Stretched

What are we going to do when Charlie gets involved in sports? Baseball, swimming, softball, dance and camps have all started. School isn't out and we are juggling schedules and figuring out when we will have a normal supper together again. What is normal? PB & J on the road isn't normal? Well it is for us right now. I think the kids have had it with them so we change it up to ham & cheese too ;) I juggle activities during the day and then Nick takes the evening shift while I work. This is the busy season for my business so I am getting pulled from all directions. School is coming to an end and all the kids have asked to keep going through the summer. WHAT..what is wrong with my kids? Kudos to their teachers this year because they are all AMAZING. What a fabulous year they have had. Braeden's teacher found what motivates him, money and rewards. He has had the best year yet and has loved every second of it. They have a big Multiplication Sundae Party tomorrow and the kids have gotten to earn scoops and toppings by passing their timed tests. Braeden is so pumped that he has earned all his scoops and is working on toppings. We have been working really hard the last few weeks. His teacher is pretty smart! What kid wouldn't want ice cream. Braeden did say to me...'I am not going to try hard for the cherry though mom because I HATE cherries.' Haha! As much as I would LOVE to have my kids stay in school all summer, I am really looking forward to some quality time with them. This is the first summer in awhile where we can just relax and enjoy one another...in between all the activities of course. Ah the joys of activities. Nick and I will have to schedule date nights in too just to see one another.

Emma's Recital

This past weekend was jam packed with a lot of activities. Friday was Braeden's friend birthday party. Saturday Emma went to a birthday party then we headed to the lake. It was our first trip to the lake for the summer. We brought our neighbors and their kids along. It was a perfect day for the kids to swim and go on the boat. We ended the weekend on Sunday with Emma's dance recital. It amazes me to see how she has grown in the last few years. All the girls have come a long way and I sure enjoy watching her grow throughout the year. Here are some pictures from the lake and recital:

Happy 9th Birthday Braeden!

1st Birthday

9th Birthday 

May is a busy month for this Otto family. We now are celebrating Braeden's 9th Birthday. How crazy to think that he is 9 already. It feels like just yesterday we were ripping off wallpaper, painting, getting ready to move into our house before he arrived. Now our little baby boy will be 9..NINE!! He enjoyed a fun birthday with 7 other 9 year old boys on Friday night. We learned a great lesson from Friday night, 7 additional boys is A LOT. Next year only a few...3 extra boys for a sleep over. He had a blast so that really is all that matters. Sleep is over rated anyways.

We love you so much Braeden. You truly are a spirited little man with a lot to share with everyone. We love all your stories even if they are only about video games or movies. We..I am relearning a lot of fun facts about our country. Here are some great pictures from the year:

Boys Birthday Party

This week has flown by and I am finally getting a few minutes to sit down and upload pictures from the boys birthday party this past Saturday. We had such a great afternoon with family and friends. The weather was perfect and the kids just played and played outside. I am gearing up for Braeden's friend birthday party tonight. We had him invite friends for a Movie Theater Themed birthday party. We are featuring Harry Potter and doing a sleepover. Last year only a few of his friends came to his swimming party. This year we had him invite a bunch of friends thinking probably not all of them could come. RIGHT! They are all coming but really what parent is going to turn down a free babysitter, I sure wouldn't. There will be 10 9 year old boys here tonight. Nick said he is excited for it. Glad someone is besides Braeden. I think I will sneak over to my neighbors with Emma and Charlie. Maybe sleep outside as it will be a beautiful night. HAHA! Here are some pictures from their birthday party. Check out the twins and Rylan. It is so crazy how fast they are growing. Rylan's favorite saying is...'NO NO'. Where do you think he hears that?! Where's mom? I was there just always the one behind the camera for just about everything these days.

Saddness

I will never understand the sadness one can endure every day and still walk around with a smile on their face. What happens out of the home can be a big front. This week a fellow classmate took his life. He had a 2 year old son who he talked about every time I saw him. I only saw him a few months ago. He was going through a divorce and seemed like life goes on as long as he has his son. Words can not explain the sadness that came to me when I heard this news. It breaks my heart to think that someone can be that sad that they feel so empty. Suicide has no explanation and for that I hate it! His little boy will never know him and that is awful. He was always so happy and giggly in high school. Sending prayers and peace to his son and family. They may never have answers to all the whys but I hope they can find peace. This is the second suicide that has happened to people we know this year. We lost someone to suicide a few years ago as well. It is so scary and I just don't understand why, But I guess no one really does. Sending hugs to heaven...George, Katie and Chris you will always be remembered.

Birthdays

This month is always so busy. Both my boys have May birthdays. We do one family party for the boys and then Braeden has a friend party. It is hectic. It seems like everything ends in May too. Also, wedding and graduation season are booming in May. This past week I was in the commercial kitchen several days getting ready for weddings, birthdays, welcome home parties, baptism and some more just because I was thinking of you. Oh and don't forget Mother's Day. Haha! I also had my first inspection; which went perfectly. It was a crazy week and my crazy self decided it would be a great weekend to have the boys' birthday party. HA..what was I thinking?!?! Obviously I felt I was Wonder Woman but clearly I am not. I am proud to say I survived and learned some great lessons this week. I want my kids to have fun thoughtful parties but my husband thinks they won't remember so why do so much. Maybe it is for myself because I secretly want these fun parties. I made EVERYTHING! I think I spent about $5 on the decorations and the rest was just time spent putting it all together. Braeden was a huge help this week too. He weeded tonight! Crazy kid! He even offered to clean up dog poop. WHAT?!?! Do you think he wanted something? ABSOLUTELY! He wanted to play on the computer and felt if he helped he earned it. Well he was right. He put together some fun things for his party as well. I love how it all came together. It made for late nights this week but the best is when it is all over. Tomorrow night will be so much fun when I can sit and relax with some fabulous neighbors. Biggest lesson learned this week was learned tonight: 'when you are trying out new things and using cupcakes make sure they aren't cupcakes that were ordered!' Yep..I used an order and had to remake them. FRUSTRATED!! Stay tuned for pictures Sunday. The theme this year..Legos!

Happy Birthday Charlie!

I can't believe my baby is 4. The time has flown by but I have truly enjoyed every second of it. He has had his share of surgeries this past year but they have helped him talk so much better. He has come a long way from a year ago! This past year he learned that he was getting so tall he could touch the bottom of my parents pool, in the shallow end. This opened a whole new world for him and he was so thrilled. He said good bye to his brother and sister when school started and was thrilled when he started preschool. He has also learned how to ride his bike without training wheels. I believe that he has mastered the iPad, iPod and iPhone. He hides apps, move things around and watches cartoons all on the iPad. Nick and I always giggle because we have no idea how he even figures it out. He will be our sports loving, techy kid. The basketball hoop is up and he is hoping for some dry weather so he can play basketball with the kids. We hope he has a fabulous birthday!