YOU KNOW YOU'RE A MOM...IF YOU ANNOUNCE YOU ARE TAKING A SHOWER

Mother's Day weekend kicked off with a Mother's Day Tea at Nolan's school.  It was darling!  The kids had a performance, singing sweet songs to their moms.  The tables were set up so cute and we sipped on pink lemonade, and munched on fresh veggies, fruit, cheese & pretzel sticks, and shortbread cookies made by my favorite 5 year old.  Nolan made a placemat for me.  On one side was a watercolor painted vase with flowers, and on the other was a list of things called all about mom(which melted my heart when I read them!)  *things like "My mom is as pretty as a jewel necklace, she makes the best spaghetti, her favorite thing to do with me is snuggle and watch a movie, it bugs my mom when I don't get ready for school ;), I would not trade my Mom for anything!  Not even for all the things in my room."  Too cute!

Mother's Day...was simple, sweet, and pretty much like any other day, I mean let's get real, life as a mom with 3 young children doesn't stop because it says mother's day on the calendar.  We had a nice family day.  A few things from the card Shane got me...gave me a good laugh~
~In a perfect world...
~ our house would clean itself.
~The kids would eat all of their vegetables and whatever else you put in front of them, without any complaints.
~The bills would be taken care of by a generous donor
~You'd have a husband who brought you breakfast in bed each day...
OK. Back.  To.  Reality!
*My other favorite gift was from Liv.  She made me a little book called Remember When... 
There were things in it like remember when you took me to get my ears pierced, when we baked our Christmas cookies and fudge, when we went to the Oregon coast?  She ended it with "I love making memories with you!  Love, Noodle

I am one loved, proud, blessed Mama!

Mother's Day Tea with my boy.

He was so proud of his cookies =)

Kindergarten Buddies.

These little guys have become a connected group during this school year.

Brother love!  It was HoT last Friday.  We were on our way back from a Kindergarten playdate at our neighbors.  They drove over, gator style =) 

Noods on Mother's Day.  Love those blues!

This little monkey was taking shelter under our pup tent during Nolan's soccer game.

This is rare!  A photo with the kids and I, and everyone looking at the camera.  Wish Shane would have been in it...but he was snapping this photo. 

Sweet punky sleeping away on me.

S-U-P-E-R Saturday!

Here is our day...in pictures. 

Soccer Saturday for NJP~sweet little buddies Landon, and Addy.

Leo playing with his "see see" sissy =)

Our little helping hand =)  He loves loading this thing up during yard work=CUTIE!

...more helping tiny hands, we potted these flowers.

We have another tinker on our hands...this is Nolan's collection.  He loves to explore outside.

*Not from today, but my favorite picture of the week.  My fave 5 yr old small boy napping on his Mama.  This is the same boy that on his way home from school this week said"Ahh, this is the life!  I could just sit outside and relax in a chair, sunglasses on, drink coconut water, and listen to my radio."  Ha...haha.  It was clearly a nice day in the 70's.  He makes me belly laugh daily...I love his verbiage, and imagination!  

What a day, was a nice family day, chaos and all. We always end our Saturday with a movie night with the big kids. Our favorite weekend tradition. So off I go for some much needed snuggles, & R&R with my sweet faces...and to watch Wreck it Ralph!

*Post Movie night=Sleeping Babes!

It was a GREAT day!
I.  Love.  My.  Family!
Goodnight!

Some GOOD news...

We are proud land owners!  We bought a lot out North & are so very happy about this!  God once again orchestrated something completely unexpected and wonderful for our family.  More to come on this later.  For now, here are a couple of pictures of our children standing on the site of our future home(that Shane will build=so fun!)

It really is everything we have prayed about and needed as far as a lot.  It's 4x's the size of our current lot.  It's the perfect location, school Dist, is builder Shane ready, and more.

 This journey and new chapter, to be continued...

NJP Updates

Nolan=the energizer bunny!  This little lad moves at 100 mph nearly 24/7!  He is a character, still loves hard, fights hard, is learning so much, is curious about e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.  As soon as his eyelids open, he is ready to talk your ear off, and already has a list of questions to ask =)  That's what makes him Nolan. 
Wanted to share some of the pictures from his Spring program last week, as well as some other random pictures that make me laugh.  It was pretty sweet to hear him practice his songs for the program.  Jesus paid it all was one of the songs they sang.  It's one of my favorites and to hear Nolan sing it with a sweet little voice melted my heart.  I love his school, he loves his school,  I love his teacher, he loves his teacher, as well as the staff!  We are cherishing this next couple of months, because next year he will be in school all/full day...and I still can't think about it.  This.  Will.  Be.  HARD.  For.  Me!
Something from last week~
Leo was whining, he loves our phones and cameras and if he sees them, cries because he wants.  So Nolan says "Leo you're not always going to get what you want always, it's life!"  Hahaha...so true Nolan J. Patrick!  Oh how I love you!


Counting out 100 pieces of popcorn for his 100th day of school project.  Um ya the ear protectors, so we borrowed them from the Herzogs when Nolan went to the Monster Truck show with his cousins...but he liked just wearing them at home too, because he's a goofball! 

Yep, there's ALWAYS a random picture on our camera taken by NJP~he took this of his (stuffed animal)dog Tucker.

100th Day of school!  Was a comfy cozy, stay in your jammies day.  We made 100 pancakes & other breakfast food.  Was a fun day for the kids!

Nolan often puts a bucket on his head for a helmet, or better yet, makes them out of boxes.  He's resourceful!

My little hunk~looking rather dashing buddy!

Getting ready to head out for his Spring Program!

Kindergarten BoYz!

Nolan and Sweet Emily~so....Nolan adores this little girl, and she adores him.  Shane and I went to H.S. with her Mom, Shane knew her well.  We keep teasing that we'll pull this photo out for their wedding ;)

They ask to have play dates, and wait for each other in the morning so they can line up together~so darn cute!

We didn't get a family picture :(  Leo was sick this night and well, the evening didn't turn out quite as planned.  Such is life right?  ;)

I am sure I get my good looks from my Papa Jerry...

who watches down on me from Heaven!
This is a picture of Shane's Dad(Jerry Bruce Lofstedt) when he was 18 months old. 

Below is Leo at the exact same age!

And this is Leo at the exact same age, when he turned 18 months! It's so sweet~you can see where Leo gets his curls, eyes/eyebrow shape, his smile, his mouth, his look in general! It melts my heart to see the strong similarities! I know it has touched Shane's deeply, as well as his Mom's, sisters, and anyone else who knew his father.

Wish we could have met him! Shane, Shawna, and Dianne have the best stories to share. Shane has always said his Dad was his Hero, and I can understand why when I hear about him, when I see pictures and videos of him.  A hero indeed~he was also a pilot in the Air Force and served our country!  One of the best gifts Shane's Mama has continued to give him are old videos from his younger years in life.  They are a wonderful collaboration of different life, family, friend events.  She has put in so much to create these!  It's taken so much work, because she's transferred hours upon hours of VHS videos onto Cd's. Priceless, and we love to watch them, especially the kids! We often explain to the children that they will meet him one day in Heaven. Until then, he knows they are here on Earth, and he watches over them.  Life can be so unfair!
*By the way, Leo is inching towards 20 months~EEK!!! These pictures are a couple months old, at 18 months, which shows you how behind on am on pictures, & blogging!

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Bringing back Calgon...

Oh how I remember this commercial growing up, lol! My brother Noel is currently working on a set design today in LA for the new Calgon commercial...that's right ladies, they're bringing it back. What woman doesn't love soaking in a tub full of Calgon Turquoise Seas? Gave me a good laugh!