Rhys is 5!

We were happy to celebrate Rhys as he turned 5-years-old this week!  He has grown so much this past year and I cannot wait to see what the measurements are at his upcoming well check.  He has shown steady progress in his speech and language skills and had recently started occupational therapy to increase his fine motor skills.  He just completed preschool. He still loves playing with play doh, looking at books, playing with his figures and making elaborate stories about it all, and irritating his sister (which they take turns doing).

As I was making preparations for his party that morning, he came in and asked me when he was going to be 5, knowing that his birthday was that day. I think he thought he would turn 5 when he celebrated with cupcakes with his friends. And although he came in the late afternoon on that special day, I told him when he had woke up that morning he was already 5! This was great news.

At his party we gathered at the fountains and the weather held for us and was quite agreeable.  The kids all arrived and played in the water with their buckets.  After a while we sang "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed the cupcakes with disgusting blue icing. The kids looked so gross--like they were bloodthirsty Smurf eaters. Horrible.  Luckily a few napkins and another dash into the fountains washed most of the nastiness away.

After picking up Sophie from school, she completed all Rhys' chores for him, as a birthday treat and we were off to enjoy beautiful, large, puffy clouds and some time at the park. After the park we picked up Neal and headed to Cici's Pizza (Rhys' choice) to meet up with Oma and Opa.  The kids enjoyed garbage like macaroni and cheese pizza and played in the game room while the adult got caught up.

Back at home we opened presents from the family and sang and blew out the candles again on his chocolate chip mint ice cream (also his choice).

When asked what his favorite part of the day was, he replied, "All the parts!"  Both kids were asleep before we called "lights out."

Thank you to all that came to his party, called him, sent cards and gifts, and sent happy messages to him through FB.  He felt very special!

Preoccupation with Cats

Recent statements from Rhys:

"If a bobcat eats Mohini (our cat) the bobcat will have to poop him out. And we will have to take him inside and wash him so he not be yucky."

This followed by discussion that Mohini would be poop, not just poopy and that it is unlikely a bobcat will get our cat.

"Mom when you get old and die, I am going to move into the house and take care of the cat with Brooke."

What?! The cat is going to outlive me?!  Does he know something I don't. Brooke is the little girl he is planning on marrying "because she runs really fast."

Releif Society Activities

With Keri now serving in the Relief Society at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she and her committee had been busy with planning monthly activities among other duties. In April the women celebrated Relief Society's 172nd Birthday by compiling birthday kits for Family Promise of Collin County. This kits contained cake mix, frosting, candles, gift wrap, plates, napkins, balloons, and streamers neatly packed away in a usable gift bag. They also made birthday cards to give to Allen Community Outreach to give out to their Meals on Wheels recipients.

This May, Keri was pleased to have her father-in-law, Rudy, as well as other willing volunteers, teach the basics of automobile maintenance. It was great to have Rudy there, in particular, because he has years, okay, decades of experience in auto care. He did a great job providing pertinent information and without anyone feeling dumb. Subjects covered were checking fluids, jump starting a vehicle, tire changing, and tire care.

Keri loves the women she serves and she is very grateful to the members of the activities committee and those who volunteer their talents and time to support the ladies.

We Love Grandma

We enjoyed hanging out with Grandma for a week and a half -- walks, chats, cooking, weeding, shopping, playing, and who knows what else.  It was great!

Rhys Rocks Preschool

Although it is not quite the end of the school year for Rhys, his class presented their End of the Year Program this week. He was excited to see Mom, Dad, and Grandma in the audience. He had told us he and his friends had been practicing songs for a while.

He even got to dress up like his favorite letter friend (puppets they use to teach the kids), Mr. O. Rhys looked weird displaying Mr. O's opposites- long/short pant leg, dress and causal shoes, spiky and flat hair--but he was proud!

They sang four songs after the pledge and were presented with their certificates. Rhys did a great job signing loud and clear and doing the accompanying hand motions.

After a sugar laden refreshment break, Rhys modeled with Mr. O. for a picture with one eye open and the other closed.

Then off all the kids went to the new playground they have been waiting to try out!  He was very happy and we were happy to celebrate with him. He did a great job and is a joy to our family.

Double Mother's Day

My mom, Judy, flew into town a couple days before Mother's Day so I was super happy to have Mom with me to celebrate.  The morning started with Keri's requested Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes topped with fresh, sliced strawberries. We happily opened cards and enjoyed receiving gifts and pictures from the kids and hubby.  Mom and I got our crockpot dinner ready of my favorite dinner, requested at all my birthdays growing up, Polish Sausage, Rhineland Red Cabbage, potatoes, and homemade applesauce. Neal describes this meal as "horrible." Then we were off to church for a great day of worship and honoring women. Following church we got some photos in of some of my favorite people.

That afternoon, Neal continued his jam session from the night before. He made blackberry jam on Saturday night and finished up with strawberry and raspberry jam on Sunday. Mom and the kids and I went for a leisurely walk and spotted a gardener's snake Rhys and I spotted days before, a grey heron, honey suckle, turtles, and well, a dead, baby opossum. Er, um, but back to the wonderful stuff of the day. After dinner (so good!) we ate up pieces of carrot cake that was divine.  A great mother's day spent with an amazing mom and family!

Early in the morning before anyone was up, I woke and had some thought I could not shake. So I posted them on Facebook, feeling a bit more serious about it than my usual posts, but not knowing who would need to read those words that day.  The following was my post:

"As many celebrate this day, Mother's Day is also often a time of sorrow for many who question their parenting, have wayward children, have circumstances that prevent having children, have lost children, have disconnected relationships with their mothers, or are separated from her by death. Weather you are celebrating or mourning, please know Heavenly Father is mindful of you and your circumstances. He loves you. Let us lean on our Savior's atonement and wisdom, and his perfect example of humility, righteousness, long-suffering, gentleness, and obedience--regardless of his given circumstances. Let us uplift, sustain, and strengthen each other; for we have the capacity to do so."

Well it touched so many hearts and was shared by so many on they're Facebook walls that I thought I should include it today.  But, have not fear, it was a light and good spirited day, even for my dear husband who was, of course missing his own mother, Susan.  He quoted a Mormon Message to share his feelings, "Life doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a mother." 

I ended the day by posting, "One of my daughter's Mother's Day coupons says, No whining for 1 day." I'm running off copies of that one."

Hope all had a great time honoring the important women in their lives.

School Fun Run

Sophie has been so excited about her school's Fun Run which was held during school hours--a child's dream.  She was one of the first to be registered on the fund raising website so she earned a pedometer. The first day she'd start it, take something to her room and return, and look at how many steps it was, then reset it again.

Thanks to the generosity of family near and far, Sophie exceeded her goal. The school in all earned just under $10,000 to be put towards increased technology in the classroom.

On the day of the run, Sophie was ready with her workout clothes and a great attitude. Keri was able to join in the fun by volunteering a few hours to shoot silly string at the kids as they ran by (volunteer work is so grueling!) And clean up the mess as best as possible.  When Sophie came out, Keri got her good with the silly string and then got to run Sophie's last lap with her.

It was a great event and the kids, staff, and volunteers did a great job.  Hope it continues next year!

For Some Super Ladies

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a wonderful organization of women, the Relief Society.  One vital part of the Relief Society is that women are assigned visiting teachers to which gives the women the opportunity to watch over, strengthen, and teach one another on an individual basis. A visiting teacher ministers by helping sisters know they are loved, helping them grow, and serving them in times of need. Through visiting teaching, the Relief Society president helps the bishop identify and resolve short-term and long-term needs of the sisters and their families. 

For instance, when I was receiving cancer treatment, my visiting teachers visited with me often to be sure I was emotionally okay and address my concerns. Our family received help as Relief Society sisters brought in meals and even cleaned my house when it became to much for my hard-working husband.  That is certainly not the only way they provided love and assistance during that time, but an example. It was a great blessing to be surrounded by support both spiritually and temporally.

To honor the women I visit teach for upcoming Mother's Day, I made something that would make them laugh, I hope.  Each of them has very different circumstances but this would be true of all of them.

 Just rolled them up and placed them into a fancied up, clean Pringles can with a fitting tag!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women I know! You all add so much to my life.

Sophie and Rhys Quirks

How about a game of "Where's Sophie?"

Sophie: Mom, I have 6 boyfriends now!
Keri: Do they know this?
Sophie: No, I don't tell them because then they won't be my boyfriends.

That's my girl! Out smarting the "You must be this tall..." sign.

I know I've had a good workout when my 4-year-old boy tells me, "You smell like yuck, Mommy." That's the smell of burnt calories, Rhys.

Rhys thinks when the tooth fairy came to get his big sister's tooth, she must have also stopped and fixed one of his toys. Um...okay. Let's go with that.

Rhys, after writing the alphabet on his white board, says "I'm going to baptize G and Q." Runs and gets a washcloth wet and wipes them off the board. "See! They washed away!"  Good thing this cutie has a few more years before he is given the choice to be baptized so we can discuss, oh, things like sins being washed away, authority to baptize, and baptism by immersion. Such a sweetie!