Preschool Celebration for Frances

Today was Miss Francie's last day of preschool for the year. They did a wonderful job. They had a slideshow of each kid that featured their self portrait (check out Francie's), pictures, and personal stories about the child. I cried with so much pride that I thought my heart might burst with love for my little pistol. Their stories perfectly captured her spirit and her "strong voice". I feel so honored to get to be her parent and SO fortunate that she benefited from her incredible teachers and amazing preschool community. 

Field Day

Frances had her first Field Day experience.....which she kept calling "Field Trip Day". Her teachers assigned me to the spot where we had a wiggly snake (jump rope) that the kids had to jump over and then music so that we could have a "dance party". They obviously assigned me there due to my mad dance skills...bring it.


It was a seriously good time.


I can't believe Frances is at the end of her first year of preschool. WHAT?

Frances Birthday Celebration at School

Frances had her birthday celebration at school today because they will already be on summer break on her actual birthday. I picked up Henry from school so he could be a part of it. Her school is so wonderful. 


We started by Henry and I talking about Frances. I told the story about her birth and about how the first thing every said about Frances, will probably be true for her whole life. As Dr. Payne tried to pull her out (and then Frances helped pull herself out with her arm), Dr. Payne held her up and said "Well, you have one healthy and strong little girl". 


We brought a picture board -- on orange paper, Frances's choice -- and then we talked about the fun things we love about her. THEN....everyone in her class talked about what they love about Frances. I have to say, that is when I got emotional. So much of it was about how she loves her family, loves to play family (the daddy and brother role), and how she is so helpful when people are hurt or need a hug. Her teacher said that she adores the way Frances tells a story, especially when she laughs at her own jokes. THEN....she got a "Wish Monster" made especially for her. It was a cheetah (her favorite animal) that played sports (her favorite thing) with a number four. 


She LIT up with joy.....and so did Henry and I.  

Janis's Benefit Concert

Janis's choir were part an incredible benefit concert to help raise money for children in West Africa. She was amazing and the choir and the guest musicians were incredibly. The kids were very proud of her and enamored by the fact that their nanny is a ROCK STAR.

Field Trip to Plumper Farm

Henry had his end of the year to Plumper Farm and Maggie and I go to go. In a stellar parenting move on my part, I showed up to chaperone and take kids to the farm......with a gas light on in my car. So, I took the kids on a "fun, secret side trip" to the gas station. The farmers were AMAZING at explaining everything and Maggie sampled all kinds of dirt...much to the dismay of other mothers that I think keep their children cleaner than I.

Papa Retires.....Again

My dad retired......again........let's see if this one sticks. His retirement party was very sentimental and he had obviously touched the lives of many of the staff. It was also classic Peck Family as I spilled water and my parents got in a disagreement about whether my mom "let's my dad" go to Mortons or not. Hilarious. The staff did a slideshow of appreciation for him, complete with sound effects and personalized stories.

Golfing in Manzanita

We went to Manzanita for Memorial Day...it was memorable to say the least....five minute out of town, Henry vomited in the car and thus started the Reuland Family Pukefest. On Sunday, after recovering from the mayhem, we went golfing with Papa. HILARIOUS. Henry went through balls like a robot -- the kid LOVES to practice. Frances, on the other hand, threw down the clubs upon not being able to hit the ball and yelled "IT IS NOT WORKING". The kids has fun with Papa and are hoping that now that he officially retired (as of June 1), they will get to do more kinds of things like this with him. 

11 Month Maggie

Miss Maggie is 11 months! 

The baby books all say that you can "start to really see your child's personality" at this age. Umm....yeah....we got another pistol.....and I LOVE it. 

Maggie is an adventurous little ball of smiles with a curiosity for almost everything and a desire to "talk about" it while she explores. She is HILARIOUS. She is a walking maniac...and she apparently sees no limits....like stairs, steps, etc. Therefore, like Frances, she constantly has a bruise on her face. Her smile is the best....it is the perfect mixture of bubbly happiness...with a little bit of mischief thrown inside.

Henry at 11 Months:

Frances at 11 Months:

Hood River Surprise!

On Friday morning my sister Jenny surprised me by telling me that they were making a last minute flight and coming down for the weekend. YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She also had us set up to stay in a hotel in Hood River. YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As always, Hood River was pure bliss and the kids were inseparable. Maggie was very excited to show her cousins her mad walking skills. Henry had his first official root beer and loved it...so much so, he wanted to take the bottle home. Alrighty then.  All in all, it was pretty amazing to spend Mother's Day with one of the best mothers I know -- my sister.

Turks and Caicos + College Friends = Heaven

Last May (2011)when I was BIG and waddling pregnant my college girlfriends had the BRILLIANT idea of getting together....in Turks and Caicos...in May 2012. I said yes before I even knew where T and C was located. 


When I told Mark., he said " you are going to leave me with three kids?". I forgot that me being pregnant meant that indeed, in a year, we would have three kids. Oops.  As the trip neared I feared leaving Maggie given that I am still nursing....and then my INCREDIBLE mom offered to come and take care of Maggie. Problem solved.


This last week we finally made the voyage to the Caribbean.  Holy moly beautiful. 


Five days with thirteen women in an idyllic setting.  When people have asked me how it went the best way for me to describe it is that every single night when I went to bed, my cheeks hurt from laughing so much. I knew I had an incredible college experience at the time, but in reuniting with my friends, I am astounded by the incredible people that I had fortune to meet and that will be in my life forever.  They are smart, funny, thoughtful, kind, HILARIOUS, outgoing, unique and so much more.  Per the girl rules for the trip, I am only posting a couple of group-approved pics from our dinner night out.  What happens in Turks stays in Turks......


Maggie was a SUPER trooper and amazing traveler. She loved the Caribbean and is my first child to like sand and water at young age. She also LOVED the Caribbean men...like I wanted to take one of them home with us to be our babysitter. 


I am so thankful to my mom for supporting me through coming and to Mark for holding down the fort and taking the kids on many special adventures during my absence.


I am feeling pretty grateful for my life. Bring on the next trip in 2014!!!