Marci's Village

It's a wrap!

Maya's class had a great end-of-the-school-year party. First we watched a recording of a group story-reading (Maya's voice was actually really clear -- it really surprised me how well my quiet girl performed). After that the kids did a simple craft, coloring, and played water games outside. Oh, let's not forget the popsicles! A great end to a great school year.

This morning at school I watched as Phillip was acknowledged for making "Honor Roll" again. Maya got an award for perfect attendance. I decorated the table with the paper flowers they gave me for Mother's Day (different years, Phillip first, then Maya). The petals are modeled on their own little hands. We ate lunch and the played afterwards. 

I know I must sound crazy saying that I love Summer in this land of 110+ temps, but I do love breaking the routine a little and spending more time together. Let the fun begin!

A Mother's Day to remember

I have to say I've worked more often than not on Mother's Day. So, when I am off on Mother's Day, it is a really extra special day!

Bruce jumped out of bed at the wee hours of seven something (not usual for him) and got right to work. When I walked into the kitchen, I was pleasantly surprised by the action: Bruce cooking, Maya stirring the eggs, and Phillip dishing out strawberries that had already been carefully washed and cut (maybe Bruce added a little sugar? He does that sometimes when I'm not looking).

flowers (some of them handpicked by the boy in our backyard), cards, oh my....

Maya sets the table

Later Maya helped me make bread for dinner

Kids played with the neighbor while I watched basketball

Maya and I decorated her box for Gymnastics (it's not really dirty, just smeared with chalk).

Maya helped Grandmother fill out her "Grandmother Remembers" book.

We finished our day with a simple homemade (mostly) dinner and lots of basketball talk (did you know Grandma was a good basketball player in her youth?).

I am very thankful for these moments with our family.

Mother's Day could not have been any better, if you ask for my humble opinion.

Fewer things make me happier than....

a sincere "thank you" and a plant. It made my day!

My Supermom moment

As we pulled up into the garage coming home from school, Maya was about to start whining about something. I didn't think I was going to have the patience to hear her complain about anything, so I distracted her by picking her up, and her backpack, and my purse, and my Target bag, and....while I told her I was her "Supermom".  She started laughing and Phillip took a blurry picture of us...

... and the afternoon (full of activities, driving, and endless homework) was off to a good start.

A boy and a beautiful day

It was a full weekend this past one --  a graduation party (me only) a "just because" party on early release day at a friend's house, a basketball game (a win -- yeah!), a trip to Wet'n'Wild, and a beautiful sunny afternoon playing with neighbors in our backyard.

I don't want to forget a thing.

Don't judge

I ran out of time and ideas.... so I cooked pancakes for dinner.

My child sleeps

This morning, almost eight a.m.. Time for little children to get up and start their day.

Spring Break

Excuse the mess and the dirty socks

Children at play.

This is why...

a birthday NEEDS to be celebrated! No, not the gifts... that's just a small part of it. The expression of pure joy on your child's face.

....

The idea for a scrapbooking party came from this blogger (check out her website and jewelry -- meaningful gifts for a reasonable price!). Thank you SosoBella!

I told a friend from work I was planning to do albums as our "craft" and she showed me a purse-shaped album she had received as a gift. Maya loved the idea and we implemented with the help of our little glue gun. And a few trips to Michaels. And a husband who fixed our printer just in time to print words for the project.

Crafting + Celebrating = Fun!

I can't wait for next time.

A crafty fun afternoon

We had a birthday to celebrate and the weather cooperated. Spring has sprung in Arizona!

It all started with brown paper bag albums that I transformed into purse-shaped scrapbooking albums.  

I printed pictures of twelve of Maya's lovely friends and set up two long tables with all the stickers, embelishments, markers, glue, flowers, and other little things I thought the girls would like. The theme for the albums was "Friendship".



The girls checked the pictures...

and could not wait to get started!

A couple of my dear friends helped enormously! 

Isn't this something? Friends make the world go around! 

Look at these "purses"! I wish I had a picture of every single one.

There are too many great memories of that day to write in one single post. More later.