Mother's Day 2012- Surrounded by Babies inside and out!

Well, today wasn't exactly a relaxing Mother's Day.... maybe that'll be next year? :) But it was definitely chock-full-o-fun. And, it's always a wonderful day when I get to spend it with my hubby and my beautiful children!

We had promised the kids a certain outing they were really looking forward to, and also had some odds and ends (ahem, Daddy's work prep) and some errands to get accomplished, all before making dinner back at home for my Mom and Dad, so it just made for a fun but VERY BUSY day! My poor parents had to eat a later dinner, haha!

Anyway, while out at the Harbor, my Hubby gave me one of my presents I asked for for Mother's Day-- a few pictures of me with the kiddos before our newest little one arrives. Enjoy! :)

Our dinner table back at home... before the rose petals started burning from the floating candles... no joke- LOL!! :) 

Grandma making Ben laugh 

Sparkling Apple-Cranberry Cider- ahh!! ;o) The kids loved the teeny wine glasses Mommy let them use! hehe

1st Grade Complete!

Look who is finished 1st Grade!?? That's right... my big man Josiah is done his 1st grade year. I can hardly believe it. He is so smart and so easy to teach. He finished up his lessons today, we kinda breezed through them since we were both pretty excited to just be done already. Haha!

Then to celebrate, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed over to a local chapel and bookstore which is in a beautiful little wooded area that the kids love.

Josiah's last religious lesson was on Sacramentals, which are, as he learned, holy objects to help us keep our mind and hearts focused on Jesus. After our picnic lunch, we went inside and picked out a new sacramental for each kid. Josiah chose a St.Michael the Archangel medal, Lydia chose a miraculous medal, and Benjamin (with some assistance from Mommy) chose a big crucifix made of plastic he could hold in his hand. I say "big" but really, I mean as big as a 2 yr old's hand :) He has been trying to "kiss Jesus" on our walls lately and couldn't reach, so I thought maybe that would make it easier. He loves it! He took it to bed when we got home for his nap, kissed Jesus and went to sleep. What a sweet little guy.

After we picked out our Sacramentals we played outside on the beautiful grounds and among the Stations of the Cross (another Sacramental!) and in the little creek they have there. 

It's amazing, isn't it, how 3 little children can be completely happy just tossing rocks and sticks into a creek? LOVE the simple joys in life.

We are so proud of our big boy, and of our little girl who finished an entire preschool book (and then some!) as well. I'm not sure exactly where she'll be for the fall, but probably finishing up preschool and moving onto kindergarten.

This year Josiah studied Latin and learned to say the Our Father, Glory Be, Holy Holy Holy (Sanctus), and Table Blessing prayers all in Latin. He also studied and learned so much about American History, Science, Religion, Math, English, Phonics, Reading, and Spelling. He worked very hard and we are all so proud! Each quarter he also received an Academic Achievement Award from Seton Home Study School. We are so proud of all his hard work and all he's learned this year. We are looking forward to 2nd grade! 

God has sure blessed us abundantly <3