Happy Birthday Eleri!!

Eleri is seven! We celebrated with a camping slumber party in our back yard. We also went to Balboa Park to ride the train and carousel. We finished our day with El's favorite dessert... Chocolate Pie!



Seven things I love about my seven year old:



1. Eleri ALWAYS has fun. She loves life. She is always happy and ready for a party.



2. Eleri is artistic. She can make an art piece out almost anything ... bubble wrap, a baggie, old socks, bark off a tree, oatmeal....



3. Everyone is a friend of El's. She makes friends easily and quickly. Boy, girl, tall, short, shy, outgoing.... she loves everyone!



4. Eleri is FUNNY! She loves to make us laugh, and often does!



5. Eleri is brave. She believes in herself and her abilities. She is not afraid of a challenge.



6. Eleri is not afraid to think "outside the box," she wanted s'mores instead of a cake at her party. It was a camping party after all. She is a very clever girl.



7. Eleri, you have made my life richer and more fun just by being you. I love you and I am so proud to be your mom. Happy Birthday sweetheart. I love you!!

A few random thoughts....

I've been thinking about happiness lately. What makes you happy? Whatever it is, I think you should add more of it to your life. I have been asking myself what makes me truly happy. My family for sure - my husband and my kids. They bring me true joy. I love going places with them. Watching my kids experience things for the first time is so exciting.

My home also makes me happy. I love it. It is just what I always wanted in a home. We live a great neighborhood with sidewalks and street lamps. I know it sounds odd, but I lived in such a rural area as a child, this was always a dream of mine. I also love that my house is old. It was built in 1945 - it has history. Others loved this house before I did. I often think about the woman that had this house built. What did she love most about it? Is she happy to see our family in it now? I love the details she added, little cubbies and great tile.

Sometimes that just needs to be enough. I find myself always looking for more. I always feel like I should be doing more, going more, making more money. More, more, more. Today I don't need more. Everything is great just like it is.

We are off and running!

Well the first week of school went off without a hitch. I am so proud of my girls.

Courtney has handled middle school like a champ. She is making new friends and navigating her new school with ease. She is taking math, science, PE, social studies, language arts, and orchestra. What a busy fifth grader. It is a big school and I am so proud of the way she has found her place in it. She's not a little girl anymore!

Eleri loves first grade. Her teacher, Mrs. Cook is fantastic. We are looking forward to another great year at Sunset View. I feel so blessed to have my kids in such a spectacular school. It makes me happy to take her there each day and know that she is getting the best care and education that I can give her. She comes home with a smile every day.

AFTER his first day of preschool...

Beckett is a bit young, but because I teach preschool out of my home classroom, he joined the group. He did great and had a fantastic time playing and learning with the other children. But, he was one tired boy when it was over. He didn't even make it through lunch.