Chad Finishes Preschool!

Chad finished preschool a couple of weeks ago! He loved everything about it--his teachers, the crafts, games, playing in the sandbox, and the girls! He's quite a charmer and likes the 'little girls.' (David is particularly proud of his abilities in that department!) His class ended the year with a water party at one of the family's houses. He is really looking forward to going to school three days a week next year!

I Love David!

If you don't want to read this post, go ahead and stop now. I just love my husband and want to tell you why! I feel like David and I have been going at one hundred miles an hour for months now, and always in different directions. (I'm sure that many of you can relate!!!) I know that he is feeling a little neglected lately....so I wanted to remind him of how much I love him and why. :)

David is....

*A great person. People love to be around him. He is a leader in all areas of his life. He has a great personality and can really light up a room when he is in the right mood! I know that he will make a great elementary school principal some day.

*A perfect daddy. You can't get any better than David is with our kids. He loves each one of them and they know it. He knows how to be crazy and silly with them, but also loving and firm when it is needed. He helps me with everything when it comes to our kids. On any given day you will see him playing with them, reading to them, bathing them, making dinner, or even doing hair. Our kids are so lucky!!!!

*A hard worker. Many of you are not aware, I think even his own family, of how much David does every day. He teaches thirty four crazy fourth graders every day, and does an AMAZING job. Not only is he helping out at home, he is taking on endless jobs at his school to help out the staff and principal (always taking advantage of every learning opportunity in his field). He is our bishop's executive secretary at church and does whatever is needed for him at any time. He has finished his masters AND administrative credential in the last year and a half, and is currently finishing up his five chapter thesis. He takes care of many home projects, and keeps our yard looking beautiful. And there is more, but rather than embarrassing David any more, I will stop there.

*A loving husband. Even at the end of a crazy day, David is always there to hug me and tell me that he loves me. He will never be one to miss a birthday, an anniversary, or Mother's Day. In fact, he is currently planning a vacation to a secret location for our tenth anniversary (which is not until next summer in 2009)! I am amazed that he still has time for me with everything else going on! He's the best!

After a crazy day of taking care of three kids and all of their activities, I sometimes forget that I need to take care of my husband. I need to follow his example of how to manage everything that I have to do successfully. I want David to know that I love him. I have been with him for more than half my life, and I know that I am blessed!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy late Mother's Day to everyone. We had a crazy weekend, but it was fun. We had a picnic with David's mom on Saturday, and went to the beach with my mom on Sunday afternoon. I really enjoy spending time with our families. We love our moms! I love my mother-in-law for her upbeat and positive attitude. She will help anyone out whenever she can. She loves her kids and grandkids and lights up when she sees them. My kids can't get enough of her! I love my mom for her constant support and great advice. My mom and I have been through a lot together, but we have never been closer than we are now (especially now that I am a mom!) Thanks for being great mommies to us and a wonderful grandma and oma to our kids. We love you!

Cameron rolled over - and I missed it!

I knew it was coming. I've been watching Cameron turn on his side and almost flip over for about two weeks. Last week, I laid him down on the floor so that I could help Chad in the bathroom. (Great, huh?) It was at that very moment, when I was gone for two minutes, that he decided he could do it. I came back into the room, and there he was, lying on his tummy trying to figure out how to get back where he came from. He has yet to do it again. I think that it startled him so much that now he is a little apprehensive. He is such a cutie! I am having so much fun with my healthy baby boy!

I'll keep everyone updated on all of his new tricks, but for now he is smiling all the time, laughing, squealing, really trying to talk and have conversations with people and tries really hard to get their attention when he wants it. He always has his fingers or something in his mouth, and mommy can't wait for some teeth to pop out. He is stubborn like the rest of the family and will not take a bottle, or even a pacifier. Any suggestions? Cameron had his four month check up yesterday, and the doctor and nurses would not leave him alone. They were going crazy over how cute he is, and how much of a little personality he already has. It is so great to hear that my baby is doing wonderful, and all is well! :) Although it is so hard sometimes, and I feel like I'm losing my mind A LOT, I love being a mom!

Kylie is our little All Star

At Kylie's school they started a little performing group in February called the Promenade All Stars. They sing, dance, act, and create things. It is really fun, and they practice on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons. She loves it, and as most of you know, this is right up her alley. She is our little drama queen and LOVES to sing and dance. She does it all day long! They had their very first performance on Wednesday at an assembly for the whole school. Some of you are coming to watch at the end of May at the school's spaghetti dinner, so this will be a preview for you. She did a great job, and loved every minute of it. Can't you tell by the look on her face? After the show a fifth grader that was in the audience came up to one of the instructors and asked, "Who was the little blonde girl in the front row doing the dance? She was the cutest one, I loved to watch her!" I thought that was really sweet. When she is performing, you can just see the joy on her face. She can't get enough! Dance recital is just around the corner....

Chad can write his name!!!!

We all know how different each of our kids are. Kylie was the type of toddler that wanted to learn everything. She wanted to sit down and pretty much have school, where I would teach her things like shapes, letters, and numbers. Chad loves to learn, but is not the type to sit down with me so that I can teach him. Ever since he was little, he has been read to and enjoys hearing the sounds the letters make. He was more interested in learning the numbers, which he can now identify. The letters have not really kept his interest. I would say that he knows about half of the letters and the sounds they make, but not more than that. He has been able to tell you how to spell his name for a long time - but I never knew that he could write it!

At preschool he signed his name with a C, and then three other letters that were written very nicely! I was impressed. He knew how to make a C, and he knew that his name had three other letters following the C. Well... on Mother's Day we made a card for Grandma, and I asked him to sign his name after Kylie's name on the card. He grabbed a crayon, and we all sat there and watched him as we have many times before. First the C, then the perfect H, and then the A, and then a D. We pretty much all screamed and yelled so loud that he almost got scared. I actually was shocked, that all of a sudden, he realized that he could write his name. Not having sat down with him to teach him just this skill, I didn't know that he could do it yet. Lesson learned, your kids are always paying attention, even if you don't think they are! I'm so proud! I have to say, he has really neat writing for a three year old. Can't wait to see what he figures out next!

Cooking with Chef Fry

I just have to let you know how awesome the Fry family is. Each week, a bunch of ladies get together for sister scripture study at the Fry home. After finishing our weekly study of Mosiah, we started to talk about how a lot of us moms can't cook (or don't enjoy it)! To make a long story short, Gregg offered to do weekly cooking classes to teach us to make better dinners for our family. He already has his own website where he posts recipes and weekly grocery bargains, which we all love. But, it didn't stop there. About a week ago, Gregg came over to cook with the Ferguson family. We made London Broil with sauce (I can't spell Bernaise), brown sugared carrots, and homemade biscuits. My kids really enjoyed it, and David loved actually having meat (rather than just chicken). It was really fun, and I learned a lot. I also learned that I need new knives in my kitchen!!!! :) Thank you Gregg for a great cooking lesson - can't wait for the next one!