Keep it real… I try really hard to make that my mantra in blogging and in life. That is why I leap at the chance to participate in carnivals like this one, where I can join up wither other real bloggers and rip off any fake facades of perfection. Because really, who has time for facades when you’re chasing three naked kids around the house, trying to find matching shoes, and attempting to get out the door on time?

A few weeks ago I wrote about our kindergarten dilemma for next year. After months of praying, discussing, putting of decision making, visiting, observing, and more discussing, I found it refreshing to have it out of my hands. Last week my son graduated from preschool. At the class picnic I was bombarded with questions about where he would go to school in the fall. I was telling one friend about our situation and she responded, “Well, it sounds like one of those things that will obviously be God working.

Just a friendly reminder to link up late tonight or tomorrow morning with your weekend thought. You can write something new or link up a thoughtful post from earlier in the week! I’m eager to read your thoughts!!

My kids each have a blanket that their grandma made for them before they were born. Being the creative individuals that they are, they call them their “grandma blankets.” I know, ingenious, huh? The other day I was laying on my daughter’s bed when I had a realization. “Hey”, I said, “this blanket is my grandma blanket.” She laughed and thought I was joking. “No,” I said, “this blanket right here was made for me by my grandma when I was a little girl, so it is my grandma blanket.

My oldest son is five. He’s gotten to the point where he wants things. And his birthday and Christmas are over. He’s already proven that he has the self control and discipline to save up for things. But he has no income. I would like to start developing in him the discipline to save and to choose wisely how to spend his money. So, I was wondering, do any of you give your children allowances?

Each May the Blue Angels do an air show at the Naval Academy as part of the commencement week celebrations. It is practically a holiday around here. (If you don’t believe me, check the sign out sheets that afternoon at the local schools). Scott actually saves half a vacation day each year so we can enjoy them as a family. Hmm, do you think we enjoyed ourselves?

Mudpies Slugs Puddle Jumping We’ve had plenty of baths at the circus this weekend. But the extra laundry and baths are totally worth it to see my kids truly delighting in the simplest of pleasures and enjoying the world around them. Mud, and slugs, and puddles…giggles, wonder, and smiles…

Something happened to my baby girl. Seems she was just learning to crawl. How is that she’s running around, skinning her knees and swinging beside the big kids? Didn’t she know she wasn’t supposed to grow up so fast? She’s my baby. What is she doing conversing and counting and going on the potty? Where did my baby go? And who is this pig tailed princess that’s serenading us in the morning with her sweet cherub voice?

I’m trying to cultivate my garden so I did a lot of weeding this past week. And as I did I found there are two ways to weed. You can pick each individual weed out by hand, or you can whack them all with a hoe. Both are effective and appropriate methods for weeding. But, each has an appropriate time and place. In my old garden which was empty of any vegetation except for weeds, the hoe was the method of choice.

I can’t believe the school year is over all ready. More than that I can’t believe my little guy is going to be a kindergartener next fall. Where did the time go? It truly seems like it wasn’t that long ago when he was taking his first steps. And now he’ll be stepping across the stage…ready to commence a new stage of life. He is no longer a preschooler. I’m so proud of him.