Emma and the Credit Union

Last week, we dropped in to see Poppy at work at the credit union. There were no customers at the time and, as usual, Emma and Jacob had a grand old time. Emma likes to eat the chewy candies Poppy keeps on the counter, make copies, sit on the counter, spray the Febreeze air freshener, and stamp her hand with the "Deposit Only" stamper. Jacob pretty much has his way with the place- climbing on everything, pulling on wires (one time disabling Poppy's modem), running around, "unfiling", reaching in the trash can, and spinning in Poppy's office chair.

On this visit, Emma happened to have Casey's camera with her and took about 80 pictures of things she found fascinating at the credit union- her feet, about 10 of the ceiling tiles, multiple shots of every artifical plant, all the signs, posters, area rugs, the door, and some crazy shots that included a shot down Poppy's throat and one of hers as well. What a fun time she had!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Zachary!

My Day with Casey

Casey and I spent some quality time together yesterday. We shopped for new summer clothes and shoes, had lunch, and came home to garden. While Emma had helped plant lettuce, broccoli, and tomatoes in the vegetable garden a few days back, Casey helped plant some cucumbers, hot peppers (for her dad), green beans, carrots, and onions. Then we planted a tomato plant in the Topsy Turvy upside-down tomato grower that the kids got me for Mother's Day. Followed by filling our flower pots with an assortment of colorful annuals (and some bell peppers thrown in to try to confuse the deer who always eat them in the garden). At the end of the day, she was one tired kid!

Crazy Kids!

I was lucky enough to be a chaperone for Casey's class field trip to Piney Run Nature Center last week. We hiked some trails while doing a scavenger hunt, had a fun picnic outside, played on the playground, and learned about all kinds of fun things from the naturalist. I had a great group to chaperone, the "Jillson girls" as they called themselves- Isabel, Najee, Delilah, Emily, and, of course, Casey.

Here is Casey posing while balancing 11 hats on her head! You'll be happy to know she can also walk backwards and in a circle without losing one!

Chris and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's production of Kooza when it was in town (which we highly recommend!) and brought home crazy Kooza glasses for the girls...

This picture doesn't do Jacob's bedhead justic. He's got a mane of curls on the sides and back of his head (not sure why the top front is stick straight). As it's growing out, the curls get wilder and wilder and he wakes up with a giant blond Afro. It's a great laugh when he beats me awake (most days) and I drag myself out of bed and go in to get him. The picture would have only been better had I captured the giant snot bubble that he wiped on my pants just before the shot was taken (then this blog would be totally devoid of any class, I know).

And, lastly, our Little Man loves opening, closing, emptying, and playing in (you noticed, I didn't say putting stuff back in) the kitchen cupboards. (Some days, we're not really sure why we have toys.) Most have child locks on them, but we've left some for him to explore. Of course, he has figured out how to open most of the child locks. The other day I was throwing some clothes in the wash while he was busy playing, very intently, in the family room. Next thing I know, he's sitting in front of one of the "locked" cupboards, opened, with a lap and mouth full of pretzels (choking hazard) and the blade from my smoothie blender in his lap. Lesson learned...no dangerous things in the low cupboards...even when they're locked! (Thankfully he didn't choke on a pretzel or slice off any limbs.) Guess the "Mom of the Year" committe won't be knocking on my door this year!

Emma's Last Day of School

Today marked the end of Emma's first year of preschool. With an October birthday, she was one of the older (and wiser!) kids in her preschool class. This year, she made new friends, made lots of art and crafts, sang songs, learned important school lessons (sharing, cleaning up, standing in line, raising your hand, listening to the teacher, etc.), and had lots of opportunities to learn about colors, families, seasons, weather, animals, and God. In nice weather, her class of 14 2 and 3 year olds dutifully held onto a knotted rope (one child per knot and a teacher at each end and in the middle) and walked out to the small, fenced-in little kids playground. All the kids were anxiously awaiting the day they could play on the BIG playground, where the older classes play. Well, today was the day! We had the end-of-the-year party outside at the big playground with all of her school friends and their families. The weather was beautiful and the kids had a wonderful time playing with each other and playing on the BIG playground!

And, they dutifully said their last prayer of the school year together before they ate (even if they were scattered about the playground).

Thanks to my kids...

Casey has been looking forward to Mother's Day for at least two weeks. She gets so excited to give me her hand-made cards, pictures, and gifts that she's been secretly hiding in her closet. They are better than any gift money could buy (sorry, Chris, you're flowers are beautiful nonetheless). But, little does she know that she, and Emma and Jacob, give me wonderful gifts every day- gifts that are only possible because I'm their mom.

Thanks to my kids for...

...showing me the beauty in dandilions (they're only weeds if you don't want them),

...sharing with me your wonder with rocks and sticks and clouds and worms and ants (but not the ones that have taken up residence in our foyer),

...letting me feel like your hero when I fix a boo-boo with a Hello Kitty band-aid and a kiss,

...wanting me to snuggle in bed with you at night, "pretty please",

...butterfly and Eskimo kisses (also forehead kisses, cheek kisses, chin kisses, and elbow kisses- Emma),

...giving me a second chance in life to enjoy the smell of new Play-Doh, Barbies, blowing bubbles, and swinging,

...showing me that rain and snow are not messy hassles but fun puddle and snowman makers,

...giving me a front row seat to all of your firsts- first steps, first words, first day of school, first time riding a two-wheeler, first roller coaster ride,

...singing silly songs with me in the van (I'm Bringin' Home a Baby Bumble Bee, Lollipop, Lollipop),

...reading with me- letting me read to you and now, with Casey, reading to me (gotta love Junie B. Jones and Cam Jansen!),

...giggling and acting silly, when it's both appropriate and not,

...making me feel so special with your happiness to see me when you get off the bus, when I pick you up from school, when I come home from the store, or, with Jacob, when I come in to rescue you from your crib in the morning,

...your unconditional love, even on bad hair days or days when I'm feeling fat or sad or cranky.

I'm so happy to be your Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to all the great Moms I know.

Miss you, Mom.

Emma and the Brownie Babies

Yesterday Emma and I tested out a new recipe, Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Babies. I need to make a dessert to take to the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon at Casey's school on Friday and we thought this sounded particularly yummy. Emma was a big help adding ingredients, mixing......and cleaning up!

Well, the kids (and Chris, who ate 3 of them for lunch today) gave the brownie babies a thumbs up for yumminess.

Then, today, Chris and I noticed Emma had brown goo all over her teeth and asked what she was eating (as if we didn't know). I asked her if she had asked permission before she ate one. In classic "Emma" and without missing a beat, she smiled a big, brown, gooey smile and replied, "I asked myself and myself said yes." How can you argue with that?

Family

We all value the time we get to spend with our family. The girls, especially, love spending time with their grandparents and Pop.

Three generations of Jillson boys- Bill, Chris, and Jacob