It’s these ones who have made me a mommaand every day I feel grateful.I couldn’t imagine life without this sort of joy.In the smallest ways they continually shape me into being a more gentle, patient, and generous person (I am aware of the potential to be incredibly selfish) and for those gifts I am grateful.They sure did make me feel special today.I love handmade anything and Paul’s kindergarten teacher comes up with awesome projects.This plant is beautiful and was a group effortWhile this was a papa effort and makes me smileeven the details on the wrapping paper I adoreas I opened the gifts in bed I spent time reading through Paul’s class cookbook (a sweet idea) and their narrated recipes made me laugh aloud. I really can’t believe my oldest boy is almost done with kindergarten.The pace of mommahood is bittersweet. It makes my eyes water and my chest tighten because I can’t stop it or hold on tight enough. I will just take it all in as best I know how, stopping to savor moments at a time.

Happy Momma’s Day to you!

A place we like to picnicwith bare toes on blanketsand trees to climb
space to play games with friends from SF (okay-more like high school).The boys can’t seem to get enough of batting practice and playing catch
 while Olivine snags an extra bat to play ‘horsie.” Sometimes Saturdays feel like the rest of the week when I go to work in the morning.But thankfully sunshine and smiles and friends and the ocean can remind me that it’s the weekend.Time to take it easy.

Some of my favorite words lately are “me book” as Olivine discovers the enjoyment in books. She is reading aloud from the pictures, learning her colors, using expression in her speech, and watching each of my children read is a gift.
Then there is the writing. I can’t get enough of it. Paul was pretending to be a scientist making observations on some roly polies out back. This is what he recorded:Plus the play. These days there is lots of role playing. Henry likes to use one of my old purses and go shopping. Grammy painted his nails this weekend.

I don’t always realize the opportunities my children provide into seeing their inner thoughts and continuing growth that is up close and changing before my eyes.

Students have been showering Joe with gifts and as his time begins to wane at his site (next week he is done, ending with a field trip).
Meanwhile we have been navigating the appreciation of all the teacher’s who impact the lives of our children.I fell in love the personalized messages I discovered Paul had included with his drawings to his teachers at the Child Development Center.And then there is my Henry, he seriously cranked out twenty-three different drawings and he could name each one of his teachers.Taking time to say “thank you” to those who teach is incredibly important. I have committed to serving dinner at Friday night’s teacher appreciation, plus I picked up cupcakes for Olivine’s teachers, and brought in breakfast for my coworkers. The appreciation is overflowing.

We decided to visit and honor Lola’s six year anniversary (our favorite local restaurant) since opening, a little after Paul was born.I promise you would love their food.We have taken many good friends to this spot. Yum!

After waking up, Olivine immediately put on her mask and snorkel to play diver.No one else was really awake yet, so she walked around talking into the snorkel. I think she liked the echo sounds of her voice through the tube.She seemed so confused by my asking her to talk quietly. I am sure she was convinced everyone should wake up and want to play diver. Right?

Today was Makayla’s birthdayShe turned two  I loved this sign they had made.There was face painting.Olivine opted to copy her cousin and go with Hello Kitty on the cheekThe boys chose “tattoos” on their arms (easier to clean than the whole face-momma relief).
There were personalized treatsand plenty of sunshine that we tried to keep cool from.We randomly stopped at the fountains in downtown Fullerton on the way home.Henry liked putting his foot over the holeand after a couple minutes Paul surrendered to just getting completely wet in his clothes.It was a great Sundayto wrap up the week.