Happy Birthday Abby!

Abby has disobeyed me yet again and has grown another year older.

We started with a trip to the car wash, which my kids think is about as exciting as Disneyland.

Then we picked up two special friends and their dolls.

And took a trip to the American Doll Store...

...where Mimi met us with a brand new doll of her choice.  She chose the Native American named Kaya.

With Heidi and her doll.

With Olivia and her doll.

Presies.

Isaac was a bit out of his element, but I thought he needed to be at his sister's celebration.

Drinking tea or hot chocolate with Kaya. 

The boys stayed occupied doing boy things.

(Insert Spock quote: "Emotions are alien to me.  I'm a scientist.")

Tea party trays arrived with goodies.

We grabbed a chance to sing Happy Birthday.

Then the waitress brought out a brownie with a candle and got the whole restaurant to sing to Abby.  Abby looked pretty petrified by all the attention.  I'm not sure she's my daughter; I would have eaten up every second of a room full of people singing to me!

But, she blew out her candle. 

Then we shopped, while the boys waited (heehee).

Abigail also got to pick out a matching nightgown set for her and her doll...this place is a crazy way to spend $$$ fast, which is why I told her no party, just the doll store.

Here's Abby with her Kaya and all the many possible accessories we could purchase. 

And, while Mimi and Momma paid, the girls got some play time with their dollies.

Later...modeling her and Kaya's new pajamas. 

And demonstrating how precious she is.

Happy birthday, precious Abigail.  You are such a joy and we love you so very much.

First Summer Night

After the last day of school, we had a long-overdue family night.

 First, pizza, mmmmm...

Then the kids each picked a favorite game.

Old Maid for Abby.

What's wrong, Daddy?

Oh, you got the Old Maid?

Bitsy does not appreciate all the noise surrounding game nights.

What's wrong Abby?

Oh, you got the Old Maid?

Then it was Isaac's turn to pick a game.  He picked a strategy game.

Abby wasn't so interested in it.

Noise, lots of reminders that it's your turn now, a scared dog, and many laughs later, it was a good end to the school year.

Last Day of School

Yesterday the second grade had their own awards ceremony. There's Isaac waiting with his class for the rest of the students to arrive.

Isaac got the Science Award, which he was happy with...

...until he found out there was a technology award.  At that point, he just couldn't believe he didn't get picked for that.  It's so funny that I could see what he was thinking from just seeing his face across the room.  I had to tell him later that every kid got something and each kid got only one but that doesn't mean he's not great at technology.  

Then today Abigail's class had their kindergarten celebration.  There's Abby, third from the right.

And, because I find it very amusing (now that I am on my second kindergardener, and oh-so-much-more mature! haha), here's a pic of the mommarazzi.

Here's how  modern parents watch their kids sing.

This guy was even double fisting it with two cameras.  Oh my!

Okay, focus, back to the classroom we go.  

Mrs. Dahse handed out certificates to each child (here's our friend Sullivan getting his).

And Abigail got a squeeze and a photo opp with hers. Mrs. Dahse was a fantastic teacher to both my kindergarteners.  We are big fans.

Then we grabbed Isaac for a quick pic.

And a giggle.

On the way home, we popped poppers on the sidewalk.   

And now we're waiting for our dough to rise so we can have pizza and have a movie, game night, family night that is oh-so-long overdue.  (But first a nap...at least for Mommy).

Ah, we finally made it to the end of the school year.  I am looking forward to lots of time with my sweeties this summer.

Heart's Song to God

I am plain ole worn out.  And I have been for quite a while now.  Last night I read this hilarious article by Jen Hatmaker that sums up the school-mom part of my overwhelmed self: Worse End of School Year Mom Ever.  When I read it, I laughed so hard I cried.  I have done all of those things and I am so so very done with all the little "important" things.  Add to that my work commitments, church commitments, social commitments, and family commitments and I pretty much just want to give up altogether.

Two friends of mine recently shared songs they wrote with me, and this morning as I contemplated how used up I feel, I decided that spending time pouring my heart out to God was the best time commitment I could make.  So, although this song has no tune, and it's really just a poem, my heart is singing this to God today:

I've made too many commitments

I have too many cares

God, I know you’re behind me

I fear I’m leaving you there

I feel used up and done

I just want to give up

I can’t keep up much longer

God, can you fill my cup

chorus

Lord, I’ve been here before

and I know what to do

I must choose you first

Let your love pull me through

And what I can’t accomplish

When in man’s eyes I fail

Your grace is enough

Your love still prevails

Help me come to you first

Help me sit at your feet

And pour out my heart

Until you fill it complete

Then the rest seems less urgent

I have peace in my heart

And it’s your love that drives me

As my feet do their part

chorus

Lord, I’ve been here before

and I know what to do

I must choose you first

Let your love pull me through

And what I can’t accomplish

When in man’s eyes I fail

Your grace is enough

Your love still prevails

And then I heard this song in the car.  I have heard it a million times before but this is the first time I really heard it, if you know what I mean.  It's called Sam's Song, by Chris Rice (emphasis mine):

Grass is always greener on the other side
The search is never over in the pastures of my mind
Is the meaning of happiness drowning in smiles
Or that dreadful world I left behind?
O Lord grant the grace to accept who I am
Who I am, that You have designed

I know there’s a plan that you have up your sleeve
Rabbi, teach me the faith to believe
It’s the only way my life will ever make sense to me
Oh, la-da-da, la-da-da, la-da-da

I can never measure, ‘cause better things are all around
I’d be bitter and chained to the beauty I never found
But the strength of my Lord’s love, it shatters the scale
And its depth gives a new peak to climb
And it grants me the grace to accept who I am
Who I am, that You have designed

I know there’s a plan that You have up Your sleeve
Rabbi, teach me the faith to believe
It’s the only way my life will ever make sense to me

And my resting place is taught by love
It’s the only peace I know of . . . oh I know of

So when my heart is beaten by the standard of the law
I just remember Jesus, and I’ve found my favor with God
‘Cause the fire of my Lord’s love it burns up the scale
And its depth gives a new peak to climb
And it grants me the grace to accept who I am
Who I am, that You have designed

And I know there’s a plan that You have up Your sleeve
Rabbi, teach me the faith to believe
It’s the only way my life will ever make sense to me
Oh la-da-da, la-da-da, la-da-da
La-da-da, la-da-da
La-da-da, da-da-da

Oh, God's grace is so good.

Best Buds

This summer, Abby's good friend Madelyn moved to Colorado.

We were sad to see our good friends leave, but very thankful for some new happy memories before they did. 

How cute are they?!

Abby misses you Madelyn and I know you will be forever friends.