I'm finished teaching Preschool

So yesterday was the Busy Bee Preschool Graduation. I had the kids sing a few songs for their parents. Then I presented them with Preschool Diplomas, which had their names in pretty caligraphy (thanks to my mother-in-law.) We had made scrapbooks throughout the year with their alphabet pages and some photos of special days we had such as; camping day, p.j day, halloween, pirate day, our teeth, friends, water day, etc. I am such a procrastinator that I was up till past midnight the night before, gluing last minute photos in 16 scrapbooks. I'll never learn! The kids were so proud of their scrapbooks and I was amazed, looking back, at how much these 3,4 & 5 year olds have grown, both physically and academically. Many of them are starting Kindergarten in August and I know that some of them are more than prepared for that.

It has been a long nine months and I was a little sad to say goodbye to my students. Some of them are still in my ward so I will still get to see their little faces :) I am very happy to have my days back now though. It was so nice to get up whenever I liked this morning, even though my boys were up at 6:30am. I made them lay in bed with me until 7am. Lucas was still at work. Tyrone fell back asleep for a while and then woke up and was in a bad mood. He has really settled into the terrible twos right now. He has started these tantrums where he starts crying and he throws himself on the ground and if I walk away, he follows me until he gets my attention and then continues the screaming and throwing himself on the floor. He is such a character. Sometimes Lucas and I have to hide our giggles, because it's hillarious! Gavin is on track break from school for a month, which worked out perfect for our Ireland trip. The last few days, he has been really well behaved. He is my helper and doesn't argue when I ask him to do something. He is also very good keeping Tyrone out of trouble. He is such a sweet little boy. It brings me such happiness to see my children playing together and being so close as brothers.

I was just looking at my boys today and wishing I could keep them at this age. Yes, even Tyrone with the tantrums. They are so innocent and precious. I just can't imagine them growing up and becoming their own person. As sure as it will happen, it scares me that they won't need me one day. They depend so much on us when they are young and I know I take it for granted that I will always be the first one they come running to. My lesson for today is to cherish every moment with my kids and not to sweat the small stuff.

Memorial Day Fun

Message to Grandad Devine

We bought a new video recorder. Hope everyone enjoys the footage!

The Book is always better!

Mandy and I have decided that we would watch less tv and try and read more books. I began reading "A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens which I finished in a week. Mandy read All three of the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer, "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy, and "Nights of Rain and Stars" by Meave Binchy. As you can see Mandy reads much faster than I do. After Dickens I wanted to read something fun that I had never read before. I chose Dracula. It took me a few weeks but I thoroughly enjoyed every page and Im kind of upset it's over. Im not sure where my reading will take me next, but It feels great to finish a good book.

We were trying to decide, last night, what our favorite movie is. I thought for a little while and I really couldn't pick one movie that stands above the rest. Especially after finishing two great books that would make good movies. But I know that the book is always better, and any movie would never do the author justice.

I've been tagged!

Tag you're it!

A) pick up the nearest book
B) turn to page 123
C) find the 5th sentence
D) post the 5th sentence
E) tag 5 (or more) people.

Love at first sight? But more powerful?" My voice still sounded dubious, and he could hear that.

I tag; Susana, Lynette, Jamie, Melissa, Krystal, Renee'

I love the Rain!

I just wanted to share my joy with everyone. Last week Las Vegas hit a record high of 108 degrees. Although it has been slowly getting hotter, that day was a glimpse of what most of the summer is going to be like. I don't think I'm ready. Anyhow, yesterday morning the sky was grey and there were storm clouds on the horizon. It started raining in the early afternoon and rained for a few hours. We were driving in it and I looked at our outside temperature gauge and it said 58 degrees. It was awesome! Today is also showery and overcast and the highest temperature we'll get is about 70 degrees. How I love the rain! You remember I come from a country that rains pretty much once a day and that is why it is known as the Emerald Isle. I guess I wasn't quite ready for the sweltering heat of the summer just yet, so I am grateful for these few days of cool weather and rain before the heat of Las Vegas summer hits. Gavin and Tyrone love being out in the rain and splashing in the puddles. It surprised me they actually wanted an umbrella. I didn't think they knew what one was because we hardly ever see rain :) It's the little things that bring the greatest joy!

A Special Thought

To My Children
*Just for this morning, I am going to step overthe laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park toplay.
*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishesin the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle ofyours together.*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug thetelephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in thebackyard and blow bubbles
*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once,not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for theice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry aboutwhat you are going to be when you grow up, or second guessevery decision I have made where you are concerned.*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.*Just for this afternoon, I will take us toMcDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.*Just for this evening, I will hold you in myarms and tell you a story about how you were born
and how much I love you.*Just for this evening, I will let you splash inthe tub and not get angry.*Just for this evening, I will let you stay uplate while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.*Just for this evening, I will snuggle besideyou for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.*Just for this evening when I run my fingerthrough your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that Godhas given me the greatest gift ever given. *I will think about the mothers
And fathers who are searchingfor their missing children,
the mothers and fathers who
are visiting their children's graves
instead of their bedrooms,
and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms
watching their children suffer senselessly,
and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.
*And when I kiss you good night
I will hold you a little tighter,
a little longer.It is then, that I will thank God for you,
and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.............

It's a girl!

We had an ultrasound today and found out that we are expecting a baby girl! We are so excited. I guess it hasn't really sunk in for me yet. I had a pretty miserable first 3 months of pregnancy. Nausea most of the day and throwing up at least once a day. Sometimes I forgot why I wanted to be pregnant, I was so sick. Luckily it got a lot better after the 4th month. I am almost 5 months along now and feeling really great, besides the tiredness and expanding waistline and belly. I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity to be a mother once again. As many of you know, it is the most rewarding job in the world. We took Gavin and Tyrone to the ultrasound, but they have no idea that come October, their world will be turned upside down. I think they will be great big brothers and will be great protectors of her. Oh, I guess I should tell you what her name will be. We are calling her Niamh (pronounced Neev.) In case you haven't guessed, it is an Irish name, Gaelic in fact. Niamh was the first Queen of Ireland, centuries ago! It means brightness, radiance. My due date is October 16th right now. The ultrasound showed that I am a week and half ahead of my due date, so my doctor may change the date.

We have been pretty busy and haven't had much time to update our blog. Lucas has been doing a lot of training and O.T making sure we have enough time off for Ireland. I can't believe we are going in a little over three weeks. I am definitely ready for a break. I have been doing Preschool the last almost 9 months. It has been both rewarding and trying at times. I have felt guilty many times feeling like I neglect my own children for other peoples children. I have decided not to do the Preschool next year. Although the extra income has greatly helped our finances, I don't think I'll be able to do it with a newborn and two boistrous lads :)

Gavin and Tyrone are so excited to go visit their grandad on a plane. I don't think they realize jsut how long they will be on that plane, 10 hours! We are hoping to visit Scotland while we're in Ireland. We have some friends there who live right by the historical sites from the movie Braveheart, one of our favorites. We will definitely update our blog with pictures and such from Ireland.