Another Step

Elle graduated from Trooper School! As Ms. Christine said, "This year has gone by fast." I agree. Where has the time gone! This was the largest graduating class with 16 kids going on to Kindergarten and a mere five returning.



This event was WAY harder than I expected. I choked through tears as Elle accepted her award for MOST CREATIVE, and the tears started flowing as a watched the end-of-year slideshow. I think what got me the most was the love that the High School kids have for my child (as well as the entire class). In fact Elle didn't want to come sit by me and Zander for the slide show, she wanted to stay with Miss Suzy. My emotions were somewhat attached to the Graduating Seniors who were also crying. My High School graduation was bitter-sweet, and those memories were inter-mixed with watching the first of many graduation days for Elle. I know this is a big change for all parties involved. For the Seniors it is moving on to College and losing touch with all the friends they have made along the way, for the Trooper kids it is beginning a different school and new friends to be made, and for me it is watching my little girl grow-up way too fast and starting school with the big kids this fall.

The graduation ceremony was held in the girls' gym.

Ms. Christine is the teacher who runs the program. She does an amazing job of teaching kids both big and small.

Miss Suzy

Miss Natalie

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. My kids were tolerable at church and Elle even went to Primary without a complaint. Awesome! Zander still hates nursery and won't go WHAT-SO-EVER, so Jed stayed with him the whole time.


This little girl gave me the best present a Mom could ask for. On our way home from pre-school Thursday, she was in her carseat and out of the blue says, "Mom, do you know how I got so smart?" Me: "How Elle?" "Because you teach-ed (that's how she says it) me!" So sweet. It made my day, especially because after that morning I was ready to ship her off to military school! She made some pretty cute things at school for me.

Jed couldn't have captured a more perfect picture. If you wonder what I look like most of the time---this would be it. Holding Zander in one hand and Elle at my knee. Only most of the time she is boobin' over something. But, not today!

So here is a funny story that happened today. I found the humor in it just because it is Mother's day. I found this dress at the store yesterday and fell in love with it. Finally, a dress with sleeves, covers more than my boody (Elle's alternative word for Butt) and I love the color. It reminds me of that blue Czech glassware that is found in the finest hotels in the world (A.K.A. Ritz-Carlton. I guess working for them did brainwash me a bit.) Anyway, people kept commenting that I looked so good in this dress and just loved the color. So of course that boosts your self-esteem some. When I got home and was changing out of it, I noticed something white on the backside of my dress. And guess what is was? Dried yogurt. Since church starts so bloody early in the morning we didn't have much time for breakfast so I brought a yogurt to feed Zander at church. He left the lid on the seat and yours truly must have sat up against it!! Fabulous right! How many people saw it and said nothing???!!!

Anyway, got to love being a mom. Even if it means having dried yogurt on your boody!

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow members of the club...and the soon to be ones. (That's you Maren!)