Spectacles

Don't you wish your glasses were this cool? Evan got some glowing spectacles at a birthday party this weekend. Just sharing.

Celebrating G&G

While my in-laws were here this past weekend for Evan's spring program we also added few more fun things to the schedule. Kevin's birthday was last week so we celebrated with jello birthday cake (pic 1). Hans helped me make a cake, Evan and I added the jello, and after I spread the whipped cream Lydia decorated with lots of sprinkles. Saturday morning FVTC (Nathan's school) was hosting an open house/fly-in that we attended. It was nice for all of us to get to see where Nathan spends his days. Saturday afternoon was rainy and dreary outside but we cuddled up here and just spent time together. Lydia actually started her nap on Grandpa's lap. After lunch Evan found some time to read to/with Grandma (pic 2). We had to wave good bye Saturday but know it will be less than three weeks until we see them again.

Spring Program

On Friday Evan participated in the spring program at his school. This year the production was a musical titled, It's Music. The kids sang their way through the history of music in America. Nathan's parents were able to make it over and enjoy the performance with us.

1: Close up of Evan. Cheery little fellow.

2: Half of the school. This is PreK3-2nd grade. The rest of the kids were farther to the right making the stripes longer.

3: Hopefully a video clip of Evan and the kids singing.

The Back Room

Currently we're renting a cute little house. Since we moved from a 1500 square foot house to one that's barely 900, it's easy for me to focus on the "little" rather than the "cute". Today I took something little and made it cute.

Our back entryway is approximately 6x6 and that includes the stairways. Yet in this small space we need to enter the house, hang coats, backpacks, & purses, stow winter hats, mittens, & scarves, leave our shoes & boots, and store the mop, broom, plastic bags, & miscellaneous other stuff that accumulates at the average back door. Since moving in Nathan had mounted shelves above the stairs for extra storage, made & hung two rows of coat hooks, and placed a shelf above one of those rows of hooks. Today I removed all of that and with the landlord's permission (and Hans' help) painted the room misty green. Then I carefully put everything back in its place. When Nathan came home he helped me mount one last space saver: a shoe rack. Now, as you can see from the pictures, our 6x6 back room is cute and is up to the tasks we demand of it.

1: Looking down on the back room from the kitchen doorway.

2: Looking up at the kitchen door from the landing.

3: The thing that makes me happiest about this little room-15 linear feet of shoe storage!!! No more heaps of shoes at the back door!

Random picture from Saturday

Beautiful Days in the Neighborhood

Last Friday and Saturday were beautiful and we filled our days with outdoor activities.

Friday afternoon we were joined by our friends Bekah & Paul and their four sweet children for some springtime fun. (FYI: Bekah was one of my roommates senior year of college and she and her family now live in Milwaukee.) Unfortunately I forgot my camera and can't figure out how to get their pictures to work with blogger so I'll recap and you'll have to imagine. We started by playing on the Little Oshkosh playground and eventually moved to the beach at Lake Winnebago where the kids played with the Tonka trucks and buckets I'd brought along. Since Madelynn is only five months old she stayed out of trouble and was the driest and I'm fairly certain Lydia was the most wet when we finally left the beach and headed to the picnic area for our supper. They kids all played with one another wonderfully and want to get together again soon. As always with nights with old friends the evening passed too quickly. We're hoping that once school is out we can meet up again.

Saturday we made our children very, very, very happy and went to Fleet Farm and purchased our 2009 fishing licenses. This was followed immediately by going to the nearest body of water and fishing. Unfortunately we didn't actually catch anything besides a rock, leaf, tree, and stick. Undeterred we tried a second time after lunch at a different location but again were thwarted. We drown our sorrows in some ice cream from a little neighborhood shop called The Well in Winneconnie.

Pictures: 1. Hans, 2. Evan, 3. Lydia & Nate, 4. my content family

Mini Bananas

Does your grocery store have the baby bananas? Pick 'n Save has them and at first I thought they were ridiculous. They're about as long as my middle finger and a little bigger round than my thumb. Seriously, my kids would need three to count as a serving. I figured we'd get them for the novelty of it and then be done with the begging at the grocery store. (I shouldn't complain that my kids beg for fruit and veggies but as a result of this begging we have baby bananas, a pineapple, and a personal watermelon on the counter right now.) Tonight I had a brief stroke of genius and came up with the perfect use for baby bananas, KIDDIE BANANA SPLITS! Take one peeled baby banana, three mini scoops of ice cream (the Pampered Chef mini cookie scoop worked perfectly), and toppings to create the perfect kid size banana splits. Maybe I could market these...

Let me know if you try them!

Uncle Jordan Hair

Last week I told the boys we needed haircuts before Easter. Hans requested his to be just like Daddy's so he's sporting a "high and tight" cut. Evan on the other hand asked that his be longer on top like Uncle Jordan's. I cleaned up the neck and around the ears but left it longer for him. Then he realized his doesn't "pop" up in front. Today, with the help of a little of my "special hair lotion" and the blow dryer, he was sporting Uncle Jordan hair for school. It was even his daily news, "I did my hair like my Uncle Jordan." He asked to take a picture to show Jordan so this is in the van outside of school. Hope you feel loved and maybe a little worshipped Jordan. :o)

...just can't wait to get on the road again...

Following the grand Easter adventures we hit the dusty trail and headed home again.

1. The boys sporting their TX presents from Grandma.

2. This cowboy was plumb tuckered out and needed to catch a few winks. (He's really sleeping and did so for over an hour.)

3. Later in the trip Lydia was dancing, dancing, dancing.

Easter Trip: Take Two

From my parents we headed south to Nathan's parents for the next twenty odd hours. We found another set of family we love and another long list of things we managed to squeeze into our time there. We had the worlds shortest baby shower for Matthew & Kristi (She'll hate me for this but you can see her baby bump in the background of picture #1.), a wedding shower for a Zemke cousin, sunrise church service, checking he pigs, playing basketball, sandbox time, a movie, and Easter lunch at Nathan's grandparents with much of his Mom's family. Here are some highlights:

1. Remember the confetti eggs? Evan asked right away at my parents if he could save one for Uncle Jordan. Here he had just put it to good use and is giving Uncle Jordan a kiss to make up for it. From the smile on Jordan I think he's forgiven.

2. The kids are fascinated with the pig barn and Grandpa's pigs. Here Lydia is helping Grandpa check the pigs. It's funny to me that the girl who smells anything odd and declares it "stinky!!" doesn't seem to mind the aroma in the barn.

3. Hans was introduced to the basketball hoop and fell in love. He shot endlessly and declared that he made eight which wouldn't actually surprise me. We came home with a hoop of Nathan's from high school that Hans plans to help Dad mount on the garage soon. (According to Hans they're putting it up Sunday afternoon but we'll see.)

4. What can I say about this one? She' go a chocolate bunny, a cozy spot to watch a movie, and is in the arms of Uncle Jordan. Does it get any better in the life of a three year old? Probably not.

Easter Trip: Take One

About 8am on Good Friday we packed up and headed west to my parents house. We were only there for about 24 hours but managed to fill the day with everything from the kids getting to help Grandma pick out new baby chicks to Lydia trying to get them to swim in the dogs dish to us blow drying them back to life to dinner for 22 that evening to a beautiful Tenebrae service at my parents congregation. These are a few highlights.

1. There was one lone tree that stood in the middle of the meadow which now is fallen over from a storm. Instead of becoming the next stack of firewood it's become the best fort/climbing tree. Here Evan and my nephews Joey and Jesse are demonstrating.

2. My nephew Ethan turned one in January and had discovered the joy of walking. At one point he was doing circles trying to keep up with Hans who was running from one end of the hall to the other. Here Hans is standing still with his little shadow.

3. Lydia has always been very wary of dogs but since our neighbors have moved in with a large coon hound she's become more accustomed. Here you can see that even three crazy mutts don't phase her.

4. When my Mom and Grandma were in TX this winter my Mom found some confetti eggs (a real egg blown and then refilled with confetti). My grandparents used to bring them back when I was a child. You (In this case Evan) sneak up behind an unsuspecting person (here it was Nathan) and crash the whole thing on their heads showering them in teeny tiny confetti. I'm not sure if it's really a Mexican Easter tradition or just something made up but it's always fun.

Lydia

Our darling daughter.

New Toy

Since the "real" pilot training has been put on hold for awhile Nathan is content to be an "indoor pilot" for the time being. Through the wonder known as craigslist he found a small remote controlled helicopter (aka: E-flite Blade mCX ) for a good deal. It weighs about an ounce, can be flown indoors, and sounds like a very small drill as it buzzes around the house. It'll due for now. :o)