Here's a blast of summer photos - we had the busiest week last week. Multiple camps, sports, swimming, outside work so much that it was non stop from event to event. Here's some highlights (although I have no baseball pics, oops but don't worry Preston has 2 games this week).

Summer Mornings

It seems to take us a little while to get going in the mornings. The kids usually get 20 minutes of video games while I do computer stuff. Preston is still in his PJs in his pic and Maren is wearing her clothes from yesterday. Yep, safe to say we are a little relaxed here.

Is it Summer?

It feels like it but that could be the warm temps in the 70s and the lack of rain and the fact that my kids have been out of school for almost 2 wks. We have had a good start living outside everyday, trips to the pool, hiking, playing with friends, fishing, living outside - oh wait did I already mention that we are a warm brown color because you can only apply so much sunscreen in one day.

Here's our traditional Saturday night get together with homemade pizza and ice cream to eat.

Catching Up

I can't believe I'm this bad, I mean I can't even remember the last time I updated.....so why not start with a summer kick off!

Preston graduated from Preschool today and Maren is officially a sophomore preschooler. I also made it through the day without completely breaking down, notice I said completely. It was a hard day for me because you love seeing them grow and change but hate that pain of losing the past.

Watch for pics and vids.

The Big Birthday Bash

Not only did Preston finally make it to 5 but he he survived the long wait until the party. I think it's safe to say it was a huge success, all the kids had a blast and looked exhausted when it was over.

It was similar to Maren's in that they had an hour to play on all the equipment like bounce houses, in floor tramps, balance beams and foam pits.


They have an instructor from Classic Gym who keeps on eye on the kids and helps them with the equipment which is nice because then I can just watch and take pictures! Once they are done playing we have time for cake and presents.


Preston blew out another set of candles and received some great gifts from his friends!


It was lots of fun for all but I'm glad to be out of the back-to back birthdays for another year!

Evening Birthday Festivities

Normally we just do a small family dinner and cake but Preston wanted to share with all his friends that he is finally 5! He is the last in our little group of friends and has been waiting patiently to hit the milestone!


We baked his cake yesterday afternoon and made a bunch of pizza dough. We had dough for deep dishes and for regular thin crusts. We even made a white sauce to do white pizza's and it was yummy.


The kids played, everyone ate and it was a fun night for him. Next installment of Preston's birthday comes with his friend party on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Preston

What better way to catch up then with another birthday! Happy 5th Birthday Preston!


His festivities started with a card and money from Grandma. He used his money and bought Pixos (an art item), a pack of gum and some new markers. Here's the pixo cat he made.


Then Nana's gift came and it was perfect. He had debated between pixos and a remote control car and Nana came through with the car and some crazy night goggles (which look best on GR).


Then this morning day of the big day he got an electronic map of the US from Grandpa which he loves (although it seems a bit hard but he enjoys playing it anyway). He loved the Magnatiles we got him and has built several things, not so into the magna truck but we will see if that changes when he has friends to build trucks with.

Preston picked homemade waffles for breakfast and homemade pizza for his birthday dinner. I'm going to get starting on his cake (vanilla with vanilla frosting and lots of sprinkles) and hope it turns out better than Maren's. I also have to get busy on the pizza dough.

His party is Saturday with 8 of his friends at the same gymnastics place Maren had hers. Stay tuned for pictures from tonight and this weekend.

I can't believe my handsome boy is 5!


And of course the 3 yr old who thinks she is 5 and also thinks its her birthday!

Birthday Party - Part 2

Maren had her friend party on Saturday at her gymnastics place. They did a great job of entertaining the kids and helping them use the equipment. Before her party she went to a Pirate Party for a friend on the next street, this was the closest we had to pirate wear.



We decorated the party room while the kids played.


The kids are getting ready to do the floor trampolines and the foam pit.


Cupcakes and Sweets!




Maren loves gymnastics so she was thrilled to have her party there and everyone had a blast. Preston is planning on having his party there in March.

We came back home after the party and made homemade pizzas and let all the kids play some more.

Birthday Party - Part 1

Our family tradition is to open birthday gifts after the birthday girl has her favorite dinner and homemade cake. Maren picked Parmesan Pasta for dinner and she wanted a cake with sprinkles.


Both Maren and Preston enjoyed the cake, frosting and sprinkles so even though my cake fell (your lucky you can't see the back) and my frosting was sticky it was still a huge hit!




Maren received a dollhouse from us, a stamp set from Grandpa and many Barbies from Nana & Mappy.



Look for more birthday fun on Saturday!

Happy Birthday Maren!

3 is apparently the age at which you learn to always make goofy faces at the camera.





Maren opened her dollhouse this morning and then will have a few more family presents tonight when we have cake. Her friends party is on Saturday at Classic Gymnastics and she is really looking forward to it.

For Gram

This beautiful figure was given to me by Carissa to commemorate the passing of my Grandpa who was a Vet. The figure is a woman (my Grandma) holding a wrapped flag that would have been presented after internment.



I got this shot late on Saturday night in manual with no flash (not going to look up the specifics) but it just fits. Miss you Grandpa and Gram we love you, stay strong.

I'm having some technical difficulties with my Microsoft Office, I have a trial version of 2007. Well since I never reboot my laptop I didn't realize it had expired so I need to go to Best Buy and purchase it so I can send emails again. So if you are expecting an email from me and don't have it, that is why.

Maren the Gymnast

We have had high hopes for our little gymnast and tonight she proved them all true. It was Maren's first night of gymnastics and she did great by listening to the coach, participating and doing most things correctly.



While an incredibly flexible kid she can be somewhat klutzy and not completely coordinated but even with those small things working against here she shined! She really loved it too and her gymnastics center is top notch - great equipment, great coach and lots of action.



I did spend 45 minutes trying to explain to Preston why I didn't sign him up. I think he was drooling over the 10 foot long trampoline that she bounced down multiple times. The good news for him is that Maren is having her 3rd Birthday Party there in about 1.5 wks and Preston will be celebrating his 5th at the same place shortly after.



Preston made this snowman at school today and its by far one of my favorites pieces. It's just seems so happy and gave me a huge reason to smile. Snowman will be living in the kitchen for awhile.

Poems for Grandpa

The kids and I read a few of these today and we picked our 2 favorites.

In Our Hearts
We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday,
And the days before that, too.

We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.

Now all we have is memories,
And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake,
With which we'll never part.

God has you in His Keeping.
We have you in our Heart.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me:

I wish you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too:

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity.
And all I've promised you.
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day's the same way
There's no longing for the past.

You have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true.
Though there were times
You did some things

You knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and take my hand
And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.

Grandpa we miss you!

It was so wonderful to see you get to know Preston and Maren. I only wish we had more time to share with you.

I know you will always be watching over them and appreciate knowing they will always have an Angel on their shoulders. You were such a strong man and a heroic fighter of so many things.

I only wish you were still part of our lives. It is heartbreaking to lose you today so unexpectedly. We love and miss you Grandpa.

yep, we are alive!

Barely!!!

Let's start off with this face Maren made most of Monday night while at the hospital. She made this face when telling the doctors "I won't eat poop anymore".



This is the poop she is referring too - thanks Nana!



Actually she will be fine, Preston and her were playing around and some how the poop ended up in her mouth (peer pressure??) and then she accidentally swallowed (because who would want to swallow poop - real or fake). Then they spent 15 minutes rolling on the ground laughing about it and then they told me the truth. I was pretty sure she was fine but the pediatrician had us bring her in just so they could locate the magnet in her belly. It should make its way out in the next 2-3 days!

A heads up to anyone who lets their kids play unsupervised while they work, this could happen to your pool table! Notice the strategically placed dog tail(he was too dumb to move). How in the world did they get all those pillows and blankets past me (some are in the basement but most are from their beds - BAD MOM).



The kids love it and I remember going to Grandma's house and doing the same thing so the fort stands until somebody needs to play pool.