No More Pencils, No More Books...

Ok- so I have always thought Kindergarten Graduation was kind of a joke.  It sort of feels like "Graduation from what?  Don't look now, but the journey's just beginning."  But somehow, when you are the proud parent, that all changes, and I was right in there with the rest of them, beaming and snapping pictures of my little "graduate."  She was pretty cute and knew all the songs really well.

The poor girl- I think we were distracting her, because she kept forgetting to hold up her number in time, and then she would look at me so guilty. :)

But we made up for it with the Bubble Tape that we gave her as a graduation prize.  She was delighted, and generously snipped off a piece for me.  (Can I just say that stuff is disgusting!!  It's like chewing plastic.  What did I see in it as a kid?)

And then after the high, comes a bit of a low...

Just keepin' it real here.

Brigham saw the kitchen set and all the fun things in her classroom and absolutely refused to leave.  In retrospect, I wish I would have just let him play for 10 minutes.  Why can't I think like that in the moment?  But he was making such a screaming kicking scene, I just felt like I needed to get him out.  I have never seen anything quite like it.  It was probably bad of me to take pictures, but I honestly didn't know what else to do.  Please know that I tried everything I could think of at the time too to console him.  He throws a POWERFUL toddler tantrum.  I have yet to see it topped.  He has also "graduated" from "baby" into the "terrible-twos."  I was quite ready to go home after the 25 minutes it took to get him to the parking lot across the street and buckled in the car.

Surprising however, :) I am excited to start a summer school schedule.  I did my best to keep the boys busy and engaged while the girls were in school, but I think it will help to have them set an example.
This was our latest project.
 

 

  

It is nice having a professional carnival-face painter as a neighbor (if there is such a thing). :)  She offered to paint the kids faces, and they were thrilled.  Autumn was delighted to show it off at the grocery store.  She just ate up all the attention- all the little girls coming up to talk to her and ask her about it.

They were not allowed to cry throw or the paint would was off, so Autumn told the lady not to paint Brigham's face because he cries all the time... which is true.  So he just got a cool spider on his hand, which he promptly washed off.  This was what was left.  

Seth also disappeared for a while in the bathroom that evening, and couldn't figure out why we were all laughing when he got back. Oh well, I guess they couldn't last forever, although Autumn tried and left nice smudges all over her arms and pillow. :)
 

 

Ode To Brigham...

Brigham Scott Stewart

2 Years Old

Favorite Food: Whatever you are eating.

Favorite Song: I am a Child of God

He pleadingly sings, "Guy me! Hep me fine a way!!" Repeatedly, until I have to reassure him that I will.  He also loves The Insy Winsy Spider and The Tiny Turtle song.

Favorite Things To Do:

Repeating whatever you say.

Riding his big-wheel.

Playing with his brother.

Swimming.

Being read to.

Singing songs.

Eating.

Can it really be two years since this little guy join our family?  What a special little strong-willed spirit he brought with him!  

You wouldn't have known it to begin with...

The first month or two, he was so peaceful and calm.

...But it wasn't long before he fought his way into our affections.  He has this way of pulling at my heart-strings and driving me crazy all at the same time. :)

 

 He does not like to be left out of the action.
   

 

On the whole, he is a very sweet boy.  I think he is very intelligent- sometimes I think if I had more time to work with him, he would be potty-trained and reading by now.  He really picks things up fast.  He is pretty talkative.  He would tell you,
"I am an'some. I am 'mart. I am kind. I am 'pecial. I am good."
He loves to repeat things he hears... even the GPS, reciting street names and exit ramps.  He's quite a character with a cute sense of humor and a smile that has always melted my heart.  I love this little guy dearly, and I'm so glad he was born!

I enjoyed Camel's Back so much, that I took the boys with me again while the girls were at school; however, they were a little less enthusiastic. :)  They saw the hill and immediately started whining. We took a more gradual-incline route this time.  It took us a long time, but they were decent little hikers, and even better ant-watchers. (That was all they wanted to do- sprinkle sand on the poor little ants.)

 

 

 

 

They were happy to be headed down-hill. :)

Happy Birthday my little Brig-a-doon!
You are loved and you are a special little man!

The Fab Five...

Drum roll please for my FIVE new nieces born within 8 months of each other...

It all started with Madelyn Beth...

Check out those perfectly kissable chubby thighs!!!

Then along came precious Pearl...

  I had to include two pictures because I thought they were so darling!!!

And we just had to have a Stella Snow...

Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever seen?  She really needs me to kiss her cheeks.

And a big welcome to the beautiful Iris Stone...

Doesn't she look like a little doll in that dress?!
I am happy to say I got a blanket done for this one.  (A big deal considering I whipped it out between all my unpacking. :)

 And the final little lady...

The perfect bright-eyed Lizzie Beth.
Doesn't she have the cutest little characterful face!  I would LOVE to snuggle this new little bundle!!!

 Don't you just sense how special they all are?!!  I just have to say how proud I am of their sweet mothers for their good work in getting them here.  Isn't it a crying shame that I haven't met any of them!  But I just want them to know that a very delighted, very proud Aunt resides here... in case you couldn't tell. :)

Climbed a Mountain and I Turned Around...

I am sorry to "over-post" but I am trying to catch up on some of our recent adventures.  We had a fun weekend last week.  We ate at my personal favorite restaurant (Cafe Rio).

 

Then, after "fueling up," we hiked Camel's Back.
 

 

It may not look to bad, but it was a steep climb towards the end there.  I had to really cheer the boys on.  They girls were the first ones to the top.  It was fun up there- a beautiful view of the city.

 

 

 

I love this one:
  

 

We have set a family goal to be more active, so this was a good kick off.  We picked a hot day though- look at those rosy cheeks!!!  They each drank a whole water bottle by themselves.

 

 

 

We thought for sure they would all be out before we reached home, but they said they could keep going, so of course we had to hit Cabela's.
 

 

 

Yeehaw!  Boise, here we come! :)