Priceless

This little boy...

He knows how to steal our hearts!

Friends :)

On my agenda for the quickly-passing summer is lots of time with friends! We've had a blast on playdates, trips, and time with cousins this summer!

Aidan & cousin Raegan at Bluewater Covenant Bible Camp

Olivia & friend Ella at Storybook Land in Aberdeen, SD

Olivia & Michael... birth buddies. :) Born one day a part, we have had play dates since they were tiny... the sure love each other, but can fight like siblings!

Aidan, Sofie, Olivia, & Annika @ the cabin Memorial weekend

A trip to the Windy City

My Mom grew up in Chicago and she promised Olivia that when she turned 4, that she would take her on a trip to Chicago... I made them take me along too. :) We had a great time, including travel days we were gone 4 days. I took very few pictures, because well, Olivia is 4... and 4 year olds sometimes have "moods". And sometimes when they are in those "moods" they don't want to take pictures... like most of the trip. :) As much as she had her 4 year old moments, she was a joy. It was so much fun to see her experience "the big city". She loved all of the buildings, the people, and mostly the hotel. There was no comparison to her love of the hotel. She still remembers where we stayed- Spring Hill Suites.

Olivia & Grammi outside of the house

Grammi grew up in!

Eating pizza at Marie's Pizza! (The B.E.S.T!!)

Olivia taking a picture of us riding

on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier!

Olivia & Grammi waiting for the El. My country bumpkin rode on the El, the city bus, and took taxi's on her trip to the big city. :)

Olivia @ The Shedd Aquarium- her favorite by far!

Random summer...

Fakers :)

My serious boy

Lots & lots of swimming!

Baby got back...

I'm back... with a mission to catch-up on the last 2 months! I will begin with a wonderful conversation about puberty with my little man.

Aidan: Will my tiny breasts grow big?
Me: No, you will have little breasts like Daddy.
Aidan: Daddy has big breasts.
Me: Okay, you will have breasts that look just like Daddy.
Aidan: Will they bounce?

Preschool 2010-2011

1st Day of Preschool- Sept. 2010
Last Day of Preschool- May 2011

Where oh where has my little girl gone!?

For the love of gymnastics...

I have a love/hate relationship with this amazing sport. I grew up a gymnast... I spent many years doing, eating, sleeping, and breathing anything that had to do with gymnastics. I certainly was nothing spectacular when it came to performance, but my heart was bigger than my talent when it came to the sport.

I have battled with thoughts of signing Olivia up for gymnastics classes. It truly is an amazing sport and can teach children so much about discipline, exercise, working hard, and grace. It also has some negatives... it's hard on your body. There is such an emphasis on body image. It's so competitive. I went back and forth about whether or not I wanted to even enter into this temptation. Would I be able to say no if she was somehow amazingly talented at gymnastics and in a few years could be competitive? And so on...

In the end, my love for the sport won. She's only 4. And she was so excited to take her first gymnastics class. And her coach was my coach when I was a little girl. We've both been bitten by the gymnastics bug... one of us for the second time. Whether it's something she loves for only a short time or whether it becomes a sport she enjoys for many years... it's all for the love of gymnastics.

Fishing

A spontaneous little trip to a lake by our house...

A bucket of worms...

Lots of rocks thrown in the lake...

Two monkeys sharing a pole...

And remaining happy about it!!

Loving the springtime!!

Scene 1

Scene: The Mom is upstairs putting away laundry in children's room. In walks a small, blonde little boy carrying an orange marker.

Small, Blonde Boy: Mom! I drew some "A's"!!
Mom (Back turned, answers in an excited tone): You did!!!
Mom (turns around, sees orange marker, asks more suspiciously): Where?...
Small, Blonde Boy (Answers with a lot of excitement): On the wall!!

Disclaimer: This truly is the first time I have experienced writing on the wall since being a Mother. I guess markers on the counter may now have to be moved.