The Graduate

Ragen has made it through his first graduation! While there might not have been caps with tassles or even the song Pomp & Circumstance, this was a very exciting day for him and his friends from Pilgrim Preschool. Today he graduated from pre-K and will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. I can't decide if I was surprised or not at the fact that my eyes welled up with tears a couple of times. There's just something about hearing a bunch of 5 year olds singing off-key about how Jesus loves them. I'm so proud! Today's graduation was bittersweet as it marked the end of his time at Pilgrim where we adore his teacher. He'll be doing a few summer camps there but it's just not the same. Hard to believe we're getting into full summer mode now. Bring on the sun!!

Receiving his diploma from Mrs. Beroukas

Attempt at a class shot

Ragen with Mrs. Beroukas

Proud parents

Mimi & Bumpa were there too

Take me out to the ballgame

Saturday night we took the kids to their first Mariners game. It was a gorgeous night in Seattle and the kids really seemed to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the game. Ragen sat on Jeremy's lap most of the time trying to figure out the rules and watching for foul balls coming our way. Maggie just wanted to eat, eat, eat. For some reason I let her talk me into blue cotton candy - I'll never make that mistake again. Maggie talked about meeting the Mariner Moose from the second she heard we were going to the game but then when it came time for a photo op, she opted out :) I look forward to many more baseball games as a family in the future. Going to the Kingdome was a huge part of my childhood as we went to dozens of games each year. I just hope my kids like it as much as I did.

Notice the smiling Ken Griffey Jr in the background

Hopped up on sugar thanks to the blue cotton candy

More birthdays

Ragen shares his birthday with a dear friend of mine. Liz was kind enough to spend her real birthday at a party full of 5 year olds so we decided to celebrate a few days later with no 5 year olds in sight!

Jeff & Dee Reiff were kind enough to have us all over to their gorgeous home on Lake Sammamish for an outdoor evening and boat ride. It was perfectly sunny and warm and we had a fantastic time with friends! After appetizers in their newly renovated yard, we hit the lake for a booze cruise. Fun, fun times! We probably should have included more substantial food considering the drinks but we made up for it by stopping for dinner later.

Vanessa, Keri, Dee & birthday girl Liz

Out on the lake

Staying huddled and keeping warm

The boys - Brian, Jeremy, Jeff & Rob

Transformers...more than meets the eye

When it came time to plan Ragen's 5th birthday party, he begged and pleaded for a couple of things. He wanted a Transformers theme, he wanted it at a bouncy place, and he wanted goody bags. So demanding! :) Until now, I'd been able to plan everything about the parties, including the custom made cookie favors to match the theme. What mom wants a bunch of that party bag crap messing up her car on the way home?! I figured this was probably the year to cave since he'd been so agreeable for his first 4 parties.

This was also the first year we had a drop-off party. Yikes! Having drop-off for the 5th birthday seemed to be the trend. It was completely crazy but the kids had so much fun. I did ask a few of my friends to stay in order to help me corral the kids so a big thank you to them!

We hadn't intended on opening the gifts at the party but the kids sort of led the charge on that one and before I knew it, I was literally being trampled as I tried to sit next to Ragen reading him cards and noting who's gift was who's. Apparently it's a very exciting thing to hand your present to the birthday boy/girl!

Afterwards, we came back to our house with my mom and dad. Originally they were going to watch him open his presents but since that had already occured, we just did family gifts at that time.

Here are some of the highlights...

Daddy & Mags hit the slide

The kids parked it at the air hockey table - would have been alot cheaper to just rent one of those for our backyard!

All the party-goers

So proud of my big boy

Mimi pulls through with another amazing cake!

Thankfully this year he let us sing to him! (at his 3rd birthday party he started screaming NO and STOP at the top of his lungs)

Tabletop air hockey is fun for the entire family!

Clearly, he doesn't like this one

A make-your-own light saber kit from Mimi & Bumpa. A huge success!

My baby is 5 today

FIVE!

Ragen Calhoun Kiefer...how is it possible that it's been 5 years since you forever changed our lives for the better? Everytime I think of your birth, I hear the vacuum in my head. As we were waiting for the contractions to get just a bit closer together, your daddy thought it was a good idea to vacuum since we weren't sure when we might do it again. Funny thing is that we were living in our condo at that time and our next door neighbors came over to meet you, we told them when we left for the hospital. They told us how it was strange because they swore they heard the vacuum going right around then. That's your daddy!

You have brightened our lives in so many ways and we are so thankful to navigate life with you. I can only hope that we bring you a fraction of the joy that you bring us.

In honor of your 5th birthday, here are 5 (of the many!) things I love about you:

1. The way you make me laugh at least once a day with funny grown-up phrases and vocabulary (and it's always in the correct context!)

2. How deeply you love your family and how you go running at full speed when you first see someone coming in the door

3. You are the first one to run to your sister when you hear her crying (unless of course you are the one who makes her cry and then your motto is deny)

4. Your passion to learn and try new things. It's been so fun to watch you master your letters and answer your questions

5. The fact that you still smell the same way you did 5 years ago and you make the same "turtle" face when you stretch

I could go on and on, my sweet boy. I love you with everything I have in me. All the way to the heaven and back.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Happy Birthday buddy!

Muffins with Mom

Friday we had "Muffins with Mom" at Ragen's preschool. It was a crazy morning because we had to get out of the house earlier than usual and I felt like there were several things that I'd left til the morning to finish. On top of that, the engine light came on in the car on the way to the event. I was a bit frazzled that morning. Imagine the laugh I had when I got to school and realized I'd dressed Ragen & I in matching outfits - totally unintentionally :)

this picture was taken by a teacher at school so pardon the blurriness

Happy Mother's Day to me

Mother's Day is traditionally to show appreciation for the mothers of the world. And I was very happy to do that with my own mom and also my mother-in-law (long distance). But this year I took Mother's Day to mean something entirely different. I am so thankful to be a mom - and not just any mom - but a mom to Ragen & Maggie. I often think about how I ended up with the children I have and how I am so grateful that we found each other in this universe.

Last night we celebrated moms by having dinner at my parents with my grandma and mom's sister. I am honored to have such a loving and doting mother. She is there for me and my kids (and Jeremy too!) anytime we need her. It warms my heart that my kids absolutely love going over to my parents' house and having sleepovers. I am very lucky to have a mom (and dad really) who truly can't get enough of my kids and they only live 5 mintues away. Thank you Mom!!

Ragen made me a beautiful bead bracelet at school and one of the moms helped them make sihlouettes. Such special gifts! Ragen had also made me a card with a wonderful poem:

Mama's Shadow

When I was a kid (you know, last year)
I was like your shadow, always near

While learning what the world was about

I followed your footsteps day in and day out

There were so many things I wanted to know

You answered my questions and helped me to grow

All too soon Mama I will be grown

And making my way in this world on my own

When you remember the good times we had

And wish I was with you, don't be sad

Just stand by this picture and pretend

That I am your shadow once again

-Wanda Atkinson

Boat cruise

Saturday night we went out on Chris & Kristy Eide's boat with a bunch of friends for an evening cruise & dinner. My kids have only been on a handful of boat rides and never on a boat this large. They were in heaven! We are convinced that Ragen is going to be a sailor. It was a little crazy with 7 kids roaming around on the boat but everyone had a great time.

After cruising down Mercer Island and all picking out the houses we'd manage to live with, we stopped at Coulon for dinner then back on board to head home. Thanks to the Eides for a fun night!

Ragen reminds me of Popeye here :)

Sydney Bacon, Maggie, Brooke Porter, Jake Eide & Ragen

Jake & Ragen

Moms - Kristy, Keri, Virginia & Hayden

Cinco de Mayo

We had a double Cinco de Mayo celebration this year. Our friends Rob & Vanessa had a fiesta at their house to celebrate Reese's 5th birthday as well as Cinco. The kids had a great time running around like crazy and getting hopped up on sugar while the adults had a great time getting hopped up on margaritas :)