Me-Oh-My How Time Does Fly!

School has been officially over for one whole week! I have been blissfully-over-the-moon-out-of-this-world happy! There is nothing like staying up late around the bonfire and knowing we don't have to go anywhere at any certain time the next morning. I'm sure I'm WAY more excited about this than anyone else in my family! Layla had her Kindergarten graduation on her last day of school and the kids did a great job. They sang songs and each had a speaking part. For as much as Layla hated getting up early and leaving us everyday, she was very sad to say good-bye to Mrs. Carlson, her friends, and her classroom pets. After graduation Layla told me that she almost started crying when Mrs. Carlson was saying the closing prayer because she "just loves that woman so much." It did take Layla a day or two to adjust to being home. But there's now a huge smile on her face every night when I tuck her into bed and say, "Do you know what the best part of tomorrow will be?" And she gives me her big Dave Handsaker grin and says, "It will still SUMMER VACATION!"

"I HAVE BEARDS!"

On our quiet drive to church on Sunday, Cooper excitedly exclaimed from the backseat, "I have beards! I have beards! Can boys have beards? Listen, listen everyone!" And he took his Hot Wheels in his hand and used the front fender to scrape across his face like a razor. Sure enough, we all heard a faint scraping noise. "Did you hear that?" Then, his face got very serious, "Can you see it? Can you see my beards?" He was so excited that none of us had the heart to tell him it was just a little patch of dry skin making the scraping noise, not whiskers. He's still a little perplexed when he looks in the mirror and can't see the "beards" he knows he hears.

Constantly counting...

I am in a short season of my life where I find myself constantly counting down...only 2 more pages of reading homework to sit through...just 10 more minutes until bed time...2 miles left in this run...only 5 reps left in this set...just 6 days of school left. What does this counting mean? That I'm unenthusiastically plugging through life without enjoying any one moment I'm living in. I know, it's pathetic!!!! And I swear, in just 6 more days, once school and all activities are done, I'll do better! HA! In all the "busy" I've failed to blog any memories for my kids (sorry kiddos, mommy has been too busy counting)! Layla has the most going on right now. She's moved up another class in swimming lessons and she completed her second piano recital. If you know Layla, you know that her bravery is not blind, it takes some mustering. She was terrified before her first recital. Although she did great, I hated seeing her that nervous and anxious! Dave and I decided that piano was about her learning and having fun and that she didn't need to do another recital if she didn't want to. To our surprise, as the second recital approached, she said she wanted to participate. However, when the recital was just a few days away, she changed her mind. Because she had already said she would do it, we decided she needed to keep her commitment and she went for it. As soon as she walked off the stage, she said she wanted to go do it again. I'm proud of my little musterer.

"I love you always and like you most of the time."

Layla and Cooper are best buds...because they have no choice. It's just the two of them and we live in the middle of nowhere. Layla is now at the age which she doesn't always want to be with Cooper. Cooper, on the other hand, will wait outside her closed bedroom door until she decides she's ready to play with him.

Today, while we were driving to school, Cooper said, "Layla, why don't you like to talk to me? Do you love me or not?"

To which Sis answered, "Bud, I love you always and like you most of the time."

There was silence and I could tell Cooper was processing. Then he said in a very matter-of-fact voice, "Alright Lol."

More silence.

"Tomorrow will you like me always?" Coop asked.

"We'll see, Bud."

"Alright."

It was such an honest conversation. If only I could communicate that openly and accept honest feedback with such resiliency.

Easter

We had a busy, full, and fun Easter weekend. The Kellen's were all at our house Saturday and Sunday included a wonderful church service. We are a small church, but you would not have guessed it by the wonderful music and drama's. Our kids watched and listened intently the entire service as Resurrection Day came to life in front of their eyes. For Cooper, it was especially meaningful. Dave has been especially focused in his reading to the kids from their Bible about the Crucifixion and Resurrection. When Cooper saw it all playing out on in front of him at church, with amazing performances, he was in awe. He couldn't believe that all of these people in church knew what was in his Bible.

Layla and Cooper got to sing at church as well. Layla was focused, she knew every word and action. Cooper was mentally in and out of the performance, but always loves performing!

Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Loosey Toothy

Layla has been wanting to lose a tooth for at least a year. And today, it is confirmed, these two teeth are wiggling. Her two very first teeth that took her the first 14 months of life to sprout.... **sigh**

And now he's 4...

Tomorrow at 7:19pm, my sweet little boy turns 4 years old. Cooper D, you are my favorite little boy in all the world. I remember holding you one night when you were a newborn and telling your daddy, "This little boy is so incredibly sweet." He nodded in agreement, as any parent would. But I'm not sure he understood what I was saying. You, my dear boy, have a special tenderness about you. It's sometimes hard for others to see it under the wrestling, the tackling and general rambunctiousness that is also you. But I get to see it every day when it's just the two of us doing life together while Daddy is at work and Sister is at school. I'm going to cherish every minute that you still allow me to see it. Someday you will care what the other kids think and you won't be so quick to hold my hand while walking together in the grocery store or give me kisses in the middle of Target for no reason. You are as tenderhearted as you are tough and as sweet as you are rough.

Happy 4th birthday my boy. I am thankful for you. You are extraordinary.