Muffins with Mom

Blake has been preparing for a special Mother's Day suprise for weeks.  There have been secrets between him and his Dad about notes from school, he has been sneaking around the house, and even dug out a special red tie to wear to school today for the special event!  I have been looking forward to going, but didn't realize that he was going to pamper me for the whole day....he asked me to, not wake up and have my morning protein shake,  because he was going to make me breakfast so that I wouldn't have to work or cook at all today!  Awww.  I heard him in the kitchen around 6am, and when I walked out of my bedroom door, there he stood with toaster waffles drizzled with syrup.  He led me in to sit down and handed me the remote so I could watch the news while I ate...awww.  For him to give up the remote is BIG! lol!  He just kept smiling at me...I sure love this little guy!

I could see Blake waiting at the classroom door as I walked in.  He ran up and hugged me, then lead me in.  He pulled out my chair and tied a handmade corsage onto my wrist...the perfect gentleman.  He offered me water or punch and just kept on smiling. 

He offered me a gift that was specially wrapped...it was a personally crafted tea cup...I poured my water into it and drank from it!  I love it!

Blake with his buddy, Kyler

Then, his teacher had arranged a guessing game to play.  The kids had drawn portraits of their Moms and had written facts on the back about us!  Mrs. Hakenewerth read the facts as we listened and tried to guess which Mom it was about!  It was the cutest game ever and it made me cry to hear some of the facts about their Moms...some were sweet, some were silly, and some were downright hilarious!  I didn't guess mine right, but I loved reading the facts he wrote about me...

Mrs. Hakenewerth has been the best teacher ever, Blake and I are both
going to miss her so much!

1.   My favorite book to read with my mom is DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.
2.   mom's favorite tv shsow is HOUSE HUNTERS AND DR. OZ   (funny that's what he thinks!)
3.   If my mom won the lottery she would BUY VISALUS SHAKES (have I brainwashed my kid?!?)
4.   An expression my Mom always says is  PLEASE.
5.   my mother always gets angry when  I'M BAD.
6.   My mom doesn't like to   CLEAN. (guess I'm not fooling him!lol!)
7.   My mother's favorite foods are  VISALUS, CHOCOLATE and SALAD (i sound bipolar!)
8.   I like my mom to cook CAKE & ICE CREAM b/c it's so delicious
9.   my mother's favorite restaurant is  O'CHARLEY'S
10. if my mom had a ticket to anywhere in the world it would be to  FLORIDA
11. my mom has a funny habit of ONLY DRINKING VI SHAKES (I'm sending this to the company)
12. My mom really looked beaurtiful on  HER WEDDING DAY
13. my mom looks funny on the day she  WOKE UP BAD
14. In the good old days mom used to  PLAY WHATEVER SHE READ.
15. I make my mom happy when  I CLEAN MY ROOM
16. My mom doesn't know about the time I  STOLE COOKIES, CANDY AND A LITTLE   BROWNIE FROM THE KITCHEN.
17. when she has free time she like to  TALK ON THE PHONE
18. my mom's pet name for me is BUBBY
19. My favorite thing to do with my Mom is READ WITH HER (awwww..we will do that more)
20. The best advice my mom gives is TO TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN


After the game, his teacher put a book on the projector and read to us.  The book was "Love You Forever"  I was crying so hard, of course I was getting embarassed and Blake just hugged me and smiled, he knew that I would cry... he kept making trips back to the beverage table to get me napkins for my eyes. 

Watch this 5 minute video book and you'll see why I couldn't stop crying...

After we cried our eyes out, we all headed to the gym to watch a performance by all of the 2nd graders...they sang to us, it was adorable. Progress South Elementary really went all out to make sure us Mom's are appreciated...I hope they know how appreciated they are...I love Blake's school.  The entire day has been wonderful, I must say, this is one of the very best days of my life....I LOVE being a Mom!

Taylor got her costume!!!

At dance last week, Taylor got her costume!!!  She had been measured weeks before, we were both excited for her to get it!  It's her first recital and the outfit is adorable! 

The costume is called, "when i grow up"  not sure I like
name! lol!

we tried it on over her leotard..yay!

Wow, there's Iron Man!!!

While making a quick trip into Shop n Save, we spotted Iron man giving away pizza and soda.  Both kids were happy to pose with him!  Blake wanted to be The Hulk and loved getting to get an entire bottle of Dr. Pepper to drink, super rare!!  

My big preschool Girl

I put Taylor in a 10 week preschool through a local high school program.  She got to go 3 days a week from 8:30-11:00.  My friend, April, enrolled her daughter, Gracie, so we carpooled often and the girls got to go together! 

I love putting her hair in piggy tails, but Taylor
cracked me up last night...she says, "Oh, Mommy,
I HATE my hair like that..cuz I look like a bull!!"

Although Taylor is a bit shy...I knew she would do fine, she goes to Sunday school at church each week and to the babysitting at the gym several days a week.  Where there are toys and kids, Taylor is happy! Plus, she has been wanting to be a big school kid like her big bubby all year!

They got to do so much while at school each day.  They sent home daily reports that showed all the games they played, songs they sang, and skills they worked on.  Her little backpack was always full of wonderous works of art, sometimes they were still wet and sticky, but none the less...precious! 

They got school t-shirts to sport. I think my little girl grew up quite a bit in the last 10 weeks...I love having a baby girl...she is just growing up way too fast. 

Taylor and Gracie

The last day of school!

 

End of Year Tears

Blake got a paper in his backpack reminding us of the upcoming year-end parade that they do on the last day of school.  First off, I cannot believe that it has been yet another year...this paper just made me realize how close 2nd grade is from being over.. 

Blake even mentioned, the other night, that it sure seems like 2nd grade has flown by...that's pretty bad when your 8 year old thinks time is flying!  This year has been particularly special, his teacher has been amazing, I have gotten to know some of the other Mom's, and his class has just been great...both, Blake and I are really gonna miss 2nd grade.  :(

Back to the reason for this post...this letter we got from school today talked about what this special parade means.."for students it signifies a march of triumph, celebrating the end of one grade and marking the transition to the next."     After the parade, instead of just going home, the kids go back to their classrooms to have ice pops, giving the teacher and students time to say their final good-byes and to enjoy the last bit of time as classmates.   

I don't know why I'm so emotional about this but I just don't want my kiddos to grow up so fast...

First Time Flashmobber

At the end of March, we went to Visalus' National Success Training in KC and heard about an awesome event that the company planned to promote....The World's Largest Simultaneous Flash mob...and since it was headed by Alfonso Ribeiro, featuring the famous "Carlton" dance move made it even more fun! 

I have never been in a flash mob before, i have always seen them and thought that it would be awesome to be part of one...well, I got my chance!!  And we rocked it!!  This is one of many firsts that being involved with Visalus is helping me obtain...I must admit...even though dancing has always been one of my very favorite things to do...28lbs and 2-3 sizes ago, I would not have been caught dead dancing...in public anyways! I still have a long ways to go to reach my weight loss goal...but at least I'm headed in the right direction and plan on doing alot more dancing, after all, it's great exercise and fun too! 

The kids and I practiced the dance in our kitchen by watching the instructional video...Blake had the dance down in no time, Taylor picked most of it up and then made up a few of her own moves, I...on the other hand, was just happy to get it down.  I will admit that while everyone was gathered at the mall, pretending to just be standing around, trying not to look guilty or as if we were about to break out into dance...I got nervous!  I had to conceal my Body by Vi gear I was wearing, so I stood against a wall with the kiddos.  As the music began, we all ran out and just joined in, crowds of people were watching and wondering what in the world we were doing!  WE WERE HAVING FUN AND BEING CRAZY, just like the company that we promote for!!  Vi Life Baby!!

Wanna see what this company is all about????  Visalus Opportunity HERE!

A Simple Easter

We were late to pull out the Easter Decor, but when I did...Taylor decorated our little Easter tree, then pulled out the bunnies that talk and dance.  Blake pulled out the window clings and the fighting began, they both wanted to stick them on!  I had to be military Mom and make them count them out equally.  

Taylor decorated herself while she was at it!!!

We saved the egg decorating until Saturday evening, so that Daddy could be home for it.  Taylor asked me all day if it was time to do the eggs...finally, I let her call him and in her sweetest little voice, she asked if she could decorate "just one" little egg...of course, we know the answer!  We started using these egg markers and we all decided to just skip the dyeing and use our imaginations to create masterpieces.  They decorated special eggs for each special person, labeled with their names.

That night, we set out their special Easter baskets on the table for the Easter Bunny to fill.  The Easter Bunny brought each of them a book, a puffle, a bug-catching net, and a chocolate rabbit! A squeaky duck was left for Sophie (even though she is so scared of it, she thinks it's crying or something! lol!)  He also hid some eggs outside for them to find...most of them had coins inside! 

Blake helped Tay get to her purple egg.  The Easter Bunny made it easy
for them by hiding purple eggs for Tay and green eggs for Blake, that
way there was no fighting or worry about who got more!  Smart Bunny!

eggs collected, it's cold...so it was also quick!

Since the kids were up before 6am, it was no rush to get ready for church this year.  It also helped that I had decided not to make a big Easter dinner (for the 1st time in my life), there was no stress of last minute preparations.  We relaxed, ate some candy, got dressed up, did some Easter pictures, then headed to church. 

It was my week to greet at church.  I love getting to do this..how great that I get to hug and meet every single person that comes!  Church was awesome,  they did so much for the kids...we are truly blessed with a church that we absolutely love being part of! 

Aunt Susie came back to the house with us and had brought us a pasta dish, I made a nice salad and some garlic bread to go along with it, it was perfect, with carrot cake for dessert!  The kids played with their new goodies, I lounged by the pool in the sun, then we all took Sophie for a walk to the basketball courts and played around.  It was a wonderful Easter!

soooo busy with their new books!!!