Chase is a graduate!

On Thursday our baby boy graduated from PreK, my how time has flown! I look at him and can still see my tiny 6 lb. 1 oz. baby boy, yet he's no longer a baby. He's a big boy, a big boy heading to kindergarten. I'm so proud of Chase and all he has accomplished this year. He did great at his graduation program and got two awards in addition to his K4 certificate. He earned a music award/medal and an award for number recognition. It seems like just yesterday I dropped him off for his first day of school, man I love this kid! Here are some pictures of the big night... can you believe we totally missed getting a family picture... ugh!

His Number Recognition Award

Baby Sister watching Big Brother

Performing :o)

Singing

With Ms. Judi, receiving his Music Award

With Miss. Caren, his K4 teacher

Congratulations Chase, we are all so proud of you!

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) my big boy
2) a beautiful graduation
3) a wonderful year of K4
4) new beginnings
5) that nothing can take away his love

I swear they could have been twins!

I swear these two could have been twins. Obviously Chase is on the left and Emery on the right. The only real difference is her hair is light and his was dark, but you can't tell here. His eyes are shaped more like Jeff's - more of a squint when Emery's are like mine and more round. However, I don't even think there's that much a difference there and if Chase's head was down some, they would look more round. It is crazy how alike they look and so darn cute too! I wonder how much they'll hate this when they are older? ;o)

~ Kahla

***I am grateful for
1) healthy kids
2) friends and family
3) this is Chase's last week of PreK
4) wonderful evenings
5) baby swings - Emery loves it

You just can't hide from him!

So our librarian gave us a simple swing set for Chase this weekend, free of charge. Which is awesome because we wanted one, but do not have the extra money to spend on one right now. It's certainly nothing fancy, but has a slide, two swings and a trapeze. We purchased a baby swing to hang up in place of one of the big swings and I think the kids will rather enjoy having it in the backyard this summer.

We picked it up yesterday and told Chase that as soon as it cooled down we'd go out back and play. Unfortunately our backyard faces the west so the sun is shining on it in the afternoons and it is hot, hot, hot. A bit ago there was a small amount of shade from our wimpy pine trees and it had cooled down some so I figured I'd sit on the deck while Chase played. Now our yard is fenced with a 6 foot wooden fence and the gate was closed, so I thought surely the annoying, bratty, rude, bad, obnoxious, too big for Chase's stuff but never listens neighbor kid would not be a bother today. Boy was I wrong. It literally took less than 30 minutes before he was climbing over the fence and all up in our business. So I did what any considerate mother would do, I opened the back door, took Emery from Jeff, and told him he was in charge. I swear, there is just no hiding from him!

I know I can't be the only one with annoying neighbor kids... Lord I hope mine is never one of them!

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) 7 1/2 days left with the kiddos before summer break
2) got some great news at school on Friday, but I have parents that read my blog, so I can't share yet!
3) our awesome, free swing set
4) a three day weekend is coming up
5) little pink toenails

This old gray mare just ain't what she used to be.

I'm a slacker, I'll admit it, but I'm soooo tired. That's my only excuse. Kids are driving me crazy. I think I've mentioned that previously. I can honestly say that 8 and 9 year olds are not my favorite right now. Give me two weeks and I should be doing much better. Two weeks or two very strong fruity drinks with umbrellas! ;o)

In other news I'm pretty sure I've done something to my foot. Perhaps playing kickball when you're fat and old is not the best idea? Actually, I don't really know what caused it. All I know is the side of my foot hurts all the time. If I actually touch it or put pressure on it, I could almost cry... but I don't because that would make me whimpy. I can't help but wonder if there is a small fracture. Whiny, I know.

Other news.... hmmmmm. Emery is 7 months and 1 week old now. I didn't post on Monday because well, see above. Chase "graduates" from PreK in a week, which makes me totally sad. My baby is about to be in kinder. Only 13 years and he'll be off to college. :o( Jeff says I'm a dork, I don't care.

Sadly, that's about as exciting as it gets around here right now. We are some wild ones, aren't we?

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) Hump Day is ova!
2) 9 1/2 days with kids, I think I can do this
3) Duchess may actually come home tomorrow
4) flyswatters - stupid flies
5) bows, a girl has to accessorize ;o)

Oh Sweet Jesus I'm not sure I'm gonna make it!

If I hear one more person say, "You're soooo lucky, you get three months off at summer, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah" I'm going to slap them. Seriously. 1) I don't get three months of summer off, I get about 8 weeks. Yes, it's 8 wonderful weeks, but it's not three months. 2) I work major overtime during the year, but I'm salary and don't get paid for it. So there. 3) If teachers did not get summers off, they would go freaking insane. I kid you not. No summers off = no teachers w/an ounce of sanity. 4) Yes, I get paid during the summer, but only because I choose to. My pay is based on a 10 month contract, but I choose to have that 9 month pay, stretched out over the full 12 months. So technically, I DON'T get paid for summers. 5) Teacher pay sucks, so summers off help in that department at least.

Don't get me wrong, it's VERY rewarding, but if I didn't have summers off I'd definitely look for a new occupation. As it is we have three weeks of school left. Three weeks doesn't sound like long, but there are moments when I seriously wonder if I'm going to make it. The kids are wild and apparently in their little minds, school is out! They are driving me absolutely, 100%, crazy. If I had more than three weeks left, I seriously think I would loose my shit (sorry Mom). Surely I'm not the only teacher out there that feels like this!

Sorry, just had to vent. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) summers off!
2) three weeks of school left
3) what little sanity I have left
4) a room w/a working a/c again... amazing they could get it fixed when I wouldn't quit complaining
5) hump day!

Princess Emery is 7 months old - almost!

Sweet Princess Emery,

You are almost 7 months old now and it just amazes me at how fast time is flying. I totally missed your update last week and think that with time going this fast, it's time to start doing monthly updates.

So much has been going on. You had your ears rechecked on Friday and I'm so happy to say that they are all clear!!!! Two rounds of antibiotics, but all that matters is they look good. You are now weighing in at 18.2 pounds, that's almost triple your birth weight! You are getting to be such a big girl.

You would really, really, really love to crawl, but you just can't get it quite yet. I think you are pretty close and have no doubt that this time next month you will have figured it out. Even though you can't crawl, you can get to anything and anyone you want.

You have got your great-grandfather totally wrapped around your finger and it's absolutely adorable. Whenever we go into Nana and Paw's house he'll say, "Hey Puddin!" and you immediately turn his way and flash him a huge grin. I have feeling that you and him are going to be great friends!

Yesterday was Mother's Day and we had you dedicated at church. You were the cutest baby up there and everyone just oohed and awed over your picture. We are so blessed to have you as our daughter and so grateful to know that God will be in your life. It is our prayer that you will know him and love him as much as your brother does.

Here are some pictures from our first Mother's Day together!

Hello?? Can you hear me?

You and your Big Brother, he loves you so

At Church before your dedication

My pride and joys

The beautiful cake Nana made just for you, it read, "God Bless our Princess Emery"

Another yummy cake by Nana

Four Generations: Nana, Duchess, Mommy, and Princess Emery

I have one of us w/Memaw too, but I can't get it to resize right

I sure love you Baby Girl and you just made this Mother's Day even more sweet!!!

~ Mommy

****I am grateful for
1) 4 generations
2) a wonderful Mother's Day
3) relaxing w/family
4) beautiful weather
5) 7 wonderful, awesome, totally unforgettable months!

Happy Mother's Day

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

*Every time I read this, it puts a lump in my throat. I'm so blessed and pray that all of my friends, and even those I don't know, that are longing for baby are blessed as I was. *

Happy Mother's Day!

~Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) my two little blessings
2) family
3) Mother's everywhere
4) those that long to be mothers and the hope they will be blessed
5) celebrations

*and yes I know I missed Princess Emery's Monday post, I have it, just need to finish it - which is sad since the next is almost here!*

Our Tiny Tiger

On Tuesday Chase tested for his new belt in Tiny Tigers. He.did.AWESOME!!!! He is the only one with his rank, which is not only the highest in his class, but also the highest of any Tiny Tiger in history! Since there are no other Tigers that are ranked with him, he is required to test alone. A year ago he would have never done this, but he has gotten so big and brave, he breezed through it like it was nothing. I'm amazed at how much he is tested over and so proud of him!!! He broke his board on the first kick and earned his double-blue stripe belt like it was a walk in the park. He even tested with the bow, which he's only worked with a few times (no other Tigers get to work with it).

I've had several people ask about Tiny Tigers, so I'll explain it real quick before sharing pics. Tiny Tigers is the non-traditional, beginners class at Chase's Tang Soo Do school. It introduces them to the art and gives them the fundamentals for the traditional class. You would be amazed at the amount of discipline Chase has gained from this class and his instructor, Mrs. Sophia, is awesome with the kids. It's based for children from 3-6 and Chase started when he was about 3 years 10 months. He was extremely shy and cried during many a class in the beginning, but has just blossomed in the past year and a half. The goal is to reach their Tiger belt, which is orange with black stripes. Chase still has to earn his red stripe, double red stripe, brown stripe, and double brown stripe before earning his orange belt. I'm hoping to keep him until he earns it so he will be the first Tiny Tiger to ever achieve it, but Mrs. Sophia feels like he'll be ready for traditional soon (I shall win though)!! ;o) When he starts traditional class, he will start over as a white belt (which he'll hate)!

Now, what we've all been waiting for, our Tiny Tiger!!!

Getting ready to begin testing, bowing in

Kia!
Working with the bow, he was really working it!
Broke that board with the fist kick!
Taking off his old belt (blue stripe) and getting ready for the new (see it on the ground)
Chase and Mrs. Sophia, I think he's her favorite! ;o)

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for

1) My Tiny Tiger, Oh how I love that boy!

2) Mrs. Sophia, she rocks it with our buddy

3) discipline that Chase has learned

4) respect

5) stepping stones