End of Summer

Well, summer is coming quickly to an end and we have tried to pack as much in as possible! With summer's end comes new beginnings for the boys and I. I will be saying goodbye to the girls and daycare and starting a job at Alex's school. Alex will be in 1st grade and Jordan will be starting High School!! Here are a few pictures of our final adventures...

Made a trip to Dubuque to hang out with the Lynch Family and did all the tourist things

Rode the 4th Street elevator

Visited the Mississippi River Lock and
Dam at Eagle Point Park

Walked around the Mound with Sr. Catherine

And found Chad's dad's name at the war memorial by the river.

Family Camping Adventure - 10 kids + 5 adults = Total Blast!! We have already committed ourselves to doing it again next year (or next month!)


Annual Mom and Kid trip "To North" with Michelle and her girls



We found  caterpillars

Went bowling when it rained



Hunted for fossils at the Hill Annex Mine

Found a Red Bellied Snake

 

Jumped off the pontoon

Swam in the lake and had a blast!



Summer 2012..so far

Summer has been busy. School ended and marching band began in earnest for Jordan. He/we spent the month of June on the run from one parade/practice to another.

Relay for Life - fulfilling a promise to a beloved band director who lost her battle. The kids were supposed to be in a parade this day but when the director realized it was RFL they cancelled the parade to perform.

Pie in the Park - Central Park

Alex's idea - "Look! The dragon is going to eat me!"

Alex playing Jordan's trumpet.

Roseville - Final parade before the band left for NYC

Happy Mother's Day!!

Library Hour

We have been attending Library hour with Mrs. Pease for as long as I can remember. I remember going downstairs to the basement in the old library with Maggie, Lyle and Katie when they were all MUCH younger. Now I take Kalie and sometimes Wyatt, my nephew.

 First you have to get an instrument

Then there's some playing and Silly Dancing...

Mrs. Pease always asks if anyone has a silly face...you can be the judge of that!

Then, and this is a new stage for us, we head to the meeting room for a craft.

We LOVE story hour and Mrs. Pease!!

Cheese Touch!

Yesterday I came outside to hear all the kids yelling, "Cheese touch!" I had no idea what they were talking about until I watched for a little while. They were chasing each other, tagging each other then stopping in place....they were playing FREEZE TAG!! Seriously! The things Alex comes up with!!

Happy Chad Patrick's Day!!

The cake before baking.

Alex working hard on his 'card' for Chad.

Everyone needs a breakfast in bed donut!

The finished product. Chad isn't a fan of St. Patrick's day everything for his birthday but..Alex loves green and declared today the best day ever because it is his dad's birthday AND everything is green!

The boys being silly.

Finished cake. Turned out pretty cute. Next time I will have to devise a plan to keep the colors from running.

Is it really March 16?

Kalie and I found a bunch of pinecones at the park in the morning so we decided to make some bird feeders with them this afternoon. Hard to believe that they were wearing shorts and t-shirts!!

Kalie the pirate princess.