Memorial Day Weekend!

We hope you have had a great Memorial Day weekend! Ours was full of excitement and activities (as usual)! It started on Thursday with another field trip for the girls and their Pre-K class to the local Nature Center. We had a great time learning about the local animals, going for a hike and playing on the playground.

Maddie goes for a spin on the tire swing

Emily goes for the regular swing

then she tried out the tire swing too

Inside the nature center we had a presentation

We got to hear about the local animals and see some of their skins...

Ashley touching the "stunk" skin- as they call it

Emily looking at a REAL tarantula- eek!

Ashley and Maddie chose to touch the snake- Emily did not!

After the presentation we got to walk through the center and see some of the other animals they have there.

Seeing the tortoises- Ashley

Starting the hike

It was getting close to lunch time and some were- ahem- crabby...

The field trip was in all a lot of fun! I worked a full day on Friday to make up for taking Thursday off. On Saturday we packed up our things and headed east a bit to Aunt Chelle and Uncle Mike's house. We were all very excited. We would all be staying the night, but the girls were going to go out to dinner with Aunt Chelle and Uncle Mike while Rick and I met up with my mom and dad and Joann for the FLEETWOOD MAC concert! Below is a picture of my dad and me after the concert taken by his phone. My mom got the tickets for my dad's birthday. What an amazing concert! 3 hours long and non-stop! It really was a great show and we all had a great time!The girls did great too and we spent time the next day hanging out around Aunt Chelle and Uncle Mike's house- we went to the local park for a bit too. We can't thank you enough for your hospitality! XO

Today we hung out in our pajamas for a greater part of the morning and then went to Aunt Susies for a BBQ (we did get dressed first).

Why use the whole couch when you can pile on sisters?

All in all a GREAT weekend! Of course we did not forget the reason for our long weekend! Thank you so much to all the men and women that are and have protected our wonderful country!!

We love a parade! We love our soldiers!

Saturday was the annual Armed Forces Day Parade here in town. It was the 50th Anniversary and it is the longest running Armed Forces Day Parade in the country! we got to the route early to get a good seat. The girls were great waiting and enjoyed watching all the people pass by. Hanging out with Daddy before the parade

Waiting is the hardest part! Thankfully it wasn't too hot!

We invited the Morgans to join us and they arrived with flags for everyone!

Let the parade begin!

There were all kinds of entries into the parade, but as always, the fly overs by the different plane and helicopters was the highlight. That and the military fire truck that opened its hose full blast onto ME!

After the parade we made a quick pit stop at home and then went to our local mall where all the vehicles were on display.

Everyone got a turn sitting in the pilot's seat

There were LOTS of soldiers on hand to give information, lend a hand into the trucks and pose for pictures

This truck was HUGE! I'm standing on the ground taking the picture. From inside the truck they were then lifted up top to the swivel gun (sorry- I don't know the technical terms- Uncle Mike will have to give me a lesson ;-) )

Emily on top of the truck and below Maddie gets a lift up

Ashley on top- this should give you an idea how BIG the truck is

Ashley at the driver's seat of the fire truck

Here the girls are on top of the back of the fire truck (right by the hose that soaked me)
The highlight of the exhibits was riding "Wall-E"

Of course- the girls remember well 2 years ago when only they got a special ride with the robots:

trying on the helmets

The kids were great so we treated them to dinner in the mall- 2 moms, 7 kids under 6- yep, we're crazy- but it was FUN!!!

Can't wait for next year!!!!!

Mira Update!

Mira's new kidney is working perfectly and she is recovering well! Thank you so much for all of your prayers! Her donor is also recovering and should be home soon! Mira has several more days in the hospital, her breathing tube has been removed and she has been moved to a regular room out of the ICU. For being only 3 years old- she is doing fantastic listening to the doctors orders and trying to stay still (not easy for a 3 year old, heck hard for this 36 year old!). If you go to Mira's website and click on the "journal" tab- you can read some updates and see some pictures her mom, Sheryl posted.

MIRA!! Prayer request!

You may remember my post last year about the amazing triplet canvas that toured the US as part of a fundraiser for my friend Sheryl and her daughter (a triplet) Mira?? If not- you can read about it by clicking HERE.

Mira is having her kidney transplant Wednesday (that's May 13th!)!!!! yes- they met their fundraising goals, yes- they found a match and YES it is their amazing NEIGHBOR!!!


Here is the link to an article on Mira and her donor: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/44618877.html


Sheryl has become a dear friend to me, and while I have yet to meet her, I do consider her a close friend. I WILL get to meet her next month when 14 of us triplet (and more) mommies meet up in VEGAS for a little R&R and fun!! And I can't wait to give her a real hug!

In the meantime, if you are of the praying nature, would you please take a moment to pray for my friend Sheryl, for sweet little Mira, for the amazing donor and for both of their families (Sheryl of course has 2 other children Mira's age and the donor has 2 young boys as well) and the doctors performing this amazing procedure? I will keep you updated as I get word on the progress.



To read more about Mira you can click on her picture on my sidebar.


Thank you so so so much!

XO

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a great Mother's Day here! I got to sleep in, got cards made by the girls in bed and got to do a little shopping, by myself, this morning! This afternoon we went to my parents' house for an early dinner and also to celebrate my dad's birthday- which happens to be today too! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!Madeline helped grandpa open his card from grandma and reveal the BIG surprise we've been hiding for months now...FLEETWOOD MAC tickets!!!!

Aunt Sara and Uncle Rich were there too! Aunt Sara really got into the bubbles! Maddie is all ready for the "gagoon" to open! (May 23rd is opening day!!!!)Emily gets competitive with badmintonAshley and Grandpa played baseball- she actually whacked this one pretty good!Emily went fishing in the ponds and came up with...

"Fish boogies" (thanks grammie! LOL)

We had a great time and because we started earlier in the afternoon we were able to get home and rest a bit before bed. I also got to open my presents from the girls.

I was really excited about this Mother's Day because this is the first year the girls are in school and so I got "school" presents. :0) Doesn't take much to get me excited! The girls' Pre-K class gave Marigolds with a really cute poem about growing up attached to them! I love them! While shopping this morning I picked up some pots to plant them in- I think I will have the girls decorate them first. They also gave me books they made about "MOM" Here is what they say about me in each book...EMILY:

I like being with my mom when...she plays with me.

My mom looks prettiest when...she wears a bracelet.

My mom loves me best when...I wear a dress.

If I could give my mom something special, it would be...a bracelet.

My mom is...9...years old. (they had to give the number)ASHLEY:

I like being with my mom when...we go to Disneyland.

My mom looks prettiest when...she goes to meetings.

My mom loves me best when...we go shopping.

If I could give my mom something special, it would be...flowers.

My mom is...12...years old.

MADELINE:

I like being with my mom when...we go for a ride in the car.

My mom looks prettiest when...she puts on a dress.

My mom loves me the best when...I play with her.

If I could give my mom something special, it would be...flowers.

My mom is...25...years old.

Too cute!

Love my girls!!

Having the girls at the same school I teach at has some perks too. My dear friend Pam asked if the girls could make the gifts her first graders were making and so on Thursday they picked up their presents from her classroom and proudly gave them to me too! What a treat! It's their hand prints in clay! They even came with a stand!

My honey gave me a present too...a Flip video camera! I can't wait to use it! It's supposed to be super easy to use and get the videos onto your computer!

So that was Mother's Day! Phew! I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day as well! I want to wish MY MOM a Happy Mother's Day! i can't thank her enough for being such an awesome mom! I love you!! XOXOXO