It’s crazy how many emotions I am feeling today; the day Kelsea graduates from preschool.  I’m proud of her for doing so well, I’m happy that she feels so excited to be a kindergartener, I’m thankful for the wonderful teachers, and school she got to be a part of, I’m sad, cause it has just gone by in the blink of an eye, and I’m scared of all the things that are out there-in elementary school that I want to protect her from.

Her teacher was crying and emotional this morning.  She talked about the bond that she has formed with her class this year.  I realize as I’m talking with her, that 2 boys have ran over to Kelsea, and are planting a huge hug on her from both sides.  The girls come over and hug her next.  What special relationships she has formed with these friends.  (her teacher did mention she was holding hands on the playground with a certain little ‘preston’ yesterday~hmmm-I’ll have to break the news to Jason easily!) 

Man-if this is how preschool graduation is; I’m going to be a wreck at her highschool graduation!  I guess maybe its good I get to practice up a few times before we have to cross that bridge!  I’ll post pictures, and maybe a video later!

Just found this great freebie…and thought maybe some of you would want to get in on the action…who can’t use a free chocolate bar?  You have to register, and its limited to a certain number, so you have to register fast.  They’ll send you a coupon for a free MARS chocolate bar if you register in time.

MARS Chocoloate Giveaway

Kelseas recital was awesome.  We were so proud of her!  There was 9 of us there to watch her, and she was very proud.  We took about 50 pictures, and she has already inquired as to whether or not she’ll get a new costume next year for a new recital!

We’ve had a very low key week around here.  It rained just about non-stop for 3 entire days, and then on and off the 4th day.  We’re about to head out with the double jogging stroller now, to see if we can get an outdoor run in before the showers start today. 

Brady is just about completely potty trained.  He told Ms Jacklynn yesterday 2 times, while he was at her house, that he needed to go pee-pee.  He pretty much tells us all the time while we’re at home, but when we’re not at home, there are just too many distractions.  I am so proud of him-he definately gave us a run for our money, but I’m so glad we stuck with it; not changing 2 year old diapers, and not having to BUY diapers, are definately worth the effort!  (His preschool teachers next year will thank me!)

Kelsea was feeling a little left out, since Brady was earning stickers for being successful, and working up to a prize.  SO-she now has sticker chart too.  She gets a sticker everyday that she makes her bed.  As of yesterday she decided that one sticker a day was getting to the ‘prize’ quickly enough for her, so she now makes Bradys bed too, and earns 2 stickers.  She mentioned something this morning, about making my bed, but I told her we would just stick to the 2 she can reach easily!  

I wonder if a sticker chart would motivate my kids to want to put away laundry??? 

Better head out to run before the rain starts coming…here’s a picture from the recital.

Kelsea has decided that she will measure how old a person by comparing them to her Nana.  That is MY-Nana; Kelseas GREAT Nana-who happens to have turned 75 last month.  When asked how old she thought I was, she said, ‘well are you older than Nana now?’ 

Anyway-

I had an awesome birthday!  I know its a little more difficult on Jason, with Mothers Day and my birthday always falling so close together.  He actually pulled off dinner both nights.  He cooked on Sunday for Mothers Day, and then we went out as a family on Monday for my birthday.  It was probably the first time I’ve walked away from dinner at a restuarant and actually considered the possibility of going back.  Minus taking Brady to the bathroom 3 times in 1 hour, everything was very nice.  (he has a new found love for public restrooms (he did NOT get that from his momma), he went once at Publix today, and tried to get me to take him a 2nd time!)

I ended up hitting the gym, and did a short run, and then a spin class.  Got lunch from a yummy salad/panini place (thanks Jacklynn and Amanda), and then spent the rest of the afternoon with the kids, until J got home and we went out.  It was so nice to have an excuse just to take it easy-I LOVE laid back -relaxing days. 

We are in countdown mode to Kelseas dance recital.  I told her she could put her tap dance shoes on and practice in the house this afternoon.  T-2 days!!! 

Here’s a quick pic, just to make you smile!  And YES-this is how he wants to brush his teeth from now on…

As each year goes by, and I get to be more ’seasoned’ in my mothering, I feel like I need to have some more profound way to thank my mom for everything she has done.  The more I experience being someones mom, the more I realize the job that she had in front of her, with my brother, sister, and myself; and the more I realize how good she did and continues to do at being a mom.

I don’t have profound words.  There just aren’t any that could do the job.  She so sincerely tells me she’s proud of the job I do mothering her grandchildren, but yet I think she fails to realize that the job I do, is a direct reflection of the impact that she had on my life.  I think that speaks volumes-more than words alone. 

The job we do as mothers will not only impact our children, but it WILL be reflected in how they mother their children, and so on…WHOA-this raising kids is serious business!

MOM-thank you!  I love you!

One of the highlights of my week so far was going to the Mothers Day Tea that Kelseas class hosted this past Thursday.  The kids met us individually at the door, and escorted over to a wall of portraits they had each made of their mom, and then escorted us to our seat.  We were served cake and punch from the kids, and they did a wonderful performance of 5 different songs for us.  (I am KICKING myself for not bringing the video camera…)  It was priceless!  I must have had a permanent smile on my face the whole hour I was there.  What a special time to share with my firstborn child.  Jason was home with Brady-long story short, he has walking pneumonia, and asthma problems.  He’s now on antibiotics, and has to use an inhaler, but he’s on the up-swing!  Poor little guy!  He was THRILLED to be home with daddy though-such a treat!

Here’s some pictures from the Mothers Day Tea (lets see if I remember how to upload them, its been awhile!):

Today is an exciting day, for multiple reasons.  Kelsea and I get to go take yet another tour of her soon to be elementary school, AND, probably the most exciting part for Kelsea; we get to walk through the lunch line, and eat lunch in the cafeteria!  There was definately a reason why I brought my lunch when I taught, however, she is bursting with so much excitement, I am actually now looking forward to the experience as well.  She is so great at helping me remember to appreciate the small stuff.  I just love getting a glimpse of the world through her eyes and heart! 

We have plans to pick up Brady afterwards, and just spend a few hours hanging by the pool.  Sunshine, a picnic lunch, and good friends are all on the agenda. Speaking of Brady; not only did he wake up this morning, once again dry; he didn’t have to wake us up in the middle of the night to take him to the bathroom.  Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!  He actually went accident free all day yesterday too. 

Lots of things to celebrate this Wednesday…

Here’s the lowdown:

-left the house early this morning for an appointment, to get a call when I was about 5 minutes away saying they needed to reschedule!  (not the best way to begin a Monday morning)

-got to visit with Jacklynn, and her kiddos for a good chunk of the morning, and then take her kids to suprise Kelsea in carline at her school

-got to spend LOADS of hands-on time helping Brady learn to share, and talk nicely to his friends   (I do get a good laugh when people actually feel the need to ask me his age-HELLO-he has two written all over him!!!)

-had a nice suprise visit from my Mother in Law, who came over with a new outift that she made for Kelsea, and a ‘Mater’ shirt for Brady!  (we also got an invite to hang on their boat at the river this weekend too…)

-AND-DRUMROLL PLEASE….Brady only had 1 accident today, and in all fairness, he gave us a warning, and we couldn’t get there in time!  He has been telling us all day when he needs to go to the bathroom; and last night was night #5 that he woke up from a deep sleep when he needed to go potty, and then went right back to bed.  PERSEVERANCE-has been the key to tackling this beast.  (I recognize, we haven’t completely won the war yet, but I am celebrating the victories as they happen-there was lots of celebration dances, cheers, and candy going around my house today!)

Well-we are still tackling the beast, that is ‘potty training.’  I am convicted almost everytime we arrive at a new milestone in Bradys life.  I am guilty of rembering how things were when we were at the same place in her life, and thinking, or assuming that things are going to be similar.  That is just quite simply not the case.  Brady is just his own precious little person, who is going to grow, and conquer tasks in his own way; which definately makes things interesting.

He managed to go ‘diaper-free’ at SeaWorld yesterday morning.  Hooray!!!  He doesn’t ask to go to the bathroom though-I have to just take him.  Not a major issue; something that will get better with time.

BUT-last night he woke up crying at 2AM!  Come to find out-he needed to go potty!  WHAT?!  How does a child who doesn’t mention a word about the bathroom during the day; wake up from a deep sleep, groggily use the bathroom, and wake up the next morning with a dry diaper?!  I’m not complaining-if he wants to do things backwards, we’ll do them backwards…hooray for progress! 

Wowser-this Florida weather is awesome when your at the beach, or pool, or park, but running at 10:30am isn’t so ‘cool’ anymore.  I think the heat might finally be my motivator to get myself out of bed earlier in the morning, so I can run before school drop off.

I am slowly trying to get back into a semi-regular running routine.  Ended up doing 3.5 today-probably could have done more, but the heat was just doing me in-at a 12:34 pace.  Which isn’t spectacular except that I was pushing a double jogging stroller, with my 33 pound son, and a backpack full of snacks, and cars, and toys, etc.  I’m actually feeling pretty good about it.  I’m slated to run solo on Saturday morning, so we’ll see what that brings.

B managed to stay ‘dry’ on the run, although we had to pit stop once on the side of the road.  He talked a big game, but ended up with stage fright, and had to wait till we got home.  Let me state for the record though…we won that particular battle-but certainly not the war.  I am going to throw  in a load of his dirty un-mentionables to be washed now!