music recital

Last week Mickey's class had a music recital. It was so cute- I laughed, cried, moved seats for a better view right in the middle of it, and almost cried again when my camera ran out of memory during the recording of the last song. All and all a pretty typical school function for me...

Mickey is darn good on recorder!

more pictures

Here are a bunch more pictures from Mickey's First Communion and Confirmation:

It was so nice that both sets of grandparents were able to be there- it meant a lot to all of us.

Mickey loves making this face when I say "smile!"

The kids got ahold of the camara and took a bunch of pictures during the reception:

I couldn't position my head right to make my 7 chins disappear! I hate leaning back in pictures!

My little Micks Micks!

Mickey's First Communion and Confirmation

Here are the first set of pictures from Mickey's special evening on Friday May 21st. He was so handsome and excited. He did say he was a bit nervous but he did so good! It was a very long mass and the children making their sacraments were in a large group without any adults. Mickey was so well behaved and listened to everything that was going on. He raised his had many times to answer questions that the bishop was asking during the sermon. We are so proud of our little man!

My mom was Mickey's sponsor. We were so happy that my parents were able to

make the long trip out from Wisconsin for Mickey's special day.

This was Mickey right after he took the wine- we prepped him not to make a face but alas...

I couldn't help laughing. I have it all on video too-

I can't wait to show him when he is all grown up!

So sweet!

I will post more pictures tomorrow! I've GOT to get to bed- tonight we had the boys' school picnic and tomorrow morning I'm having some friends over for brunch. Plus, I'm trying to catch up my episodes of LOST. I realize it's only a matter of time before I accidentally hear something about the finale and I want to finish it before this happens...

big day

Today was a big day in the Porter household. It was Mary Beth's last day of Preschool. Ever. I cried which made her cry and then everyone was looking at me like "what's the matter with you?" She's my youngest child and she's now going to be in elementary school. I don't like that and I'm a basket case. I've cried every day for a week and I'm sure it will continue on through the summer and a good portion of kindergarten... don't think I'm kidding.

They had bike day- they rode their bikes around in the park and then had popsicles and cake. Oh yeah, and they had smores for snack at 10am. Needless to say it was the best day of her life in the sweets department.

My parents are here visiting for Mickey's First Communion and Confirmation(which was tonight-pictures to come tomorrow) so they got to come and hang out for MB's last day festivities. She loved that.

This is her shirt from a previous post- the one she spray painted at school. It turned out so cute and she planned all week that she would wear it on the last day.

Yummy, yummy carrot cake. My favorite.

One last picture of her classroom... :( However, I'll be back there in the fall because I decided to be a long term sub for one of MB's teachers- she's having a baby in September. It should be fun! I love preschoolers- they are so sweet and appreciative. I just wish Mary Beth would still be there. I will know many of the kids though(siblings of Mary Beth's friends and kids coming back again).

Another milestone... you are such a big girl now Mary Beth- but you'll always be my little baby.

It was also Mickey's First Communion and Confirmation tonight, as I mentioned, and it was really special and nice. I have a bunch of pictures and a possible video to share but I will do it in a separate post tomorrow or Sunday. I'll also resume my Friday "this moment" posts next week.

children

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

(“To My Child,” quoted in Charles L. Wallis, ed., The Treasure Chest [1965], 54)



I read this poem in THIS post(which is a great read by way so go read it!) and I loved it. I think it's beautiful... having kids, loving them, and staying home with them means so much more than all the silly things we give up for awhile to do it. I never feel like I'm missing out or that I'm not being fullfilled. I recently found a letter I wrote to my older self when I was in high school. In it I said that in 5, 10, 15 years, ect. I hope that I will be a mommy. :)

painting shirts

Last Friday Mary Beth's preschool class spray painted t-shirts with fabric paint. They played music and the kids sprayed- then when the music stopped they had to pass their spray bottle to the next kid in line until they all had a chance to use every color. It was a great idea in theory but only about 12% of the kids were able to successfully pull all of those thing off. ;) You wouldn't believe what their hands looked like at the end! Cute shirts though and the kids had a ton of fun- including Mary Beth! I love preschool projects.

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that object be became,
And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass and white and red morning glories, and white and red clover,
and the song of the phoebe-bird,
And the Third-month lambs and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal and the cow's calf...
-Walt Whitman


I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are.
-A fourth-grader in San Diego

This is from the opening page of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. I've been wanting to read it for a long time and a friend just lent it to me.
I also just finished Gap Creek- great book! Mom, you should read it, you would like it.

derby boats

While Jeffrey painted his derby boat for cub scouts Mary Beth worked on a fingerprint rainbow.

Spring Program

Mary Beth's teachers.
Buddies.

A smile!!!!

Today was Mary Beth's preschool Spring Program. It was adorable and sad because it was their last preschool program ever. :(

Here are some of the things Mary Beth loves about programs:

1. standing on "risers"
2. Mommy and Daddy coming to school

3. Eating treats after the program

4. Wearing a dress and tall-up shoes

5. Getting her hair curled

Here are some of the things Mary Beth hates about programs:

1. singing

2. looking like she is having the slightest bit of fun

3. smiling

4. hand motions that go with the songs

5. people looking at her

These all have applied to every single program for the last 2 years with no exception. But I still record them and smile at her and give her the thumbs up. I basically act like everything is totally great up there. Because it is! We are proud of how brave you are Mary Beth- I know it's scary sometimes to have all those people watching you...

And thank you for singing us the songs at home. You were wonderful!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I hope you had a great day Mom! I wish we could have been there with you... it was nice talking to you today though and we can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!

Mary Beth kept wearing that pajama top for a regular shirt and whenever she sees this picture now she asks me where that shirt went. She still wears those glasses and carries that purse around. Remember her squeeker shoes that summer??

And Happy Mother's Day to Donna- I can't find a picture of you on my computer- because you never want to be in any! :) I better start taking some anyway. We hope you had a great day also- see you in a couple of weeks!

Happy Birthday Ses!

Today is my sister's birthday- 29 is it??? Yikes!

Some tid-bits about my sister: I used to call her Ses when were were younger(because we loved the Avonlea series) and she called me Moose or Moose-man(there is no good reason for that). She thought that was super funny and still does. We didn't get along for most of our growing up years and my mom would always say we'd be really close when we were adults. I didn't believe her but she was right!

Sarah laughs all the time, she is usually always happy but when she isn't she ISN'T- there is no inbetween. She tells people how she feels so there is never any guessing games- I think this is great since I am not like that(most of the time). Sarah has a very kind heart and would do anything for anyone. She is a wonderful mother, wife, sister, and daughter. Sarah is very fun to be around and has a crazy ability to sing, chant, and make other noises- constantly. As an added bonus to everyone she is raising her daughter to do the same. She is funny and ALWAYS thinks I'm hilarious(one of her best qualities). :) I wish that I lived by my sisters- I get so envious of people I know that have their family here in the same town... Sisters are the best- and Sarah, thank you for making my life more interesting and fun- I LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday old gal!

You can thank me later for not putting up the picture of you in your swimsuit wearing snowboots at the hotel pool.... Also: where on earth is that picture of you and me on the day you went home?? I can find it in my pictures!

this moment

a friday ritual (inspired by soulemama) a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!