Summer Fun

 I love looking back through our summer photos because it makes me realize just how much fun we really get to have. Sometimes it's easy to move quickly onto another activity and forget completely about the fun you had!  This blog is a way for me to re-live it all and I hope the kids will too. 

This summer has been full of adventures, baseball, friends visiting, lake days turning into lake nights, nature center camp, musical theater camp, and even strawberry picking.

 Andy & Nathan ran in the triathlon again and both did great. Right after they were done a huge storm picked up.  Thankfully everyone was alright but it was kind of scary.

 Brooks had his first experience with Camp Foster and he loved it. 

Bennett did day camp and enjoyed all the activities while Marie continued on with horse camp this year.

 On a random Tuesday night we decided to go to the drive-in movie to see "Lion King."  The kids were tired and so were mom and dad, but it was so much fun to cuddle up under the stars with popcorn.

 Each summer we wait until the end of the year to play the games at Arnold's Park...such a silly waste of their hard earned money but it is fun to watch these three compete against each other and the love it. 

This summer we had a wonderful nanny with the kids 2 days a week while I worked in my speech clinic. It was a bit of an adjustment for us all but it went smoothly and the kids had a lot of fun with her. 

Bennett is Seven!

 

 This kiddo is 7!

He is a smart, inquisitive, joker who is always looking for more information. 

Bennett wanted 2 things for his birthday: pizza and his buds playing games in the yard.  

  He was a little excited for this party :)  

Bennett, you are a wonder.  

You love to learn, you are always looking for a hug, you are so good at helping others and willing to try new things.  

Happy Birthday bud! We love you!

Summer So Far...

This summer has started off with a bang!

Brooks enjoyed his first big nature center camp for a few days.  He loved catching frogs and learning about our prairies. 

Arnolds Park is OPEN and we are enjoying it all - Brooks is big enough for so many rides and we are having a blast.

                        

Our first summer beach trips are underway - we enjoyed a hot day full of sun, fun, snacks, and some cold lake water.  Sun kissed tired kiddos were ready for bed that night!

Memorial Day weekend we visited my dad. The kids asked many questions again and took turns telling him all about their new interests and everything they are busy with lately.

 

Boat days are some of our favorite - swimming, snacks, and a slow ride around the lakes were the perfect way to spend father's day after brunch.

Bennett lost another tooth!  His smile is getting older and older by the minute....

After a big rain our field in the back yard filled up so much that Andy decided to take the kids for a ride! 

Our cow this year is named Root Beer. 

She is calm, adorable, sweet, and gets taken care of by 3 special kids two times a day!

Summer is such a busy special time of year where we fit in as much fun as we can handle!

Marie is 10!

 Marie Beth is 2 whole hands!  

This girl is a dreamer.

She loves people, animals, pushing herself, trying new things, sports, reading, taking care of others, making people laugh, dancing, singing, and more.

 For her party this year we gathered at the resort and swam in the indoor and outdoor water park on a beautiful day. She requested an ice cream cake and dinner at Okoboji Store.  

 We also enjoyed ice cream with her birthday buddy Aunt Martha who turned 81 on June 7.  

These two have a pretty special bond.

Marie - we love you so much. Happy Birthday sweet girl.

End of School

We said farewell to our wonderful teachers for the 2018-2019 school year!

Marie had a fabulous year with Mrs. Tepfer learning so much about herself, reading, science, social studies, and more. 

Bennett had so much fun with Mrs. Munden learning about space, math, reading, and stepping up his building skills in makerspace too.  

 

Brooks had a great year in preschool too!

Ms. Meredith taught him so much but especially focused on his writing and ABCs. 

 

 One of his favorite days was his spring program where he got to dress up as a doctor.

In the 2019-2020 school year we will have a 4th grader, 1st grader, and Pre-K student.  

They will all be in the same building!  It will be fun seeing them walk in together every day.  

Here comes summer!

Dancing the night away

Mother's Day weekend is always a blur - it doubles as dance recital weekend too.  

Marie is a dancer and she loves it!  She has no stress about it, she loves watching her friends succeed at it, she tries her best, she even added 2 classes this past year just so she could be on stage longer. 

I love watching her. 

So, our weekend is full of 2 shows with hair, makeup, costume changes, 

hair changes for each song (a new request this year).  

 Brooks saw some of the show but the poor guy was so tired Friday night.

Sunday was Mother's day - the kids and Andy made the day special like always complete with breakfast in bed, a hike in one of my favorite places, and a boat ride.  Life is good!

Birthday fun begins!

 When Andy's birthday arrives it means our crazy month of celebrations begin!  

This year, we made a homemade raspberry cream cheese frozen pie and at some yummy BBQ. 

 

 We really are blessed with this guy.  The kids thought of 36 things that made him so special and wrote them down on their card for him.  

Happy Birthday Andy - here's to many more!