Kinder Graduation Party!

So, I think I've told you guys before, but I was homeroom mom for L's kindergarten class this year. And as homeroom mom, I had this idea a few months ago: to have a graduation party for all the kiddos at the end of the school year. I recruited a few of my "mom tribe" friends from the class and we all agreed it would be a blast! And easy, right? It's just Kindergarten graduation!

OMG… the amount of time and stress that went into this party! We had people offer/promise us stuff that never came through. We had rental companies fall through. We struggled with getting people to RSVP. We had late night group texts and one very productive "meeting" that involved 99 cent margaritas.

But in the end, it was 100% worth it. The party was amazing, and the kids had a blast.

We held the party at one of our local parks, and it was perfect. We had the cover of the ramadas for food, and so the parents didn't melt in the heat! The kids had the park area, and we also rented a big bounce house and set up an area with sprinklers and water balloons. There was something for everyone, and I think everyone had an amazing time!

Another mom from the class brought these adorable "photo prop" signs, which were perfect! I think by the end of the day the kids were probably all sick of posing for pictures, but I know the parents are going to treasure them forever!

We also got a big cake, because what's a party without cake? I was genuinely sad when the party was over and everyone went their separate ways. I know we will see our group of friends a ton over the summer, but this has been such a great year and we had such a great group of kids!

And most importantly, meet "the tribe!" These ladies are amazing. I love them and I love their kiddos, and I can't wait to go through this journey with them by my side!

L graduates Kindergarten!

L "graduated" Kindergarten yesterday. I've had a fair amount of people (my husband included!) roll their eyes at the idea of a graduation for kindergarteners. I probably would have been one of those people a few years ago. But not anymore. I totally get it. They deserve a graduation, because they have changed and grown so much in the past year. We dropped of these shy and timid little boys to classrooms last August. We wiped away tears (theirs and ours) and packed little lunches for the first time and assured them that they would make friends and would like their teachers. We tried to oh-so-cooly let the teachers know how special our little ones were. It was terrifying. And now, at the end of May, we are bringing home these self assured little people. They have friends and opinions. They have learned so much, they have picked up funny habits from other kids and they are completely comfortable spending entire days away from us. They deserve to be celebrated, because it's been a milestone year.

(Daddy tying L's tie for him!)

S took the day off of work, and we made L his specially requested breakfast (blueberry muffins). The kids were instructed to wear "Sunday Best", and let me tell you, there is nothing cuter than a little boy in a button up shirt and a tie. I wish I could dress him like this everyday, but I think I would be met with  some objection!

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After getting ready we headed to L's best friends house to get pictures of the boys and take some family photos together. This boys mama and me have know each other since we were both pregnant with L and J, and she is one of my closest friends now. 

Then it was off to school. I will admit that I was pretty much in tears from this point on. We managed to grab a couple of cute photos with the brothers and some more friends before we had to go in.

(Brothers! My boys, I love them!)

The graduation itself was wonderful. The teachers did an amazing job and the kids sang some of the sweetest songs that brought the audience (well, at least all the moms!) to tears! And they totally kept it a secret, we hadn't heard L practice a single one, so it was a total surprise!

I took video of most of the graduation, so I don't have a lot of pictures. But they announced each child, read what they wanted to be when they grew up (L said a baseball player!) and gave them their diplomas!

I just can't believe my little L is done with Kindergarten. I am so amazingly proud of him. He is funny and smart and handsome, and I know he is going to take this world by storm!

End of the School Year!

Another school year has come to an end! It's crazy, and exciting and bittersweet. A big part of me is excited at the idea of sleeping in a little later, having a lot less things scheduled, staying up later, swimming all day, and eating lots of Popsicles just because we can!

Another part of me is terrified about what I'm going to do with all three of them, trapped inside all summer when the temperatures start to climb into the hundreds, and if I"m going to be able to simultaneously keep them entertained and myself sane.

But mostly I'm feeling equal amounts of sad and proud. I love seeing how far they have come in just one short year. I can't believe how quickly one short year has flown by, and how much they have changed. I'm excited about who they are becoming as they grow, but I'm sad about the my babies that they are leaving behind.

But here you go. We have a kindergarten graduate, L will start first grade next year. And L2 finished his second year of preschool and has one more year to go before he heads to kinder! (And R will most likely start preschool next year, although we haven't made definite plans yet!)

Mother's Day 2016

If you would have told me ten years ago that Mother's Day would end up being one of my favorite holidays, I would have thought you were crazy. But now, with three little ones running around, it's right up there with Christmas and birthdays for me. And yes, it's nice to be spoiled, but I love Mother's Day because I look at these three little people and think, "this is it. this is what I was always meant to do." Being a mom is the most amazing, frustrating, exhausting, rewarding, and challenging jobs ever, and I wouldn't change a second of it.

My day started with my boys letting me sleep in. (For the record, I "slept in" until 8. I remember when 8 was the crack of dawn!) Then S went out and got us a delicious breakfast of ham and cheese croissants, donuts, and mimosas.

After breakfast S told me that my Mother's Day present from him and the boys was a day out shopping (!!!) and then lunch at our favorite restaurant. I have to say, the boys were incredibly patient as I a little crazy in Nordstrom's, trying on everything and spending way to much time in the shoe section! I ended up with an adorable dress, a few shirts, shoes, and a face mask, and while this was amazing, I got one of the best Mother's Day gifts from the boy (man?) who rang us up. As our three little boys ran around around like crazy people he looked at them and said, "Are they all yours?" I said yes and he responded with, "Wow, you don't look old enough to have that many kids. I figured you were like 24!" 

24. 24, people!!! Best. Mother's. Day. Gift. EVER!!!!

Anyway, after shopping we headed to lunch and enjoyed yummy beer and delicious food on the patio. It was a beautiful day and it's so nice to enjoy time outside before the inevitable summer heat hits!

(someone started getting cranky!!)

After glorious afternoon naps (Seriously, do you know what all moms want? Sleep. More sleep. Uninterrupted sleep!) S made us an amazing dinner of Lobster, scallops and risotto, with a strawberry icebox cake for dessert!

Today was a perfect day, and while I don't need a holiday to remind me how lucky I am to be a mom to these little guys, it's nice to be celebrated. Motherhood isn't easy, and it isn't glamorous. There are days when I have no patience and I wonder if I'm failing them. There are days when I forget homework is due and I let them watch too much TV. There are days when I yell, and days when I cry. I'm not not perfect, and neither are they. But at the end of every day, I love them. I love them with my whole heart and being and soul, and despite everything else I know that that is what is important.