Jeffey's Done Pre-K

Jefferson finished Pre-K last Friday. We love this program and Jeff is the second family graduate. He has mastered all his letter sounds and writing them. He reads his BOB books and know about five sight words. He worked very hard this year and we are so proud of him. He is a great friend to his buddies and is excited to be in Kindergarten next year. We love you Jeff, great day for Pre-K!

This lady has been straight from above! We love her so much. She has taught both Ben and Jeff and Brian and I marriage classes. I am always amazed at how much she expects of the boys and how they rise to the occasion. She loves each of my boys for there different strengths and helps them with their struggles. We feel so blessed to have her as part of lives.

This is another incredible lady that has also been with us both years. She has two little boys and turtles, which makes her a big hit with our family. She has brought the turtles to school a couple of times for everyone to see. Lukey can't wait to be in her class in two years.

Jeffey and his buds. He has such great little friends. He loves them a ton.

William, Todd and Jeff.

Ready to say his part.

Getting his alphabet book. Again I cried. They seem like little babies when they start and I can't believe he will be in Kindergarten six weeks! We can't wait to watch you continue to learn and grow. Great job Jeff!

Ben's Last Day of Kindergarten

Ben with his wonderful teacher at the end of Kindergarten. Ben did such a great job this year. He had a wonderful little report card. He mastered 200 sight words and is reading Level J books at home to us and his brothers. Last family home evening he read us the scriptures. It is so neat to see him learn and grow. I shed some tears when they sang their cute songs and told what they loved about their parents. Ben said he loved that his Dad played the Wii with him and that I jumped on the trampoline. We love that he tries his best at school and is a good friend. They get a green bracelet for good behavoir each day at school. He stayed on green all year so the last day mom brought him a milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry on top. He was one happy boy. Great job Benjamin! Great Green Year.
(I also shed some tears of joy for making through the longest year ever. Dragging four kids into the school is not a ton of fun, but we did it. I am so grateful to all the other moms for helping in the classroom and for his great teachers for their gentle reminders when I wouldn't have forgotten something important)

NO GIRLS ALLOWED!

So I'm having some mixed feelings. I've been listening to my friends talk about how they can hardly stand to have their husbands take their boys to father and sons. I've come to the conclusion that I'm either well-adjusted or heartless, because I love everything about Father and Sons Weekend. First, the boys absolutely LOVE it! They love spending time with Daddy, getting dirty, roasting marshmellows, sleeping in the tent, riding in the truck, and telling me that girls can't come. Second, I enjoy having a night and morning to shop, hold my baby, rest and clean and watch my house stay clean. It's quite the WIN/WIN weekend! This is why I don't miss them, they sure aren't missing mommy, they are too busy putting up the tent, finding sticks and getting completely filthy. Brian said they wanted to climb in the tent with their flashlights before the program. Brian had to give a little talk, so they all went to bed without him. Apparenlty they only need eachother.

I've learned to pack very light. They only change into jammies and then back into the same clothes. I'm always amazed at how dirty they can get in just two days!

Not exactly the safest way to travel, but sooo fun!

Speaking of safety issues...This hungry fellow was found a very short distance from the camp!!!

Riding in the back of the truck is the highlight of any day. When you can pile in with your brothers and all your church buddies, it is extra great.

When I leave for a getaway, I'm a nervous wreck, but when Brian takes my little men to camping heaven, I perfectly fine. The boys can't wait until Henry can go, me too!

School Days

We have four and a half days left of school. Benjamin is excited to stay home all day and play the Wii (thats apparently what we do all day in his mind when he's not home), Jeff is excited to wear jammies more and Luke will have his brothers home. I am very excited not to have to drive anyone anywhere for a little while and not to have to pack a lunch! Here are some pics from the last few weeks: My own little snow-bird in his sun hat he made at "venture" camp. He goes with some buddies from church and loves all the slimy, creepy experiements they do.

Ben was an army ant in the BUGZ play at school. It was fun to watch him sing his songs and say his part. He has loved this year.

Daddy and the ant.

Ben with his buddies, the maggot and the dragonfly. As always Ben's favorite part of school is his friends.

Ben all wet at the school Olympics. Kindergarten represented in Red.

Pre-K sported white for the event. Here is Jeffey and his friend William in front of the snow pile. These two love hanging out! Lukey always finds the center of the picture, not to be left out.

"Real" Fun

Some pictures of real life in our house: I never have time to give Henry his own baby bath, so every night he simply takes a dip with his brothers. He gets clean and the boys love it. They take turns holding him and he likes the attention. For some reason, boys just get dirty during the day. It always amazes me!

It is tough to be three. Lukes is having a rough time expressing his frustration effectively. Just like all the other boys did, meltdowns are quite often a daily occurance. I had to snap a picture to document. I'm grateful for past experience that tells me "this too shall pass". I think he still looks pretty cute even when he's sad.

Henry just gets sweeter every day. I love this age. He knows its fun to be with his brothers and is such a social little man.

I could eat those little cheeks!

This is my favorite picture, real life in our house. It's about 5:30pm. Jeff is already in his jammies. All the boys have food on their faces. My hair hasn't been washed, actually its probable that I haven't showered yet and its yesterday's makeup. The trash clearly needs taken out and Henry is in a very dirty onesie. I have so many little boys that we don't even fit in the frame, we tried! Lukey is holding a "tornado" he made in preschool that will break in two more pictures and result in the meltdown above. But in the moment we were having fun!

Momma's Day

I love being a mom! I also love my mom. Saturday, Brian watched all the kids, so I could go to lunch and shopping with my mom and sister. We never seem to have enough time, but it was wonderful. My mom spoiled me with a new shirt and belt. I appreciate her gentle reminders to take some time for myself from time to time. I also appreciate the days when she comes over, rolls up her sleeves and just helps me clean. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

In the last six Mother's Days I have added four new boys to my family. It is an overwhelming task at times to take care of everything and everyone. People often ask how I do it, and at the end of many days, I ask the same question. Things are not perfect, actually far from it, but I know why I do it and that's the most important part. I truely feel a partnership with my Heavenly Father as I raise these little men. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings me such peace and guidance to this seemingly insurmountable task.

These boys spoiled me with flowers from Costco and homemade treats from school and church.

My sweet, patient, supportive husband is a key element to any success I have as a mother. My boys adore him as do I. I love watching them hide when he comes home and then they all proceed to the trampoline until dinner.

I love that my boys have eachother. We were at the park yesterday and I sat on the bench with Henry and watched them all play together. They love eachother and laugh all the time. The giggles I can hear down the hall from their bedroom when they tell silly jokes makes it all worthwhile.

Daddy/Daughter Hike

I love my parents. They raised two daughters who love to spend time together and with our whole family. I have so many fun memories growing up of crazy adventures, trying new things and laughing until we cried. I feel so blessed to have everyone close to this day. We all live within about a two mile radius. My dad just went back up to the Yukon for another season and he is already missed by our family. Just before he left we went on a "daddy/daughter" hike up Camelback. My dad beat us, not bad for a fifty something grandpa! I love how youthful and fun my dad is, it has been such a blessing to him and my mom close. They are always willing to babysit, play, clean and help install dishwashers, among other things.

On top for the second time!

One of my goals in raising my boys is that they become as great of friends as my sister and I. She has the ability to call me to task and is a great support. I love her.

The three of us started P90X together last month. This was the end of day 30. My sweet mom was waiting at home with a delicious egg-white omelet and orange juice after the hike. It was fun to sit as the "original" four and have breakfast together. Another great Tosczak memory! We miss our Papa and can't wait until the fall when he comes home.