Caroline graduates from preschool!

 

Here is a video of Caroline marching in to "Pomp and Circumstance".  video

Her class sang a number of songs for us before receiving her "diploma".  Here is a video of one of the songs. video

I can't believe my little girl is DONE with preschool! Thank God we have the whole summer before Kindergarten starts. I'm not quite ready for her to start that chapter in her life yet!

Last Day of Preschool

Today, Caroline and Clayton had their last day of preschool. This year has really flown by! I can't believe Clayton has now finished his first year of preschool, and Caroline her last. It was a very bittersweet day. We love you Christ Lutheran Preschool!



Caroline & Miss Caren





Caroline & Miss Jayne





Clayton & Miss Marie



Clayton & Miss Jen



Clayton at the beginning of the school year

Clayton at the end of the school year

Caroline at the beginning of the school year

Caroline at the end of the school year

Planting Seeds

We got back to nature and decided to plant a vegetable garden. (We half-heartedly tried last year, and failed.)
The kids helped me plant carrots, cucumbers, basil, and green beans (with some tomato plants to be planted later.)
They LOVE dirt and water, so they had a ball digging, planting, watering, and (of course) getting muddy!

Caroline and Clayton till the soil.

Mama dug the rows, then C & C sprinkled the seeds in.

Then, they watered - not just the new plants, but pretty much everything in sight!

Warm weather is finally here and we're HAPPY!

We have gotten out our flip flops and sunbonnets...

We got out the baby pool

and we've started post dinner ice cream gatherings in our driveway with the neighbors.

It's been a long winter and cold spring, so we are RELISHING these glorious sunny days!

The cute new family of four!

Welcome Makenna Rowan!

Yesterday, on May 16th, my sister Meredith had her baby girl!
Welcome to the world Makenna Rowan Mazur!

We can't wait to meet you!!!!!!

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, the kids delivered homemade cards and a Starbucks gift card (with help from Daddy!) to me in bed.
We went to church and then hosted my mom, dad, grandma, and brother for brunch. It was so special to have my mom, my grandma, and my kids all together for mother's day. I am so lucky to have them all in my life!
I feel so blessed to be a mother to my three wonderful children. I love you SO much Caroline, Clayton, and Austin!

We also got to celebrate Uncle Taylor's big 30th birthday, and BB's birthday (a little early.) Happy Birthday Taylor and BB!

Package for the tornado victims

We've been talking with the kids about the tornadoes that ravaged Alabama and other southern states last week. We decided it would be a good service project to put together a care package for some of the families with young children that lost their homes. We went shopping and put together a box of toiletries and small toys to send to a church in Alabama.

And Clayton asks to pray for the tornado victims every few days. He can he such a thoughtful boy at times :)

National Day of Prayer

At dinnertime, our family has started doing a "prayer box". We have a tin box that sits next to our table with pieces of paper with each of our names on them. Each person draws a name out of the box and prays for that person at the table. The kids really like it and it's a good way to make praying for loved ones a daily habit.

In honor of the National Day of Prayer (which is today), we decided to expand our prayer box. We wanted our loved ones to hear us pray for them, eventhough they aren't sitting around our table. So - thank you technology - we videoed the kids praying and sent it to grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.

BB & Papa - Caroline prayed for you! video

Aunt Meredith, Uncle Dan, & Kellan - Caroline prayed for you! video

Boppy & Gamma - Clayton prayed for you! video

And Clayton really wanted to pray for the tornado victims too! video

Caroline also prayed for her best friend Sarah video

Mary Poppins Singalong

Last weekend, my mom and I took Caroline and Clayton to the Mary Poppins singalong at the Wilmette theatre. It was great! Clayton got to see his first movie (and CAroline her second). It was so fun to see a Disney classic on the big screen. The kids did really well and the organizers did a good job keeping the little ones engaged. They had them marching up and down the aisles and up on stage singing whenever a song came on. We'll definitely do this event again.

Royal Wedding!

I admit it. I am one of those people that was obsessed with the royal wedding. I set my DVR up to tape it on at least 4 different channels. I didn't get up at 4, but I did get up at 6:30 to start watching all the coverage - and I mean ALL the coverage. I love all the pomp & circumstance, the traditions, the castles & carriages, ...and the royals themselves. I find british and "royal" history fascinating. I thought the wedding was magical. Prince Willam was dashing and Princess Catherine couldn't have looked more beautiful and poised. The ceremony itself really impressed me. The music and hymns were gorgeous, and I thought the messages the priests gave were very meaningful and truthful. Westminster Abbey is such an amazing cathedral. I would love to visit it with my husband and children. It made me a bit mournful of the fact that our protestant churchs (while many are wonderful and very grounded in the truth) are so stripped down of architectural beauty, traditional music that has been sung for centuries, and other ceremonial aspects of services of old.
Okay -I'll get off my soap box and get on to the pictures.
Here is Princess Caroline, watching the wedding in her wedding dress and tiara.

How fairy tale can you get? I just love it!