Lifetime Vision Center

The place I dropped a wad of $ on these two smiling lovelies today!

E had been telling me for a couple of months that things were starting to not look as clear as they once did; Creed had a screening earlier this year that showed he had a slight weakness with his eyes. He has a stigmatism in his left eye. Hopefully he will grow out of it.

Last week I took them to the dentist and he told C to keep that thumb out of his mouth...and he has! He is growing up so fast! I am proud of the way he sets his mind and does it.

I sure hope we can get him used to his new spectacles, it is hard when there isn't a huge difference with or with out them.

One Summer Saturday

Pictures can be deceiving.

Micah is not this kind of big brother.

They were watering the whole court, to give drink to the dragon flies that have swarmed our back yard. It was so fun and encouraging for the kids to watch them fly down catch a sip of water and fly off noticeably refreshed.

C being very diligent with his duty of watering the court.

During their "break time" they splashed around in the pool.

This was as close as C would get to the cold water.

What happened to my little boy and little girl? They are so big! Their laughs are the same, the play is the same; but their friendship has grown right along with them.

Tollefson Family Summer Challenge

I wanted to focus on 1 thing this summer, table manners. I know I really dropped the ball in this area when M and E where small. I won't make excuses...it is bad! M eats his food like it is going to run off his plate if he doesn't inhale it in 5 minutes and E can't sit still in her chair if her life depended on it. The floor around them is filthy and half the time their food is everywhere but their plate. M doesn't think forks and spoons are necessary and E never uses her napkin. This is a reflection on me and my parenting, so I had to do something about it. I am not the best example, this I know!

There are 10 weeks in this summer vacation, so the Tollefson Family Summer Challenge is to take 1 table manner and focus on it all week in the hopes that by the end of the summer we will have wonderful table etiquette. I also set in place 2 main rules for each meal; 1. We all remain at the table until everyone has completed their meal 2. We all pitch in with the clean up. These 2 rules have been wonderful so far. The conversations at the table have been so fabulous and C is really enjoying his chore of taking care of his plate after each meal.

Here is a list of our 10 Basic Table Manners:

1. Use a napkin-keep a napkin on your lap, use it to wipe your mouth

2. Eat slowly-wait a few seconds between bites

3. Keep your mouth shut-swallow before talking

4. Eat with a fork-not your hands, do not use your won fork to serve food to yourself

5. Sit up straight

6. Elbows off the table, wrist and forearms are ok

7. Keep fingers our of your mouth, and nose, no licking fingers or picking teeth

8. Be considerate, don't reach, ask, wait for others to be served

9. Save noises for later

10. Say thank you to whom ever is serving

*As a side note from last weeks manner #1 sitting with a napkin in your lap, keeps E in her chair. Success already!

End of the School Year Activities

M and E participated in the Guest Fest Musical

E was very efficient with her music in hand,

M was hit and miss with his music in memory :)

E running the long jump at the Perham track meet

The kids Spring recital "The Good News Cruise"

M's first on stage appearance dance.

The confetti that E wanted to bring home with her to put in her scrapbook. I told her we would use the descriptive word confetti in her scrapbook along with a picture :)

This is their last week in school. Only a work day on Wednesday and picnic on Friday!

I am excited for the Summer!

Brotherly Love

Tollefson style :)

First of Many?

E's new "job" this Spring has been hanging with C and putting him to bed while I take M into baseball.

When I got home that first night I found this list on the counter:

Hey, whatever works. I personally am not a "list person" but, it is my guess this list is the first of many to come for my darling daughter. So proud of her!

Spring in MN means...

Having snack out on the porch

riding bike with new training wheels

making plans in the sun

walking to the bridge and throwing rocks

This Spring has been lovely.

Supper Guests

Last week we had plans for our super great friend Dean to come and share in a rare Spring supper with us. He bought a helicopter this past winter and is in the process of flying lessons with good pal Martin from Austria. Well, when you are learning to fly plane or helicopter, the more hours the better...

Our supper guests arrived in...you guessed it...the helicopter.

OH BOY, the excitement around here was INSANE, the kids were excited too. Rob is a nut when it comes to flying anything, it is his passion.

Rob came in, "Mom, can super wait while Martin (the instructor) gives rides?" How could I say "no" to such a big kid that had stars in his eyes?! I couldn't!

I got to go up too. I was nervous that I would have a yucky feeling in my stomach, but it wasn't bad at all. Better than going up with Rob in our small Champ.

Air shot of our farmstead.

Creed and Martin

Uncle Dean and Emma.

Dean is our crop pilot. He is such a man of God and we are always so encouraged by him. Normally, he is busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest this time of year, but due to a late planting season, he isn't doing much yet.

What a night to remember!

Swimming 2011

The kids WERE NOT excited about swimming this year, save Creed! M and E are both in the deep end and they both have the same EXCELLENT teacher-but he is scary tough. I will be honest, I bribed donuts at the end of EACH day.

Creed was living his dream these 3 weeks! This was, after all, his potty training motivation. He had a great teacher and actually jumped off the diving board, twice!

Emma, tried with all her might, but came up a bit short this year. But did end up enjoying the session more than she thought.

In the end the boys both passed into the next level, leaving E to did it again.

The good news...they are all EXCITED to do it again this summer.

Red Carpet Romance

Annual Girls Night Out~Grand March

Emma and I striking a pose before heading out

E was so excited when I told her this morning that we would be going to the Grand March, she spent the rest of the morning trying on different outfits and then asked if she could pick something out for me to wear...

Not too bad.

Her final decision came late in the afternoon...I love having a girly girl!

Isn't she lovely?!

Ethan and Hannah

Once again they amaze us with their creativity and flare.

Hannah and her mom have made both dress and suit for Junior and Senior Proms.

The print? Curtains found on Ebay!

They graced the front page of the Crookston Times because of their uniqueness and handmade outfits for both this year and last.

We love you Hannah!

You too, Ethan!

Spring Recital 2011

It is hard to call it "Spring Recital" when it is 28 degrees out and snow is softly falling to the ground as I type this...nevertheless, Spring brings a close to so many activities the kids enjoy throughout the school year. One of which is piano lessons. This evening we enjoyed the musical talents of all the students of Whitney Allrich, it was a wonderful time with beautiful music ranging from Dancing Drums to Fur Elise.

Emma's pieces~The Caravan and the Magic Man

and a duet with Andrah Clark~Double Trouble

Micah's piece~The Wild Horseman

along with a duet with Natalie Christian~Floating in the clouds

tonight Natalie and Micah received their 1st Gold Cup.

Next year will be a little different~we learned this week that Whitney and Jason are expecting their first child in October. She wants to prepare them for next years Gold Cup, but will take as much time needed to adjust to their new addition. Yay, for other peoples babies! The fun thing for me is that I will get to take care of her little bundle of joy while she teaches my over grown bundles of joy! :) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that!

Resurrection Sunday 2011

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

M's Uncle Donovan preached an excellent word on Communion on our Maundy Thursday service. M was sitting all alone on the front row, listening intently to the words that were said; he came to me after a bit and he was certain he wanted to speak to Pastor Dale of his baptism. After service I saw him sitting with Pastor and soon they were headed our way. Pastor told us what he and M had discussed and said that M declared he wanted to be baptized on Easter Sunday!

I don't know why we waited so long for this day, but I am glad we did!

It was precious hearing his confession, with his quite spirit, before the whole Easter Sunday crowd!

If M wants to be a leader of the Sheep, he is going to have to get over his fear of public speaking. :)

Pastor Dale, M's dearest friend.

Uncle Don and Auntie Dawn, one of the couples that M asked personally to be his sponsors.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

My March

March was INSANE, but so much fun! My parent, brother and his family came for a visit. This was Jacob, Angie and Kylee's first time to the farm.

I think they had a pretty nice time :)

This picture warms my heart, I love it so much

My gorgeous niece, so photogenic

My heart was so full having my brother here, I didn't want his to leave

Grandma with her oldest and youngest grandkids

I get this look alot from both of these guys.

We promised the kids that once the floor was in we would have a huge bonfire and set off fireworks...

Emma with her bff Reise for a fun sleepover.