When the Baby Graduates ...

... apparently it is a big deal. Daddy got work off, Marissa and Aaron were both checked out of school, and Mom took a kazillion pictures. The first thing Krystal said when she woke up graduation morning was, "Mom - today is my BIG day." And then shortly after - "I can't wait to see what you got me for my graduation present!" Uuuuuuuuh -- CRAP!!! -- are kindergarten graduates suppose to get a present?!? Well, I had not gotten her one. Thank heavens her Dad had picked up some pink and purple flowers for her. Spoiled, I tell ya. ;)

 

All smiles ... some things never change.  ;)

 

Here's one of my favorite songs that they sang:

Krystal and her tall friends!  haha!

Mrs. Barnett is the best teacher available.  LOVE her!!  And we, of course, love Miss Aeryn - the best friend forever - in our family!  She and Krystal have BIG plans to spend their Summer days together.

 

Krystal's kindergarten buddies.  Cute girlies!

And now presenting .... Krystal the first grader!!!!  She requested tacos for her graduation dinner. 

 

Where does the time go?

Krystal "Digs" her Garden

Krystal's one request from us for her 6th birthday was her own garden ... strawberries, peas, tomatoes, and carrots .... to be exact.  So seeds and a shovel she got.  She has been pestering me every day since April 12th to please PLEASE get her garden going!  In the mean time - she was by my side EVERY time I was out in the yard weeding and getting the soil more and more ready.  She's quite the good worker.  I'm grateful I can count on her to help me pull weed after weed after weed after weed after weed after weed after weed after weed after weed .... (ya get the jist, yeah?)  :o/!

FINALLY - the rain died down enough that this little plot was not just mud and was all ready.  She helped me build a little "frame" out of rocks for each of her plants - and she planted away:  strawberries, peas, tomatoes, and carrots.  

Looking pretty proud!

She is out there every day making sure there are no new weeds sprouting and that they are well watered.

OH, how I hope those peas and carrots grow for her!

This girl really digs gardening and yard work!

Wishin' for Summer! (or even a steady Spring would be fine)

These pictures were taken before school was out for these girls, but the weather was just too rainy to be outside, so they have "inside picnics" and build forts:

Here's hoping that Summer weather is right around the corner!  We want LOTS of warm days in a row!!

Sibling Rivalry ...

 ... but, by the looks of these pictures - you'd never know!  :)

These kids really DO love each other and get along quite remarkably well.  

They look out for each other too.

 

And - this is officially the end of all the pictures I got.  :)

My Missy Dee Dee

So grown up!!  I'm reminded by her "teenager-ness" daily as she challenges pretty much everything I say.  :)

I think Marissa looks a lot like her Grandma Jenson as she is becoming a young lady!

 

I love that she texts me several times throughout the day, and she's constantly cheering Aaron and Krystal on in whatever they are doing.

This girl is a family girl and a homebody!  She just likes us to all be together.  She's always organizing some complex game for the kids to play, and she is our go-to for help and support.  I'm probably more excited than she is about her getting a driver's license in a few years!  ;)

 

We love our Miss Deeders!

Aaron-Aaron-Bo-Baaron-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Faaron-Me-My-Mo-Maaron! AARON!

This kid is the still between the storms.  I am so lucky to have gotten him between my two drama queens.  He is calm and collected, sensitive and sweet, friendly and talented, kicked back and goofy ... oh, and VERY handsome.

He can make Krystal smile when her world seems to be coming to an end.  He'll step in and help Marissa finish her chores when she's overwhelmed with homework.  He's patient.  SO patient - so much like his dad it fills my whole heart and soul!

Gotta love his funky eye color.  I bet there are not too many people that can say they have "yellow-ish"/green eyes!  They get less yellow and more green every year, but I have LOVED those yellow stars that have worked their way across his eyes.  Gorgeous.

 

These girls are so lucky to have him.  I'M lucky to have him!

My, Oh My - Sweet Krystal Pie

My sassy, sweet, gorgeous girly!

She was giggling so hard on this picture on the right, because "apparently" she has a boyfriend that she's keeping a secret.  :)

 

Krystal was cracking us up, because she kept poppin' out her hip with her hand on it.  It was cute, and I love this picture because of it:

My baby's got blue eyes!  Of course, Aaron and Marissa both had blue eyes until they were four-ish.  But, Krystal is six - and they're still very blue.  I hope they'll stay.  

 

These guys love each other so much - and are so good to each other (mostly).  They have a very special bond - there is no doubt that they were meant to be here on earth together.

:)  Lots more to come!

Love These Kiddos!

After a bit of research, and a 10% off recommendation - I had Tyler save up $125.00 to have these beautiful pictures of my kiddos taken for Mother's Day.  I'm so happy with how they turned out.  The photographer www.kristinacurtisphotography.blogspot.com took over 300 pictures, and then I got to choose about 40 of them.  The kids had fun too!

Check out these cuties:

I really love this old barn in Mapleton that served as our backdrop.  What a cool place!

 

It was totally overcast ... and quite cold, but this day was (thankfully) the best day of the week.  Krystal lasted about an hour and twenty minutes - and then she was all tears 'cuz she was freezing.  She was a trooper, and Kristina got some BIG smiles outta her.  :D!

Lots more to come!  It's been fun decorating my house with all the photos - it's HARD to choose which ones to use!