The Graduating Class!!

On June 12th my little Derek graduated!! It was so cute and although he is only 5 and going to Kindergarten I still got all emotional! He just seems so big! I can't believe he is already going to Kindergarten! His class sang a bunch of songs, then they took turns saying their names and spelling them. Then they were each presented with their diploma certifying the completion of preschool! One of the songs they sang was called, "The Graduating Class" it was sang to the tune of "The Adams Family" but instead they would say "The Graduating Class" and snap their fingers...soooooo darn cute!!!

Here is my little Graduate!

The Graduating Class! The boys anyway!

Does he seem excited?
This kid was jumping off the walls after
the ceremony was over!
He was all pumped up and happy!

A family picture!

Even Uncle was there!

Such a fun weekend & schools out for summer!

So our weekend began after we checked in at the hotel and headed to the pool. At the pool there were some hot little studs showing off their muscles! That would be Ryan, Brandon and Derek! The kids had allot of fun playing and swimming.

Then we headed to a birthday dinner for Derek. Derek was so cute when the whole room sang happy b-day to him!! After that we went back to the hotel and watched the Disneyland fireworks from our 12th floor view! Derek thought that was just for his birthday. He is so cute!

So then Derek got his birthday wish we went to Knott's Berry Farm!

This is Daddy, Derek and Karlie on the side winder! The individual cars actually spin as you go around the track! So fun! This was Derek's favorite ride! While we were in line we told a worker we were celebrating Derek's b-day. They sang him happy b-day over the speaker as we were getting on the ride! Everyone waiting in line joined in! Derek loved it! Notice the clear blue sky!

It was a western weekend so each of the kids got to go on a scavenger hunt and find a cowboy hat and bandanna! Look how cute little cowboy Ryan is!

And here is the rest of the gang! Karlie, Dakota, Ryan, Derek and Brandon! We had such a great day! I am so glad Derek chose to have his b-day party there! It wasn't very crowded and we pretty much walked onto every ride. It was a beautiful sunny California kind of day!

Then it was back home for the last 1/2 week of school! It was a fun few days! It ended kind of sad though. Saying good bye to good friends and teachers is never easy! Karlie had a pretty tough day thinking about one of her best friends (Gage) who is moving at the beginning of August to Texas.

Karlie got an excellent report card and now moves on to 3rd grade next year! The boys also had their last day of school today! Derek has his graduation tomorrow! I can't believe he will be in Kindergarten! It's so sad how they grow up sooooo fast! Here she is with some good friends Maddy and Zoe!

Some of my favorite shots from the workshop

So at the workshop there were some beautiful families that came to model for us. Here are some of my favorite shots. I had soooo many it was hard to narrow it down. When I was there armed with an awesome camera everything just seemed to click. I so enjoyed capturing the intimacy of a mother with her baby, the beauty of family and the love between them and pure emotion in a glance or smile. We are exposed to so much ugliness everyday through the media etc. God didn't put us on this earth to be unhappy he wants us to be blessed! It was an honor to capture and tell a beautiful story through pictures. I believe there is more happiness and beauty around us than we realize we just need to look for it! So here are a few pictures hope you enjoy them.

So much to say!! It's a long one so hang in there!

A lot has gone on since my last post! On May 15th it became official on paper they are now one big Leffew family!! Mike adopted Brandon and Dakota! So Dakota is now known as Dakota Lee Hayes-Leffew and Brandon is now Brandon Manuel Leffew!

I am so happy for you guys!

I know that was a long hard process but you hung in there

and look where it got you!!

On Mother's Day everyone came over to my house for some Lasagna!

Everyone had lots of fun playing the Wii!

It meant so much having Grandma there!

There was even a Checkers Challenge!

Grandma won as she has always done!

But I think Grandma is getting soft because the last time she was over

some how Derek, Ryan and Karlie all beat her!!

The other day Ryan and Derek hit the RolyPoly jack pot!!

They had so much fun playing with the RolyPolys!

Since it's been so long since my last post I will update you on Derek's ears. They are doing great! We go back to the ENT in a couple weeks and we will see how everything is holding up. Derek turned 5 on May 25th! We had a small party on Thursday May 22nd at the park. It was a lot of fun! We almost made it through without rain! Who ever heard of rain in San Diego this time of year anyway? It did end up raining on us but the kids had a blast playing in the rain! Thank you Kim, Carla, Marcia, Haley, Starlene and all your beautiful children for toughing it out with us despite this very weird weather! We didn't do a big party for Derek this year because he wants to go to Knotts Berry Farm so that's what we are doing on June 7th.

Memorial weekend I was sent to a photography workshop in Ranch Bernardo! It was so much fun. I met so many awesome women that I know will be life long friends! This was my Mother's Day/Birthday present! I learned so much and I know now that I definitely want to start my own business! First I have to get a real camera! So as soon as I do I will be looking for Models to build my portfolio so be prepared!!! I will post some pictures I took there real soon!

Now I must say 30 is FABULOUS especially when family and friends surprize you with such an awesome party! Thank you so much Carla for hosting my Surprize party! And to Michelle and Carla for setting up and planning everything! You guys rock I love you! And everyone who came Thank You so much! It really meant allot having you all there with me. The day was perfect! I don't know how you pulled it off but you did and it was great! I guess after being kidnapped on Wednesday I wasn't expecting any more surprizes!!! Well we are off to Knotts Berry Farm this weekend it should be fun! I will post pictures of our adventure when we get back!

Derek's Surgery

So Derek had his surgery yesterday. He was so good and big and brave. He is very proud that he didn't cry one tear. We had to get up very early and be at Children's Hospital at 6 am. We got there and checked in then we waited. Daddy read the paper and Derek and Mommy played video games on the PSP and watched TV. Derek chose a new video game for the wii if he did good. He kept asking, "when are we going to go get Mario Galaxy?" I would say, "after the surgery if you do good." Then he started saying, "when is it my turn?" "It's taking to long" "I'm hungry." Finally they called him. We went back and answered more questions then they asked Derek what flavor he wanted his mask bubble gum or strawberry? The lady made the mistake of pulling out lip glosses for Derek to smell to decide what his mask would smell like. (They put a big dab in the mask so it smells good) Derek saw the lip gloss and says, "I don't want that!" We tried explaining everything but he insisted that he didn't want that girlie stuff! When the anaesthesiologist came in he asked again what flavor we told him the situation and he says, "Ok then we will stay with the beach ball scent." Dr Benz put Derek on his lap as he talked with Doug and I. Then he told Derek to wrap one of his hands around each side of Dr Benz neck and he pulled Derek up for a piggy back he had Derek give us both kisses and off they went down the hall to the OR. Derek didn't cry one bit! Dr Benz didn't really give him the chance. Then when he woke first thing out of his mouth, "do we get to go get my game now?" He acted a little groggy the he bounced right back and skipped and jumped around as we left. He didn't complain about anything but the cottonballs in his ears. He got his game and had alot of fun playing it. He started to complain a little after dinner. We gave him his Tylenol and he went to bed. He woke up kind of achy and had a little bloody drainage in both ears. I gave him Tylenol and called the Dr. Dr says that's normal and to watch him for the next couple of days. So Derek and I are home today. We are going to go pick up birthday supplies and have a little date together. Karlie and Ryan are both at school so it will be just Derek and I. I'll be giving him lots of TLC!

Last Soccer games for the Spring Season

Derek and Ryan started our Sunday with a 12:00 game. The game was actually pretty physical. There were a couple boys on the other team who wanted to win as bad as Derek. One boy did allot of pushing. Derek got pushed allot and had to work really hard and be really tough. The other team scored 2 times when Derek was sitting out! Derek scored 5 times, Kyla scored 2 times, Ryan took advantage of the pile up at the goal when Derek tried to score but had the other team pile up on him. So when everyone was down Ryan came over and kicked it in (It was so funny!) So final score Sharks 8 Lion Kings 2!
Then came Karlie's game at 3:45-another physical game!
Karlie always brings big game. She may be shy, cute and girlie off the field, but on the field....that girl runs all over the place, she is not afraid to get in the action and fight for the ball, she can really control the ball well and just kicks some booty! She is in a coed league and some of the boys are really big and aggressive. That doesn't stop my little Karlie! She had her best game yet! Not only did she take 3 of the biggest falls I have ever seen her take (one which was a cheap push that resulted in a face plant) she bounced right back up, no tears no hesitation and she ended up scoring her first 2 goals!! It was so fun to watch. I could just feel her moment with her! I could see the pride and the confidence it gave her! I just can't wait for fall. Well actually I can. I will enjoy every moment of the summer and dread the next school year when yet another one of my kids will be off to school! I won't dread the Fall soccer season though it is just so much fun to watch my kids play!!!

We are a Wii family!!

So on Friday night Daddy became Super Daddy (on accident!) To make a long story short....we went to pick up Doug from a little Lineman party. He had been drinking a little and was having a good time, he wasn't quite ready to leave. So I told him the kids and I would drive around and find a Target or someplace to go spend the money they each had burning a hole in their pockets!! Well Daddy tells them they had been being soooo good (keep in mind he had been drinking) that they could save their money and go get "whatever they wanted" Hearing this Derek says "Can we get a Wii? Doug says sure! Derek yells "YES"! Doug kisses them and closes the car door. Then he turns to me and says "They won't have it!" (You see we have been checking on the Wii since November and around here it has been sold out everywhere.) Derek is always checking to see if they have it where ever we go. So we went on a mission to find a Target or Toys R Us or something. While we are driving Derek sees a Best Buy and he shouts "there Mommy that's where they sell video games!" So we went to best buy. We go to the Wii section and again they had plenty of games and attachments but no systems. So we see a worker and ask if they have any Wii systems. He answers "YES! We are receiving a shipment right now! I answer with a shocked "You do?" He's like"Yeah do you want me to go back and get you one?" Derek shouts "Yes we do!!!!" So they guy goes and gets it and my kids are jumping up and down with excitement! When he comes back he says "Do you want any games" All three kids say yes! I give them a look and they reply "Daddy said we could get whatever we want!" So we left with a Wii system, MarioKart for Derek, Lego Starwars for Ryan and High School Musical sing along for Karlie! Doug was very shocked when the children told him Thank You for their new things! He didn't believe it at first. We have been having so much fun with it though! We all have our own Mii's and really enjoy playing together! I don't think Doug will ever tell the kids they can get whatever they want and send them shopping with me again!