A tisket, a tasket, a very random basket

A good friend told me that a random post was better than no post at all.  :)  

Life has been busy lately...B-U-S-Y!  I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.  I know that there will be some time to slow down and smell the roses in the upcoming months as football draws to a close...so right now I am simply enjoying being on the go with my little ones.  

 I was able to tag along on Andy's very first field trip!  We headed off to Apple Annie's to pick pumpkins on Friday.  After we dropped off the older two munchkins at school, we went to get bagels for our lunch.  This kid melts my heart!  As we were holding hands and leaving the store he asked me how my day was.  (He does this every single day.)  Then I asked him how his day was.  He told me, "Today is GREAT!  Today is so special mama.  I get to be with just you.  I love you!"  I literally started to tear up in the parking lot.  We hung out at his school for a little while and waited for the busses to arrive.  Andy did great!  He loved riding the bus and was entertained with his big brother's iPod on the trip there.  Once we got to the pumpkin patch, he insisted on picking a little green pumpkin.  We ate lunch together and then headed home.  Andy slept almost the entire way home.  We made it back just in time to pick up Bobby and Katie.

Riding a tricycle on the playground

A boy and his little green pumpkin 

Love at first sight

We've been blessed to have visits with the girls recently.  The kids have loved spending time together and have been fantastic about posing for pictures together.  I simply love sitting and watching them laugh and play...it reminds me of much simpler and happier times.  

 Best Buds...Together At Last

Today we headed to Agua Caliente park for some family pictures with Meridy Twilling.  I took my camera along in hopes of capturing a few candid shots.  Here are the few I was able to snap while we were in-between poses:

Time seems to just fly by.  I have thousands of pictures to mark the passage of each week and month...I'd definitely run out of room on my blog if I posted all of them.  I hope you enjoyed this random basket of photos.  

Birthdays! Birthdays! Birthdays!!!

As you read the title, picture the TV commercial guy saying "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!"...that's how my munchkins birthdays seemed this year.  Their special days all fall relatively close together towards the end of the school year...which can make our hectic schedules seem out of control! :)  Although the time passes so very quickly, these special events make for some fantastic memories!

The kids each picked their party themes early this year and supplies were ordered...

Andy, turning 3, chose a Star Wars theme (or more accurately Darth Vader).  He was so excited to be turning 3!  He told me that next year he wants to have another jumping party and turn 3 again.

"I am this many!"

The Birthday Boy is ready to party! :)

Emma Claire on the mats

Brinley is checking out the special flooring

Hanging out...

The foam block pit was their favorite

Colton enjoying the pit

 Ethan on the balance beam

The whole gang

Blowing out the candle

Look mommy!  No hands!!! :)

The force is strong in these little ones!

  On his actual birthday, Andy wanted to go to Build-a-Bear and build a stuffy.  He chose a puppy, just like his big brother.  He loved dressing his puppy up as Darth Vader.  Then we went to dinner at Outback.  It was a great weekend!

Katie, turning 6, and insisted on a Princess theme...again! :)  While at one of Bobby's baseball games, I  heard about a great idea for a little girls birthday party this year.  (Thank you, Lisa!)  We made arrangements for the girls to go to a local JTED and get their hair/nails done.  Katie and her friends were so excited! 

The big 6 year old

Ready to be pampered! :)

Maddy getting her nails done

Still smiling...

Sophia is enjoying her special treatment

Annie loved it too!

Hair is done...now for the nails!

Once upon a time, there were 8 beautiful princesses...

MY beautiful princess

On Katie's actual birthday, she insisted requested to go to Build-a-Bear just like her brother!  She already has a stuffed animal so she helped Nini stuff a lamb.  She picked out a special dress and sparkly red shoes for her puppy.  After some birthday shopping, we went to Oregeno's for dinner.  I think Katie loved everything about her special weekend!!! :)

Talking to her stuffie on her new phone!

Bobby, turning 8, chose an Angry Birds theme.  He loves those wacky birds! :) Bobby chose to have his party at the bowling alley.  The boys had a great time!  I love that Bobby has some of the best buddies a boy could ask for!!!

Wow...8 already!


Who's ready to bowl?

Getting his bowling shoes on

The boys

Ready for some cake

Opening presents

The gang

  On Bobby's actual birthday, we headed to his favorite place for dinner.  I love that he picks the Olive Garden every year because of their delicious salad! :)  We had a great evening and Bobby had a fun day putting together his new Lego sets!  

My 3 precious munchkins...oh how I love them!

The birthday boy

Blowing out the candle

Another year has come and gone.  I can't believe how fast my babies are growing up...I am so proud of each of their accomplishments and I love how they are each uniquely different!  I love you all so much, my munchkins!!!

Say What???

"Mommy...I want ANOTHER party.  Is my next party

tomorrow?  I get ready for my next party? Who gonna come

to my party?  Will Hunter come to my party?  I want a 

Spiderman party!"

This is what my now 3 year old asks me EVERY SINGLE DAY.  He just doesn't understand that his birthday has come and gone.  There will not be another party in honor of him until next year.  I've been able to dodge this bullet so far by distracting him...but he gets so genuinely sad when he realizes that his party is over.  I love, love, love this boy!

I have fallen behind on my blog posts...again!  :(  I was reminded by a very dear friend today that it had been a few weeks since I had updated my blog.  I have some major life events to blog about: my sister's visit to AZ, Andy's birthday party, Andy's birthday, Bobby's baseball season, Katie's birthday party, the air show, Katie's graduation.  The list goes on and on.  Soon, Katie's birthday, her spring ballet performance, Bobby's birthday party, Bobby's birthday, and many other milestones will be added to the list.  This is a busy, busy time!  I have several blogs started, but still need to download photos and complete the writing.

An additional hurdle has been my brain.  It has not been cooperating and has been in a bit of a block.  I'm hoping that once I send my sweet batch of Kinder kiddos off to first grade in 1 1/2 days that my writer's block will disappear.  Wish me luck my friends!

Ode to Charlotte

Sometimes you hit the jackpot!  

Every once in a while, lifes twists and turns introduce you to someone who instantly becomes a forever friend.  I was lucky enough to be moved to Kindergarten at Cottonwood in 2009.  When I moved into my new room, I also "inherited" the worlds greatest parapro: Charlotte Hoffner, aka Mrs. Hoffgren or Mrs. Loffner.  I hit the jackpot!!! During what would become one of the toughest years of my life  things were more bearable because of the friendship of this amazing woman.  She not only held me together, but she made sure our classroom was always ready to go.  She still brings me little pick me ups (SiSi Cilantro Dip) and is always there to listen.  This year, I often receive a text from her with pictures of what Katie is doing in school or something hilarious that my daughter said.  It brightens my day on a regular basis!  If I was asked to describe Charlotte, here are just a few of the words that come to mind...

AMAZING!

    

LOVING!

IRREPLACEABLE!

 

BUBBLY!

ONE OF A KIND!!!

I miss quite a few things about my old stomping grounds.  One of the things I miss the most is having the time to just talk to my friend and hear her laugh.  She lights up a room just by being in it.  We can laugh just by thinking about some of our former students.  (You know who I'm thinking of! :))  So, Mrs. Hoffgren...this one is for you!  You are unforgettable...that's what you are!  

Sometimes you hit the jackpot!