Tuesday Morning Messages...

Happy November!

Dear Jeremiah,
I believe in you. I'm so grateful to have a husband like you that works so hard to provide for our family even amid all the school work and the crazy schedule you have. You da best!
Love Alida

Dear Ashlynne,
This week you'll turn 12. Sunday was your last week in Primary and when we all joined in singing you "Happy, happy birthday Ashlynne dear..." I actually started crying. I can't believe you are so grown up. I love you!
Love Mommy

Dear Brinton,
You are a wonderful, sweet, loving, fantastic, amazing, incredible, artistic, strong, brave, special, special, special little boy and you are all mine. I feel so lucky!
Love Mommy

Dear Elise,
This is going to seem a little silly but I love you hair. I love brushing your hair, braiding your hair, anything that has to do with your hair. It's so long and thick and just gorgeous. I hope you never ever want to cut it. Ever!
Love Mommy

Dear Julianna,
I miss you when you are gone at school. You've been my little buddy, always at my side for the last 6 years and now you are gone most of the day. I feel like we hardly have time to be together any more. I need to make an effort to spend more time with you. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on so much because I'm so busy with the big kids and the little kids....I don't want you to get lost in the shuffle. I love you. Always. My dear, sweet little princess.
Love Mommy

Dear Liam,
I love you so incredibly much. You are so smart and I just love it. Lately you really like to use the word "ACTUALLY" and the phrase "You've gotta be kidding me" which I find so cute coming out of your 3 year old mouth.
Love Mommy

Dear Aidan,
Yesterday you woke up a little early so I decided to bring you to my bed for a little bit before it was time to wake up. You fell back asleep so when I got up I left you peacefully sleeping in my bed. You woke up crying about 30 minutes later. When I enetered the room you had the biggest blow out I've ever seen in the history of blow outs...all over my bed, blankets, pillows (which were promptly disposed of)....it even went through the mattress cover! I spent the day doing laundry and trying to disinfect the entire room. Um, thanks?! I still love you. Lots.
Love Mommy

Tuesday Messages...(on Wednesday)

It's been far too long since I've written a Tuesday Message (since June!) and I think it's time to bring it back. I've just spent the last hour reading through them and I realize how much I love these little letters to my family so I'm going to make a real effort to keep them going. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Jeremiah
I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. I'm grateful for all that you do for our family, how hard you work at school and your job. Not having a normal 9 to 5 job is rough sometimes because your hours are sporadic but I really appreciate the conscious effort you've made the last few months to make time for our family. I'm grateful that we always eat dinner together as a family and that we haven't missed a Family Home Evening in 8 weeks! It's really changed the feeling in our home. I know how busy you are so thank you!
Love,
Ali

Ashlynne
You are such a dang good kid! I'm so blessed and so lucky. You are a wonderful daughter, a wonderful big sister, a huge help to me, and an awesome student. On top of all that you are friendly and talented and I just love you! Don't ever change.
Love,
Your Mommy

Brinton
You are hilarious! I've enjoyed watching you grow the last few months. I wish I had the words to explain...this year has been such a great year for you in school. You have done so incredibly well and I feel like you are really growing up. I've seen a different side of you lately, you've had more patience with your siblings, more joy, more happiness. I know you are worried about your surgery and I know you are trying to be so strong. Mommy loves you little boy. Always and Forever.
Love,
Mom, mom, mom, mommy....

Elise
We went to parent teacher conference a couple of weeks ago and got a glowing report from your teacher. You've got straight A's, you are in the highest reading and math groups and you love to learn. The only "bad" thing the teacher had to say about you was that you were a little bossy and you like things done right. I honestly had to laugh when I heard that. I think she expected me to be a little concerned but I just told her if that was all she was worried about I was happy because I'm raising a leader. haha. I'm not sure she found that very funny but I love you just the way you are, bossy and all and I'm not going to let anyone squash your sparkle! Just make sure you don't get bossy with the teacher and you always respect your friends and their opinions and I think you'll be okay. I love you.
Love,
Cupcake Mommy with a strawberry on top and a side of watermelon

Julianna Banana,
You are the cutest, sassiest little thing. Yesterday I got a little upset with you and I'm sorry. I wanted to write this down because it's so typical of you nowadays. You really care about how you look and take lots of time to make sure every detail is perfect....at nauseum. It was a little cold in the morning and I asked you to change your capri's and put on some pants. After a long while upstairs I sent Ashlynne to check on you and she found you sitting in the closet. You were sitting there trying to decide on the perfect outfit to wear to school. The top you had chosen just wouldn't work with long pants and you couldn't find the right outfit. Normally, I wouldn't have gotten so annoyed but you had 5 minutes to get dressed and out the door before the bus came. I got upset and told the kids to go to the bus stop and leave you behind. I helped you find clothes, get dressed and then we ran out the door just in time for the bus to drive passed our house. Luckily, she saw us running out, stopped and picked you up. I seriously wonder what you will be like in Junior High and High School if you are like this in Kindergarten. Regardless, I love you. Always.

Love,
Mommy-la

Liam,
Aaaaahhhhh!!! You drive me nutso! But I love you so much! But you drive me nuts!
But I love you! So. Much. Even though you can drive me nuts I have a lot to be grateful for....You are so gosh dang smart! You talk so gosh dang good! You potty trained before you were three! You make me laugh so gosh dang much! You are my sunshine, my joy, my love. There is this popular saying that goes, "Silence, I keel you!" I can't stand it. The cutest thing ever though is that you always say "Silence, I love you!" lol. It makes me laugh every time. You always tell me "Mommy, I love you with all my heart" What three year old says things like that?! You are the greatest....drive me nuts and all....I'm so blessed.

Love,
MaMaMommy

Aidan,
You're one year old! Hurrah. We've switched you to whole milk and your tummy has not been agreeing with it. I've started you on Lactaid and I'm really hoping the switch will make things easier on you. You are growing and learning so much. You can say Mama, Dada, most everything else in Nana. You use "nana" for everything and you love to babble in a sing songy voice. Whenever we are getting ready to leave the house you'll say "go-go" and you love to point at things and say "that" If you hear music you love to bob up and down and dance. Your favorite activities are rifling through the trash and opening the fridge and sampling random foods. The two oddest foods so far have been a stick of butter and an onion which I found you eating like an apple(you protested pretty loudly when I took it away). I love this age, I love watching you become a little boy. I love you Aidan Bug.
Love,
Mama

Tuesday Messages...

Dear Jeremiah,
I love our late night movie dates and
cuddling with you on the couch long after
our children have gone to sleep. It seems that
1am bedtime has become the new 10pm.
Hooray for Summer!
I love you.
Alida

Dear Ashlynne,
Thank you for cleaning up the HUGE mess I made
this morning when I dropped that jar of baby food
in the kitchen. I only stepped away for a moment
to put the baby down and when I came back you had
already cleaned it without my asking. I appreciate
you so much. I will miss you while you are visiting
your grandma this month, I love you.
MamaMadre

Dear Brinton,
Today you get to go on an AIRPLANE for the first
time since you were 4 years old. I know how incredibly
excited you are. I'm going to miss you terribly this next
month. I know you'll be on your best behavior and I know
you are going to LOVE spending time with your grandparents
so much. I packed a new Star Wars Lego set in your bag as
a surprise, I hope you like it. Te quiero mucho mi hijito.

Love
Mommy

Dear Elise,
I just looked at the clock and I'm supposed to be leaving
to pick you up from clogging camp right now....
Okay. We're back and you are the cutest little clogging girl EVER!
Today you learned a new step and had to demonstrate it for me
right away. You took of your sandals in the midde of the parking lot and
showed me your new moves. You are too cute! LOVE YOU CUPCAKE!
Love Mommy

Dear Julianna,
You are working so hard on reading.
You love reading Dick and Jane books
and sounding out new words that get introduced
in the stories. You have memorized some
nursery rhymes, Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle
and Rub a Dub Dub. I'm so excited for you to be in
real Kindergarten this year. You are going to do amazing
Love
Mommy

Dear Liam,
We've gone swimming a lot the last few weeks and I'm surprised
to say that you are not a water baby. You are really nervous
around the water and you want me to hold you constantly
even though you have the life jacket on. Yesterday we went
to the Aquatic Center and at first you wanted nothing to do with the water.
You warmed up a bit though and you enjoyed the lazy river.
After that daddy took you in the big pool
and you started to LOVE it! Yay!!
When we got home you said you wanted to go swimming again.
Hopefully the rest of the summer will be filled with fun swim days.
Love you,
Mama

Dear Aidan
YOU'RE 9 MONTHS OLD!
You LOVE food.
You walk around the whole room holding on to everything!
You've stood unassisted for several seconds at a time!
You are so SMILEY!! You love to smile. You are such a happy boy!
I want to squeeze you I love you so much!
Love,
Mommy

Tuesday Messages...

Jeremiah, even though your new calling is going to take up a lot of your time (which you are already short on) I want you to know I support you 100 million billion percent.

Ashy thank you so much for helping out around the house last week when I was sick with a stomach bug and daddy was at school. I appreciate you making the kids corn dogs for dinner and keeping the baby happy so I could get some rest.

Brinton going to the store with you last week and wandering around for a couple hours just the two of us was really fun, we need to do it more often.

Lisey thank you for been such a bubbly little girl, even when you aren't feeling well.

Julianna you are too cute.

Happy Birthday todayLiam, 3 years old.

Aidan, Happy Month day, 7 months Old.

Love,
Ali, Madre, Mom, Cuppy Cakey Strawberry pie, Mommy, Mama.

Tuesday Morning Messages...

Dear Jeremiah
You've been studying for school and
you've been working so hard on a deadline for work.
You stay up late, late nights and into the wee hours of the morning trying to get everything done. After all that you wake up early with the kids in the morning to get them ready for school before you head out to your class. If that isn't enough last night you came home and decided to make dinner! Thanks for your sacrifices and thank you for showing me how much you care. I appreciate you so much and just want you to know that it doesn't go unnoticed.

Love,
Ali

***

Dear Ashlynne,
Yesterday when you came home from school you exclaimed,
"25 more days till the end of school!"
This year those words pack so much power.
This year those words don't just mean
25 days till the end of school,
this year those words mean
25 days till the end of ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I can't believe my daughter is going to middle school next year!
It seems like I was just in middle school, I remember it so vivdly.
I'm gonna let the idea of you growing up soak in a little bit more.

Love,
Madre

***

Dear Brinton,

Yesterday when you came home from school you exclaimed,
"Wanna know what my math homework is tonight?" with a big grin on your face.
I'll admit I was very interested
because you usually try to hide your math homework,
not act excited over it. haha.
Then you told me,
"It's to get a good night's sleep for the assessment tomorrow."
No wonder you were so excited...you LOVE sleep.
Good Luck on the assessment! You're gonna do fantastic!

Love,
Mommy

***

Dear Elise,

We stayed up much to late last night practicing fish tail braids on your hair.
I love your long beautiful hair, thank you for letting me practice on you.
We had some great discussions. We talked about school. We talked about baptism. We talked about Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I'm amazed by your knowledge and your testimony at such a young age. You teach me so much. I love being able to spend time alone with you, talking to you and laughing with you and getting to know you. You are such a special little girl. Wise beyond your years. I love you so much.

Love,
Mommy

***

Dear Julianna,

The other day after eating some angelfood cake with berries and whip cream for breakfast you said,
"Mommy, I know why people put strawberries and raspberries and blueberries on cake....It's because they want to pretend it's healthy, right? But then they put whip cream on it and who are they kidding?"

That made me laugh so hard!!

Love you,
Mommy

***

Dear Liam,

As I write this you are curled up on the couch sleeping. You've been feeling sick the last couple of days and all you want to do is snuggle with mommy. I'll admit I have a lot of things to do today but it can all wait until tomorrow because snuggling with you when you're sick is the best part of being a mom.....just as long as you don't puke, okay? If you absolutely have to just know I'll be here to clean you up. But please don't.

Love,
Mommy

***

Dear Aidan,

You can crawl! Hooray!
You figured it out and now nothing can stop you....
except for a wall, which you sometimes accidentally crawl into.
You've grown up so quick the last month,
next thing I know you'll probably be climbing stairs!!
Hold off on that one a little longer if you can though, k?

Love you,
Mama

Tuesday Messages...

Jeremiah,
Some days I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some days I feel like the world is caving in on me.
Some days I just wish for our normal life back....
Some days I just want to cry and cry and cry and cry.
Thanks for being there to just listen to me.
Some days that's all I need.
Love,
Ali
***
Ashy,
Allstar Cheer tryouts were Saturday. You've been working so hard for over a month to land that back handspring. I know how nervous you were and finally on Friday night you landed it. Then you landed it again. Then you landed a round off back handspring. Then you landed two front walk-overs, round off, back handspring. Then double toe touch back handspring! Oh.my.goodness. you were on fire! At tryouts you suddenly walked over to me and said, "Mom, I think I'm going to change my standing pass to a back handspring, round off, back handspring." I'll admit I kinda freaked. You hadn't even tried it before and you just learned your back handspring the night before and it was like 5 minutes BEFORE tryouts. So I asked you to show me and you walked over to the mat, head held high, and you NAILED it!! Everyone was like WOW! I was like WOW! You gave me a sassy little look and I had to giggle. I love your confidence! Good Job on making the Junior Level 2 team, I know it's what you really, really, really wanted.
Love,
Madre
***
Brinton,
Holy moly Bubba! You are so awesome. Last week was a good week for you. We had the chance to meet with your teachers and they all spoke so highly of you. Your test scores were in the 99th percentile for your age and grade. The OT specialist said she administered a test where you were shown a picture and had to draw it. You drew every single one and with perfect detail. She said in all her years of administering the test she had never had a student complete every drawing! Way to go! They said you were polite, articulate, and very intelligent. Articulate? I LOVE that word for you. There were times when you were little when I didn't ever think that I would hear you speak and now people are telling me how articulate you are! It makes me beam with pride. I truly love you my sweet son.
Truly, Madly, Deeply. As long as I'm living (and even on to infinity).
Love,
Mom
***
Elisey,
I think your middle name should've been Sparkle, cause that's what you do.. .you sparkle! Everywhere you go, you sparkle. When you are really excited about something you get this adorable twinkley sparkle in your eye and you jump up and down with joy. Whenever you hear or say something funny you giggle and if sounds could sparkle it would be the shiniest giggle in America...maybe even the world! Last week was the 2nd/3rd grade musical. You were one of the main speakers and you lit up the stage. When you sang the songs and did the motions you took my breathe away. You were the shiniest little girl up there. A little ray of sunshine. You light up my life and color my world.
I love you cuppy cake
Mommy
***
Julianna,
Today was Kindergarten Roundup. *sigh*
I'm not ready to let you go yet....good thing I have a couple of months to get used to the idea. You had an eye exam and a hearing exam. You looked like such a big girl sitting in the chair raising your hand each time you heard the Beeeeeeeeppppp. They tested you on letters. You knew every single one, except for lower case "m." They tested you on single digit and double digit numbers. You were awesome with the single digit, and did better than I thought you would on double digit. They tested you on shapes...you knew all your shapes including cube, cylinder, and octagon! That surprised me. They tested you on concepts...big, small, short, tall, wide, similar, alike, exactly, the same, etc. You got everyone right. I'm so proud of you smart girl. Don't grow up to quick though.... you're still my baby girl.
Love,
Mommy
***
Liam,
Wow. You are such a 2 year old boy. Last weekend was general conference. We usually are able to watch it on television but it's not carried on TV here in Pittsburg. We could watch it on the Internet but we tried that for the Saturday sessions and the screen is so small that 8 people crowded around it was just too uncomfortable....so....Sunday we opted to go over to the chapel and watch it there with everyone else. You did a really good job of playing as quietly as a 2 year old boy in church can. You looked at books, played bingo (ate jelly beans), and colored. 2 hours is a long, long time for a little boy to be quiet. When you became restless I took you on a little walk around the church building. It was so windy that we quickly came back inside. As I wrestled with your little body to keep you from getting down and running away I caught a glimpse of your big, beautiful brown eyes. For a quick second I was immersed in your eyes and it was if I could see that little spirit of yours. I had a glimpse of the man you are to become. I saw you as a missionary, as a husband, as a father. It was so amazing. I knelt down and stared into those big brown eyes again and said, "I love you" With those three words it's as if all the restlessness just melted away and you hugged me so tight. I don't think I'll ever forget that moment.
I love you.
Mommy
***
Aidan,
My sweet little Aidan. You're so close to crawling. Hip, hip, hooray! You do this half inchworm, half army, half up on your hands and knees, half drag yourself, kind of motion that looks A LOT like crawling but just isn't quite right yet. You can get across a room pretty quickly now and you love to terrorize my neatly folded laundry. Sadly, you are on your 3rd ear infection in 3 months, add to that you are about to cut your first tooth. The last few nights have been pretty miserable. It's likely you'll get tubes in your ears and hopefully that tooth will push through soon.
I love you little Aidan Bug.
Mommy

Tuesday Thursday Morning Afternoon Messages

**So I've been kinda sick. Not really sure what it is. I totally missed writing Tuesday because I was at the hospital for 6 long hours with no results. Initially it was my gall bladder, then it was maybe kidney stones, now I have an elevated thyroid level....whatevs....I'm here now so let's roll....

Jeremiah,

I want you to know how much I appreciate that you are a worthy priesthood holder. Knowing that I can turn to you for a blessing when I'm sick or in need of comfort is so important to me. Thank you for always being there for me.

Love Ali

Ashlynne,

You are practicing so hard for cheer tryouts next week. Our front room has turned into a gymnasium. front walkovers, back walkovers, attempted back handsprings, dance moves, cheer facials, cart wheels, roundoffs, herkies, toe touches, and pikes. Just watching you exhausts me. Your drive and passion are such a huge example to me. We haven't been able afford for you to go to tumbling this month and I was really afraid that would hurt you just before try outs but you haven't let any of that hold you back. I am constantly amazed at all you accomplish. You are so determined. Don't lose your drive and good luck next week!!

Love, Madre

Brinton,

I've seen how your neck has been hurting lately. I know you try to hide it from me. I keep praying that your neck will heal and that you won't need to have that surgery. The thoughts of putting you under one more time is more then I can handle. I wish that I could take away your pain. I wish that I could make it all go away. I love you so much Bubba. I'm always here for you. Love Mom

Elise,

I love how you come home, walk in the door, pull out your homework and get to work. I never have to ask you to do your homework, you just do it. You are an awesome little girl.

Love,

Mommy

Julianna,

Today you had your Kindergarten physical and got your first round of vaccinations...ever. You were so brave. I know how scary it was and I know you cried a little but those neon colored band aids and that chocolate shake from Freddy's seemed to do the job. You're so easy to please.

I love you.

Mama

Liam,

This week we ran out of diapers. Do you know how expensive diapers are? For the sake of posterity, currently, a package of 96, Size 4 LUVS cost around $16.99. That's a lot. So we decided that this week is potty training week. Yesterday you went potty, put on your Thomas the Train undies, put a Thomas sticker on your chart, and right then we heard a train off in the distance. You were so cute as you looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, "Thomas said hooray, Liam go pee pee in the potty!!" You thought that train in the distance was Thomas talking to you!!

Love you always,

Mommy

Aidan,

I like you. You're fun.

Love, Mommy

Tuesday Morning (afternoon) Messages...

Every week I get closer and closer to actually posting these in the MORNING as the title suggests...lol!

Dear Jeremiah,

Having you travel for work over the last 2 years was very, very difficult. I missed you like crazy and I felt so alone. Having you home on the weekends was not enough. Some how I learned to do it on my own, I got my own routine and figured out how to make it all work. Admittedly, now that you are no longer traveling for work I initially struggled having you home again. It was such a challenge for me to rescind some of my duties, to let you back in, to surrender all of my control and to be a partner again. Over the last couple of months as we've come together to help one another I've grown so much closer to you again and I appreciate all that you sacrificed for us the last 2 years. I love you. I'm glad to have you back home on a daily basis and as my eternal companion...there is nobody else I would want to spend eternity with.

Luv Ali

Dear Ashlynne,

On Sunday, I watched you plan and schedule a "Spring Break Camp" for your siblings. On Monday, you woke up bright and early. You made sure everyone was wearing a white top and blue jeans. You made breakfast and then began your camp. When it was time to go outside you got all the children in the neighborhood involved. You made crafts, played games, had snacks. You are so fun and creative!

Love,

Ma-ma-ma-madre

Dear Brinton,

You are become such a great artist! I'm increasingly amazed at the cartoons and pictures you draw. I'm always thinking that you traced them or something because they are *that* good, but I know you didn't. I'm really excited that you've found one of your many talents. Keep drawing!

Love,

Mommy

Dear Elise,

You are so sweet and intelligent. This week you got your first "B" on your report card and you were so upset over it. You set a goal that you would never, ever, ever get a B again. I truly hope you reach that goal my little cuppy cake, but remember that I will always, always, always, love you no matter what.

Love,

Mommy-la

Dear Julianna,

Last week I was gone every morning for several hours at a time. Grandpa came to visit so you were able to stay with him while I was gone. I know you enjoyed spending time with him, but I could see how heart broken you were every time I left. You are by far the most attached to me. I am so excited for you to begin school next year but I worry that you will have a really rough transition to being gone all day. Kindergarten Round-up is in a couple of weeks and somehow even though I've done it 3 times already with Ashy, Brinton, and Lisey, my heart is breaking at the thought of sending you to school. However, I know you'll do wonderfully and mommy will always be here for you at the end of the school day.

Love,

Your momma

Dear William,

You are named primarily after my brother William, as well as my uncle, and your dad's great grandpa. Being that there are so many Will's and Willy's in our family we decided that we would use the nickname Liam for you. A lot of people don't get that LIAM is the last 4 letters in William...I constantly have to explain it to them. We very rarely call you William, very, very rarely, so I didn't even know if you knew what your real name is. Last week we were at the doctors office and they called "WILLIAM" and you looked at me and said "Let's go, mommy! It's me" I was so suprised! You do know your name! :)

Love you,

Mommy

Aidan,

You've become so much more mobile over the last couple of weeks. It really helps mommy a lot because now I don't have to hold you near as much. You still have your moments but it's okay, I like being needed sometimes.

Lovey Love

Mama

Tuesday Morning (evening) Messages...

Struggling to get back on the blogging horse...I seem to have fallen and I can't get up. So for now this week's Tuesday Morning Messages and I'll come back full force on Monday.

dear jeremiah

You drive me nuts!

But I love you

Your eternal companion (If I can just get through today)

alida

dear ashlynne

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

{{pulling my hair out}}

Thank goodness I love you always

mommy

dear brinton

do your homework

Please?!

love your mommy who wants you to get good grades

dear elise

stop complaining when I ask you to practice for the talent show

Love your ever supportive

mommy

dear nanna

stop smothering aidan

I beg you!

Love Mommy

dear liam

go to bed

With Love from your very tired mommy

dear aidan

cut your teeth already

Love your teething makes me cranky, too, mommy

Tuesday Morning Messages...

Miah
Parenting is hard!

I'm lucky to have you as my partner to help figure it all out...together.
Love
Me

Dearest 11 year old Ashlynne
The drama...oh the 5th grade drama...
Girls are silly. Boys are silly. Don't Give into the Craziness.

Don't forget it.
Love-Madre

Brinton
You are a great kid, I am proud of you.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Mommy

Elise
I know you are having a super hard time waking up in the morning,

I have an awesome idea....go to sleep when I tell you to!

No more reading under the covers...you think you are soooo sneaky.
Mommy

Julianna Banana
You're a cute little munchkin. Thanks for making me smile today with all your cuteness. Nothing specific just the way you giggle and the way that cute little dimple makes an appearance on your cheek everytime you smile. Adorable!
Mommy

Liam
Please start using the potty consistently.

I'll give you candy....
Mommy

Aidan
We had a good day today. Your smiles melt my heart. You played on the floor for a long, long time and you were just plain happy today. It was wonderful.
Mommy

Tuesday Morning Messages...

One of my best good friends Twighla suggested I change my Tuesday Thingy to Mondays and name it MONDAY MESSAGES! I love, love, loved that idea and decided I would do just that. Well Monday came and I realized there was too much to do and another blog to write and I just didn't get around to it. I think it would be best to continue writing it on Tuesday's, but using her idea I've decided to call it TUESDAY MORNING MESSAGES, kind of like Monday Messages, but not. So now, hopefully, this is the last week I have a long drawn out explanation attached to my cute little messages. Here goes...

TUESDAY MORNING MESSAGES

Dear Miah,

Thank you so, so, so, much for

waking up with the kids this morning and

getting them ready for school, even though

you were up really late studying.

You probably needed to sleep more than I did.

You da best.

Love you.

Dear Ashlynne,

You are seriously all a mother could want in a child.

Last night as you read your essay in front of a full auditorium

at your D.A.R.E. graduation I beamed with pride. You are such

a poised little girl and I felt like I had a glimpse of all the future

holds for you. Always remember who you are.

Your Madre

Dear Brinton,

I am having such a great time being your cubscout leader.

Watching you learn and grow is one of the biggest pleasures

of my life. As I watched you make a creation using your genius

kit at the Blue and Gold banquet last week, I just had to smile.

You've always been so creative and you are so good at thinking outside the box.

It reminded me of when you were just 18 mos old and you took apart

your clothes hamper so you could use the wooden dowel to flip the light switch

on and off because you couldn't reach it. LOL! You have always had a knack

for taking something and making it something else.

I love how your creative mind works.

ILY! Mommy

Dear Elise,

Preschool was really, really rough.

(so rough that you only lasted 6 weeks)

Kindergarten was really rough.

First grade was rough.

Second grade has been NOT rough!

You are really growing up to be such a beautiful young girl.

Sitting in Parent Teacher Conference I'm always a little nervous

but when your teacher told me how great you were doing socially,

academically, and how you are a great example to the other children

I was admittedly shocked and so incredibly pleased!

YAY! You're getting it! I'm so happy!!

Love,

Your Yummer-yemon cupcake Momma

Dear Julianna,

You love Aidan so much.

You love Aidan so much you want to inhale him,

eat him for breakfast,

love on him till he cries!

I think it's so sweet that you want to kiss him, hug him,

feed him, play with him, hold him

alllll. dayyyyyy. long.

Sometimes I get mad because I feel like you are constantly

annoying him but I started thinking that maybe it's a good thing

that you constantly want to smother him with love....

because that means you don't want to smother him. ;)

I love you to bits and pieces and xoxoxoxox..(now I know where you get it)

Dear Liam,

Yesterday at lunch time before we ate I told you we needed to say a prayer first.

You quickly bowed your head, folded your arms and before I could say anything more said, "Heavenly Father, Thank you this day, bless our family, bless the food, In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen" It was so cute...you said it so fast I had to laugh a little bit, and as soon as you said AMEN you were shoving a meatball in your mouth. You are too cute.

I love you.

Mommy

Dear Aidan,

My little Aidan bug.

You wear me out.

Sometimes when I feel so exhausted...so, so tired,

I have to remind myself how much I prayed for you my darling little boy.

I couldn't wait to meet you, to have you, to hold you,

to be your mommy.

To clothe you, to feed you, to be there for you whenever you needed me.

I love you my sweet little baby boy.

I must never forget how much I truly love you.

Love Forever,

Mama

An Un-named Tuesday Post...

I'm thinking it would be cute to chronicle my day, my week, my feelings, in short little notes to the people I love. You know, like in my Valentine's post last week? I just love how that turned out and think it would be fun to have something like that for each week.

I think I'm going to call it something cute...Tuesday Notes...or Tuesday Letters...or Dear Whoever on Tuesday...or That One Tuesday Thingy...Oh well, I don't have a fun name for it *sigh* But I think it'll be a weekly addition to the blog.

You know how sweet grandmas and wise mothers are always saying, "That's so cute, you should write that down to remember it." Well, I admit I always think, "Psshhhh I'll never forget that." But guess what?! Lately, I've been finding myself asking my husband, "Who was it that said...? Who was it that use to...? Do you remember that one time when {insert kid here}, no wait it was {insert other kid here}, no wait maybe it was {insert the kid that was first named here}..." I guess what I'm trying to say is I need to write more of those little things down. To remember it.

Sooo....
Introducing...

The Yet to be Named Tuesday Letter to the People I Love for the Purpose of Chronicling Things That I Will Inevitably Forget
(yeah, um, I don't like that name either)

Dear Jeremiah,
Thanks for helping with the dishes today.
You know how much I hate them.
Love,
Ali

Dear Ashlynne,
It was so nice to sit in Parent Teacher Conference
today and hear how awesome you are....even if I already knew.
Love,
MaMaMaMadre

Dearest Brinton,
You have laryngitis.
It's funny to hear you talk.
Tomorrow I'll teach you to bark like a seal.
Love,
Mommy

Dear Elise,
I make believe that it drives me nuts
when I have to pick out your clothes
every morning because you are too warm
and cozy in your bed to do it yourself.
But, the truth is....
I LOVE that you still
want me to help you. The day you stop needing
me is the day that tears will fall like rain
from my eyes.
Love,
Your Cupcake Mommy

Julianna,
Today you wore a bright blue top,
denim skirt, navy blue tights, black church shoes,
and a pink hairbow. You looked fabulous.
Love,
Mommy

Liam,
Today I got frustrated while making cupcakes.
I said, "I guess I'm not the culinary genius
that I thought I was!"
To which you answered,
"You a genius mommy, yes you are."
Thank You
Love
Your Mommy--The Genius

Aidan-Bug,
10 minutes is not a proper nap.
However, I think you're teething so I'll let it slide this time.
Love,
Mama