Happy 4th of July

This year for 4th of July we celebrated together as a family after being apart for two weeks. We picked Matt up at the airport on July 3rd after being in Australia for 12 days. He took a nap and we headed to Anthem for fireworks. It was a great night and the fireworks spectacular, but the BEST part was being together as a family. After a month in Boston, it was so nice to be back together with our family. I LOVE us and our life!

Daddy brought the kids back some pretty cool souveniers. Derek got an authentic Australian Rules Football jersey. Rylie got a penguin from the Melbourne aquarium and a coloring book with pencils. Matt bought himself some local beer called Millennium Falcon. Matt bought me 2 lbs of local coffee beans. It is so good to have him home.

 swimming before leaving for the fireworks!

 

 

 playing on the playground before the fireworks

 

 Enjoying giant snow cones before the fireworks

Falling asleep on Daddy's chest on July 4th, after being up late for fireworks. 

Daddy enjoying every minute of it!

Happy 37th Birthday Christen!

For my birthday this year I got special breakfast in bed and opened presents. Then we all got dressed up and went to pizza dinner. Afterwards we enjoyed ice cream together as a family. I LOVE spending time with my family. It was the perfect day. I felt so loved! The kids are so much older now and dinner was so fun.

Last day of preschool for Rylie!

Last day of 3 year old preschool. It has been a fabulous year for Rylie. She has grown in her confidence, ability to stand up for what is right, academic knowledge, and making new friends. She loves school and had 2 amazing teachers this year. We are grateful for their love, dedication, passion and care this year. They have taught her about Jesus and her ABCs. Rylie is full of joy.

last day of school breakfast at Dunkin Donuts.

 We are all wearing purple!

 First day of preschool (Sept. 2015) and last day of preschool (May 2016)

Derek lost 4th tooth!!

Derek lost his 4th tooth at school during lunch. He was so excited to lose a tooth at school. He got to go to the nurses office and get a treasure chest to put the tooth in and an Otter Pop. 

I LOVE his new smile with his top two teeth missing. He looks so cute. He has lost four teeth now.

This time he wrote me a note about losing a tooth and keeps asking if I am the tooth fairy.

Last day of school, Mother's Tea & End of year party for Derek!

Derek had a fabulous year at Scottsdale Christian Academy in Junior Kindergarten. We were so blessed by the love, care, dedication, attention to detail, passion for Jesus his teacher showed. We had prayed for Mrs. Beers (not knowing who Derek's teacher would be) for the whole summer and then God blessed us with her. JR Kindergarten was the perfect placement for Derek. He gained confidence with his reading, learned to write (and now LOVES to write), improved on his Math concepts, grew in confidence in getting along with others and making good decisions when his friends choose otherwise. We are so grateful for Derek's heart and his love for Jesus. Mrs. Beers taught Derek so much about Jesus and he would come home sharing what he learned. His curiosity and love of learning grew all year. We LOVE watching him become the young boy God created him to be.

Derek and Mrs. Beers

Last day of school breakfast at Dunkin Donuts!

First day (Sept. 2015) and last day (May 2016) of school

 First day (Sept. 2015) and last day (May 2016) of school with Bella

 picture from the end of year. what a great group of kids.

Mother's Day Tea with Derek
In May, right around Mother's Day, I got to spend the morning in Derek's classroom. It was so sweet. Derek served me lunch, recited the Lord's Prayer with his class and sang a couple songs with his whole heart smiling at me the whole time. I LOVE this kid!!

At the end of the year class party, Derek received the award of discernment. Mrs. Beers presented each child with an award in front of the class. When she described Derek's award I started crying. I have been praying over Derek every night asking God to give Derek the gifts of wisdom and discernment to know right from wrong and good from evil.

Old Family Photos

 Papa and Mama

The Aunts holding Patrick after he was dedicated.

 My family!

 Pops when he was a little baby

Grampy and Grammy

Leaving Boston

I flew home with the kids by myself since Matt was in Australia. It was so nice to have priority status and be able to take the kids in the Admiral's Club while we waited for our flight to board. We enjoyed breakfast and watched the planes take off while we waited.

The kids did such a great job on the airplane. They each watched about 2.5 movies on the tablets. I watched on and off with them and read about 100 pages of a book! It was a great flight and I am proud that I was able to fly by myself with them kids.