Happy Father's Day

My Love on Father's Day-We Love You!!!

I am a mixbook.com fool. Rob's Father's Day book was the first book I made, I had to sit on it the longest too--I am horrible about keeping things I do a secret--I was successful and so was the gift. I also made one for my mom for Mother's Day and one for my dad for his birthday.

He was in desperate need of a new watch, E picked out a beautiful Citizen Eco-Drive.

He was very pleased!

He wanted to watch Toy Story 3 so after C's nap we went to EGF to dine at our fav Blue Moose and enjoy the beautiful day by walking to the movie. I don't know what is up with me lately, but I cried during Shrek and now Toy Story! Both movies were great in my opinion :)

I truly am a blessed woman, I have a wonderful husband that loves God with all his being and therefore, knows how to love me the way I need to be loved. He is a man of integrity and honor, a wonderful example to our children. I am so proud of him and thankful that God saw fit to bless me with a true love.

Another Bug Bite

While we were at Church on Sunday cousin Josh came looking for me to let me know C got a couple of mosquito bites, I didn't think anything of it until he woke up from his nap that afternoon. It was swollen, but not bad...then when he woke on Monday morning this is what he looked like. Poor, baby!

He couldn't even open his eye. I called the ask- a- nurse hot line and they said it was nothing to worry about and that it could be swollen up to 7 days!

I am glad to report that when he woke this morning it was down remarkably and you can see the bites, in this pic you can't even see where they bit him.

WE LOVE YOU GRANDPA & GRANDMA

Can't wait to see you in 1 week!!!

xoxo!

Proof...

...that my husband does sit down during the day to enjoy a nice evening with the family in the middle of the week.

I don't know how much of this is for you or for me ;)

Our dog is even a bit surprised.

*Note* Look at the window on the left, can you see the reflection of what he is enjoying?

MidWest KidFest

I don't feel a HUGE need to entertain my children during the Summer, but once a month or so we like to take a trip and enjoy some things outside the local area. Last week there was this wonderful event in Fargo that provided a wide variety of educational elements along with health/fitness activities. The most fabulous thing about it was that it was all FREE! We enjoyed the beautiful day with good friends of ours, Lisa, Noah and Ella.

Creed couldn't really enjoy any of the large blow up fun things, but he enjoyed watching his big brother and sister have fun, what a sport!

This was located at Island Park and the whole park was filled with "stations" like this hula-hoop station.

The big kids were totally up for spending some time at the "kiddy" park to let Creed run around and play.

There was a "music" section where you could play guitar hero or sing karaoke. This was M's opportunity to play something like guitar hero for we don't have this in our home.

Here Noah is showing his balancing skills,

They had balloon clowns that would make whatever you wanted,

We did find a small section with age appropriate activities for C,

The highlight of the whole day was the train, made from barrelled cans and pulled by lawnmowers.

Here E and Ella are playing human bumper cars.

Nice shot of M and Noah.

We really had a nice time and were so blessed with gorgeous weather and no bugs!

We are already looking forward to returning next year.

Farm Futures

I do not have to encourage my kids to read, however, I had to laugh when I saw WHAT they were reading...

they were helping out by getting the mail,

and began reading Rob's farm magazines :)

Beauty in the Storm

2 of my 3 kiddos are petrified of Thunderstorms, I love them!

We always sit around and wait for the beauty of the rainbow after some crazy weather, it seems to be what helps them thru the fear. This time we were doublely blessed.

2.5

Red Umbrella

After church one sunday we took Reise and the kids out to eat at the Blue Moose, we then let the kids run off some dinner while we sat and took pics.

Reise (E's BFF)

Day at the Park

I am so far behind in pics. This was from when the grass was still brown and there weren't any leaves on the trees. We are in the lushest time of year, now is when I need to be snipping some pics. So beautiful out!

Bullfrogs & Butterflies

Once a week I drop Creed off at a small daycare so that I can get office work done. Here are a few shots of him playing with his friends Ethan and Ella...

"Special Note" from a Friend...

The day E got this note, I picked up the kids from school, actually going into the building. The first thing E showed me was this "special note" from her friend Bob. Instantly my eyes widened and I looked over at Mrs. B (her teacher) and said "what a nice friend you have." That was exactly how Mrs. B handled it as well (emphasizing the "friend" part) and I was so thankful. Personally, I think this is way too much for 1st grade and I tried to not freak out!

Evidently, there is a lot of this going on in between Kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grade. I excluded 2nd grade because there are only 3 boys in that class and they are not even an iota interested in girls (I know because 1 of them is M).

E came home and showed Dad, who wasn't too impressed. We didn't make a big deal out of this at all. At least, so we thought...

About 2 weeks later, I was in E's room and she had taped this picture up so that it was a sign to see both sides (not a poster) in her room right up to her bed. On her desk, there was a piece of paper that had some scribblings of lovey dovey;s on it that included the boy artist. I had had enough!

It was time for a serious chat. We talked about how young she was for such things and how special it is when the time is right. Right now isn't that time. I told her she should focus on hanging out with her friends that are girls, she will have more things in common with them. She seemed to understand where I was coming from. I used age appropriate terms and analogize with her, not wanting to give too much information. In the end I could see she really was too young to really be thinking along the lines of "boyfriend/girlfriend". She has an innocence that I long to preserve, for the time being I think our talk has done the job.

It is hard to believe that this conversation had to take place at this age (7). I sure wish that other parents would talk to their kids and encourage then to be just that...KIDS! We don't want them to grow up so soon. I want my little girl to stay little for her little girl years! There will be a time, but seven isn't that time. Can I get an AMEN?!

BTW, E had taken the pics with my camera, not me :)

Hail Storm 2010

We have had some interesting weather this year.

I don't think I will too soon this hail storm. Rob said he hasn't ever seen hail this size here before. They were about baseball size.

They weren't the only size that came down Praise the Lord!

I was thankful for a home over our heads and a garage too to keep the cars from being beat up, this storm cause windshields to be smashed in a major damage to cars. YiKES!

Bring on the Summer

I have had my children home now for a full week and I am seriously in heaven! I love E coming in at 6 and saying she is going to go make her breakfast and then she gets C out of his crib and feeds him and then plays, and we don't have to rush out the door!

We sat down and made a Summer schedule, very flexible but available so I wont hear "I am bored" or "what do I do now." It goes a little something like this:

Breakfast

Change into day clothes, clean room, make bed and finish chores

Computer time (30 min) each

Outside time, or basement time (depending on if it is nice or storming out)

Reading time/story time

Free time till lunch

Lunch

Nap for C/ rest time

Work time M & E 2-3 hours in the afternoon

Clean up/shower or bath time

Supper time

Movie/game time (alternating)

Bed

This has been so wonderful, as you can tell there isn't a time set, this gives freedom and relaxation. Obviously, we are out alot and so those days we pick up right were we are according to lunch time or supper time. Chores are always done before we go anywhere.

This week M & E started tennis and M has had baseball for a few weeks now. His practices and games are on M-T-W in the evenings so most of the time Rob is able to take him. I love that!

We have some fun things planned just the 4 of us with friends. Riding bike in Itasca Park, going to the zoo, exploring Rydell's Wildlife Center and heading to the beach some. I am really looking forward to making wonderful memories this summer. I am so much more relaxed, I love the age the kids are right now.

The kids and I are taking our summer trip to Utah June 29-July 13, some of that time will be in Oregon celebrating a family wedding.