If I had my life to live over again

"If I had my life to live over again, I would have waxed less and listened more. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadows over my feat, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle...I would have cried and laughed less while watching television...and more while watching life...There would have been more I love yous...more I'm sorrys...more I'm listening...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it...and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it." -Erma Bombeck

Braden's Preschool Graduation

Last night was Braden's preschool graduation and let's just say it was traumatic. We kind of knew that Braden didn't like being in front of people but we did not realize the extent of his fear. The kids walked down the isle playing instruments and Braden was in tears looking at everyone...he kept playing his drum though. When they all got up on stage he burst into tears again. That's pretty much the way it went for the whole program. He would manage to get it together then when he saw me he'd start crying again. I felt so bad for him, but I really wanted him to be able to make it up there. Then if that was bad enough, as they were giving out the "diplomas" and calling people off the stage one by one, Braden ended up being the very last name called! But, he made it, he wasn't crying, he sat up on the stage and toughed it out. I was so proud that he was able to stay up there even though he hated every minute of it!! By the time he got to me, he burst into tears again and cried for a good 10 minutes. As we talked about it later he said he didn't like everyone looking at him, but that God was with him. I was so proud that he was so brave.

Blog problems

Okay, I'm having blog problems today. I was trying to get creative and change my blog background instead I caused disaster! Somehow in the process I got rid of all the "Quotes to Remember" (I'm so upset about this. This was my way of writing down all the funny little things Braden says and now I can't remember any of them. If any of you out there remember one, please comment to this post and let me know.) I also got rid of my playlist which isn't as big of a deal because I should be able to just put it back on here. Anyway, I'm very frustrated and will not be trying to change my blog background anytime soon!

Dress up

Emma Kate wearing John's socks.
Wearing 2 sets of pajamas and Braden's underwear
Wearing one of her dresses over her pjs with her shoes on, of course

Emma Kate loves to put on clothes and shoes, especially shoes. From the moment she wakes up to when she goes to bed she always wants shoes on. She especially loves to wear Braden's shoes. I think we have ourselves a little priss.

Dancin' in the room

One of our favorite things to do right now is to put on the song, "Life is a Highway" and dance around Braden's room. Braden loves to play air guitar and Emma Kate tries as best she can to dance (the girl has no rhythm.) Braden on the other hand has had rhythm since the day he was born. At least one of our children has a chance to have the Millard musical talent. I'm afraid Emma Kate has inherited the Kesler music genes, sorry girl!

7 years

John and I have been married seven years today. It seems so hard to believe, time has flown by. I can honestly say that I am married to my best friend, my companion. I am more in love with John today than I was 7 years ago.
To celebrate our anniversary we went out to eat Saturday to a restaurant on the lake. John had planned for us to take the boat but as we were leaving it started to rain buckets. He was really disappointed that his plan had been foiled, but I didn't mind. (I just love that my husband still likes to plan dates and surprise me.) We had a great time even though we had to drive the car to dinner.
I would have pictures but I forgot my camera ( I could have kicked myself!)

"Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." -George Eliot

Throw up, tantrums, hands in the potty, and poop in the bathtub.

Okay, so this is going to be may too much information for a lot of you...I would advise you to just not read this post if you have a weak stomach.

The title pretty much sums up the evening. It all started after John left to go to soccer practice, of course! Braden was at the table struggling to eat his green beans when he started gagging on one. This boy has the worse gag reflex or maybe the best depending on how you look at it. I went to the kitchen to get him some water to help the green bean go down when he threw up (when will I ever learn my lesson?). I grabbed the nearest bowl I could find, but I was too late, he threw up again. At this point the throw up was spilling off the table onto the chair and the floor. I got Braden cleaned up and he promptly asked me if he could get down and play. As I was cleaning up the mess I was also having to keep Emma Kate away from the throw up which she had taken an interest in since it happened.
I finally got her distracted enough to finish cleaning the dining room and then moved on to cleaning up in the kitchen. While I was in the kitchen I noticed that the bathroom door was open. I walked in to find Emma Kate elbow deep in toilet water (with pee in it, of course). As I lunged to grab her, she promptly put her hand (that had been in the toilet) in her mouth! I washed her hands and tried not to think about her mouth and sent the kids on their way so that I could finish up the kitchen.
The kids then decided to get into a screaming contest and were screaming at each other on the top of their lungs, all while I was on the phone too. I firmly told them they needed to stop screaming immediately to which Emma Kate decided to throw one of her famous tantrums. I sent her to her room to calm down and decided it was definitely bath time.
It doesn't end here folks, I only wish it had. I get the bath going, Braden gets in while I get Emma Kate undressed. I then discover that she has a dirty diaper so I take her to her bedroom to get her cleaned up. Just as I'm about to put Emma Kate into the tub I see poop floating in around Braden. Braden had pooped in the tub! It was at this point that I just had to laugh, I couldn't believe that this all had actually happened. Braden's poop incident was an accident. He just started an antibiotic today which really messes with his system , so he did not get punished this time. Anyway, I let the water out, cleaned the tub, filled the tub again, and got them back into the bath.
That was it, my evening in a nutshell. Has anyone else had an evening like this ? Please share if you have, I'd love to hear it.

Here are some more pictures of the egg hunts. I think we were all tired of hunting eggs by the end of the weekend. We all decided to call them "Spring" egg hunts so as not to confuse the real reason and purpose for Easter. Sunday was a perfect day to be outside too. We all enjoyed a wonderful lunch cooked by my mother and a great cheesecake! (Can you say, "Stretch-pants!) It was a great day.

I hope everyone else had a blessed Easter!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!