Our first

We attended our first graduation...Preschool graduation, that is!  Nora had her preschool graduation a couple weeks ago. Yep, Nora is going to be in KINDERGARTEN next year, AWESOME!! Anyway, It was ADORABLE!!  Seriously, they had little caps with tassels and everything!  When she first walked on stage she was SOOOOO excited to see us, which totally made my day.  I know, I am such a mother...LOL! 

When she sat down she started to blow everyone kisses...it was precious and TOTALLY her!  She is such  a ham!  I'm seriously going to have to get her into some type of stage performance activities as she gets older.

During the ceremony they showed a little slide show of all the graduates and their classmates during the year.  It was REALLY cute!  It just made me realize that she is growing up.  She is developing her own life with friend and activities that that I am just not going to be a part of.  So sad in one way, yet exciting in another.  I can't wait to see how she grows, how her personality grows, how her relationships grow.

Nora getting her "Diploma"!

While they were handing out diplomas Nora struck up a convo with another little girl.  Always the social butterfly.  I couldn't help but take a picture of it.

Dadd is so proud!!  OK, so everyone thinks she looks JUST like  me, but come on, you've got to see that she looks just like the Bolinger side...anyone?

 

Hey,  who is that Lady?  I don't see her  much on this blog...WAIT, that's ME!  I forget what I look like b/c I'm always behind the camera...haha!  I guess Elise didn't get the memo that we were all looking at the camera. :)

Nora and her teachers, Mrs. Carrie and Mrs. Kim.  They are AWESOME teachers.  I truly felt that Nora was loved and cared for throughout the year!  I highly recommend KDO at Crosschurch.  I have nothing but wonderful experiences with their staff.  Oh, and I almost forgot about her little friend, Jack (or Jack Jack, as she called him). Nora just loves him to PIECES!!

Nora and another one of her girlfriends, Alyssa! They are both energetic fun little girls!  It is fun to watch them interact.  She also has a sister who is in Audrey's class, so they are a perfect playdate family for us. :)

Each student had a little paper cutout of them on the wall around the room.  This is Nora with her cutout.  We took it home and put it on her bedroom wall and BOTH Wade and I have been freaked out by it when we've walked into her room at night.  You just see it out of the corner of your eye and it scares you a little...LOL!

 All in all, it was a fun evening.  We went out to eat as a family afterwards and Nora got to pick where we went.  She picked a Chinese buffet!  Funny, Huh?

Mother's Day Special...

So, It's Mothers Day today so I, of course, am trying to take some time to blog.  Sometimes I'm GREAT at blogging and other times...I'm just NOT!  It's crazy how busy life get's these days.   Between being a mother of 3, a lil' photography biz, laundry and house cleaning, and a little socialization (You know I gotta fit that in somewhere) I just feel like collapsing at the end of the day.  Tell that to the 2 clients that are waiting for me to edit their pics...LOL!  Today I am taking the day off for me and catching up on things I can't get to lately. 

So, Wade had Drill for the National Guard this weekend.  Stupid, right??  So Saturday afternoon, I started to feel a little sorry for myself and was wondering what the HECK I can do with these kids.  And then POOF I had a GREAT idea.  Really, it came out of thin air.  I thought it would be a good idea to take the girls to a nursing home and have them pass out flowers to the mothers.  Well, I guess I was  truly inspired, b/c that is just what we did and the women (and men) GREATLY enjoyed their visit.

We could only take the one picture, but I wish I could have taken more of these residents.  They all wanted to touch and hug Nora and Audrey as they passed out the flowers.  One woman strolled Elise around the cafeteria and she was making so many laugh.  One man, that could no longer speak, just yelled with joy at Elise.  I think it made his DAY!   

But, on a side note...It was a REAL eye opener.  I hadn't been to a nursing home as an adult.  And There are just things I never paid attention to as a child.  These people REALLY need our love and attention.  I always thought it was a joke that we start as babies and end up like babies.  But half of these residents couldn't feed themselves or talk.   One woman I noticed was drinking enfamil.  But most still understood what was going on. I could tell some women were getting anxious to get their flower.  They couldn't speak, but I noticed it in their body language.  I don't know their stories, but it brought joy to my soul to watch my little girls hug them.  We'll mainly Nora.  Audrey was in a mood!! :)

Before we left we stood in the doorway and said, "Happy Mothers Day".  Well, again, Nora and I did.  Audrey just yelled, "Muther Day" in her pouty voice...LOL!  You just have to love that little girl.

I REALLY want to encourage more people to do this!

Ok, now on to this little cutie here...

She is 5 months....crazy, isn't it?

She still has those blue eyes.  I'm beginning to think they are gonna stay that way.  We shall see...

 she loves those hands still!

She has the BEST smile.  She is still the EASIEST baby ever!  I want to take total credit for her, but Heavenly Father just knew I needed a baby with an laid back personality.  She is a total Blessing!  As are my others, but with a mouthy and active 5 year old, and a pouty and stubborn 3 year old, this baby girl just even's us all out! :)

More hands!!

Oh, and now the feet...YUMM!

And Since it's Mothers day I'm gonna brag on ME for a bit!!  The night our apartments in Fayetteville flooded, I was soooo upset that I had to do something to occupy my brain so I made THIS...

ok, so MADE may be the wrong word.  I covered it...by sewing right on top of the other...haha, no slip cover here!

 Last year on our trip to California, Nora's booster seat got switched around with her cousin's, Hayden.  She has been complaining about it ever since.  I almost bought her a new one a million times ( I know, you told me a million times not to exaggerate) but for some reason my frustration got the best of me that night and I took it out on the sewing machine.  Basically, I just sewed over the other pad.  It was red and black (not girly at all!) and now it's cute polka dots.  Nora was so happy the next morning when she found it.  She gave me a HUGE hug and told me I was the BEST!!  It was a pretty awesome feeling while it lasted.  I'm sure I became the MEANEST mom ever later in the day...LOL!

Oh, and ps...I really don't like to sew, but it's a personal challenge of mine lately.  So that's why I  have to brag! Bare with me! :)

Hope everyone has had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!  Especially to my Mother and 2 Mother-in-Laws!! :)