Peaks and Valleys

Our life has been full of peaks and valleys since I last blogged. But, we are finding a new normal and making it all work for US!!

Here's a link to our new family pictures. My sister took them in early November! We love them just as much as we love her! Thanks Andrea!!

I am working on getting back to the blog! It will be a process I'm sure!!

http://joyfulfive.blogspot.com/2009/11/sis-pix.html

Double Incentive

Today's blog comes with double incentive. I had incentive to get back to the blog and make a new entry and Rylie had the incentive to pull that tooth out!! Yup, Rylie had this tooth that was WAY ready to come out. So loose that it was hanging but almost nothing and it was more than her dad could handle. So, I made a deal with her. If she pulled that tooth and we took a picture, we could put it on the blog tonight!! Sounds great and not 2 minutes later, the tooth was out!!

Now this tooth falling out has been a long time coming. The dentist told her over a year ago that she would lose her first tooth by LAST Christmas. Almost 10 months later, it finally happened. She was the last one in her class to lose one and she was very ready!! Plus, now she finally gets to use the wonderfully adorable tooth pillow that Grandma Tamma made for her!! It's been sitting in her room just waiting for the opportunity to be used!!

So now she has a gappy smile, that is absolutely adorable, and I will have to get back into the blogging! I have lots of things we've skipped, including Walker turning 4. OOPS, that makes me feel like the worst mother ever!! Lots of more pics to come!!

WOW!!

9 years ago I married my best friend!!

Quiet House

My house is quiet this morning. I dropped Rylie off at the bus and then took Walker to his first day of Preschool. He was so excited and couldn't wait to get there. He didn't even want me to go in with him, but I told him that I had to. I have to sign him in each morning. He was a little hesitant for me to leave, so I took the opportunity to leave when Miss Karen told him he needed to go wash his hands! I can't wait to hear all about how it went!!

Walker ready for Open House. He got to take all of his supplies, so his backpack was too heavy for him to carry!

All ready to go the first day! He was all about the silly faces this morning!!

Rylie and Walker

Getting out of the van. This is where I had to leave the camera. He didn't want any more pictures! I was fine with that. I'll get more when they have their next Open House!

Addition: 12:00 PM - He LOVED it!! He can't wait to go back on Friday. And, his favorite part was outside play (typical boy). He talked about playing with Alex, Macy and Ava, but can't remember any of the other kids' names. He was super excited to see me, gave me a huge smile and wave when he saw me in the pick up line. It's great to be loved!!

She's a 1st Grader

Rylie started 1st grade today. I thought it'd be fun to show her progression from 3 year old preschool to now. Wow, she has changed. It's fun to think how much she's learned and developed since the beginning.


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Rylie refused to wear her backpack for her picture. Her's is actually in the process of being exchanged because of a rip, so she's using a red one to start off the year. I was informed that it did not match her outfit at all, so she's just have a picture without it!!

Farm boy??

Am I going to end up with a farm boy? One of Walker's favorite places to go is to the hog buildings my dad and mom run. He especially loves going when it's time to get the new babies in and his favorite driver, Brian, is coming. The kids and I spent Monday afternoon at the barns, moving, sorting, counting, feeding. I love that my kids get the hands on experience, but I would have never imagined they would love it quite so much. I took my camera on Monday and captured Walker's happiness!!

Girly Girl

Rylie is a girly girl. I've had to learn to play barbies, style hair, think pink, etc!! I wouldn't trade her for a second! For her birthday last month, Mom, Andrea and I all got her things to help make her bedroom girly. We rearranged bedrooms about 6 months ago and since she's not sharing with Walker anymore, we can go pink instead of neutral! Mom had asked Rylie what she would want in her room and the one thing she wanted was lots of pink. Well, I think between the three of us, we were able to accomplish that. Mom got her all the her bedding, Andrea picked up the fuzzy throw and pillow as well as the wall stickers and the great phone! Matt and I had gotten her a new lamp, curtains and tiebacks, which aren't in the pics. Then, she had a gift card to use and got he new fuzzy chair. She loves her room. The pink curtains give her room quite an interesting glow in the morning. She says she loves waking up to pink!!

Oh, the colors of summer

I love when all the greenness of spring brings on the colors of flower in summer. Here are just a few of the things blooming at our house right now!

Tiger Lillies

Mint

Basil

Hostas

Straw Flowers

Tomatoes

We Love a Parade

The kids and I hit the Gifford parade while Matt slept on the 4th. He had to work the night before and wanted to be able to go to Clear Lake with us, so he missed out on the parade this year. It was a rainy, cool morning, but the kids didn't seem to mind. They played tag while they waited and all stood so nicely and quiet while the flags passed by. We even got a picture of all five of the kids in their 4th of July ware from Grandma Tamma!!

Minnesota

Two weekends ago, Matt and I took a small weekend trip away. Just the two of us. We went to one of our favorite places of all time, Ottertail County Minnesota. Beautiful land that we both fell in love with and continue to greatly enjoy going back when we can. On Friday night we ate at one of our favorite resaurants, Zorbaz, home to the Macho Nachoz. That restaurant alone is worth the 7 hour drive! We then camped in the van which was an adventure in itself. Saturday we got up, went and saw his Uncle Randy and Aunt Lynn's new property they bought and will eventually build on, rented a jet ski and skiied for the first time in probably 7 years. That night we stayed at a resort and enjoyed an evening of swimming, great food and SLEEP!! Then on Sunday we found a new favorite bakery and headed home to the kids. It was great to be away and boy did we sleep well when we got home!! Thanks Mom for keeping the kids for us! They had a GREAT time!!

I didn't take many pics, but here are the few I did!

Swimmers

So the week we got back from Michigan, the kids had swimming lessons all week. They both love the water, so it's not hard to get them in. They both did really well and both passed onto the next level for next summer! Way to go!!

Rylie






Walker

Michigan

The morning after Rylie's birthday the kids and I loaded into the van with my mom and headed to Michigan for my cousin's graduation reception and Air Force send off! We had a great time! The kids greatly enjoyed Todd and Grace's house, especially the pool table. The pictures are ones that Walker or Rylie took while we were there. It's always fun to get a different perspective!