Launching the Pontoon

All Aboard!

We launched the Pontoon for the family.  Then we went fishing.

Leo caught the most fish.

Lulu caught the biggest fish.

Watering Memorial Flowers

Watering the Flowers

We've been stopping by the memorial to water the flowers because it's been so hot and dry this week.  

The kids have so many questions and comments about Grandpa: 

"Are we standing on him" 

"Where did he die?" 

"Was he sick?"

"Maybe he was just passed out"

"How did they know that he didn't just pass out?"

So I did my best to answer all their questions, and then Leo throws out his real concern about dying... "Mom, who is going to feed me in Heaven?"

We added a flag to the flower bed, and then the next time we came back we bought Grandpa a pinwheel, oh and the kids got one too!  We watered the flowers and then the kids watered any real flowers/pots in the surrounding memorial markers.  They are really sweet kids.  

Later that week, we stopped in again, and the kids wondered why to which I said that Dad  hadn't been there in awhile.  So Leo says, "Dad, he's dead."

Oh my gosh, I don't think I laughed so hard... as if he may not have known.  You gotta love kids!

Stop and Smell the...

Alyssum

I had a late start day today so Nana, Leo, Lulu and me went to Greener Tomorrows looking at all the blooms.  Which of course made me want to start trying to start growing flowers again.  The kids loved the smell of the Alyssum best, but they did smell any flower they could reach... even the ones that "don't smell."

Graduation Day

Lulu's Graduation Day

I can't believe an entire school year is over for my little girl.  Today she graduated from Preschool.  We gathered to watch them sing songs, and walk the stage for their certificates.  It was so cute.

Later we went out for DQ to celebrate, but that is not where she wanted to go so she was just a bit disappointed... but she enjoyed her ice cream just the same.

Easter 2014

Easter Service at St. Raphael's

We went to see Grandma and family in the Twin Cities for Easter.  We went to the beautiful St. Raphael Catholic church for Easter service. 

St. Raphael's Catholic Church

Shortly after services started, seconds I am sure, Leo started  'log rolling' down this aisle as many parishioners were onlooking some with smiles and the others... well you know the disapproving looks a Mother who can't control her child gets.

Leo

So I took him outside to burn off some energy.  Where he proceeded to roll around in the grass, and throw landscape rocks (against my directions), and look into the flood lights around the 10 Commandments thinking it was a telescope.  

Thank goodness Lulu was an angel! 

Coloring Easter Eggs at Grandma's

Staying in a hotel for holidays is less than ideal especial when young children are expecting Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny and some traditional type activities that cannot happen easily in a small room.  So I planned an GLOW-IN-THE-DARK Egg hunt the evening before Easter.  As you could guess it was a big hit and nearly impossible to get the kids to bed after that!

Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt

Leo & Lulu

The Hidden Gem

Welcome to my skin studio.  This is my waiting room where you can sit and enjoy a magazine or kick up your feet and relax with the sound of mild music and water fountain.  Please help yourself to a cup of coffee, cocoa, tea or water.

Then step inside to the treatment room.  

The Hidden Gem website has more information

Easter 2013

We ended the evening dying Easter Eggs. Somehow I lost the cool spill proof cups we've been using for the last 2 years, so I guess we really ended the evening with a bath!  

Upon a nice 9 AM moring wake up, the kids had fun discovering the Easter Bunny came to our house.  They searched for eggs, then they searched for baskets.

They had so much fun they took a few dozen empty platic eggs and hid them for Mom & Dad* to find.  Of course we are pretty competitve so it was a race to see who can find the most eggs, we did this a few times and I have to admit it was a blast and those two little kiddos can really hide eggs well.

Sled Ride

32 Degrees

 A perfect day for a little ride on around the farm.  First they started around the driveway, then up the pipeline and through the woods.  Good thing we've been making trails for the past 6 years.



Ice Fishing 2013

A Delayed New Year's Fishing Trip

We had a good time fishing at the family cabin. However I have to admit not as easy to get there as it was before kids. I bought a 24 hour fishing license and I think I was able to fish for a total of 30 minutes. The kids love everything about the cabin and the snowed & frozen lake. 

My Cupcakes

Lulu and I made Funfetti cupcakes after dinner (see them cooking in the oven) while The Big Cheese* was in the living room watching Leo. I stepped away to spray out the cloth diapers in the bathroom, leaving the opened the frosting container on the counter next to Lulu's step stool with her butter knife in it so she could frost them when I was finished.

Leo left the living room, and it was assumed he was looking for me the house was quiet. However, what he found was Leo alone in the kitchen eating frosting from the container.

Lulu enjoyed making and eating cupcakes & frosting too. She's so funny, I am so tired I can't think of one thing she has said today, but it's generally a stitch.

Preparing the Garden

We had our usual Saturday Pancake breakfast with Nana, then I was able to get in a 4.5 mile run in without any kids. Both kids wore their newest overalls from Grandma Betty.

Lulu and dad worked on getting the mower running so that I could start preparing the garden. They took a few breaks for a little bit of water.

Here is the garden as of yesterday afternoon. I pulled up all the black paper, and The Gardener* ran the tiller down one row before the weld on the handles of the tiller broke. We need a little post work done, and of course some more tilling...but we are well underway and Nana has offered to co-garden with us.

Lulu & Leo spent the entire beautiful Saturday outside all day, with the exception of a nap. They spent it sitting on the mower steering.

New chicks! We have only gotten 7 new chicks this year, in 2 batches. They are well and thriving.

Easter at Grandma Betty's

Coloring Easter Eggs, Easter Day at the Park & In the Backyard (all pictures in random order).

NOTE: Some picutes taken by Lulu (her first pictures).