Feeling Very Blessed

Two Novembers ago when we found out we were having twins (and I was freaking out) my youngest brother, Tim, told me I was "too blessed to be stressed".  Very true, I thought, and have TRIED to keep that in mind ever since.  Last summer when Claire and Ronan were born my friend, Megan, found a t-shirt for me bearing that exact phrase!  I wear it often (mostly for pajamas), but I don't feel that I have been living the motto lately.  It is easy to forget just how blessed we are in the midst of....well, everything.  Looking at this picture made me stop and count my blessings.  We have a beautiful and HEALTHY family, a great house and pretty yard to enjoy, a fantastic extended family (in the picture are Brian's mom, sister and grandmother), a fantastic group of friends, many of whom have bunches and bunches of kiddos too!  And that is just to name a few of our many many blessings.  I have mentioned this before...my kids are SO lucky to grow up knowing FOUR GREAT-grandparents.  I am so happy that Jane, Brian's grandmother from San Mateo, California has come to visit.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Play group turned fashion show/beauty parlor!  Lauren and her pals Catherine, Chloe and Laurel started out wearing the pretty dresses and painting nails... later they busted out Lauren's FULL make-up stash.  The experimentation got a little out of hand and we were too busy scrubbing faces to take pictures.  Hope you had fun girlies!

Celebration of Children, Corrales Elementary 2010

Thomas was a narrator in his class play performed at the Corrales Elementary Celebration of Children.  The play was "The Three Little Javelinas" and all of the kiddos wore western wear.  Thomas was very in to his cowboy character.  The girls seemed to like Thomas the Cowboy too!

Thomas with Grace and Lillian

Lauren PreSchool Graduation 2010

Lauren walked in cap and gown with her friends at All Saints Lutheran Preschool.  In some ways it is hard to believe that she is on her way to kindergarten, but she is SOOOO ready to meet the challenges that elementary school has to offer.  We are happy that Lauren was given a good head start academically and spiritually at All Saints.  Anyone who knows her knows that Lauren is a social butterfly, sure to enjoy reconnecting with her PeeWee buddies at Corrales Elementary in the fall.  We are so grateful for Lauren's teachers at All Saints (Ms. Cathy when Lauren was three, and Ms. Frances for the four year old program) and the great administration as well.  We are looking forward to sending the next three kids to this great little school. Thomas "graduated" from All Saints in 2008 and Connor will begin his time at the school this coming fall.  Congratulations Lauren!  You completed the first of many many steps on your road to higher learning!

First Swim of the Season, Mother's Day 2010

It was a jam-packed day!  We spent the morning recovering from being up all night with Connor who'd had a high fever the night before.  Then we hit Flying Star for a quick lunch.  After that we headed up to Isotopes Park for the game.  The kids LOVE the Isotopes games, so it is always fun for me to watch them enjoy it.  They came away with some new gear this time and some cool face/arm paintings.  I got to hang with my mom, and both of my grandmas!  For dinner, we made our way back to the westside to Grammy's house.  There,  the kids took a dip with cousins and collected a load of snails!

My little fishies!  It was like they'd been swimming all winter!

Two Wheels!

My mom decided it was time that the kids learned to ride a bike without training wheels....especially Thomas and Lauren.  Knowing that Lauren is by far the most determined and fearless of our children my mom started with her.  She had it down within the afternoon.  Not to be shown up by his little sister, Thomas hopped on the bike the same afternoon and just started going....once he realized how small his bike was for him (not a long fall to the ground should such a thing happen).  We have had a couple of spills and some frustration with starting up, but all in all they are doing great and having fun! 

Yep, these are the training wheels that came off of the bike!  The kids have not been avid cyclists.  They prefer their scooters and we have never really had anywhere (on our own property) decent for them to learn how to ride on two wheels.  They also keep out growing the bikes that should be good for them based on age...darn tallness!  So Connor has inherited a pink princess bike that is already too small for him.  Lauren is riding Thomas' old bike and even though it isn't "girlie" she likes it just fine.  Thomas has learned to ride with out the training wheels on the same bike, but definitey needs a new one soon...his knees bump the handle bars, espeically on the turns!

Lauren was one tired girl when her lesson was over...and she loved her grandma more than ever.  Thanks Mom!

Claire and Ronan on the Move

Twinnies are definitely on the move.  They are discovering their ride-on toys and a new game called "pull-everything-out-of-the-cabinet".  They are also starting to cruise around the furniture more and more.  They seem to be more aware of each other than ever before...steeling pacifiers from each other, trading toys, poking each other in the face and mimicking each others sounds.  It is pretty fun to watch!

Every day the little ones spend time "locked up" in the playroom.  When they think they have had enough, they make their way over to one of the gates and protest loudly.

All this activity tuckers them out!  Aaaah, peace and quiet for a little while.

Donuts for Dads

Corrales Elementary celebrates Father's Day a little early with an event called Donuts for Dad.  My kids have a great dad indeed!  I felt a little like we were on display this morning because we so rarely venture out to school with all five little ones (if I do, I try to keep as many in the car as possible).  Most people had heard that we have five children but never actually seen us all together.  It can be work to get everyone presentable and out the door....but it is worth it and I think we should try to do it more often!  We had a great time! 

From White to Orange

Thomas successfully passed the white belt taekwondo exam and has been promoted to "orange belt decided".  He had to demonstrate several basic moves and stances and then memorize and perform a sequence of eighteen moves (Songahm 1).  He also had to demonstrate three self-defense combinations referred to in class as the "one steps".  We began taekwondo in January and Thomas has really loved it.  It has been interesting to learn about the martial arts.  Thomas will tell you that "songahm" means pine tree and the white belt is symbolic of the seed of a pine tree, pure and just beginning.  Now that the basic knowledge has been planted, he will continue to grow as and orange belt and then yellow belt.  The orange and yellow representing the sun and further enlightenment.