Happy Mother's Day...one day late

The official holiday is over. Allow me to wish you a belated Happy Mother's Day! I hope yesterday was a fun day for all moms out there. Isn't it fun to have a day devoted to us?

Of all my roles and responsibilities in life I must say being a mother is one of my favorites. It is exhilarating, exhausting, fun, frustrating, rewarding, overwhelming, and soooo much more. I have learned so much since becoming a mother. I have learned that I would go to hell and back for my children - and felt like I was on that path a few times. I have learned I am a "mother bear" and would take on anyone or anything to protect my kids. I have learned that being a mother has absolutely nothing to do with sharing DNA. Mothering is being given the blessing of parenting a child entrusted to you through God's plan for your family. I have discovered that a lot of parenting is learning as you grow with your children. I have learned that mothering 5 children is an adventure of a lifetime! Remember those "my child will never..." or "I will never do/say..." statements? Yeah, those comments come back to haunt us don't they?

At the end of my life my desire is that my children will know I loved them more than life itself and tried to lead them to a life of living for Christ and fulfilling God's will for their lives.

Our Mother's Day weekend highlights consist of a Cincinnati Children's Choir concert of Katie's, Zack's high school baseball end-of-season tournament, Katie's Freshman dance, and the little ones swimming in the freezing cold pool. My family gave me a beautiful card, trees and flowers for the pool area, and my always favorite Barnes & Noble gift certificate. They know what I love! I also received adorable handmade cards from the little ones and precious gifts made at school.

Due to the baseball tournament being on Mother's Day weekend Zack's coach gave each of the players a huge chocolate bar and insisted they give it to their mom along with a hug. Chocolate and a hug from my 17 year old son - awesome!

I'll share a few pictorial highlights:

Zack - our baseball player



Katie and friends before the dance

Our girl


Of course no holiday would be complete without at least one child having a fever. Yeap, Gus mystified us with a come-and-go fever throughout the weekend.

23 days of school left! Wahoo!!!
33 days until we leave for Guatemala! Holy moley!!!

Time Well Spent

Winter is behind us. This spring has been chilly for the most part. Summer is coming. How do I know? Our pool is uncovered and we are happily getting it ready for swimming. It is a group project.

Putting the pieces back together after a long winter...


The little boys were assigned grounds clean up. Creating an adventure is key to making it fun! If you look closely you will see Marco and Gustavo beneath the deck. They thought it was very cool that Mommy sent them under the deck with a trash bag. I told them to pretend they were Indiana Jones.


"Help! Our parents sent us under the deck. Can we come out now?"


Starting them young - Daddy showing Ana Lucia how to sweep


Miss Independence is a quick learner. Doesn't every 3 year old clean the pool while wearing her High School Musical 3 pajamas?


The first camp fire of the season was enjoyed tonight. S'mores before bedtime is always a hit!

Bring on the sunshine and warm temperatures - we are soooooo ready!

Everyone survived and enjoyed the weekend

Katie's play was a success and the prom was a hit!

I could not take photos at Katie's play. Flash photography was not allowed, and according to the mysterious voice making announcements at the beginning of the play "flash photography is very dangerous to the actors on stage". Yikes, I couldn't endanger my girl. So no photos from the production.

I was allowed just a few prom photos. Thank goodness they will be going to Hannah's prom in May. More opportunities for photos - yeah!

Everyone had a great weekend...

Zack and Hannah - the pose for Mom


Aren't they adorable?


Zack and Katie - sometimes brother and sister do pose willingly for the mama


Wow - they even posed with Mom & Dad!

Friday Night Follies

What better way to end a beautiful 80 degree sunny day? POPSICLES!

I found yummy popsicles which contain no artificial dye. This is a very happy discovery in our house because Gus cannot have anything with red dye. If you ever wonder about the zillions of things with red dye just ask me. It is ridiculous!

Ana had a whopping 30 minute nap today. She went to her room at 2:20 and proceeded to play until 4:00. I then woke her up at 4:30 to go to Zack's game. She was downright surly. Grrrrrr. She did manage to straighten up a bit before bedtime. The popsicle helped. She was trying to sing a little ditty we have around here. The words are supposed to be "Scooby dooby dooby doo, I love you!"



Marco and Gus decided to share popsicles. It is an open field of germs around our house.



Spring is here. Our pool is coming to life soon. We are very happy.

Big week at the 'ol homestead...

Yes, it is a big week at the never-a-dull-moment-life-is-an-adventure family homestead this week!

Zack's prom is Saturday and Katie's first high school musical production is this week.

Prom...as in our oldest is going to the prom. Yikes! I survived the ordering of the tuxedo with my teen son who a) knows nothing about fashion, b) cares nothing about fashion, and c) does want to look handsome for his girlfriend. As we walked into the tux shop I told him I would give him $50 if he walked in with me and said "Uh, yeah, we're gettin' married on Friday night...you got something I could wear?" His reply? "That isn't even funny Mom..."

Zack talked through the flower order with me. "Mom, I have no idea what all of this means. Could you order something?"

The weather will be sunny and beautiful this weekend - a perfect setting for a prom. And yes, there will be pictures posted next week. :)

Where oh where has time gone? It seems like yesterday we purchased our first double stroller and loved walking around the neighborhood with Zack and Katie.

High school musical...not the real "High School Musical" mind you. Katie is in her first high school production. She has been in a play before in elementary school. The difference being that when she was in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat it was with the Broadway production downtown at the Aronoff. Professional actors, professional choreographer, 8 shows per week for 3 straight weeks. Cool beans. The current production is at her freshman school. Two adult directors and the rest of the cast and crew are freshman students. Kids which include some who have never acted, danced, or attempted singing in front of others before. Students creating their own choreography and building their own set. Dealing with a very old sound system.

Opening night was Wednesday. As a parent allow me to say that it was awesome! Yeah, not all of the kids are natural actors, and the sound was not perfect, but the show was funny and it was a treat to sit back and watch our Katie perform. She sang, danced, and acted in her true "if I'm going to do something I'm going to do it well" style. I believe her Daddy had a tear in his eye. I know my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. We are two parents who aren't ashamed to be proud of our kids.

I took Marco last night to see the play. After the opening number he looked up at me with a huge smile and exclaimed "this is awesome!"

Parenting teens can be challenging, but it can also be filled with a lot of really fun first moments. This weekend we'll watch our teens wrapping up the first high school production and doing the prom thing. Now this is fun.

She's gettin' it

Ana Lucia has been dancing wildly around the family room tonight while we are watching "Dancing With the Stars". She is definitely getting a cardio workout!

She just ran up to me with her hand on her chest and exclaimed "I feel my heart! Jesus is in my heart!"

Girlfriend is getting it! This is the first time I have ever heard her talk about Jesus being in her heart. Memorable moment.

Spring Break and Easter...over too quickly

Spring Break 2009 is a memory. Easter '09 is history. We are all grateful for a fabulous spring break, and even more grateful for the hope granted by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his rising from the grave.

45 days of school left. Summer break will be awesome!

A look back at our week...

Katie and her friend Hannah vacationing in Charleston, South Carolina

Ana Lucia's first nap in her "big girl bed"

Miss Fashion strikes again...christmas pajamas with new summer sandals

The Fab Five color eggs immediately after Zack's baseball game

Gus with his favorite egg

Marco and his favorite egg

Who knew it took such strength to color eggs?

Hunting for easter eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny inside the house

Hunting for easter eggs hidden by Daddy, Uncle Tom, and neighbor Bruce outside

The kids counting their loot from the eggs


Back to life...back to reality...