Emma - Pre-k Graduation

NO!!!!....but yes.....

Emma graduated pre-k.  The day before we were leaving Walmart and Emma asked me if the next day was her graduation.  I of course said yes and he replied, "oh my gosh I am freaking out!".

The morning started with me getting her dressed in her "fancy" dress.  

We drove to school and I walked her to her classroom and then headed to the auditorium for the presentation.  Mrs. Kunkel opened the graduation with prayer and then we got to observe the kids having chapel as they would every Friday morning.  They sang some amazing songs for us.  One of Emma's favorite's is My God is So Strong...and So Mighty!  She sings that song almost everyday right now and I cannot hear it enough!  After chapel the kids were escorted off the stage and Mrs. Kunkel gave a charge to the parents about raising kids.  It was a great message and I was brought to tears listening to her emotion as she talked about our kiddos.  She loves all of them and truly invests herself along with the teachers in each of them!

Each child was presented with a graduation certificate by their teacher.  Mrs. Kunkel would call them by name to the stage so they could receive their certificate and get a squeeze from their teacher.

There was a very nice reception following graduation so we walked over to take some quick pics before Ben and my parents had to head out.  I stayed for a bit with my girl to take some extra pics and get her changed for her day!

We are so proud Emma and know that she will miss her pre-k friends after this last week of school.  Mrs. Ham and Mrs. Kunkel have been so wonderful to our sweet girl!  She has one week of school left and then BRING ON SUMMER!  I know this summer is going to fly by but I am going to try my very best to be patient, have grace and just take in each moment.

Mother's Day 2018

It's Mother's Day eve so I am writing a little early.  I am sitting in bed while everyone is asleep just taking some time to blog and reflect.  We have been in the Dominion one year as of today, May 12th, and it has truly been a great year.  There were moments of doubt at the beginning for me....more where the kids were concerned.  Now, one year later, I have no doubts.  I know that life has been easier, more relaxed, filled with more time together and just less stress.  Ben has been able to come home for lunch which has not only been great for Emma but good for the two of us as well!  If he doesn't come home we sometimes meet for a quick lunch.  He gets to leave an hour or more later in the morning than he did before.  Everything is closer....just a closer proximity!  Point of me adding my thoughts on this here is it all leads into being a better mother and wife for me.  I love the time we have.....and with the way time seems to be flying by its a blessing.

Emma made me a beautiful Mother's Day flower picture and her teacher made a flower pot for each mom and had the kids decorate it!  It is just so sweet!

Emma has been saying all week that she wants to get me something for Mother's Day so I told her I love milk chocolate.  That was immediately on her list.  Ben already gave me a beautiful James Avery cross necklace that I adore!  Emma said that she wanted me to stay in bed while her, Cash and Ben made me breakfast.  I told her I wanted coffee and asked her if she knew how I liked it.  She said, "no, does daddy know?"....very serious.  Her and Ben ran some errands this morning.  She wanted so bad to tell me what they got me.  It's hard for her to keep secrets like that....which I love because that is so me!  Sweet Cash has been very sick the last few days but as I type this he is on the mend.  He has two basketball games tomorrow that he may be playing in.  He really wants to so we will see how he is feeling.  He really wants to go and I love to watch him play.

So Mother's Day morning started with Hobbs jumping on the bed to wish me a happy Mother's Day!  He was followed by Cash, Emma and Ben.  They let me sleep in a little bit but I was very happy to have  us all in bed together before our day started.  The kids and Ben gave me my Mother's Day gifts.  They gifted me a Nordstrom gc, a Dick's Sporting Good's gc and two nice bottles of cab!  I am workout clothes obsessed, love Nordstrom's....and of course good wine!  I have to be diligent in shopping for myself as I usually end up shopping for E.  :)  My most precious gift is a letter Ben gave to me.  As I was reading the tears started flowing.  His love is endless and precious.

Cash was feeling better but still coughing terribly so we decided he needed to stay home.  Ben made me a pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs.  He will say I did the majority of it but what I loved is just us all being in the kitchen together enjoying the morning.  Not running in all different directions, no-one in a hurry...just a quiet Sunday morning together.

The day was very relaxing!!  Ben headed to the gym after breakfast, I did some things around the house, and we grabbed lunch at Willie's.  After lunch E and I went to the grocery store and did a little shopping.  Cash stayed at home trying to relax.   That evening we met my parents for dinner at Antler's.  I was very thankful my dad felt good enough to go out to eat and that I got to see my mom on Mother's Day!  Great food and even better company!

My cup definitely runneth over!  I am blessed beyond words to be Ben's wife and a mom to Cash and Emma!  Thank God!

RV overnighter in Bandera...and a day in Fredericksburg

Emma and Ben were supposed to attend a Father Daughter dance at the club but it was canceled as there were only two dads that rsvp'd.  So we decided to take the RV for a short overnight trip.  I found this park right outside Bandera that looked pretty cute online.  We stopped in Bandera and ate at Brick's River Cafe.  We have eaten there a couple of times and its actually pretty good!  Its behind the old motel there so while first impressions are not great the food is fairly good.  We left the RV parked at the motel and walked over to the only grocery store in Bandera.  It used to the Super S.  We grabbed some food and snacks for the evening and then headed to the park.

When we drove up they had some exotics and long horns.  The were eager to greet us!

We went to the playground shortly after we got there and got situated.  Emma started up one of the entrances to the playground equipment and stumbled upon this cutie.  (I use the word cutie loosely as I am not a fan of cats)  This kitty wasn't afraid of us at all nor bothered that we were there disturbing his/her nap.  Hobbs was with us to and even him being there didn't seem to bother it.   There were a few cats running around the place which I figured were for rodent purposes.  One of them came right up to Ben and Emma.  Up until this point Emma was a huge fan of cats!  So she was super excited that one of them was so friendly.  It was going in and out of her legs until.....it decided to take give her a little nibble on the leg.  Its fair to say she is no longer a fan of cats! (Thank goodness)

 After our first park visit we dropped Hobbs off at the RV before going to the pool and this is immediately what he did when we walked in!  Hot and tired!

In between our park visits we went to the pool.  We knew it would be cold but thought the kids may enjoy swimming regardless.  They are much more resilient than we are in our "older" age.  Emma seemed to enjoy it a little more than Cash as he decided instead of freezing he would go shoot some baskets.  There was a wedding going on while we were at the pool so we could see the ceremony as it was happening.  Emma like watching the bride and groom come back up the aisle as husband and wife.  

Back at the park for a bit before heading in for dinner.  We grilled out and made smore's!

I love this picture of Ben!  So handsome and such a true reflection. 

After dinner we took a walk and bike ride over to the river entrance and walked down to the river.  In between the screeching and jumping it was really peaceful.  To say the least the kids and I are not exactly the outdoor type!  I did capture this picture which I thought was not only perfect for where we were but it was a reminder that God is everywhere!  

Emma and I don't know how to ride bikes.  Yes...I did as a kid but the old saying "its just like riding a bike" is NOT always true!  I have no idea what happened to my bike riding skills but they are gone.  I have set a goal to not only ensure Emma knows how to ride a bike before our Thanksgiving trip with the Leavelle's in November but that I do to!!!!

We all slept pretty good and got up the next morning to head back into SA.  We decided last minute to head to Fredericksburg for the day.  We stopped in Helotes for breakfast and then off to Fredericksburg!  

Hobbs' permanent spot when Ben is driving!

I have pics of the kids playing at this city park in Fredericksburg when Emma was not even 2 yet!  She has gotten a little braver and Cash a little (sarcasm) taller!  

 We stopped for ice-cream at our favorite spot on Main St.  Same booth a few years apart.

Our last stop before lunch at Auslanders was James Avery.  They have a store right on Main so we popped in and walked out with everyone but Ben getting a trinket.  Cash wanted a cross necklace and ironically so did I.  Mother's Day came early and so did one of Emma's birthday presents.  Ben wanted to get her a charm bracelet to start adding meaningful charms to as she grows.  So we got a bracelet and the first charm she chose was a butterfly!  Its just precious and will grow with her!

We ended our day in Fredericksburg with one quick stop at the playground again and I was able to get one of my two kiddos to stop and take a pictures in the beautiful garden!