It was a good year.

The boys have wrapped up yet another year of school.  And Max is an official Pre-K graduate.  He started attending school when he was just 18 months old.  Sullivan was only a few weeks new at the time and it offered a nice break twice a week for Max to be around other kids his age and for me to have one-on-one time with my new babe.  Two years later Sullivan joined him at the school around the same time we met Fletcher.

Over these past four years their school has become a second home to us.  It's a small community and we feel very close to the families and teachers we've come to know well.  Luckily, there is no end in sight as far as our relationship with the school...I'll be spending many more years filing kids down those familiar halls.  That brings my heart some relief.

Some of you may be sending your high-schooler off to college in the fall or even just watched your college student walk across the stage and into the real world this month.  I'm sure both of those milestones involve a whole different level of pride and fear.  I can't even imagine.  I cried when Max's class sang "Kindergarten Here We Come"- that's pretty much all I can handle for now :)  

I can't help but feel like this is the beginning of the end, though.  As important as early education is...we're now entering the "real" school years.  We're very used to living in our fun little bubble of "what should we do today?", but that's about to change.  The rest of my crew and I are going to miss the biggest brother when he's away during the day.  Max thrives on routine, though, so I think he is going to absolutely love getting into the rhythm of school.  

In the meantime, we'll soak up these summer days, revel in the freedom of no obligations and approach our new chapter with a brave face (I think that last one is for me only :).

Here are some highlights of 2014/2015:

Father and son.  Throw back to the 90's :)

Nature Day.  I love when their teachers text me pics :)

Photo booth at the school Oktoberfest.

Ready for Farm Day!

Waiting for his diploma.

Lots of support for the new graduate...

As Max goes off to kindergarten, Fletcher will be starting his preschool career and it will be Sullivan's turn to show little brother the ropes at school.  And about the time we're getting settled into our new routine, we'll be welcoming baby #4 into our family.  

A lot of change is headed our way, but my goal is to be purposeful and present in each day so they don't pass me by.  This rhythm of life is beautiful and heartbreaking and exciting.  I hope to make each of these transitions gracefully, with only a few tears.

On Motherhood {+ Scenes from Our Weekend}

On Mother's Day this year, as I watched my three play in the backyard, I was thinking about how the experience of being a mom has made me so vulnerable in the most unexpected way. To love anything on this earth as much as I love my children - it’s such a distinct and exposed feeling. Natural, but raw and inescapable.  Many say it's like "having your own heart out in the world, living outside your body". It pretty much does feel like that. It's something I could never have prepared myself for over five years ago when I first earned the title "momma".  It's a feeling that never fades no matter how long you've been I mom, I would guess. 

When I check on them before heading to bed at night sometimes I'll whisper “I can’t believe how much I love you” to their sleeping faces before quietly closing the bedroom door.  And then I lay down next to Billy and try to describe how wonderful I think they are (which is always so much easier to do when they're quiet, sleeping little angels tucked in bed for the night ;)

I've learned that motherhood is almost always putting yourself at the bottom of the list, for nearly everything, yet somehow never feeling like you're missing out.  
It's a gift unlike any other.

I adore my boys who dedicated their little hearts to making Mother's Day special for me....plus I adore my husband who observes Mother's Day weekend.  I didn't lift a finger starting Friday at 5 :)

Scenes from our days:

This team made me feel like a queen all weekend. (post soccer game pic on Sat)

The boys were in their own beds when I said goodnight,
but at some point they made a little nest on the bottom bunk using pillows from the daybed and extra blankets.  Sweetness.

It's kind of dorky, but one of my favorite things to do together is grocery shop.
Probably because it combines two  of my favorite things: food and family.

A long-awaited (like, since September of last year) breakfast at Heirloom Bakery & Hearth.
The homemade pop-tart was sooo worth it.

Local Pig...in a blanket :)

This was the best gift ever.  Rose petal foot soak, sugar scrub, massage.  And they brushed my hair :)
They asked me to this little spa experience with a formal, homemade invitation.

They remembered all of my favorite details.

Wait a minute.  Weren't the chocolate covered strawberries for me?

Fletch was not super impressed with the whole spa experience idea.
He stole a strawberry and escaped to the teeter-totter.

Sidewalk chalk

Sprucing up the water table.

ALL my guys love the fort ;)

 Thank you boys, for making me feel loved and appreciated.  It's truly my honor to be your momma.