure countless hours of combing out tangles and should take stock in Johnson & Johnson because I keep them in business with the detangler spray. But they have beautiful hair that they just don't see the value in ( I don't get it). Kam was allowed to cut her hair when she was 10. But the other 2 haven't 'earned' that right yet.

So enough of my mental issues and back to Mo. We have since talked and she has agreed, and pinkie promised to never cut her own hair again. I am in a dilema because there is a chunk on one side that is much shorter than the rest of her hair that goes to her waist. For now I am trying to blend it, but will probably cut off a couple of inches and let the shorter piece grow out.

Race for the Cure

The annual Race for the Cure was held this weekend and again we went in memory of my mom for Mother's Day. McKayla walked for her little friend who died this year from a brain tumor. Although the Race for the Cure is to fight breast cancer, we go for a cure for cancer. Because cancer stinks!! There were a sea of people all there for the same cause, 18,000 according to reports.

This is and has been such a great tradition with our family. Mike's family joined us again this year along with the traditional breakfast at Johanna's Kitchen afterwards. My dad also joined us for breakfast.

Love some of the outfits people wear. This one was cute. Some shirts are so clever with their sayings on them, nothing is off limits. :)

Kam's Dance Competition

Kam had her last dance competition for the year Saturday in Provo. I wasn't able to go because I was at the Race for the Cure, but her team did awesome! She got first in both of her dances along with Best technique and High point awards for their dances. Another team from our studio (pictured here) won 1st , 2nd and Judges choice. They have worked so hard this year and they were excited to see the results. Good job Kam!!!

Signs of Spring

You know Spring is FINALLY here when you start seeing girls with flowers in their hair....

Blowing dandelions...

And Hot-air balloons flying outside our windows.

I love, love, love Spring!!!!!