Happy Anniversary

Today we have been married for 12 years!  

What a lot of growing and learning we have done in the past 12 years.  Thanks for being a great husband and father.  Can't wait to see what God has planned for us.

Training Wheels

Allyson doesn't love riding her bike, but is getting better.  As the kids ride their bikes a couple days a week in town to the pool and library, they have been getting lots of practice.   Allyson still has her training wheels on, but has come home frustrated because the kids will tell her she needs to ride faster, or she is sick of the squeaking of her wheels.
When I pick up the kids, they always run outside ahead of me to ride a loop on their bikes.  This day was no different, except Allyson was so proud and wanted me to watch - she could ride her bike without it squeaking.
One training wheel was loose, and flipped up, and she really only used the other one while turning (for security).

I took the loose training wheel off, and she has been riding with only one on for the past week.  I think it's about time to take the other off - and she can ride on 2 wheels.
This is the girl that threw her bike down on the side of the bike trail last summer during a bike ride, and was so upset because she didn't want to ride, she was ready to give up riding bike forever, and leave her bike there.
I am so proud of her and her learning to ride bike.  (A little peer pressure from brother and friends goes a long way!)

Pool Fun

The kids go to the pool a couple times a week this summer with their "daycare".  They ride their bikes to the pool with a group of kids and have so much fun.  

Friends and Fun

 Caden and Sophie - we love this dog!

Allyson and Danika - they love to play together - but only see each other when we get together with Doni's family.

 Caden and Cody

 Cool fireworks

Good friends

4th of July

We had a fun weekend.  We had some friends over on Sunday evening to grill.  
We won a party pack from Budweiser - so we were able to share some goodies with the guests.

Allyson and Taylor eating

 Caden and Jace seeing who is taller

 Kay and Amy - enjoying the good food

 Terri and Caden with a baby kitty

 Allyson and Ava drawing and having girl time

After dark, we had a great fireworks show put on by the guys.
So fun!

Paradise

While shopping in Menards, we walked past the outdoor living area.  Caden saw the gazebo and rockers, and said "Mom, can you take a picture of me in that paradise?"  Of course I would.  :)

Goodbye old Friend

We traded in our van @ the end of June.  It was sad to part with it, but when your mechanic husband decides it is time to go, well, what can I say.  

Makes me Smile

This makes me smile.  Allyson is such a little artist.  

New Kittens

We got a mamma cat and her 6 babies.  The kids love them!  They have been earning their keep by catching mice and being cute!

 Mamma's name is Stripes, and the kids keep changing the babies names.
The kids are convinced that the girls are the ones with white on them and the boys are the ones with just gray.

Tooth Fairy Visit

Allyson has lost her first tooth.  

Order's Up

Allyson loves to play with her kitchen set and take orders.  

 Here she is writing what is on the menu.

Parade

We love going to parades.  The kids like getting candy, seeing friends, and seeing the floats.  We were there a little early to get our seats.  The kids were playing "freeze tag" and Caden got hurt.  

 The battle wounds.  It must have hurt pretty bad because the first half of the parade, he didn't even get up to get candy, just sat there and watched.  He has a great sister that was willing to share her goods.

Smore's

We love to roast marshmallows and hotdogs on warm summer nights.

  

School Programs

In May, the kids had 2 school programs, a week apart.  The first one was just the lower grades.  Here is a picture of all the kindergartners.  Both programs were so good.  

How do you...

How do you keep 3 kids entertained while getting ready for church?  They were all ready and picking on each other while the adults were getting ready - so I got out Caden's homework book from school and had them take turns reading.  They did great!  

Soccer

Most of the kids soccer games this spring were played dressed like this...
It was cold/rainy/windy and Brrr!

 Towards the end of the season, we were able to get in some games with sunshine and shorts.

Both Caden and Allyson enjoyed soccer.  They learned a lot and did a great job playing.

Kindergarten party (2)

Allyson's kindergarten picnic was a rainy day.  We still had a picnic, but had it in the classroom.  It was a bit crowded, but the kids still had fun.  After we ate our sack lunches, the parents could stay for a little bit and "play" with the kids.  

Here is a picture of Allyson sitting on my lap, drawing horses with her two friends Ashlyn and MaKayla.  

Kindergarten party (1)

Caden had an end of the year kindergarten party in the park.  Parents were invited to join and have a fun day.  They walked from the school and had a picnic in the park.  All the kids were so excited to have their parents join them for a fun day.  It was a beautiful day.  Caden had daddy join him for his party.  

Here is a picture of his class all lined up on the steps of the slide.  

Teacher gift

The kids love their kindergarten teachers this year.  They each took a rose to school for their teacher one day.  They were so excited. They assured me the flowers even lasted the bus ride to school.  

Easter 2011

My kiddos on Easter Sunday...after the sunrise service @ church and the breakfast after the service.  

 Allyson got a Lala Loopsy doll and a Kit Kittridge (American Girl Doll) dvd

Caden got 2 wii games - scooby doo and Harry Potter lego.

Later that day, we had supper at Grandpa and Grandma's.  It was a gorgeous evening to have an Easter egg hunt.  After the hunt, all the kids sat still for a couple seconds for a group picture.

Toothless

Caden lost his first tooth in April.  He was playing outside @ school and bumped his mouth on a pole, and the tooth started bleeding.  He went to his teacher and she took a tissue and pulled it out.  (This tooth was super loose already - but Caden was too nervous to pull it out by himself).  

He took the tooth home in a baggie and let the toothfairy come that night.  The tooth fairy left him $5 for his first tooth.  

Work Day

I am going to post a few catch up posts - of the highlights - fun pics.  Enjoy!

Back in April - we had a clean up day @ my parents house.  We all pitched in and helped clean up around the yard.  The guys ran chainsaws a huge part of the day, the girls picked up sticks/branches that were trimmed, pulled up rock from around the house, the boys caught mice and threw them in the fire, and we all got really muddy and dirty.  While cleaning in the grove, we found this old bicycle.