Life

Warning: lots of photos, mostly for grandparents and other interested parties who care to see many pictures and hear stories of our kids and life in Wisconsin. :0)

Kylee's teacher isn't big on having parents in the kindergarten class (I guess some kids don't do well) so I go on as many field trips as possible! Here we were making valentine crafts before watching a valentine's play at a local theater.

Kylee learning to ride without training wheels on a "warmer" March day. We've found it's hard to learn when you only get to practice about 5 months of the year!

Though I find it my responsibility as a parent to teach my kids to be helpful, independent and responsible themselves, I am not a slave driver. However, the kids have been especially interested in "making money" as of late, so they have been doing chores like crazy! They will make beds, match socks in the laundry, scrub toilets, vacuum, set and clear the dinner table and empty garbages. They do quite a nice job and it's so fun to see them proud of the nickel or dime they might earn working so hard!

And when they earned enough money, they were really excited about the animals they got to buy themselves at the zoo! (fortunately there was a clearance bin that turned all those handfuls of change into purchasing power!)

My girl with the 2 female giraffes and my 4 year old boys with the 4 yr. old boy giraffe.

The sign behind them says that giraffe's clean their noses with their tongues, can you? Enough said.

Kylee continues to love gymnastics! She was invited to the State meet to watch her coach's daughter, who is an amazing level 10 gymnast. Kylee was so excited, especially when she got to hug Maya at the end! Maya won the all around as well as the vault and floor!

Since January, our family has instituted a "family fun night" on Friday evenings. The kids get to help plan and prepare the meal (favorites are mac-n-cheese, quesadillas, pancakes and homemade pizzas) and then we either spend the evening playing games together, doing crafts, or cuddling up and having popcorn and movie night. I never knew what an impact these nights would have on the kids, but they look SO forward to family fun nights on Fridays! above: Kaden and daddy finishing up a pepperoni pizza, below: Kaden wearing a homemade ice cream parlor hat and licking the chocolate out of the bowl from chocolate dipped graham crackers.

Hanging out with Daddy during board games

above: setting up a HUGE matching game using all 3 of our memory games, below: Colson cudding with Daddy

One early April day we had a gorgeous day (unusual) so I got to work early on our garden while the kids kept busy running around outside, digging up worms and playing games. I love their Daddy: here he is playing duck, duck, goose with the kids.

With the boys starting soccer, it is very fun for them to "practice" with coach Daddy. This afternoon we spent a couple hours at a field. Here are the boys blocking the goal from the girls.

Here the kids and I are blocking Daddy's kicks

Kylee cheering after she kicked a goal past the boys!

The week prior to Easter, one of the nursing homes we visit hosted an egg hunt for the kids. The boys were so excited to find eggs and visit the "grandmas".

Another egg hunt was planned for our neighborhood the day before Easter. Though a bit chilly, fun was had by all!
Ky helping our baby boy with the eggs

I failed to get "good" Easter photos of the kids. But, this is much more real life anyway - out in the church hallway with multiple projects in hand, being crazy. :O)

Colson and his girl, Sophie. Easter Sunday was the 1 year anniversary of when he declared his love for her - April 12th at Brian and Becky's wedding. His commitment to her has been unwavering!

Kylee's attempt of a mom and dad photo

After church and naps, our friends invited us over for a delicious Easter supper. We had another egg hunt and the kids all played hard! Thank you Alexanians!

Here are some of our "Wisconsin cousins". Abbi and Olivia (older girls above) have no little cousins of their own and have taken to our kids so nicely. We love having them in our lives and try to have them over to play one Saturday each month. The Taylors are friends who, like us, have no family close by. Before life got a bit crazy for the both of us, we did a lot of child care swaps, but even when we don't get to see them as much, we still value their friendship! In the photo below we were celebrating Carrie's birthday.

Every Monday we get to have little Danielle over for a couple hours in the morning while her mom helps at big brother's school. We love our time with her and the boys are learning to be little gentlemen while she is here. One day, Ky didn't have school, and the girls loved doing princessy things together.

Ky and mommy - off for some girl time!

Playdate at the park with neighbors and friends: Kelly with son Tyler, Sara-Rae pregnant with baby Ray, and her husband Josh, holding their son George.

Now that it's "grass-time" (as the boys refer to spring, summer and fall collectively) we get a lot more play time at the park! Woo hoo! We get so excited for the warmer temperatures and are looking forward to many evenings of soccer practice for the boys, gym nights for my girl and baseball games for Daddy. Grass-time is good!