Visit with the B's

We were blessed with a visit from my parents this past weekend. It is always such a joy to have our family come visit us. And they brought their fantastic CA weather with them! It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend, especially yesterday, with a high of 81. Breezy and blue skies and scattered cumulus clouds. We had a lot of outdoor fun just on the cul-de-sac and in our own backyard. My parents bought the kids a little inflatable pool and some other summer toys (balls, sand toys, swimming goggles). We haven't filled it with water yet, but that didn't stop them from having some fun in it!





We said goodbye to them late this morning, and they headed back to CA. Its always nice when family visits and sad when they leave. Always makes me very homesick and longing to live closer again. For now, we just have our visit to CA in July to look forward to.

Last Day of Pre-K

Well, this morning, Alayna went to her last-ever day of preschool. Bittersweet. It's hard to reconcile the fact that she starts kindergarten next year and we will no longer have any preschoolers at home. Of course, it brings the loss of Ezra directly to the surface (well, it never falls far from there anyway). He would be turning 3 this summer and we would have two more years of having a preschooler, if things had gone by our plan rather than God's plan. Alas, things are how they are, and in August, we will send Alayna off to the land of Kindergarten.

Alayna had a fantastic preschool teacher the past 2 years. She has learned so much. She can write her first and last name, her numbers and letters, can read simple words, and is learning to spell some too. She knows how to tell time and is learning to tie her shoes (our goal is before she starts K). She still needs to work on following directions (especially when it comes to cleaning up) and problem solving (she is a BIG tattle-tail). Last year at this time when we were struggling with the decision whether or not to put her into Kindergarten early, we did not think she was socially ready for it (and the evaluators agreed--she was ready for the scholastic aspect, but not for the social aspect). However, this year, she seems to have a better handle on social interactions.

Some photos from her last day:

With her teacher


Face painting!




Fun stuff!






A little treat


With a friend


The celebration is over now and summer has officially begun for Alayna. The new school year starts August 11th....Kindergarten, here we come!

Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mother's Day! I am so blessed to be a mother and to have a mother, a wonderful mother.

I woke up to handmade cards and sweet smiles and shouts of "Happy Mother's Day!" from the kiddos. And also the little ache that remains from missing Mr. Ez. I got to spend one Mother's Day with him, for which I am eternally grateful. But, on these types of occasions, his absence weighs heavily on our minds and hearts.

I had already received my Mother's Day gifts from Peter and the kids a couple weeks ago. I got a cozy reading chair and two professional cooking pans. I love them! We also went out to lunch after our church service. I am sooooo spoiled, but also appreciative--I know how blessed I am.