My video never loaded, maybe it was too big. Here is a link that her school sent me. I must say that the poem selection for her was perfect. She is the queen of "dirty little marks" and is VERY familiar with The Magic Eraser.
We bought a boat in March. We love it! It's such a great place for us to spend time together as a family. We were saying the other day that we shouldn't have waited this long. I'm glad we did though because the wait makes us appreciate our new toy all the more!
I'm very patriotic. "The Fourth" has always been my favorite holiday...even before I had a July 4th baby. Growing up, our family vacations were always during that week and I've been blessed to see Independence Day celebrations in most of America's greatest cities. I get goosebumps during The Star Spangled Banner, tear up when the choir sings patriotic songs at church and LOVE a red/white/blue color combination. That being said...One of my favorite things I've noticed about being out on the lake is the patriotism. Whether on boats or on lake houses there are American flags everywhere! I think it is because there is something about being so small and riding around in that big water, the wind blowing your hair, God's beauty all around you...You feel truly free. That feeling of freedom makes me thankful and proud to live in America.
Thought I'd start off with some tears in case you haven't seen this one. This preggo mom about lost it!
sniff, sniff...So...I had a big day Friday...I was fortunate to attend two very special Mother's Day programs.
JAY
Jay's class sang a really sweet song and each of the children read a paragraph they wrote about why they love their mom.
One thing I found interesting was that not a SINGLE child said they loved their mom because she BUYS them THINGS, takes them on TRIPS, DRAGS them to multiple organized sports...etc. I did a similar exercise with Jay's Sunday School class yesterday, and the result was the same.
All of the responses were ACTS of love...and many of the boys responses were related to food (I guess "the way to a man's heart"...starts early!). Examples... -I love my mom because she plays games with me. -I love when my mom spends time with me at the zoo. -I love when my mom rides bikes with me. -I love my mom when she makes me macaroni and cheese...or "steak, broccoli and chicken"...or spaghetti. -I love my mom because she reads books to me. -I love when my mom paints my nails. -I love when my mom holds me and hugs me when I'm hurt...
As mothers, the responses of these little people show us that all the "extras" that we THINK may matter to our little ones really don't. When it comes down to it they just want US. Like newborns...what matters to them is for us to spend time with them, feed them, comfort them, hold them and love them.
It's that simple.
BETSY
I have heard many wonderful things about the "Mother's Day Tea" at Montessori schools. It is a really BIG deal and a very special event for the children and the mothers. Usually it is for 5 year olds (I was very disappointed when Jay didn't get to do one last year since he wasn't 5 on Mother's Day). At Betsy's new school there are only a few 5 year olds, so the 4 and 5 year olds got to participate.
It was yet another example that if you expect more out of your children, they will EXCEED your expectations.
Betsy met me at the door and led me to my table. The children decorated and set the tables all on their own.
The table looked beautiful!
The children made our plates and served us.
After bringing our food. They poured our tea, complete with sugar and cream!
They sang several cute songs and then recited long poems in pairs (Will try to upload Betsy's in the next post). The finale was them singing Kenny Chesney's "Me and You", with their little thumbs pointing to themselves when they said "me" and their little pointers outstretched to their moms when they said "you". Not a dry eye in the room! I will never think of that song the same way again!
One of my favorite things (and my friend Missy's!) about the baby website I used with Jay was that each week it compared the baby to the size of some type of produce. I was so excited this week to see an update in my "I'm Expecting" app that added this exact thing! I've really been missing it! FYI, this week, Week 25, baby Lucy is the size of a zucchini! (Last week was a grapefruit, next week is an eggplant.)
Speaking of produce (which I need to be better about working into my diet), I'm getting really close to having to take my glucose test. I guess, considering that I had ice cream 3 times yesterday, that means I'll have to watch my sugars a few days before! My former boss is hyperglycemic and he was really helpful in telling me what foods to avoid before my sugar-test with Jay...I'll have to email him for a refresher!
I spent last weekend in Charlotte with dear friends and, as always, we had a fabulous time! What could be better than shopping in IKEA with friends?...
...Shopping in IKEA with friends while eating $1 soft-serve frozen yogurt cones!!!
The purpose of this post: Just because you are expecting a third doesn't mean you have to sell the sedan and buy a van! How can you make it work?
So in August my back seat will be 3-wide with car seats. One comment I've been getting is "So, when are you getting a van?"
Although,
I've totally warmed up to the idea of a Swagger Wagon.
If someone gave me one/or I won one, I would NOT turn it away.
If I'm in a van I definitely get "van envy".
MOST of my neighbors have vans. When we moved in, some friends came to visit us and their son Spencer said, "If you live in this neighborhood, do you have to get a van?"
...I'm not giving up on Cammie (my Camry) quite yet. She's got some spunk left, gets fabulous gas mileage and is paid for! JB and I are on track to reach big DR goals this year, and I'm not about to set us back out of "want" instead of true "need". Especially since instead of "gazelle" speed, we've reached our goals more at "goat" speed. :)
So, where do you go with random questions?...Google!...There I found an answer to my search: three car seats in a Camry. I found post after post and the Radian car seat was a common theme. The Radian has a very narrow base and a 5-point harness, which allows the seats to be extra close because the kids don't have to reach down between to buckle. So instead of buying a new car, we had my car detailed :) and bought two Radian car seats. Since this change, I've been obsessive with keeping my car clean and neat (which is VERY unusual for me!) and I must say it makes me and Cammie even better friends. Now if I can just get to cleaning out the trunk...
When ready, these will be side by side and the baby-seat will be on the end.
