Walking with Sami to school

Sami standing at our front door before heading to the bus stop.


Sami walking down our house sidewalk


Sami and Chris before heading to the bus stop


Sami walking down our street to the bus stop


Sami and daddy walking to the bus stop together


Sami at the bus stop


Chris being the awesome big brother and helping Sami across the street. Good thing because otherwise she would have made a run for home.


Almost home!


Sami had an awesome day and couldn't wait to get home and tell mommy all about it.

A Next Chapter in Life

Sorry I have been MIA the past few days. I have been busy with kindergarten orientation, preschool graduation and farewell picnic, an urgent care visit and, well, umm joining an online David Cook fan club.

Tuesday night we had kindergarten orientation. The first hour was supposed to be a pizza supper and then the next hour was a visit to the classrooms for the kids and a meeting for the parents. Everything was going well for the first 15 minutes until a tornado decided to come our way and we got to spend 20 minutes in the kitchen storage room. Imagine a group of soon to be kindy kids, stuffed into a dark storage room, in a strange school. Ummm yeah. But at the end of the evening all was well as we made our way home with a cool homemade hat, a nifty bag filled with goodies and a Lincoln Heights Elementary school t-shirt.
Sami before we left for orientation posing for the camera. (Why is she so adamant on putting her hands like that in every picture?)
My girls posing together.
All our goodies.

Wednesday night was preschool graduation. I had told myself this was my 3rd child to graduate preschool and come on it was only preschool. But when they put that little cap and gown on Sami my eyes started to water. And when she sang Jesus Loves Me I couldn't hold back the tears. And she even got a cute little diploma.

My graduate!
Sami getting her diploma.

Thursday morning was the farewell preschool picnic. It was so much fun watching Sami spend some last moments with her friends and with her teachers. It was for the whole preschool so the park was packed with little ones playing, jumping in the bounce houses, blowing bubbles and of course eating.

Sami and Miss Becky and Miss Sandi.
Sami on the playground. Isn't she so modest? Now if I could only get her in pants.

Our time at the picnic was cute short because we had to go pick up Chris from school. He just just finished his EOG (end of grade ) test and I had to take him to the urgent care for an x-ray. That morning he had tripped over a lego box in his room that I had many times told him to pick up. He fell into the foot board and broke his fall with his arm. His arm was all swollen and bruised. The Xray didn't show any big break, but the doctor couldn't rule out a hairline fracture. It was sprained and he had a muscle contusion, so we got this nifty sling. He can try using his arm on Monday and see how it feels. (Can I run off to a vegas hotels now?)

Chris refused to let me take his picture, so this camera phone picture will have to do.

It was such a bittersweet week. You can see more pictures here.

End of the year insanity

When I became a mom 12 years ago I never thought my life would be so busy and chaotic as it is today. Our life is always pretty busy with the kids, work and commitments but the next few weeks is just insane. And guess what! Matt will be gone for just about all of it. (Shocker, I know)

Sunday night we had Awana awards. Sami and Chris (Emily is too old to be in Awanas here) got first year awards and then we had a yummy hot dog roast. The kids loved being in Awanas and will be sure to go back again next year.

Sami had a field trip to the strawberry patch. We had so much fun eating picking strawberries and then having homemade ice cream. I love fresh fruit. And pretty soon it will be peach season. Yum!


Tonight is Sami's kindergarten orientation. ::Sniff sniff:: At least they serve us pizza. Now if only they had a beer or two to drown our tears in. Oh and Chris has ball practice and Em has gymnastics. Ummmm yeah. Not sure how that is working with Matt gone.Tomorrow night is Sami's preschool graduation. Oh and Emily has gymnastics at the same time. Thursday morning I am working the EOG breakfast at Chris's school, then we have the preschool goodbye picnic and then Thursday night both Emily and Chris have ball games. Next week and the week after is just as insane. I feel like I am running around like those on generic Phentermine, just never stopping.

Our weekend is up in the air as a close friend of ours finds out today if she will need surgery this week. If she does, I am going to Ohio to help with their three small girls. But we are keeping our fingers crossed that she doesn't. Shannon is having surgery on Friday and I would like to help out in any way I can with her too. Otherwise Matt will be back Friday from Illinois for a few days before heading to Brazil for two weeks. We may have a cookout for Chris and Sami's birthday since he will be gone for Sami's birthday.

Oh and in the midst of all of this my business is taking off. Totally a God thing. And a great thing. But it will require lots of time. Which right now, is hard to come by. Thank goodness for energy drinks. I think I will be taking stock in them.

Sniff Sniff

Monday night I have the pleasure of attending a Kindergarten Informational Workshop. **sniff sniff** My baby isn't a baby anymore, is she? I can't believe in just 7 months she will be a big school girl.

Can you tell what Sam's latest obsession is? Thank you Nana for the awesome Christmas gifts.