Rowan's Last Day & Pre-K Graduation

We are so proud of Rowan. He is doing such a great job reading, writing, doing math, cutting with scissors and sharing with others. He is so ready for Kindergarten.

Rowan's Favorites:

-My favorite is playing on the playground with George.

-My other favorite is reading books.

-I know that Jesus is alive, there were 10 Men with Leprosy, Jesus had twelve disciples and Peter is my favorite, and that I like to sing God is the Master Builder.

Last night was Pre-K Graduation:

The kids before Rowan's graduation all decked out in NVCA colors.

Not the best pic but I snapped this quickly during the picture slideshow. That's Rowan examining a worm with a magnifying glass in the Science Lab.

Here they are walking in. Can you find Row? He's the second one.

My heart melted when our sweet boy saw us and waved and smiled!

They sang the song "God is the Master Builder." Rowan is the fourth kid from the right. He's next to a really tall girl who waves enthusiastically at the beginning. :)

They recited Jeremiah 29:11. Rowan is in the same place. :)

It was really hard to get a picture of him on stage.

Roger missed them announcing his name but here he is getting his certificate. It was hard because we didn't know what order the kids were going to come up in.

All of the PreK classes combined to sing at the end. Rowan is the little boy in front with the spotlight shining on him.  :)

Rowan and Monty have been in school together since they were 2. They will be going to different Kindergartens.

Oreos afterwards.

Pretty Sissy

Rowan and Miss Christiansen who recognized Rowan's academic strengths and found ways to challenge him and also helped him grow in love and kindness. She is seriously the sweetest.

Our Family. There were better pictures of Roger, Cruz and myself but this one was Rowan's best and it's his night. :)

Rowan was way too excited about the work book and book he received. 

Today was Rowan's last day of school. Cruz, Cora and I joined him at the closing chapel service. I can't believe another school year has passed. We are excited for summer though!

Here's Miss Sis on her brothers' last day of school. At the beginning of the year, she wasn't even here yet!

Cruz's Last Day of School

Today was Mr. Cruz's last day of Preschool Two's. He had such a wonderful year and I'm so thankful that we sent him. Cruz has become so independent through out the year. At home he's kind of Rowan's shadow but through being in his own preschool class, we've seen him become a leader and we've had the chance to see someone of his wonderful qualities even better.

Look at how he's grown! Cruz's teachers were so perfect for him. They were patient, gentle, sweet and a little bit silly, which is necessary for our silly little boy. Cruz won an award for helping with a cheerful heart and I love that about him. Cruz's teacher was also impressed by the fact that he's counting to 50 and that he can write his name. Cruz has learned colors, shapes, number and letter recognition and countless songs, which are his favorites.

Cruz's Favorites:

-My friends especially Sunnie and Sainder

-Singing "Rain Rain Go Away"

-Jesus is God and he died on the cross for my sins.

My Shopping Buddy

My pretty little girl loves to shop with her mama! Today we went to Lakeshore Learning to get some summer school supplies for Rowan and Cruz. The boys are so excited to do a little summer school a couple of days a week. Rowan wants to learn about money and Cruz is going to work on identifying his letters and matching upper and lower case letters. I also got some fun stuff like a cutting book and dot paints. 

The End of T-Ball

It's been such a fun season watching Rowan grow as a baseball player. 

Some ways he's grown this season are (these are so that we can compare after next season):

-Rowan (and his whole team) don't pile up on the ball anymore. They stay near their position and field balls that come to them.

-Rowan knows to throw to first base if he fields the ball.

-Rowan knows how to play first base. 

-Rowan has developed his own batting stance that's comfortable for him.

-Rowan can consistently hit without the tee on 2/3s of his at bats. The coach also pitches from standing instead of crouching down.

-Rowan knows the name of the different positions.

Cora Videos: 7.5 months

Cora babbles "mamama" and "dadada." She does "mama" waaay more often though. :)

Perhaps not the most exciting of milestones but Cora has started eating some more new things. She can pick up her puffs all by herself now.

Cora's favorite thing to mimic is "uh oh." Sometimes is sounds more like "uh uh" but she says it when we say it to her and she'll also say it if she drops something.

Cora has a runny nose right now, which is no fun, but she's still so sweet and snuggly. I can't believe how big she's getting.

Guess What?

Miss Cora Grace has her very first tooth! I don't have a picture of the tooth but I do have a picture of the pretty big girl, standing and everything. :)

7 months, 3 weeks.

Photo Updates!

A lot of these are Cora because she isn't as quick as the boys, haha. She doesn't sit still much anymore. She's constantly trying to get into crawl position. I'm so not ready for her to be moving.

The boys have been swimming for about a week now. The water is still cold so they are the only ones getting in. :)

Love this shot of Roger and Cruzy.

Rowan is crazy good at standing on his head... maybe that has something to do with its size. ;-)

Cruzy Bear

Cruz is such a fun little boys these days. We've recently exited a tough stage. While I'm sure another lurks just around the corner, I'm enjoying these easy days with him.

Oh man, is Cruz funny. He loves to make us laugh. He comes up with the silly ideas that keeps his brother laughing. He's king of silly games to make Sissy belly laugh. Though he doesn't mean to be funny in this way, some of his words and phrases are hysterical too.

Cruz is full of hugs and kisses and sweet words. He's always telling me that I'm the best mom and that he loves me. He comes up for random hugs, wants to hold my hand just because and is an amazing listener. He is the first one to grab on to the side of the stroller without being reminded as we're walking into a store, he's the first one with his shoes on by the door when its time to leave and he's the little one who always asks me if I need help carrying things. I am thankful for my sweet, sensitive, silly boy.

Cruz is so smart too! He is counting past thirty and recognizing almost all his numbers. He can spell and write his name all by himself, which he is so proud of. Cruz also loves to sing and it makes my heart happy to hear him singing worship songs while he plays. He is looking older and taller and is so much more independent which makes me happy and sad at the same time.

Mother's Day Thoughts

I gave you life, 
but cannot live it for you. 
I can give you directions, 
but I cannot always be there to lead you.                              
I can take you to church, 
but I cannot make you believe. 
I can teach you right from wrong, 
but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes,
but I cannot make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice,
but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love,
but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share,
but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect,
but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends,
but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex,
but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you about alcohol and drugs,
but I can't say "no" for you.
I can help you set goals,
but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness,
but I can't force you to be gracious
I can pray for you,
but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can tell you how to live,
but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of
my life... and I will.

words by Patrick Atkinson

A fellow mom shared that poem with me today and I love it. Its such a great reminder of all the things that I CAN do for Rowan, Cruz and Cora. Its also a great reminder that there are things that I CAN'T do. I am only Mom, I am not God. God loves my three babies more than I ever could and ultimately, He is the one working in their hearts.

These words are really fitting in our parenting of Rowan right now. I am teaching him to say "I'm sorry" but I cannot make his heart feel remorse and I was majorly frustrated by that. I will love my children unconditionally, pray for them daily, be the best mom that I can be and trust their Heavenly Father for the rest.

Happy Mother's Day to our Moms! We love you both and are so blessed because of you.

Wedding Fun!

Two weeks ago we packed up and headed to Minnesota for my cousin Kristin's wedding. People had a hard time believing that we were going to pack up and fly with our three kids for just two days. My sister and I grew up playing with Kristin and her sister Kelly. There is only a little over two and a half years between me and Kristin and Amanda and Kelly fall in between us. Since we were all so close in age, we grew up not only as cousins but as friends. There are very few things that could have kept me from celebrating Kristin's special day with her and travel was not one of them. We are so excited for Kristin and Eric and can't wait to spend more time with the newly married couple in June! :) 

We had a quick visit with my friends Mary, Kristen and Angela who I went to high school with. Between us we have eight kids, six of them are boys four and under! It was a lot of crazy fun.

I didn't get too many pictures from the wedding but the kids had a blast eating cake and dancing.

Second hotel room in two weekends.

Cora was such an easy going little traveler. Cruz in the background, was ready to go get ice from the vending machine.

Pretty little girl.

Cruz developed a little crush on Aunt Amanda this trip and now she's all he talks about.

Sitting next to Grampy, of course.

Gotta love the photo booth. ;)

Sweet Cora