braggy momma and honesty...

nora and her friend...

wait... brothers gotta hug!

mommy and nora (oh, and brandon)

nora's art.  hers is the top in the row she's pointing to.  

a close-up.  it's called "smiling in the sun".  

it's nora and her three friends horseback riding.

getting her award.

such a big girl!

posing!

all the school kids.

so, there was this big art competition.  at nora's school, hers was one of 20 pieces selected to go to the state selection.  there, students from all over the state submitted artwork for this.  and 94 pieces were selected.  they will be displayed for the next year in a gallery area at the hawaii convention center.  (they have a bunch of cool art work around the center and have this spot specifically to showcase keiki art!)  the theme is "what hawaii means to me".  it's super cool!  i don't think i realized how fun it was.  

we got there, and all the kids got a lei (and i was the super mom that didn't even think to bring one!).  then we walked around to see all the pieces of art.  and there was the award time, where all the kids got an award and their piece was shown on the projector.  

i wanted to cry the whole time.  first, cause david wasn't there to see this.  second, because my baby girl is so grown up.  i don't feel old enough... although some maintenance guy last week thought alyssa was my daughter.  not my sister.  awesome!

we left at 8 am this morning for church, came home long enough to feed brandon before we left again.  and got home at 4pm.  it was a long day for this tired mom.  and one of my children, who needs more attention, was feeling particularly not attended to.  and showing it by kicking his brother. for no good reason.  and pushing.  and just being ornery.  and the others were whiny.  and one wouldn't be put down.  and i yelled.  i apologized after, but i yelled.  and i hate doing that.  

in spite of the craziness tonight, it really has been a good weekend.  i always dread the weekends.  everyone is with their families and their husbands.  and a weekend is just a longer version of a week day because there is no school.  no schedule.  and their friends are all with their families.  

thankfully, we can usually find friends in the same boat.  we went to the pool with them and the mom took my big two while i ran to target!  (a win for both- i only had two at target, and her kids were entertained by mine!)  and today was full.  and this is a BUSY week with lots of stuff for the kids at school.  in fact, i almost want one more day of weekend!!!