Kindegarten here we come...

We have our first graduate. Conleigh graduated today from Spicewood Country School with her preschool diploma. She can write her name, her brother's name, cat, several other words. She also likes to just copy words from anything she sees. She can count to 20 and has counted to 100 at school. She is an artist through and through. She loves to learn and is very attentive at school. She was super excited about graduating, and the program was terrific! All of the classes participated. We heard many, many great songs. I wish I could sing them too! Then Mrs. Bird and Ms. Elva presented each graduate (Fox or O'possum) with a diploma. Alex had told us about the Beetle song. He delivered today. As a matter of fact, it is the ONLY song he participated in. I think he's destined for athletics. :) In normal Conleigh performance form, she did every hand motion and sang every song. Summer has begun!

Happy Birthday Krissy

Conleigh made Krissy a beautiful painting for her birthday. Always the artist. Enjoy!

Hiking with Preschoolers

Yesterday was the hike for the Foxes and the O'Possums classes at Spicewood Country School. There are 13 acres of land behind the school and we trekked across a creek and up a hill in the bright sun. It was funny to see the kids reactions. Some were less than enthused and ready to eat and get a drink of water. Others wanted it to last forever. Conleigh was very happy that I was on the walk. The teachers showed the children how to mark their path when they are hiking. They waved down at their school and the playground from the top of the hill (mountain to the children). They looked for all the creatures that live in the woods. Conleigh is an expert at spotting spider webs. We always stop and investigate how intricate they are and how hard a spider had to work to make it. I think her school has opened her eyes and interest to little bugs and creatures. She is always talking about worms and caterpillars, wasps, ants, etc.
They are learning a song about Beetles to sing at graduation next week. Graduation? Next week already? I can't believe preschool is over!
Oh, by the way, Conleigh wasn't interested in repeating the hike today, so she skipped school and we had a low key morning. Our neighbors Michelle and her son Bishop came over to play.

It's Raining Babies

Two families that are good friends of ours have welcomed daughters recently.


The Johnson's, our neighbors and good friends, welcomed Caroline to their family Friday, May 2nd. Big brother Colin got to spend the night at our house when mommy's water broke a couple of weeks earlier than expected. Alex was in heaven having a sleep over with Colin. We have all met Caroline now. Conleigh was loving holding her and is ready to hold her again. Campbell loves the ba-ba and patting her head. Alex glanced at her and then took off to play with Colin.

On May 6, a couple of weeks later than expected, our friends and God parents of our children, Mark & Stephanie Robinson welcomed their first child, Savannah Lee. She has a beautiful head of black hair and is a big 8 1/2 pounds. Her daddy made us laugh when we were making plans to go see them Saturday morning (they came home from the hospital on Friday). He told Peter, "I'm going to mow the lawn at 7:00am tomorrow, so come whenever you want." HA HA HA. We got there about 9:30 and do you think the lawn had been mowed? Oh NOOO! They hadn't gotten to bed until about 6:00am. Welcome Savannah. You keep teaching your daddy who calls the shots!

Happy Anniversary Baby

Today Peter and I celebrated seven years of marriage. Wow! It's been a great seven years and have we been busy. Tonight we got to go out to a hip sushi bar for dinner. Our neighbors, the Hewett's watched the children. We'll return the favor on Wednesday when they celebrate their anni.
I'm thankful to have married such a generous, loving man. I love you Peter!

Mommy, Mom, Mama, & Ommy <-Campbell's version

Any way you say it, it is the most special name I have.

I got to spend Mother's Day with my mom and my kids. We spent the weekend in Houston at my parents home. Busy weekend. Wedding shower, meeting a new baby, nephew's 3rd birthday celebration and Mother's Day.
Peter & the kids gave me a necklace and I bought a Harvey's seatbelt purse. We caught dinner in Brenham at a steak and seafood place...I don't even know what the name of it was, but it was good, and it was better than fast food which was definitely the biggest option on the road between Houston and Austin.

I am thankful to be the mother of Conleigh, Alex and Campbell. They each bring me an amazing amount of joy each day. I am honored that God chose me to guide them through this world. Even when I doubt my own ability, I am thankful that God believes that Peter & I are the best people to raise them. The three most precious things in my whole world count on me to teach and love them, keep them safe, laugh at their jokes, play beside them, read and bathe them, fix their boo-boo's and listen to their stories and dreams. I cannot imagine anything more important in the world than the role of Mom to these three children. I am blessed and thankful!

Sweet Strawberries

What a beautiful Sunday afternoon. After church, we loaded up the van and headed to Marble Falls. Sweet Berry Farms is there and it is strawberry picking season. We went last year and Alex ate all his pickings and Campbell was young enough that she sat in the stroller and observed. This year was completely different. Campbell was a strawberry pickin' fool. Like I said in my last post, she doesn't like to put a healthy food in her mouth. Usually that includes a strawberry. Not today. She was tasting her fruit as she went along. Alex restrained himself some this year; although he definitely had a red juice ring around his mouth and a few drippings down his shirt.
Conleigh's good little girlfriends, Katie & Grace, live in Burnet, so their mom, Kathy and brother Henry, Katie & Grace met us there. All of the girls were so excited to see each other. It was a surprise and the reactions from the girls was well worth it.
After we picked, we all selected a treat made from strawberries (shake, lemonade, popsicle) and then walked around and looked at the farm animals on site. We saw chickens, donkeys, horses and goats, one of which was truly minutes old. Its momma was cleaning it and it was trying to stand up to nurse as we walked away.
The kids all napped on our way back to Austin. It was a great day!

Healthy Foods?

HAPPY MAY DAY!

I came into the den a few minutes ago, and Conleigh announced that she & Alex were eating carrots with dip. I was pleased to hear that. So, I go on about doing what I am doing, and I hear Conleigh tell Alex, "that is all of the carrots, but we ARE going to eat healthy. I am working on my diet and I want to eat healthy." The funny part of that is that maybe one hour ago we returned from Chuck E Cheese. You know, the "healthy" pizza place. We spent the lunch hour and beyond there with our friends Amy, Ava and Evan Tucker.

I laugh because she is five and 37 pounds, but honestly, I am happy she is hearing about eating healthy. Alex asks me regularly if whatever item he wants to eat is healthy? When I tell him, "no, Milano cookies are not healthy," he eats it anyway with a big grin on his face.


Then there is my third, Campbell. She doesn't know what a vegetable tastes like! That girl, refuses to eat healthy, but she can point to a cake or lollipop lickety-split! She is definitely a hungry little girl, but her palatte hasn't quite caught up with her appetite. All in time, right?