A Picnic and Then She Graduated

Ohhh, it came. The last day of preschool, that is. And I am a little ashamed to say that I cried. I never thought I'd be that mom. The one who cries. Such a baby am I.

The last day of preschool consisted of a picnic on the playground. It was lovely and oh-so-fun. Daphne got to play with all of her little friends one last time, there was quite the delicious spread going on, and I got to enjoy all of the other mother's and conversations of "I can't believe these kids are starting kindergarten!..." But it is true. I can't believe it. I can't believe my THIRD child is going into elementary school. It is all quite in-appropriate. Plus, I have just enjoyed this preschool SO MUCH. Have I mentioned that ever? I have? Oh yeah.... well, it is simply wonderful. The teachers, the curriculum, the field trips, scripture stories, the Christ-based teachings... all of it. Just wonderful.

Here's a few pictures of Daphne on her last day of preschool. Some are with friends and some are of her on her favorite places to play at the playground (she directed me how and when to take the pictures :)

Later that evening, we met back at the preschool, in the chapel this time, for the program and graduation ceremony.

At this point, I just had tears leaking out everywhere. Ohhh, my Daphne girl. Why do you have to grow-up and leave me at home all day long in 2 1/2 short months?


These next few pictures are from their program. They mostly sang about God and how he is awesome and all the things he does and creates (it's a Lutheran preschool, remember? :) It was just so darn cute.

Laylah and Jonah were terrific little baby-sitters the whole time so that Andy and I could be picture takers/video-recorders/observers/proud parents. Random side-note:Does that dress on the pregnant gal sitting behind my kids look familiar? Yes, it does. It used to be mine until I gave it to my cute friend there. She's actually had her baby now. She's the one who referred me to theis preschool and I love her for it! She used to be in my ward until she moved away.

Most of these pictures are not the greatest. We were actually really far back even though we got there early. I guess everyone else went ahead and lined up right after the picnic earlier that afternoon (tee hee, just jokin')

They did a song about the creation and Daphne's job was to put the bear up.... she had to do the bear because, "she has a brother named Bear" :)

After all of their cute songs, they went and put their caps on and came back to receive their diploma.

Afterwards Daphne informed me that she was so nervous and had butterflies in her tummy while standing up there on that stage!

She finally noticed me and gave me a smile


Recieveing her diploma from her teacher, Mrs. Wood

Afterwards, they had a little party with cake and treats in the meeting hall. Daphne gave her teacher's some gifts and got one last picture. This is Mrs. Dunn, the "helper" as Daphne liked to call her.

And Mrs. Wood, Daphne's favorite lady. She even invited Mrs. Wood to dinner once and when her teacher told me that, I couldn't stop laughing. I will miss Daphne's teachers and hearing them call her "Daphne Doodle", her preschool nickname.

Mmmm, cake

Cute little Preschool Graduate and Future Kindergartner

With the proud (and SO tired looking) mom and dad.

We love our Daphne Girl! Onto bigger and better things you go...

8 Is Great!

Uhhhhh, can you believe my baby girl is EIGHT?!?!? Me neither.This is such an exciting age for a kid. So many new things, and lots of changes. She went to her first Activity Days activity and it was a fancy tea party. She picked out her outfit and accessories with only a little help and had the time of her life. I know she is just going to love attending twice a month.

On her birthday she chose a birthday breakfast of waffles with strawberries, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. Pretty delish. She got to open one of her gifts and it was a Justin Bieber cd, a pair of earrings (sqeeee!!) and a coupon for an ear-piercing after school. Oh my, was this girl ever excited. She has been counting down the days since her 7th birthday (I literally remember her waking up on her 7th birthday and saying, "Only one more year until I get my ears pierced!") to get those cute little things that stick out on either side of her head punched through with a piercing gun :) Andy and I decided that we would wait until our girls were 8 years old to be able to get their ears pierced (if they so chose), that way it was their decision, and they were accountable for it. Both of us had that rule in our homes growing up, and I think it's great (well, now I do.... I hated it then :)
I went to eat lunch with Laylah at school and she had requested Mcdonald's, so that's what she got. It was fun chatting with all of her cute little friends and they all looooved baby M (she had requested I bring him too, of course).

After school I was busy making her requested dinner of choice-chicken, cheese, and broccoli crepes and also fruit and nutella crepes. As soon as those were complete, we headed to the mall. She let Daphne tag along.

She doesn't look it, but she was really nervous. I knew this because she was really quiet all the way to the mall and she and Daphne kept giggling nervously and pinching each other's ears trying to decide how badly it would hurt.

She didn't hesitate when I asked her if she was sure that she wanted this. She replied with a resounding, "Yes!" and the gal there got busy marking her ears, and re-marking (I was very picky). Finally, she punched through the first ear and before Laylah could hardly blink, she punched through the second.She's squeezing my hand right here VERY tightly :)

I was very surprised. No tears, no scream, no nothin'. The girl who has been completely terrified to the point of being hysterical and then passing out at the sight of a needle, stayed cool, calm, and collected. How grown up. I was very proud.

She couldn't stop looking at herself and took the chance to do just that whenever we were near a mirror.

Later, after our bellies were full of a variety of crepes, we got to the good stuff. Gifts! Now, all Laylah had asked for was an American Girl doll that looked like her, as well as a horse for her doll to ride. That was it. I had told her that the doll would cost a lot of money and that that was all she would get, and nothing else. She said that was fine, all she wanted was an American Girl doll. After talking with my mother about this, my mom so generously offered to give Laylah the doll since 8 is a very special birthday. I ordered it (and paid extra to have her ear's pierced.... cool, right?!) and when it came, I was so surprised to see how much it looked like Laylah. Anyway, Laylah thought that was all she was getting, so when I had her open a couple other gifts first, she was a little sad thinking that maybe she hadn't gotten the doll after all. But she was still her sweet, polite self and thanked Andy and I profusely for her new swimsuit, clothes, and a few other little things we got her.When I finally let her open THEE doll, her face was priceless. I didn't catch the best of it, but she was so happy. Her smile shows it...

And then there was still one gift left and Laylah couldn't figure out what it could possibly be. She had everything she'd asked for and more. Except... that cute little horse for her doll to ride! I got one of the knock-offs at Target and she couldn't have been more thrilled.
It was a very wonderful, fun, exciting birthday for Miss Laylah. Just the way an 8th birthday should be. It's very special, after all!

Here are a few more pics of the night...

Funny Jonah, always making us laugh

Our big girl.... getting too big, too fast

Lucky girl with her spoils:Her doll from my parents; a weaving kit and money from Andy's parents; money and cards from great grandmas, aunts, and uncles; clothes, cd, earrings, and horse from Andy and I, swimsuit and sunglasses from the 3 boys, and a cute Sisters necklace from Daphne that she picked out all on her own for Laylah.

Twin girls, Laylah and Kaylah

Cute sisters, big and little

And then it was time for cake and singing. Strawberry Shortcake Cake. It was huge. And yummy :)

And now, a little about my girl who is 8 (sob!):

Laylah is pretty much the greatest child a mom could ask for. She is helpful, happy, wonderful, kind, loving, and nearly perfect in every way. That's not to say she doesn't have her moments (tantrums, bossiness, and once in awhile, hitting or slamming of a door :), but she is basically a dream child for me. She does what is asked of her, does what isn't asked of her, and is always asking if she can do anything else to help me. I think that sometimes I take advantage of her because of her always-willing nature. I will take a step back once in awhile and ask her if she really wants to be doing this (helping me) or if she'd rather be playing or doing something else. She usually replies that she wants to help, but once in awhile, she requests to go play or read, or do something else (which is completely fine by me). She loves to read (it must be a gene-my grandma, my mother, all my sisters, and now my daughters, all LOVE to read) and is at a 5th grade reading level. She can finish a chapter book in a couple days. She loves to attend school and is an excellent student, and also loves to play school and be the teacher. She also will play this game on Sunday's as "Primary" and be the primary leader with all the other kids as the class (they're pretty good sports most of the time). She also loves to play "Mom" and have all the kids be her children. She just wants to be a grown-up so badly. I am constantly telling her to enjoy being a kid. She is so very mature for her age and people are often asking me if she is 10? 11? (Because she is also very tall for her age-90th percentile(54 inches), 75th for weight(60 pounds)) to which I have to laugh and tell them how old she really is. She thinks it's great, of course. She loves food and is not picky. She really loves it all and once I asked her what her least favorite food was, and she couldn't think of anything. However, she LOVES treats and anything with sugar. She is so like me, it's scary. She loves to do anything crafty and artistic. Not quite sure where she gets that from seeing as how her mother is quite challenged in the area... :) She loves to sing and I love hearing her. She also enjoys dancing and cheerleading. She hasn't quite decided what she wants to do this fall, but I think she's leaning towards cheer again. I think we'll also sign her up for piano lessons from my neighbor. She loves, loves to be outside. She will ride her bike, play tag, play in the dirt, play games with friends in the circle down the street, and she just LOVES to swim. She is an excellent swimmer, but she really wants to take lessons to become better. She also adores horses and riding and everything that comes with it. I feel bad that we can't afford lessons out here (we only could in Utah because, well, they were free :) but hopefully this summer she'll be able to get her fill when we visit Utah. She loves all other animals too, and is mainly in charge of our dog, Sadie's care. She is constantly asking questions and wants to know everything about anything (Now THAT, I know where it comes from!). She is a good little sneak sometimes too, and can be tricky when she wants to be. I feel really bad sometimes that she is my oldest because of how the oldest always kind of gets crapped on. She's been our guinnea pig and sometimes I feel like I really overreact, or give her a punishment about something that later, doesn't really seem to matter so much. Somehow though, she seems to be turning out just fine, is always very forgiving, and I am constantly complimeted on her and her wonderful behavior and attitude. Her school teachers, and especially her church leaders, always have something good and wonderful to say about her, usually something about how sweet she is. And she is. She is a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend. Everyone loves Laylah and I feel so constantly blessed that she is mine.

Happy #8 Laylah Girl! I love you to the moon and back, forever.

Daphne's Z Week and a Trip to the Zoo

All year long at preschool Daphne has been learning about a new letter every week. All year long her teachers have talked up the letter Z because at the end of the year, and the week they do the letter Z, they get to go on their last field trip of the year to.... you guessed it! The Zoo. They make it a big, fun affair, one-on-one time with mom or dad (the only field trip where no other siblings are allowed), they charter a big bus up to the National Zoo, they watch a movie and have popcorn and it's just so much fun. Daphne had been talking about it for weeks. Andy was the one to take her (they didn't even allow nursing infants, which was why I couldn't go.... luckily, Andy was unemployed at the time (did I say luckily?!) haha ;) and I packed them a special, yummy lunch. It was supposed to be rainy that day, so we had umbrellas packed, raincoats and rainbootes, and everything ready to go. Daph was so excited and I knew she was just going to have the best time. Take a look...

Do you notice her smile getting smaller and smaller and less and less excited? She didn't have the time of her life like she (and I) thought she would. Andy said she was not her usual self at all and kept whining and complaining the whole time, especially about having to walk. He said that once they got back on the bus to go home, she ate a few bites of lunch and then crashed to sleep and slept the entire way home. Andy had texted me and told me how she'd been acting and when they got home, she walked inside crying. I gave her a hug and noticed that she was really warm. I took her temp and she had a fever of 102. I felt really bad that she felt crummy on her fun day and that she didn't have such a great time. Oh well, hopefully her memory will only remember the good parts :)