A Decade

This is Miss Kathy.

Or better known as "Miss Kaffy" at our house.

She has been the preschool teacher for Aubrey, Chloe, Benton and now Max.

Ten years we've been doing preschool.

T E N years.

Max "graduated" to Kindergarten this week leaving us preschool-less.

I'm ready.

During the program, Max stood and recited

"Hi, My name is Max.  I'm going to _______ Elementary for Kindergarten.

When I grow up, I want to be a race car driver and win first place."

Once again, a defining moment for Max.

I was beaming.

What happened to the brain surgeon talk we had?

Along with Max, cousin Neeley took center stage too.

She wants to be a teenager when she grows up.

We laughed until we cried.

These two are gonna rip it up with Mrs. Willis next year.

They were born for Kindergarten.

Snacks

I have checked the contents of Molly's dog food

b e c a u s e

I JUST CAN'T KEEP HIM AWAY FROM IT!

Yum.

Expertise

I'm not very good at changing Preston's diapers.

I know, ridiculous admission.

It's not like I haven't had practice or anything.

I calculate an estimated 17,500 diapers changed thus far in my parenting career.

Preston is strong.

He wiggles.

He twists.

He forms origami on himself every time
I try to change him.

While struggling through one of Preston's messy diapers yesterday morning,

Britton laughed, grabbed his legs
and coined a new phrase...

"Enough of amateur hour!"

I have giggled ever since.

Guess who gets the diaper changing duty now?

I believe someone is wishing he coined the phrase

"Silence is Golden"

instead!

My Bubs

Mother's Day Morning.

5:40 AM

It's good to be loved.

At any hour.

These cute peanuts are holding a framed picture of them self.

All at 6 months of age.

All taken from Sears Portrait Studios.

All coordinated.

Well done Daddy.

I will forever treasure.

Gila Valley Temple

We made the pilgrimage to Safford

to attend the Open House of the Gila Valley Temple.

Three hours each way.

Well worth the trek.

Sweet experience to be in the Temple with my bubs.

All of them.

Click.

Memory photo that I will forever remember.

When Trouble First Met

This is one of my favorite pictures.

This is the day my nephew Tanner was born.

Benton is in my front pack.

Little did we know the bonds of love these two would share.

Our Brother's Keeper

I sent Benton and Max out front to play for a while today.

Minutes later, Benton came in sobbing.

Tears and everything.

Mom:  "What's the matter?"

Benton: "The boys (4th-7th grade boys who play outside too) called me stupid, ugly and said my shorts are stupid.  Mom, they called me the 's' word (stupid) !"

Mom:  "Did you say something to them first or do something to them?"

Benton:  "No, I was just walking by to go to ____ to see if _____ could come out and play."

Mom:  "Oh I'm so sorry buddy....."

While I was consoling Benton

I hear from outside...

Chloe':  "What's your problem?"

Oh boy.

I rush outside.

Chloe':  (Yelling) "What's wrong with you?"

Mom:  "Chloe', get back in the house."

Chloe' pivots with steam coming out her ears and heads back inside.

While I too was mad at these little twirps for picking on my boy,

I knew retaliation wasn't the answer.

Not today anyway. (smile)

In honesty, I LOVE Chloe's reaction.

I probably shouldn't.

She would've cleaned house if she needed to.

I have no doubt about that.

Today, to me, she was her brother's keeper.

Today, to me, she is my hero.