Slip n' Slide

Do you ever sit back and think "why do kids think this is fun?" Slip n' Slides are one of those things! I can't imagine why it would be fun to run and flop on your stomach onto the hard ground! I guess as a child I probably enjoyed it a little but I remember even then thinking it really wasn't worth the effort! Last Sunday the humidity really went up and Chris took the kids to Target to buy a Slip n' Slide. They were so excited of course and spent the entire afternoon playing on it. They had a great time so thanks to their daddy for a quiet afternoon for me!

End of the school year

We are now in our last week of school and Noah & Isabella are counting the hours until summer vacation. It's hard to believe that the year is coming to a close and in just a few months we will have a 1st grader and 3rd grader going off to school! To all of you with young children, appreciate everyday because before we know it our little ones will be graduating from high school!

Kayla's Graduation

What seems like years ago, I nannied for a family in St. Paul while going to college. Kayla, now 22, graduated from Beloit College a couple weeks ago. We took Noah and Isabella and headed to Beloit to celebrate with her. Congratulations, Kayla!

Fishing

About a month ago Isabella, Nanny & I went to a bridal shower while Noah and Bop Pa spent the day together fishing and working at the lake house. We all had a fabulous day!

Catching Up...

Last weekend after much anticipation, we headed to the golf course for our first round of golf. Chris had won some money in a NCAA pool and was gracious enough to buy me some new clubs. I have to admit that I don't think the old clubs were the problem and maybe lessons would have been a better investment! Maybe by the end of summer I will actually be able to finish a round of golf. Anyway, the kids had a great time and are already begging to go again.

Before heading to the golf course we had the yearly job of adding mulch to all of our landscaping. This year we had the mulch delivered, which was a huge help. Isabella was a great help while Noah mainly played with a friend. It's great to be done with the yard work and now we can enjoy spring!

Isabella's kindergarten class planned their second mass of the year. Isabella volunteered to read during mass so Chris and I attended with her and Noah. It's a great feeling when you get to see how happy your children are at school and to watch your kindergarten read is amazing!

Trophy!

This is Noah's long awaited trophy for winning the Pine Wood Derby races! The Blue & Gold banquet was last night where Noah was presented with his trophy! It was adorable how he kept smiling the rest of the night and even wanted Isabella to bring his trophy for show-and-tell! This is the next best thing since he doesn't have show-and-tell in 2nd grade!

First Communion

Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that we were baptizing our baby boy and now he has received his First Communion. Noah has been studying very hard for the past year to receive his First Communion. We are very proud of all his accomplishments this year. As you can tell by the picture he had to wear a green tie! He would have loved to wear a yellow shirt! I have to say he looks so old and grown up in the picture that it brings a tear to my eyes knowing he is almost 9 years-old! Before I know it he'll be 18 and graduating from high school. So for now I'm going to sit back and enjoy every minute I have with Noah and Isabella and try to make a mental scrapbook of all the things I never want to forget!

My wonderful family


Grandparents


Godparents
Uncle Timmy, Uncle TJ, Auntie Tara, and Uncle Mike

Easter

Once again we traveled to both sets of grandparents homes for Easter. It would be great to stay home but Noah and Isabella would be very sad and holidays are for the kids, right? They usually start packing their bags two weeks before going out of town and continue to add to them until the minute we pack the car. With all the work that goes into packing their bags you would think they would actually take them out of the car upon arrival but they never do! Friday we headed to Minneapolis to pick up Isabella's new glasses, or lenses as she calls them. We had a little twirling accident that prompted new glasses! We had a hard time choosing between two pairs so we just got both! The one pair are "transformer" glasses, actually transition lenses so it's kind of hard to tell what they look like, but they are fabulous! We then headed to the lake to have dinner with BopPa & Nanny. What a beautiful night and to take pictures in front of the lake for Easter was amazing. Noah was too busy watching the dock being put in that he had no time for pictures. It's getting harder and harder to take his picture! Isabella on the other hand would have taken as many as I wanted!

Saturday we drove to Leroy to see Grandma and Grandpa. It was nice to see uncle TJ since it had been quite some time since we had seen him. My parents had my mom's family there for dinner Saturday night so it was nice to see my aunts and uncles. It's amazing how much time can go by without seeing your extended family. The kids had an egg hunt and enjoyed playing in the park. After a very early church service on Sunday we went to the farm for lunch with BopPa, Nanny, and uncle Timmy. Nanny made Chris lamb chops and steak for those of us who don't eat lamb. It was a great weekend!

Spring Cookies

Noah and Isabella have managed to sneak in an excuse to make cookies, even during Lent (we give up sweets for Lent)! I cut-out the cookies and baked them while they were at school and then they frosted them after school. Messy, messy, messy!

The extra picture above is from the park the day of the Pinewood Derby race. I thought I would add it since I forgot to post it before.

Easter Eggs

The past few years we have colored Easter Eggs on Palm Sunday. In the past we have waited until Good Friday but then Noah and Isabella have colored hands for Easter! I am happy to report that their hands are back to normal! Since Noah and Isabella go to a Catholic school, they are learning more about the Catholic religion than I ever did! Noah keeps reminding me that we are not allowed to say the "A word" (Alleluia) during Lent. He tells Chris and I every night when we tuck him into bed that he can't wait until we can say "the A word". It's really very sweet and I'll miss him saying it once Easter Sunday arrives!

Champion!

Noah took 1st place in the Pinewood Derby Race for Boy Scouts this past Saturday! We were so excited with each race he won. After it was all said and done, he was the winner losing only one race and winning more than 20! Uncle Timmy and Daddy helped with him with the mechanics of the car and I helped him paint it. Isabella wore her 4 leaf clover locket necklace and was his #1 fan! Way to go, Noah!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Top of the morning to everyone! We had to quick sneak in a couple pictures before the kids were off to school. Noah was out of uniform today for a 1st Communion Retreat so he was sporting his Irish green while Isabella could only "add a little green" to her uniform (which she found totally unfair!). I hope everyone will enjoy a tasty dinner of corned beef & cabbage tonight! I know we will be eating like the Irish!

Fun with Cousins

There is nothing more that Isabella and Noah enjoy than spending time with their cousins. Jack and Sophie spent the day with us a couple weeks ago. Maddie and Livi spent a few days here for daycare. Here are some of the highlights!

Dance Recital

Isabella participated in the Loyola's dance program this year. She absolutely loved it so starting this fall she is going to take dance from one of the dance schools here in Mankato. The dance recital was a few weeks ago. Of course the weekend of the performance brought another snow storm but Grandpa Rick and Grandma Coni still ventured to Mankato for the weekend. We had a great time!

Way behind!

Okay, so yes, I am way behind on posting the exciting parts of our lives! We only have two children but it seems that each year brings so many more activities with school, church, sports, dance, etc. that I can barely find time for myself anymore! I certainly am not complaining because I love to watch Noah and Isabella enjoying something new. All in all we have been really busy these past couple of months. Noah played basketball through the YMCA again and Isabella took dance through Loyola. We are counting the days until summer vacation and looking forward to lazy mornings and pancakes or waffles whenever we want. The school year always brings hectic mornings and a very structured day that just doesn't happen in the summer. 52 days and counting!

Here are some highlights from the past two months.

Winter days that go on and on and on and on....

Slumber Party at Uncle Mike & Auntie Amanda's new house

Boy Scouts cardboard box sled race

Happy Birthday, Maddie!