Teacher Gifts

Tomorrow is Alyssa's last day of Preschool. Wow! Can't believe that! It seems like just yesterday she started.
During her bedtime we talked about it being her last day, which she is really excited about. I am not sure she realizes what "last" means. I told her I might cry happy tears and she was so concerned. What a precious child she is. "I really don't want you to cry, Mommy." So I will do my best to fight back those tears. I remember hating my mom crying at sentimental stuff, I thought I would NEVER do that. Yeah, right, I am so worse than she ever was. I ever cried at the confirmation video on Sunday at church. I don't have a confirmation kid, nor am I that involved with that group, I only know a few of the kids. But I can appreciate the beauty of a baby becoming a child, a child become a teen (ok- is that beauty?), and the beauty of becoming an adult. That is how God wants it.

I wanted to do something special for her teachers. They have really helped Alyssa bloom these past two years. She had one teacher for both years. I am pretty darn excited with what I came up with. I painted terra cotta flower pots with chalkboard spray paint and then spray painted the rim and inside with pink. Alyssa and I made paper flowers by punching out 2" circles and gluing them together. She signed the daisy. Then we pasted her school picture on the pink one. I used glue dots to secure a Borders gift card to the Black-eyed Susan. Then we taped floral arrangement sticks to the back and secured them in styrofoam inside the pot. I put seeds for "Alyssum", Sundflowers and Zinnias in the pot. Perhaps my favorite touch is the little poem I came up with.
When you plant these seeds
Think of the seeds
you planted in me
Love
Faith
Kindness
Courage
Confidence
Like these seeds I will bloom
From all the love
in your classroom.

I have to give credit to my friends Alex and Katie who both inspired me separately. Alex with her paper flowers and Katie with her chalkboard paint pot. Thanks!

Love,
Steph

Hula Hoop

Whoo boy! I bought my daughter a hula hoop the other day, as a compromise to an expensive Barbie thing. Well, she's been loving it. She shows her "tricks" nightly. The tricks are ones of a four year old. Lovely, simple, and make me wonder why I let her play with it in the house. As she was doing her "tricks" I decided I might as well have a crack at that hula hoop. Now, know I NEVER have mastered the hula hoop. In all my days, I would spin that thing all the way around my waist, I would wriggle and wiggle all around in hopes of keeping it up, but alas that thing always went straight for the floor. I never actually owned a hula hoop either, I know, my parents really deprived me. However, tonight-- I did it!! I spun that thing around, I did my wriggle, I did my wiggle and by golly it kept going around. Brett was cheering, Alyssa was clapping! It was awesome.

For weeks I have been exercising and eating better in hopes of diminishing the hips I gained during 2 pregnancies. Well now I know just what they are there for--to keep the hula hoop up! It changed my whole perspective! Sometimes that is all we need, a shift in perspective.

Love,
Steph

Mother's Day

Mother's Day, I still don't think I am used to it being a day for me. But what a day! My kids, of course, gave me all their presents as soon as they made them in school or in the nursery at church, no real surprises there. Cute handprints with poems, etc. However, so precious. The real surprise was the one Brett had for me-- an ipod!! I can finally join the new millennium. I had a good ol' time picking out some music, mostly praise, for it. I did add some good oldies too. We had lunch at a restaurant with my mom and grandma and Ed. That was brave since we brought the kids. Patrick is a bit of time bomb in those places. But we all made it out intact and no worse for the wear. I usually host the day at our house with all our families, however this year people sort of went their separate ways. I am not sure if we'll continue the tradition or not.

I am so thankful this Mother's Day to be a mother. I am so thankful for Brett. I have lots of prayers for those I know who are desperately waiting to be mothers. May God bless them in His time. I am reminded of Sarah and Abraham who waited so long for a child, and God did bless them as well as Elizabeth and Zachariah.

Happy Mother's Day,
Steph

Big Boy Bed

So, our house is officially crib free. Patrick's "Big Boy Bed" arrived last week and he truly loves it. He loves to show his friends. Mostly he likes to just sit on it and read his books. I will say I have some mixed feelings on not having a crib anymore. No more babies--sniff! I actually made the kids say goodbye to it, I really don't think they care though. I do have good and happy feelings about my kids being a little older, not so dependent on me. That's what we are working toward right? That our kids be not only self-sufficient but learn to be positive additions to society. That is not a natural feeling for me. I just want to protect them all the time. Sometimes I have to remind myself to back off and let them do it for themselves, even when they are asking for help (putting on clothes, coloring a picture, etc). Oh my! The milestones keep coming. Alyssa goes to Kindergarten orientation Thursday. I totally can't believe that! She is excited and I don't want to kill that feeling. I am terrified, but hiding it well!