the End of an Era...

Last Tuesday Maddie finished her last day of preschool...which also means that my 11 year run of being a preschool mom is over!!! All five of my children have gone to Children's World of Music and now they are all done!

So there it is, over forever!!! Maddie is my last baby and she just grew up over night!!! Now I will be a mother of only school age children. No more babies, no more playgroups, no more babysitting trades, gone just like that! I thought I had at least one more year of having her at home with me and then our school district decided to all day Kindergarten! I think I'm one of only a few parents that isn't happy about that! I know I am crazy busy with my five kids but I can't believe that I'm at this stage in my life!

I am sure that I will adjust and enjoy my "alone time". But as Brinley said to me the other day "Mom who are you going to eat lunch with?" This preschool stage of my life was so normal and I've been in it for eleven years, and now it's just done, just like that. It's very surreal!
I have been feeling sad about this for two months and now it is finally here! The past month Maddie and I have been doing some fun things knowing that our time together was coming to an end! We've been out to lunch a few times, we painted together
we've gone on bike rides, and baked a giant cupcake!
I need to do that more often!!! Instead of worrying about the dishes, laundry and cleaning bathrooms. I need to make more memories with my children instead of blogging, texting or face booking. I need to play with them more, hug them more and tell them I love them more! Because in just a blink of an eye I will be crying again as I post about them leaving home!!!

Ribbons, & Trophies, & More, Oh My!!!

As our school year is nearing the end the activities seem to be a "plenty." I wanted to share an accomplishment of each of my children that have occurred in the past two weeks!

Maddie participated in her preschool play "The Wizard of Oz", last week as one of the Munchkins.

Mason's basketball team the Jayhawks won the entire Oregon Prep Tournament for sixth graders! He was ecstatic to receive this trophy!
He played two games on Saturday and then the rest of his team played two games on Sunday. When he received an email with pictures of his teammates and their trophies Sunday evening he was bummed that he didn't get a trophy!!!(he doesn't play on Sunday). The next day at school his buddy from the team brought him HIS trophy and he was thrilled! I thought by this age that he wouldn't care so much but that trophy is as good as a Christmas present!

Morgan tried out for the High School Dance Team and made it!!!

She was stressed that week of try-outs, but she pulled through in the end and did great! I kept asking her all week if I could come and watch her try-out, or if I could come and watch during the week. She quickly would tell me "NO" even though I think she kind of wanted me to come. That's not what they do in High School I guess! Sad! She is excited about making the team and looks forward to Dance Camp this summer! Go Union! (her hands are making the "U" sign for Union)

Brinley got a medal for gymnastics. She moved from Pre-Team to Team last week. They had a pizza party where she received the necklace. She was most excited about that! We'll see how this team things goes! It's a big commitment 8-9 hours a week!

Brooklyn participated in her elementary school track meet last week.

She was very excited for this meet! These kids (3rd, 4th, 5th graders) practice once a week for 5 weeks and then have a big track meet with three other schools in the area. During the practices she would tell us how she did and that she usually was at the head of the pack! Let me tell you she "Rocked and Rolled"!!! She got two first place ribbons in the 100 meter and the 200 meter! Jon came home that night and put together this video clip of her running so we could send it to my parents! Proud Daddy!