Happy Birthday Meema!

We made the trip to Eau Claire to celebrate a VERY special day for someone VERY special in our lives. Meema turned 29 again! Although the weather wasn't the best we still had a great time celebrating my mom's birthday. Happy birthday mom WE LOVE YOU!!!!


Jack enjoyed digging in the rocks at the park. I have to admit that I HATE pea gravel! Only because when I was teaching the kids at school would bring in "collections" of rocks, and I would find them ALL over our classroom. I swear I could have provided enough gravel for another playground!

Speaking of school, many of you have asked if I am planning to return to work next year...drum roll please...the answer is no. In March I was granted an extended parental leave, which means that I am not required to return to work until the start of the 2010-2011 school year! I feel so blessed that in these economic times we are able to afford to have me at home with boys. I am so thankful to have this time with them, I treasure each and every moment we get to spend together, even the not-so-good ones!


I am so mad at myself, but this is the only picture of my mom from the weekend. In her words it is her better side.


While Meema pushed Sam in the stroller, Jack and Papa followed behind balancing on the retaining walls. These two are inseparable! It is so much fun to watch them together.


Meema chose to go to the "Train Restaurant" aka. Bridge Street Station in Chippewa Falls for her birthday lunch. It is this SUPER cool diner that is totally decked out in train stuff. Jack is in heaven each time we go there!


Jack has begun to show some (and I use the term "some" very loosely!) interest in the potty. We plan to take the whole potty training process slow, and are hoping to be out of diapers by his third birthday. (Wish us luck!)

Still Working on the Bathroom

A "Sam Sandwich!" Who can resist kissing those chubber cheeks?!?!?!


Supervisor Sam. Poor guy gets stuck in his Bumbo, while Jack gets to be in the middle of all the fun (aka remodeling...yuck!)


Jack couldn't contain himself when we told him he could help paint the bathroom. He was SUPER excited, and was very careful to follow our instructions.


"I wonder if dinosaurs taste good?"


"I think I'd like some ranch dressing to dip it in."


I'm not really sure what prompted this fashion choice, but none-the-less it makes for a good picture.


Tom needed to work alone in the bathroom, so Jack and I decided to head outside and give his wagon a good scrubbing.


The cleanest wagon this side of Milwaukee.


Damn kite! That was all I could keep thinking when we attempted to fly it one breezy afternoon. I felt like the biggest loser, as we had been trying to get the stupid thing up in the air for over 20 minutes, when a dad and his two little girls jumped out of their van and basically had their kites in the air before their feet hit the ground. Needless to say we gave up and headed to the park. Our airplane kite is now in the garbage, and we plan to pick up a regular one the next time we're at Target.


Sam's first ride in the "big boy swing." He wouldn't giggle when I pulled the camera out to capture this moment, but rest assured he did enjoy himself.

5 Months!

On April 17th Sam turned 5 months old! He is very excited about exploring the world around him. He enjoys putting EVERYTHING in his mouth, giggling at Jack, blowing raspberries, eating sweet potatoes, and belly laughing. He is such a happy-go-lucky little guy. I'm getting a little nervous about what he will weigh at his 6 month appointment, but take solace in the fact that he is happy and healthy. As you will see below it is becoming a bit more of a challenge to get a monthly photo of him holding his sign. (I think I took a total of 30 pics just to get one where you could see him and the sign!)


Attempt #1


Attempt #2


Attempt #3


Attempt #4


I can settle for this one!

Happy Easter

We had a WONDERFUL Easter. All of the grandparents were able to come down to Milwaukee and help us celebrate. Thanks for making the long haul, even knowing that we would have a makeshift bathroom!


When I was a kid, my mom found a really cool way to dye eggs, so they looked like marbles. I searched for the recipe and found what I was looking for, or so I thought.... The eggs didn't turn out the as beautiful as I had hoped, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to Jack they were the most amazing looking eggs he had ever seen.


The Easter Bunny came!!!! Jack was so excited to hunt for eggs. Great Grandma Arlys would have been proud. The Easter Bunny left a yard full of eggs and even a sand pail to collect them in, just like when I was a kid.


More eggs!

At the end of the hunt the boys found baseball t's, Brewers gear, clothes, toys, and their Easter bonnets (aka. summer hats). Boy that Easter Bunny sure was good to them this year!


The boys took their first bath together, now that Sam is more stable in a sitting position. He loved chewing on the little rollers on his seat, and didn't even mind when Jack would splash him. Now if it were the other way around, that would be a different story.


I'll get that truck if it's the last thing I do! Sam still has yet to roll over from his back to his tummy, but he will roll from his tummy to his back. I don't get it...I would think his belly would help him to roll all over, as it looks like a little beach ball!

The bathroom is still under construction, but that didn't stop Jack from having the time of his life with the toilet box!

Help!


Run faster Daddy! Yes, Jack is really in there. I think that the neighbors thought we were crazy running around the yard with our kid in a box.


Swinging in a box is much more fun than a swing!


Making the box pretty!

First Class Travelers

After much anticipation the day final arrived. Jack, Sam and I flew to Arkansas to visit one of my dearest friends, Becky, and her two children, Emmie and Ben. We had a great time, and look forward to going back. Thanks for the great Southern hospitality.


Jack was so excited to fly on the plane. I, on the other hand was SUPER nervous. I usually need a little liquid courage to get on a plane, but knowing that I would be traveling with two little guys, a couple of drinks was not an option.


The boys were both WONDERFUL travelers. I wouldn't hesitate to get on a plane alone with them again. In fact we received compliments from those around us on each flight, about our great behavior.


All 4 kids leaving the airport in Little Rock. Man, if you would have asked me 3 years ago if I would ever be traveling down the road in a minivan with four children and only one other adult, and be enjoying it, my answer certainly would have been "no." Boy how life changes!


Sam really enjoyed playing with Emmie. She could get the BIGGEST grins and giggles out of him.


Just lounging in the hammock.


Just like old times. Becky and I met through work and then became great friends when we started walking together to shed our "baby weight" after Jack and Emmie were born. We were able introduce Ben and Sam to our famous long walks, during our visit.

One day our walk lead us to the Big Dam Bridge, yes that is really the name of it. It is named this because it spans over a dam in the Arkansas River.


I attempted to get as much of the Big Dam Bridge in the photo. The bridge itself is close to 1 mile long.


After 5 days of hanging out it was time to get back on the plane. I can't tell you how badly I wished Becky, Emmie and Ben were getting on the plane to come back to Milwaukee with us. However, that just isn't in the cards, and we are so happy for the new life they have been able to start in Arkansas. Thanks for the fun times!

The trip home was pretty easy. We were even in the company of a celebrity on the flight from Memphis. While I was attempting to get our seats changed so Jack and I would be sitting together, an older couple came up and started talking to the boys while they were in the stroller. After I had our new boarding passes I was able to join the conversation with the couple. I kept looking at the guy, thinking, I know you. He didn't look at me like he was trying to place me, and then his wife started talking, and it hit me! We were talking Bart Starr (the former Packer) and his wife Cherry! I didn't ask him for his autograph, and didn't even think to ask for a picture with the boys. Oh, well, you'll just have to take my word for it.