May Days....

I feel like May came and went way TOO quick!!!  Sadly...I did not capture as many cute pictures as I should have....I really need to do a photo dump of my phone some day....but here is a little snip-it of what we have been up to!

Marshall and Haddie....what a combo...they loves snacks and are all too cute and mischievous together!!!

 This little lady wants to be INDEPENDENT....so she has taking eating into her own hands...here she is in all her glory feeding herself yogurt

 I had a wonderful mother's day!  We went to church, took the day pretty easy.....just relaxing and making homemade granola...and then we went out to Moretti's for pizza.  It was great!

 Aaron made me this stool for mother's day.  I love cooking....but Marshall and Hadley always want to be a part of it too...which is super tricky....so this handy stool we are hoping helps!  We used it that day, to make granola bars and have used it lots since!

 The kids made some cute cards....I of course LOVE the homemade things that they made me at school...Marshall made a candle holder and Brayden and I got to celebrate with a Mother's Day tea....a trip to Disney.  It was so fun and special to have a little date with him at school...of course I have pictures (on my phone!)

 For most of the month of May, the kids had ABC countdown at school.  We had lots of fun each day dressing the part...this is from mismatch day.....too funny!

 Of course, you can't leave the little girl out!

 This was after a trip to see the movie HOME....we went on a rainy day, just the boys and I...and well now that Marshall has decided he is OVER naps....he falls asleep from time to time in the car...or on the couch

 The next Iron Chef

With the end of May came to end of Martial Arts...here is Marshall in all his glory

 And we are loving Tball season...Haddie loves playing with the other kiddos...especially the babies...and Marshall is always off digging in the dirt!

 The end of the school came too....I really think time is flying by....

Marshall "graduated" Parents Day Out on Thursday....he was quite the HAM of the ceremony...they sang 2 songs and went up for certificates.  He was very sad to have the school year come to an end.  He would tell me everyday, that he LOVES school and wanted it to be a "school day".  The love that his teachers had for him and all the students was very apparent each day...and this is why he felt so happy and comfortable at school.  It is crazy to think that he started this school year in diapers and as such a toddler...and in just 9 months...is so far from diapers and seems to be such a little boy.  He is very smart and has great fine motor skills.  He is very stubborn and knows how to work his charm to get things.  He loves snuggling and loves the Lion King.  He still wants to be a digger man, garbage man or fireman when he grows up.  This guy...is ALL BOY.  Always up to trouble....and always dirty....but the best at giving hugs....and tells me at least 10 times a day that he loves me

Mrs. Engelhardt

 Mrs. Strickland....Marshall's first date

 Ceremony time

 I have the songs on camcorder...and cannot wait to show it to his friends when high school rolls around!  We celebrated the day---just Marshall and mommy by going to the Choo Choo restaurant and painting a tractor :)

Luckily that Thursday we had some AMAZING weather....so warm that it was sprinkler time!!!!

 On Aaron's Birthday....we not only celebrated a birthday...but we now have a kindergartner in the house!!!  How in the world did that happen!!?!?!??  Brayden had SUCH an amazing year at preschool. His teachers were the PERFECT match for him....and he grew so much.  He knows his letters, numbers, the pledge to the cross and the flag, so many stories about God and has even started reading....really the amount of knowledge that this kiddo has sunk in is amazing.  He also has grown so much socially and emotionally.  He is still very sensitive and shy and has trouble with separation...but he really has done a 180 from last year.  He loves school and when we are not around---I think he really does get into the pretend play, songs and music....when we are around he gets a little more embarrassed which is a bummer because I want to see him in his glory.  I think with time, it will come, just as things do

On Stage ready to sing....they did the same 2 songs that Marshall's class did.  He really tried to blend in and hide behind one of the bigger kiddos....so we did not see him that well in the performance

So sadly, Brayden's nerves and shyness got in the way and he did not go up on stage to get his certificate.  We were so bummed and not gonna lie a little mad....but we had to tell ourselves that when we look back on this later, it will make for a funny story...and if that was the biggest thing that went wrong that day....then it is not soo bad.

 Back in his classroom, we took a few pictures...he apologized for not going up on stage....and we prayed for God to help us (Aaron and I) get over it.....you know we all need grace.  After many of the kiddos had left, his teacher told us that she loves Brayden for how sensitive he is....and for how much he loves his family.  She told us, that many times she will hear kids tell her what they watched over the weekend....but not Brayden...he always tells her what he did with his family. She told us that his love for us is always so apparent and he is always talking about us...so even though there are so many days that we feel like we could have done better at parenting...we must be doing some things right if he loves us that much.

Will and Brayden

His wonderful teachers....Mrs. Koclanis and Mrs. Hanssen

Our kindergartner

Brayden, Aaron and I went out to his favorite breakfast place...Grammy D's...she made him a pancake bigger than his plate and then he wanted to shop for new shorts and Aaron and him rounded out the day by going to the driving range and on a bike ride!

We can't look over daddy's birthday....Aaron and I went out on a date Friday...we had such a nice time....then on Saturday we had over friends to BBQ.....he got copper mugs...so we had Moscow Mules and I made a very pretty and yummy cake with the help of Marshall...but then by request (since Daddy loves Big Hero 6....or the boys do) we turned the cake into Baymax.