GRADUATION!!!

May was a busy month over here! Not only did I turn 40...Kyler turned 6 and both my baby and first born graduated! Well, Kyler "graduated" from Kindergarten. I can't believe how much he's learned this year. He started the year knowing the alphabet, but not perfect letter recognition. He ends the year with lots of 100% spelling tests and reading like a pro! I love this picture!

Way to be noticed Kyler!!!

Here's what his certificate said about him. I think this is the nicest way to describe Kyler.

Kyler enjoys participation in conversation and discussion.

(BOY DOES HE!)

He brings great ideas in to the class and always has a unique outlook on things.

(He's unique all right!!!)

Kyler with Ms. Jones.

Ms. Jones, thank you for everything you've done!
Now the REAL graduation!
Colton graduated from 8th grade!!!
Can you believe he's a high school freshman now?
I CAN'T!!!!!!
(Colton and Mr. Bickes)


Here he is with his diploma and a little treat bag from the school (caramel kisses...YUM!)

We were done with the 8th grade promotion by 11:00am. Perfect timing for lunch at Olive Garden, Colton's favorite! (or as he calls it - Garden of the Olives! Can you tell he's learning a foreign language.) We didn't realize until we walked through the doors that he was dressed EXACTLY like the servers at the restaurant!!! Our server, Donny was fantastic and was ready to put Colton to work! He even presented Colton with an Olive Garden nametag (look on his shirt!)

(Colton's favorite: Black Tie Mousse Cake!!!)

THE END!

LOTS TO SHARE!

I just put up three new posts! Jean-Jacques and Linda's wedding, Kyler's 6th birthday and Asher's Mother's Day Tea. Enjoy!

THE WOMAN FORMERLY KNOWN AS "PRINCE"

Ever since my brother proposed to Linda Prince.....

I'VE BEEN DYING TO SAY THIS!

On May 22nd in the St. George Temple they were married for time and all eternity. It was a beautiful ceremony and I couldn't be happier for them! That evening was a reception in her hometown of New Harmony. We all had such a good time! I didn't get many photos, but had to post and congratulate the beautiful couple! CONGRATULATIONS, MR. & MRS. MULLENEAUX!!!

HE'S KING OF THE WORLD! (OR TURNING SIX!)

It doesn't matter if it's his birthday or not.....he always thinks he's king of the world! It's one of the things we love about this kid. Believe it or not, my baby is six!

He woke up on May 19th and was too excited to wait for breakfast in bed (he'd requested that the night before). He just wanted to get on my bed and have presents!!! This is how the King waits for his gifts.
BIRTHDAY ENERGY!

The GameBoy Advance he wanted. Let's just not think about this being his THIRD one!

(don't ask, but I will tell you this is the LAST one!)

After breakfast and gifts, he went to school. I showed up at 1:30 for his treat!

This was looking down at my baby from the great hug he gave me when I arrived. And he gave me this hug BEFORE he saw the treats I brought! Happy, happy for mom!

He wanted Sprinkle donuts from Krispie Kreme or Dunkin Donuts......but I refused to pay over $30 for all the donuts needed! I mean, COME ON, 30 AMERICAN DOLLARS!!!!

Kyler really loves the powdered donuts and I picked them up at the Hostess Outlet Store...SCORE! Ms. Jones lights the "6" candle for all the birthdays. So happy to have a shot of him blowing that out! Then donut eating began!

Which is always followed by

the-wiping-the-powdered-sugar-on-my-shirt phase!

As if that wasn't enough of a birthday, Kyler wanted his party on his actual birthday. Even though his dad couldn't be there that afternoon, the party was on - Star Wars theme. Here are all the Jedis-in-trainingAfter going through some training, they then earned their lightsabers (pool noodles cut in half with black electrical tape wrapped around for a handle - everything purchased at dollar tree)

Andrew and Kyler

Here are all the Jedi's: Kevin, Trevor, Andrew, Bryce, Tyler, Drew, Jacob and Kyler.

More gifts! Here are 500 water balloons! He also received some $, two lightsabers, a variety of action figures, cars, and sidewalk chalk. Awesome Party, Awesome Gifts!

Kyler wanted a store bought cake, but I couldn't justify the cost and amount of cake for 8 kids! Instead I made cupcakes and we lined them up and frosted them like a green lightsaber and a blue lightsaber. I thought the handles needed a little embellishment, but Kyler didn't want me to do anything to it. So, I'm not showing any photos of it, but it was an easy and cute idea.

8 boys + 24 cupcakes = 0 cupcakes!

More wishes!

Happy Birthday, Kyler!

Just when you thought it was over.....another gift. This one from our Primary, a little can filled with candy, Articles of Faith card with picture of Jesus on the back and a punching balloon toy. Cute idea! (I want to be able to fill these tiny cans too!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY BABY!

MOTHER'S DAY TEA (5th GRADE)

Yes, you read correctly.....Mother's Day Tea......5TH GRADE!

I did appreciate the work that the teacher and students put into this. We played a game (think Newlywed Game for Mothers/Child) and Asher and I earn ONE point out of TEN!!! But we were loud and proud about it (OK, maybe that was only me) much to Ash's embarrassment! He knew my favorite animal......gorilla. Maybe Asher and I need to spend some time talking and getting to know each other better over the summer.

At the end of our time, each of the kids brought their mom to the front of the room and read the letter they had for them. One of Asher's friends didn't have a mom there and I went up to the front to first be Joe's surrogate mom. He read his letter to me except for the last line. He prefaced letting everyone know the last sentence was only for his mom NOT for me. As he was finishing his letter he faced the audience and said that he loved his mom even though she abandoned him at the Mother's Day Tea! After the laughter, another mom explained why she wasn't there and how badly she wanted to be. Joe always makes things interesting! Next Asher read his letter to me. I'm so glad we were laughing over Joe's because I forget how emotional I get with things like this until it's too late!!!!! Asher, thank you for your letter and the wonderful afternoon!!!! As Asher gave me my flower, I grabbed him and kissed his cheek! I know, I'm the MOST EMBARRASSING MOM EVER!!!!!

Just before leaving, Mrs. Caskey asked us to tell a quick little story about our child. Again, to stop from crying I told this story:

When Asher was 4 he had to kiss a girl. When I asked him "WHY?" he replied, "I had to mom, it was the FIRES OF LOVE!"

Have you ever heard a class of 5th graders roar in laughter? I have! Not to mention how hard the mom's were laughing!!! Thankfully, I do know my son well enough to know that he could take it! (side note: the next day as I picked him up from school he told me all he heard that day was "FIRES OF LOVE!" and more laughter! You're welcome, Ash)

MOTHER'S DAY TEA (KINDERGARTEN)

My last Kindergarten Tea. Kyler came out to the hall to crown me and bring me to my seat.
He made the crown himself. Queen "Neekol" he wrote.

He's so proud of this plant! He wanted to take it home and grow it. He said "If it grows bigger than the earth, then I won't grow it again" Somehow that reminds me of Papa.

Now to the folder. Kyler took out the papers and one by one read them to me. Here's some of the highlights: a coupon that says he won't fight, a butterfly pop-up card, he thinks my favorite food is milk and cereal (it's HIS favorite food), he thinks my favorite thing to do with him is....sleep, he said for fun I........sleep, and the one thing I say to him most often.............GO TO SLEEP! Really?!? I don't get where all the sleep comments came from. Was I tired the night before he wrote this?!? Then Kyler made a wish train for me. First wish he has for me......"I hope you don't bother me" Nice boy, huh. Just when I didn't think I could take any more, uh, compliments - our table was up next for food.

Kyler was a pro at the food table. He told me how many of each item we were allowed to get.

He served me my drink. It was so gentleman-ly (is that a word) of him. I chose water, he had fruit punch - two glasses (with a red mustache to prove it!)

Then it was time for him and his friends to take as many pictures as they could before their mom's were frustrated and asked for the camera back. This is one of the nicer shots.

Our Kindergarten Tea ended with a few songs from the kids. It was really cute! See my boy in the back corner. Thank you to Ms. Jones and the whole Kindergarten class for a great afternoon! And thank you Kyler, for being my baby!

THE BIG 4-0!!!

Yes, this sweet little baby girl is 40 today!!!!!

My cousin, Jacquelen has counted down the last 13 days of my 30s on facebook. It's been really fun to see what new photos she would post everyday and I decided to put it up on the blog. So here's the countdown:

"On the thirteenth day before Nicole's 40th birthday, let's all remember Nicole's Big hair!"

(picture taken at Metro Center as we were trying on dresses)

"On the twelfth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Nicole's endless Braces!"

(Full braces from age 13 - 21! This was my sophomore year at Shadow Mountain High School. Mita made my dress, but I picked out my fabric and pattern. Ok, I was supposed to make the dress, but Mita didn't have the patience to let me do it. She just took over and did it.....I was fine with that.)

"On the Eleventh day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Funerals and Weddings with Mita and Papa every weekend of Nicole's childhood!" (

So many funerals!!!!! At the funerals from age 12 on up, I was constantly mistaken (and hugged) by strangers (to me) for my Aunt Mimi....because people apparently didn't realize that she grew up.....we're like 15 years apart!!!!! I did LOVE all the receptions I went to, but I went to soooooooooo many that I started a napkin collection! I had stacks of napkins from tons of receptions of people I didn't know. I did whittle the collection down, but found the remaining napkins in a childhood box I have. Yes.....this was my sad, little childhood)

"On the Tenth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let' all remember Nicole's 3 Sons!"

(I love these boys!!!!!)

"on the Ninth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember 'The Princess Bride'!"

(Tony and I watched this movie all through our engagement. Maybe I should start calling him farm boy again? But only if he starts saying "As you wish" again!)

"On the Eighth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Nicole never getting Rice Krispy Treats!"

(My mom actually did this just before my 40th birthday.....but it was a big deal until then!!! Sorry Andrew, you can't tease me about not having them anymore......well, you probably still could......and would......WHATEVER!!!!!)

On the Seventh day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Chevy Sprint Adventure!"

(Apparently no photo of my Sprint!)

"On the Sixth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Road Trips with Mita and Papa!"

(Too many to count....lots of memories.......some good, some great, some CRAZY!!!!!)

On the Fifth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember All things John Cusack!"

(LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HIM!!!!!! ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS WILL!!!!!)

[Tony knows we live like this!]

"On the fourth day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Cousin Parties!"

(I LOVE MY COUSINS!!!!!! (Mom's side:) Jacquelen, Jason, Juliet, Ben, Matt, Kari, Marcus, Christin, Becky, Emily, Andrew, Rachael, Scott, Candice & Morgan AND (Dad's side) Bret, Brad, Cheri, Tammy, Rich, Natalie, Gabe, Jeremy, Derek, Deni, Danelle, Kristine and Codi PLUS my siblings Jean-Jacques, Audra, Austin and Catherine!!!!!! (sorry- didn't include spouses)

"On the Third day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Christmas programs under Charlie Brown trees!

(The Charlie Brown trees with the HUGE outdoor lights on it. I was so afraid it was fall over or go up in flames! And how can we not remember.....MITA PAJAMAS!!!!! Oh the years of all that sewing! How cute is Christin!!!!! [and a shout out to Mita's sunshine yellow couch.....the only thing brighter than it was the sunshine yellow shag carpet that it stood on!!!] Notice I have pj's instead of a nightgown. I HATE NIGHTGOWNS!!!! I can never sleep in them. I didn't ever want to be a bother, but I always wanted pj's. Some years I got them, some years - nightgowns)

"On the Second day before Nicole's 40th Birthday, let's all remember Nicole's Big Fat 80's Wedding!"

(If you've ever watched The Wedding Singer, then you've seen my wedding. Ironically, we had everything in that movie EXCEPT a wedding singer!!!!! Maybe for our 25 wedding anniversary, we'll hire one!!!)

'On the Day before Nicole's 40th birthday, let's all remember Nicole being in her thirties!"

(My thirties were all spent living in Gilbert. I became a van driving, mom of three in my 30s. My guess is the next decade will be more of the same! 17 days after my 50th birthday, Kyler will be able to get a driver's license and the mom taxi can retire?! We'll see.)

So, do you have a memory to share?

Would you like to venture a guess of what the next decade will bring?

Think we're done with three kids?

I'd love to hear from you!