3

Happy Birthday to my sweet, spunky, little blue eyed girl.

I love you so much Livi Grace, and for so many reasons. You always know how to put a smile on Mama's face. You can show me one of your ever famous dance moves, sing a little Kesha or Katie Perry, or ride around giggling away in your pink Escalade with the wind blowing through your hair. You can share your nuky with me when I am sleepy, play dolly's with me for hours, give me a kiss or just snuggle up nice and close and watch Dora with me. Whatever it is you do, you make me so happy to be your Mama.

I love you to the Moon, to the Sun and to the Stars Olivia Grace Shelton.

Love, Mama

JUMP!

My little monkeys are really loving the trampoline we bought last year. Actually, I should say, the trampoline they bought last year. Yes, they saved and saved, checked under cushions, couches, beds and any other place they could think of for loose change, and emptied out every last penny from their piggy banks to make this purchase possible. And let me tell you, it was worth all of their hard work. They spend time jumping, flipping, twirling and doing all sorts of other tricks on that trampoline every single day. Not to mention, all their neighbor friends think it is the coolest thing ever, which makes my monkeys beam with pride.

It is just plain old cool seeing your kids work hard to save their own money, purchase something they have dreamed of having for two summers, and seeing how very proud they are of themselves in the end. It makes this Mama beam with pride too.

PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

My Anthony Thomas had his very last day of preschool a few weeks back, and it honestly brought me to tears. I am not certain as to why, as this didn't happen to me when Ava left Sunny Hill, or when Lucas left either. Olivia will be starting school there this fall and Nathan will be following right behind her in a few years, so it's not like it's the last I will see of this wonderful school and those amazing teachers.

Whatever the case, it was a bittersweet day.

I cried, he asked what was wrong, I said nothing, that Mama was just happy and excited for him, he asked why, I said because he will be starting kindergarten in the fall, he said "No WaY", I said he would like it, he cried and said he wanted to stay at Sunny Hill, I said he couldn't but that we were going to have a party for him for being such a big boy and graduating preschool, he went from crying to laughing and jumping up and down in excitement for his "party" and all was well. WhEw. Talk about emotional.

Very last time singing the Goodbye song...

One last picture out front of school....

A special kiss for brother Nathan....

Pizza party to celebrate this memorable occasion....

His very favorite meal - of course without the cheese and toppings....

A few gifts on graduation day....

Fun with chalk and sidewalk paint, that he shared ever so graciously with his brothers and sisters...



Another big milestone met for my Anthony - with many more to come.

TEDDY BEAR PARK

We have finally been getting some nice weather here in the frozen tundra - aka Minnesota, and this is seriously heaven sent. I swear, the winters in this lovely state have been slowly getting worse and worse over the past 4 years. They are getting so bad that I have actually contemplated packing everyone up, convincing the Mr. to sell the Marinas, and moving someplace - anyplace - where it is warm year round.

Anyway, now that the weather is warm, one of our most favorite parks has opened. The ever popular Teddy Bear Park. Needless to say, the kids were thrilled when I told them we were going to head there for the very first time this summer.

We played on all the fun play sets,

tried out the "zip line",

played in the tunnel,

Climbed the ever popular rock walls,

hung out some more in the tunnel,

zipped down the log slides,

played a little peek-a-boo at the bottom of the tree,

took a time out to drool a little,

rounded everyone up for a little eeny, meeny, miney, mo for a game of hide and seek,

Took turns jumping off of the rock walls - WEeEeeeeEEE!!

Ready, set......

GO!!

Took some time out to have a chat with the Teddy Bear on site,

And didn't forget to snuggle up nice a close to him for a bit too.

Of course, everyone had a great time, and no one wanted to leave. Especially Anthony.

We love Teddy Bear Park.