June Events

June is the time of year for graduations, end of the school year celebrations and parades! We have been enjoying all the activities that this month of transition and celebration brings. And I am learning great life lessons from my children-as always...see below starting from the bottom and working up (I can't figure out how to rearrange the pictures). And if you are wondering why I wrote a longer post for a change - I think it is a combination of these facts: I'm feeling a bit emotional, Ben is napping, Gramps has taken the older two to a park, I still have 2 days of work next week before summer break but the school year ended today so all of my reports are done and my mind is free to wander, I ran 6 miles pushing the jogger this morning and since I haven't run that far in a while I have quite the runner's high, and I just fixed one set of blinds and am procrastinating before I try to fix the other two. :)

Olivia, Miss Ayu, and Riley

Olivia, Ms. Nichole and Riley

6/16: Riley's last day of preschool!

I have heard that your birth story gives insight into your personality. And while I believe that much like your horoscope, you can twist words and events how you like to make them fit-there was something that Riley said after her last day of preschool that reminded me of her birth. (Yes-I'm crazy.) Everyone likes to say Riley's birth was short because I was only at the hospital for an hour but as her mother I do recall it being rather long because I actually was contracting pretty regularly for days. Anyways, when I did finally decide to go to the hospital and told the nurse I was having an unmedicated birth she gave me what turned out to be the best advice, which was, "As soon as the pain is over-let it go. Like a kid that has fallen on the playground and scraped her knee and then gets right back up and keeps on running. Just let the pain go." Well today after preschool as we were loading in the van Riley said, "I'm a little sad preschool is over but it's over. Let's go!" She must have heard that great nurse of mine - way to let it go and move on Ri!

Mesh won an award at the banquet for all of the research he does, starting a mentoring program, being the chief fellow, and probably a few other things I am forgetting! Woot woot!! Way to go Dr. Iyer!

6/12: Parents night out!!

We enjoyed a lovely evening at Ramesh's annual radiology banquet on the top of the Columbia Tower in Seattle. Seriously, it is a lot more fun than it sounds, thanks to the help of a few mojitos! ;) Kidding aside, it was a great night to celebrate that Ramesh is finishing up his fellowship in Pediatric Radiology this month and will become an attending at Seattle Children's Hospital. This culminates 10 years of post college training including 4 years of medical school, 5 years of residency and 1 year of fellowship. Way to go Meshie-we are all so proud of you!!

Ice cream party to celebrate the soccer season!

6/12 Nate and Riley's last soccer games of the season. FYI-Ben would like to inform everyone that he has skipped his toddler years and jumped straight into being a big kid, in his mind. He wanted to play-bad, he doesn't like to sit in a high chair (help me!), and in general he would like to be doing whatever big brother and big sister are doing at all times. Being the baby of the family myself-I remember this attitude well!

6/10 Nate and his teacher Ms. Karen. Yes, I ate his cotton candy. He doesn't much like sweet things, but I sure do!

6/10 Nate and his friends, twins Evie and Ella, at their preschool carnival.

6/9 Nate walking out on his last day of preschool!

Those of you that know me, know that I am a very emotional person. Changes and transitions were always very hard for me while I was growing up. Now that I'm a mom - they bring a rush of emotions that are a mix of "I am so proud of my kids-how in the world are they growing up so quickly-and thank you God for letting me be their mama and get to witness their milestones, big and small." Well Nate got in the van (for those of you that don't live nearby and are laughing that I drive a van-just know that it is a dirty mess of kid stuff and it is my dream come true!) and the abridged version of his thoughts on preschool ending was, "These past two years at this school have been great, I can't wait for Kindergarten, and what park are we going to this afternoon?" Lesson learned by me - cherish the past, embrace the future, and most importantly, live in the present. Thank you Nate!

6/4 The annual Maritime Parade in Gig Harbor, my hometown. Many of the girls I grew up playing soccer with gather with their families at the Jerkovich's house (soccer family), where we eat the best scones on this earth and the kids get to fill their bags to the brim with candy and toys from the parade. We look forward to this every year!