And Here it is

The Lovely Promotion Diploma!

Paige,

I am so proud of you! I stil feel like it was just last year that you were entering Kindergarten. I cried that day as I watched you walk into the elementary doors so excited to start school, you never even looked back with a tear..you were so happy. Just about as happy as I was last night watching you graduate from the 8th grade. Where has all this time gone?? I can't beleive that you are now headed into High School! I'm so happy for you, yet I am so sad at the same time. I'm sad that I only have 4 years left & then you will be off to college or off to pursue whatever it is you want in life when your done with high school. I'm sad because 8 years had gone by so fast that I know the next 4 will seem like lightning speed.

Middle School has been such a trying time for you & you have struggled so much with all the changes & pressures you have faced. I know how hard it has been for you to try and make the right choices when alot of your other peers have been going in directions that weren't always the best ones. I always thought Jr. High was the hardest for me & I think it very well may have been for you too. You should be very proud of yourself that you have made it through.

As you go into High School I hope that you do the same thing, stay confident in yourself & true to your beliefs. I want so much more for you then I ever had. The next 4 years are going to be some of the best years of your life, enjoy it, cherish it & make the best of it...it will be over before you know it.

You amaze me with your talents, your ability to let the little things go (I admire you for this, I could learn alot from you!)and your determination to please people. You do such great things for your friends & your family. Whatever you decide to do once you are out of high school, I know that you will be great at it! Your given talents for drawing & singing come so freely & easily for you, the world is an open book for you to do whatever it is you want to do...it's up to you.

Your Dad & I are so proud of you & we love you so much! You're different from the rest of the kids, I have a different bond with you because I wasn't but 2 years older then you when I had you. Please know, that when I snoop, pry or get scared or mad when you do certain things; it's simply because I am terrified. There are more things out there now then there was when I was your age, if I can give you any advice it would simply be this: Stay true to you! YOU are amazing! I love you so much and you can't imagine how proud I am of you!

Enjoy Highschool!!

The Family...

The 2 little girls are my nieces (Jake & Hayley's kids) Alliana is the baby & Annalese is the older girl. Aren't they adorable!!

Celebrating it with Family

We arrived at the School and were met by all of our close relatives. Jake & Hayley with their 2 kids, Grandma & Grandpa Morgan also came with Whitney. It was wonderful to share this night with our family. The speakers were good & shared their wisdom with the 2013 graduating class. Paige was one of the Chamber Singers & they began the ceremony with a beautiful song. (I did record the song, but the lady in front of us was a loud mouth & wouldn't shut up so she is all you heard!!)

After the ceremony, we all headed to the Olive Garden for a late dinner & hung out. It was an ending to a great night!

All Ready fo the Big Night...

As I was getting her ready I was in Aww at how grown she really is. It makes my heart melt to see her so independent & so excited to get dressed up for a night of celebrating her accomplishments. Once we were ready to leave to go meet the family, I could see the sadness in Ty's eyes. He still see's her as the little girl who used to talk about animals & play in the dirt until she was brown head to toe, now all she talks about is Boys & wouldn't play in the dirt to save her life since it would mess up her make-up. She's grown up so fast.

Preparing for the Big Night

One of the things she was the most excited about was getting her hair done. I must tell you that THIS was the highlight of her day! (guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) Miss Paige got to be Pampered by none other then, The Best Hair dresser in Prescott, Sam. Sam did an amazing job & had paige looking beautiful by the end of the appointment...Thanks Sam! As always, you do an amazing job! Paige kept saying what an awesome salon it was & now she wants to be a hair dresser instead of going to culinary school..LOL.

Kyla's DARE Graduation

With Kyla's 5th grade year coming to an end, last night was the DARE graduation for the 5th grade class. Being that it has been a LOOOOONNNNGGGG time since I was in 5th grade, I didn't realize they studied the program with the police officer all year long. I had always remembered it being a short program that maybe lasted a couple of weeks. This officer was stationed at the school 1 day a week, all year long.

He was very involved in their recess time, lunch periods & general learning. On a personal level, I think it is amazing that our schools today can focus so much time & NEEDED attention addressing this very important issue.

I thought the drug, alcohol & cigarette issue was large when I was in school, I'm scared to accept the fact that it is such a more widespread issue today. when the girls talk to me about Meth, I'm amazed & shocked about how much they know. Luckily for our girls, we are a VERY open family & hold no topics back from them. Knowledge is power & hopefully they will learn from our mistakes.

Stay tuned for more updates to come...busy busy week ahead with the kiddos! Paige's graduation is next Tuesday!!!!

How sweet...

As usual, the twins were so excited to show me their handmade mothers day cards sunday morning. They both came ripping around the corner (racing to be the 1st as always..for the record..Lexa won)they were both so proud of their perfect little piece of art. Tyler's hand written poem brought tears to my eyes, since what he wrote was so true. They were all so beautiful I had to share. Kyla made handmade paper, anyone remember making paper in school?? I told her she HAS to show me how to make it again, what a neat idea for any project! These will definetly be added to my little box keepsakes. I hope everyone had a great mothers day!!

Mother's Day...

It's always been a bit funny to me that we have a 'Mother's Day' Holiday. Hallmark Holiday for sure. Maybe it's a good thing that we have a Mother's Holiday, right? I mean really, we are amazing creatures & should be noticed & appreciated for ONE day a year, you agree?!

I love how excited my kids & husband get when they do something special for me, even the little things that they know for sure I will LOVE. I always find it hard to be 'taken care of' since 'taking care of' is all I know how to do. I know one day I will miss these days of handmade cards, burnt breakfast & funky folded laundry(most of the things they do for me on moms day). I love being Mom! (Given the day)

Happy Mother's day everyone!!

~~I'de like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids

~~Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body

~~A Mothers love perceives no impossibilities, Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible

~~There are only 2 lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings

~~Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother

~~when you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself & once for her children

~~Some are kissing mothers & some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same and most mothers kiss & scold together

~~Insanity is heredity; you get it from your children

~~Setting a good example for your children takes the fun out of middle age