Kinder Graduation

Rachel survived kindergarten.Revise- I survived kindergarten.Rachel, however, kicked kindergarten's booty!
For real though, she did. The year started out rough. She was behind in reading and was really struggling with the new schedule. I worried about her a ton. But now she loves school and is right where she needs to be in reading. I'd like to take the credit, but I can't. She did it all!!!Gooooo Rachel!!!!!!
When I got the email about kindergarten graduation I have to admit that I had no idea that kindergarten graduation was "a thing". And when we arrived to the school that morning I saw entire families all dressed up, balloons, and cookies decorated with "Congrats Grad" on them.Immediately Mr. Incredible's statement came to mind..."It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate 

mediocrity but if someone is genuinely exceptional..." 
hahahahaha! 
Seriously folks, they're just moving from kindergarten to the first grade.

I came in with this opinion, but mind you I left with an entirely different one.
I balled.
And I swear my mind flash forwarded to her high school graduation. I vividly saw a beautiful, 18 year old, root beer eyed lady walk across a stage. It was Rachel. And she was grown up.

I blinked and saw this... thank goodness she's still little...
 {sigh of relief}

Getting ready to her big moment! 
hahaha!

Her class was the first to line up...

And there she is!!! 
My little graduate!
And yes, she posed like that.
So Rachel...

She held it for a long time... the principle was like, "okay, you're done..."
bahahahaha!
Oh that girl! She comes by it so naturally...

Remind me to stop blinking.
I keep trying by my involuntary bodily responses keep kicking in... it's impossible.
I can't believe how fast time goes by!
On to the first grade!!!
WHOOP! 

Little Boy with Chocolate Chips

After church everyone needs a snack and a nap.
This mama needed a sit down. 
So I poured a handful of chocolate chips on the counter and headed for the couch.
Then he was just too cute. 
So I got my camera...

I took his plug! heehee!
That sneaky Mommy! Caught red handed!

Little boy, are those chocolate chips good?

Those toes... always pressed up against the wall. 
Sometimes I clean the toe smudges.
And sometimes I don't.

There's a fierce love I have for this little boy.
It's incredibly hard to explain.
Basically, there's nothing I wouldn't do for this little dude.

"HEY MOMMA!"

"HEY LUKE!"
When'd you get so dadgum big!?
Cut it out little boy!!!!

After he ate his chocolate chips and got his new shirt completely slimed, 
we headed upstairs to rock.
I love to rock him.
It's my favorite.
And the perfect reward for making through church with these three hoodlums!
Happy Sunday!

Mr. Wiggles

Tyler found a snake in the backyard.
Naturally, he bought inside the house. 
(insert huffy breath)
Despite Mommy's enthusiasm, the kids LOVED it.
Except possibly Rachel... as you can see by her expression here,
 it took some time to warm up to Mr.Wiggles. 

Truly and completely Maggie was the true owner of this snake.
She named him.
She watched movies with him.
She never let him out of her sight.
Except that one time she did and we found him a couple days later in the downstairs bathroom.
(insert another huffy breath)

Luke.LOVED.the.snake.
Period. Exclamation Mark. End of story.

Those eyes...
swooooooonnnnn

So excited about Mr.Wiggles!!!

Just fascinating! lol!!! 

Momma says- Who cares about Mr. Wiggles! Check out this picture of my boy!
(holds up camera to show everyone the awesome picture...)
***no one looks***
How rude.

Its funny the things that can make a child's day.
A garden snake is all it takes for a great day in the Payne household.
If Daddy ever brings in a scorpion or tarantula there will be no pictures.
Except possibly one of my dead husband.
Kidding.
Sort of.
No really I'm kidding! ;)

Juice Box Simplicity

"There is a beauty and clarity that comes from 
SIMPICITY
that we sometimes do
not appreciate in our thirst 
for intricate solutions."
Dallin H. Oaks

I have found so much joy in simplicity. 
Simple days bring me happiness and peace.
Simple days make my heart full.
Simple days remind me of what matters most.

One of the greatest blessings of being a Mother of small children is simplicity.
I treasure it.
I know soon enough our lives will bombarded with endless activities and extra curriculars.
Heck, we could engage in these now.
But I choose not to overbook our little family.

Because there is peace and joy in our simple days.
Our juice box simple days.
"Mom, can you open this juice-box?"

Don't get me wrong- we love sports and art and music! 
And we try to do a little at a time.
Because more than anything I want to play with my children while they still love to play with me!

Oh Maggie Maggie Maggie--- 
I love your smile.

It's a lesson I seem to need to learn over and over again. 
And each time I learn a new reason why simplicity is best.
Juice Box simplicity.
Now that's the stuff!

Bikes and Bluebonnets

After the strawberry patch we came home for the PARTAY!!!!! 
Rachel was pretty excited for her strawberry birthday cake!

Six candles!

And heres the big one! 
She got a bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now lets hope she learns to ride it sometime soon! haha!

I know most kids learn the bike way earlier, but thing is this is the first time we've had a decent driveway and neighborhood to try this! 
Learning that balance has been tricky!

Luke and Pop...

Off to explore!!!

We found a bluebonnet patch and decided to take a few pictures.
This one cracks me up because Mariela was so stinking worried about 
rattlesnakes! haha!

Oh my parents!!
Gotta love 'em!

One with the girls 
(Luke was throwing rocks with Daddy- way too focused to move him to the bluebonnet patch!)

We are so glad everyone could come out and celebrate Miss Rachel with us!
It was one of those weekends that get you through
 the rest of the month and make you longing for more.
Happy Birthday Rachel!

The Strawberry Girls

A few weeks ago Rachel came up to me and said, "Mom- I want a big POOL party for my birthday party this year!" (With really big excited eyes!)
To which I replied, "I'm sorry honey, you're not a summer baby, you're a spring baby and pools aren't open in the spring."
As soon as Rachel began to wallow I exclaimed, "You're a spring baby and do you know what that means??!!??!!? It's means we get to go to the strawberry patch!!!!"
Sad frown turned upside down. Since that moment there has been no talk of a pool party.
But every other minute there was, "Mom how many more days until my party at the strawberry patch?" hahahaha!

We counted down the days and it finally came! Strawberry Patch day!
It was foggy and misty that morning. And it was 100% chance of rain.
But I had a good feeling.
We HAD to go. Nothing else would do!
My Mommy intuition payed off and it was perfect. A little drizzly and muddy- but perfect.
Scoping out the strawberry rows...

Found a big one!

What a cute little birthday girl!

Luke helped himself to has many strawberries that he could fit in his mouth.
hahaha!

Everyone got muddy that day but no one got as muddy as the Lukeman.
Nobody.

The much anticipated train ride!!!!!!!!
All aboard!
Miss Rachel---
aka: Miss Strawberry Queen

Miss Maggie---
aka: Miss Ladybug Queen

Daddy and Mr. Luke (who wasn't so sure about this train ride thing)---
aka: Mr. Muddy Britchers

Chugg-a-Chugg-a-Chugg-a-Chugg-a- CHOO CHOO!

I'm already dreaming of making something similar when we have land and grandkids.
It's gonna be amazing.
Just wait and see. ;)

Look at that long and lean little girl!
SIXXXXXXXXX!!!!!
ahhhhh! I feel so old!

Blurry Goodness right here!

The Luke jumpster!!!

Flying Strawberry Queen!!!!

The Strawberry Birthday Girls!!!
Rachel's birthday is the 7th and Mariela's the 10th! 
Double PARTAY!!!!!
We were so excited to celebrate with them!

Feeding the goats. 
The kids can never get enough of this!

Little boy muddy heaven...

Miss Strawberry and Miss Ladybug having a good ole' time!

I absolutely love this picture!
Hazy, misty strawberry field and Miss Ladybug jumping the rows...

The only group picture we got before Luke threw a fit! 
He must have known it was a girly ladybug... haha...

As we were leaving I spotted lots of Indian Paintbrush patches!!! I hadn't seen any over in our neck of the woods so I about FLIPPED!!!!
Indian Paintbrushes are my absolute favorite and have been since I was a girl.
STOP THE CAR! I'VE GOT TO GET A PICTURE!
I'm so proud of the lady Rachel has become! Just LOOK at her! 
You can see straight through that pure little heart of hers. You're such a joy Miss Rachel Lynn!

Oh my goodness gracious... 
I love love love this picture!

Thanks Mariela for taking a few a Rachel and I! I love them!
Like Mother like Daughter!
This picture makes my heart burst.

Favorite. Day. Ever!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!
I LOVE YOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!