First Grade Field Day

Soren, Nate, Gerzon and Jonathon awaiting instructions for the relay race

An actual relay race!

The parachute...always a good time...but Field Day? Really?

Nate playing indoor golf

Field Day just isn't what it used to be.  Long gone are the days of trying out for the events like running and standing long jump, three hops, high jump and the 100m dash.  No one gets a ribbon.  There is no lesson in sportsmanship.  Frankly, there isn't any real competition.  Instead, it's a longer, more organized and disappointing recess.  This, however, is my perception.  The kids of course got sweaty and there were smiles on lots of faces.  So, I guess it's not all that bad.

Baby Jessica

Yep, those are my beloved babies standing in a giant hole...in which the walls of dirt could cave and suffocate them at any moment!  Look at those smiles, though, right?!  We're getting a new basketball hoop.  You know, so mommy can train the kids with her mad hoopster skills.  Troy suggested Nate and his friend start digging a hole for the pole while they were looking for something to do the other day.  Of course, Troy had already chosen the exact spot where the hole needed to be to maximize the driveway for dribbling, rebounding, etc.  It was less than 1 foot in the dirt and clank.  They ran into a rock.  A good sized rock that some may call a small boulder!  Needless to say, the hole had to get a lot bigger and took a lot longer to get that rock out of the way.  The rock found a nice place in our landscaping but now we were looking at a really huge hole for a not so huge pole.  So, while the engineer for the project sat in the driveway having an adult beverage figuring out how to modify the plans he let the children play in the hole!  What!?!?  This hole is big.  Small children playing in a big hole.  Aye yi yi.  I had to remind the project manager, man sitting in the lawn chair with beer in hand, and father of these children about good ole Baby Jessica who fell in the well hole.  Good lord. I was not pleased with this and had to be the buzz kill that covered the hole with weighted down fiber boards until it was resolved with the proper fill dirt, concrete and basketball pole.  Of course, as any good mother would do, I took a picture of them in the hole before I kicked them out of it, threatened their lives and banned them from playing anywhere near it!

First Grade Graduate

 

Well, it looks like we're gonna have a second grader on our hands.  Nate has graduated from 1st grade!  Yikes.  His teacher, Mrs Juback, held a really nice unofficial graduation ceremony that included the kids performing songs and poems, reading their own writing pieces and showing off some art work.  We couldn't be more proud.  The class performed May Their Always Be Sunshine and each student got to fill in the blank for "May there always be ___."  Each child got to say what they filled in as the teacher held up their depiction.  Our son chose candy for that blank and drew numerous colorful pieces of candy. Not mommy, daddy, hugs or anything virtuous.  Candy.  And we wonder why his teeth are rotting out of his head!

First Grade Fieldtrip

L to R: Natalie, Miranda, Evan, Nate, Soren & Gerzon

What would a woman that is 37 weeks pregnant want to do on a 90 degree day? Well, chaperon a bunch of first graders on a field trip to the Detroit Zoo, of course!  We all know that I have issues with my deadbeat motherhood and limited availability to volunteer and help at my kids' school.  So I had the time and opportunity and saw no problem with any of this.  I responsibly had a back-up plan with Dad as my understudy (although, in hindsight, my guess is that I pry would've wanted him along with me had I been in labor?!)...anyways.  I got the thrill of riding on a bus...with a gazillion loud and rambunctious first graders.  In the back of the bus, no less.  Haven't been on one of those yellow things in a while, let alone sit in the back of one!  It wasn't the most comfortable ride especially since the driver decided to take the scenic (aka long and lost) route on the way to the zoo.  I think I made a few people nervous with the presence of my solid muscle p90x pregnant abdomen.  No worries though. Not a twinge, cramp or spot. Nothing.  I led my group of kids around like a pro...getting to the lion's den nice and early before it was too hot as well as seeing the newest member of the zoo family, a baby camel that was making local news! And, didn't lose a single kid.  It was a great day.  I think Nate appreciated me being there...because he asked if he had to walk around with me or if he could go with another parent?!  Seriously.

A Puppy Party!

 

Tessa's 5th Birthday was celebrated with a circle of girlfriends and playing with puppies?  Seriously.  Does it get any cuter or better than that?  Well, there was a special surprise at The Family Puppy that day and they were housing a handful of kittens. So, we got to snuggle with them too!  And, not only did Troy and I pretty much secure the Parents of the Year Award, it had to have been the easiest party ever!  Troy and I were waiting for our 25% off of your next puppy coupon to be handed over.  I will tell you that it was a close call and in a moment of weakness I could have easily brought home one of those furry little friends.  We all know that I need a hole in my head more than a puppy right now, but boy were they cute as ever! We had our very own personal photographer along with us to capture all the cute moments.  Many, many thanks to you, Lynn.  After playing with a variety of different puppies and the kittens each girl got to 'build a bear' and choose a stuffed animal to make and dress.  That was the take home treat. How sweet! Another, score for mom and dad.  After all that commotion, we headed back to our house for puppy-themed cupcakes, a pinata (b/c we can't have any type of party without a pinata!) and some play time.  Happy Birthday Tessa! What a great day!

 Here are the girls are caged up awaiting the puppies! That's me in the back smiling really big trying to compensate for my giant baby belly.

 

Nate and Tessa taking the instruction pretty seriously.  Nate was not missing this opportunity to play with puppies...even if it meant hanging out with his sister's friends!  He was thrilled to get the German Shepard puppy all to himself for awhile!

 A wiener puppy!

 Australian Shepard

 Some kinda rat-looking puppy

Kayleigh and Allie and an adorable little puppy!

 Ella and a little fluff ball puppy!

 How much does Alex love this little furball?

 

Ruby and Emma

 

T, Alex and rat-looking puppy

 Here are the kids all lined up blessing their animals' 'hearts' before they stuffed them inside at the "build a bear" -like activity.

 

Here's super dad Troy dressing one of the animals.

  

Super Dad again with the girls

 

It's not a party without a pinata!  Of course we had a puppy!  Nate was giving the girls instructions.  I was standing by, probably sweating and short of breath.

 Miss Emma swinging at the puppy. Funny thing was that the pinata "exploded" with candy by being decapitated. 

 Umm.  Please note the puppy paw print cupcakes that I actually made for this event!  They had white filling too...just sayin'. And Miss Tessa opening up way too many toys that she doesn't need.

 The girls headed out to play.  Ava, Allie, Ruby, Emma, Alex and Ella

More on Mother's Day

 

So, Tessa's teachers did a nice little questionnaire that the kids presented to their respective mothers at the Muffins for Moms celebration at her school this year.  I can't bear not to share Miss Tessa's responses.   In case you have trouble zooming in below is how they read.

What do you love to do most with mom?

  GO OUT TO LUNCH

What is your mom's name?

  JEN

Complete the sentence, My mom is as pretty as...

  A SHEEP

If you could give your mom anything in the world, what would it be?

  ROSES

What do you think your mom did before she had kids?

  HAD A PARTY

What is your mom's favorite food/drink?

  MEAT and LEMONADE

What kind of stuff is your mom really good at?

  WRITING NAMES

How old is your mom?

  14

I know my mom loves me because...

 I HAVE BEAUTIFUL HAIR

Seriously?!  Now, I'm flattered by being thought of as 14 but as a pretty as a SHEEP!?!  And, I would hope that I have more recognizable skills than writing names?  I guess I should be happy that she didn't say my favorite beverage was beer!  And, yes, Miss Tessa, life WAS a party before kids!  By the way, look closely at the picture.  It's me with a baby in my belly...apparently looking 14 and as pretty as a sheep.  That's Tessa and "her dog" beside me.  Yes, I know.  We don't have a dog.  The good news and quite accurate depiction though is that everyone at least has a smile on their face! I'm not sure if it's because I'm 14 and as pretty as a sheep or if it's because Tessa has a dog?

Tessa turns FIVE!

Holy Schnikees our baby is FIVE!  Five years ago she came a-thunderin' into this world and really, she hasn't quieted or slowed down since!  We're so proud of her!  She has the attitude of an 11 year old, the spunk of a 20 yr old, can hold her own against a particular nearly-7 yr old brother and enough love to give anyone that would last for an entire lifetime!  Miss T awoke to blue frosted cupcakes for breakfast and plenty of presents.  One of her favorite presents was a neon "workout tank" (otherwise and more commonly known as a sports bra) and shorts! Her dad was thrilled about that?! :) And, well, she got her own make-up with plenty of blush brushes and a make-up case too.  Mommy is hoping that the case of the missing blush brushes is over now that Tessa has her own fluffy brushes...because we all know that Mommy does quite the face painting and is the next face of Loreal.

 

 Digging in to her loot first thing.

 Tessa is a whiz at puzzles.

 Can you see the thrill on her face checking out her make-up?!

 Oh, and she got her own duct tape. Tape is pretty important household item around here.  The kids go through rolls of it and are pretty territorial about it.  So, Miss T got cupcake and polka dot tape.

 Cupcakes for breakfast! 

 Singing Happy Birthday to herself!