Summer Nights

 It's pretty hot around here.  Don't mind Hope's swimming suit.  It looks like she forgot to pull it up.

Spring Fling

 This afternoon we went to Faith's school for her school's fete (I will use that word forever now even though no one knows that it means a school carnival in Australia :)

 A cake walk while eating snow cones is the only way to go.

 The kids got tickets for doing games.  I'm not sure I'd call touching a man's boogers a game, but they got a ticket for doing it.

 Karate chops with the local Karate place.

 When I saw the panty hose on the girls' heads I freaked out and pulled them off.  We don't need lice again.

It was very HOT! I think the kids thought it would be more like a fete in Australia with carnival rides and a lot more food.  The boys were there long enough to get a taco from the taco truck and then they walked home.  It was still fun without the expensive carnival rides.

Preschool Graduation

 This morning our preschool got together with the seven families in preschool to celebrate the end of the year in a graduation ceremony and breakfast at the Cheneys' house.

 The procession

 They performed for us two songs.

 Awarding the diplomas.

 Our preschool moms who taught this year.

 The moms: Jennifer, me, Suzanne, Shellie, Christy, Sheri and Tiffany

Congratulations Hope!  She has another year of preschool to look forward to!  Bless her little October birthday heart :)

The Signs of Spring

 The signs of spring in our community come in the form of signs posted all over on Friday night advertising yard sales Saturday mornings.  I love spring and I love yard sales!  Funny that on our last big yard sale day, we found this pair of cockatoos.  We had to have them.  As if we don't have enough Australian souvenirs :)

I let the girls pick out something from one yard sale, and Hope picked out this sparkly purse.  The next day she wanted to take it to church.  Hope asked Faith, "Do you know why I chose this purse to take to church today?"  Faith replied, "Because we all need a little more sparkle in our lives!"  She's right.  We do.

Grateful for Moms

 I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful Mom.  I am blessed to have wonderful women in my life, and I am grateful for their examples.  I am so blessed for these kiddos who call me mom.

 I had a great Mother's Day with beautiful flowers.

 We got to go out to dinner on Saturday as a family and go to the movie.  I love the gifts the kids make at school for me.  I like that Faith thinks my job is talking.  She thinks I'm 15, but she sure knows that my favorite show is Modern Family.  Love this card.

Picture Day

Faith's school did picture day in the fall.  Faith showed up in jeans and a "fancy" Tshirt.  She felt very under dressed.  Faith has lots of girls from India in her class.  Boy can those girls dress up!  They always look so nice and they seriously looked like they were going to the prom on picture day. Well, today we had another picture day, and we had to step it up a notch---fancy hair, fancy dress.  It was fun to show up and see Faith and her best friend Ava were wearing the exact same dress.  I can tell you right now I never looked this good in any kind of picture when I was in kindergarten :).

Faith and Ava-- BFFs.

She Would be Nine

 Today our angel Katie would be nine.  I mark time by looking at the little girls I know who are nine, and I can't believe how big she would be.  I continue to wonder:  would she like to paint, dance, read?  I still have moments of very profound grief involving lots of tears, but the tears always end in tears of joy for the knowledge I have and for the beautiful family here on earth waiting to meet her.

 The girls wanted Katie to have a butterfly cake this year.

 Everyone wants to light the candles.

 I guess James didn't like Faith's singing.

Happy Birthday, Katie!!