Swimming Lessons

Jack and Maddie have been enjoying every minute of their swimming lessons. We go twice a week for a half an hour each.

Jack has really started to get more comfortable in the water. He can now dunk his whole face in the water, hold his breath, float on his back and tummy and knows the free style stroke.

Maddie loves splashing, blowing bubbles and kicking her feet. She doesn't really care too much for floating on her back though!

It's fun to see the kids getting more comfortable in the water!

A fun weekend!

I know, I know it's been far too long since I've posted! We have had a fun and exciting couple of weeks.

The fourth of July weekend was filled with fun and family. We celebrated Grandpa Kyle's birthday, watched the fire works and went to an overpriced grocery store :) I thought for sure Maddie would be awake this year to enjoy the fireworks, but she was too tired and missed out.

Jack and Grandpa Kyle had fun playing with the toy airplane that Grandpa got for his birthday.

A relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

The Evening Funnies

I picked up our produce this evening from our farm share. So many great things came in our share this week. Including pea pods.

Nathan was in the kitchen snacking on some pea pods. Jack came in the kitchen to check out Daddy's snack. Jack said, "can I have a tea pot"? We got a good laugh out of that one.

A FUN weekend

I didn't get a chance to write about our camping trip with friends last weekend. We had a BLAST! Although the weather was a bit stormy each night, our new tent stood up to the rain and wind.

We were able to enjoy the company of our friends and relax while floating down the lazy Wolf River. There were some parts of the river that were a bit rocky that we ended up getting stuck on, but with the help of our strapping guys, we made it down the river without a problem.

The nights were spent sitting by the campfire telling stories and a certain someone (Jeff) scaring me with their body parts...or brat! It was great to be able to relax and laugh as loud as we wanted.

We are already looking forward to another great camping trip next year.

A BIG thank you to Grandpa Dave and Grandma Debbie for watching Jack and Maddie over the weekend. It's a great feeling knowing that the kids are safe and happy.

Jack and Dave had fun at "Westwood" on Saturday. Dave put Jack to work by pulling weeds in the garden. Jack was happy to be out stomping around in the woods. He saw a family of turkeys and even spotted a fawn.

When we got home on Sunday, Jack informed us that Grandpa Dave took him to his first bar! ONLY in Wisconsin. We thought it was so funny. Jack said, "yea, we were thirsty and needed some water...so we just sat there and drank and talked with the guys". The imagery alone of Jack and Dave sitting at the bar together was hilarious.

Maddie had a great time exploring all of her toys and space to walk. She's getting so curious about everything. Jack was taking a bath after a long days work at Westwood. Maddie found out that Jack was taking a bath and she started taking her clothes off to get in too. SO cute!

Grandpa Kyle came over to Grandpa Dave and Grandma Debbie's on Sunday for lunch. Grandpa Kyle and Jack went for a short walk and told funny stories over lunch. Grandpa Kyle brought Jack and Maddie their own containers of chocolate milk. We already knew that Jack loved chocolate milk, but Maddie had never had it before. Well, she LOVED it. It was so funny watching her drink it. I kept on adding more to her cup. She wanted every last drop of it.

A great weekend was had by all.

Random thought

I think that mom's and dad's should come with a "counter", sort of like a pedometer, but this would be for the number of times we need to repeat a particular phrase to our children throughout the day.

I just took Jack and Maddie for a walk to get ice cream. Maddie in the stroller and Jack riding his bike. Jack is at the age where he needs to stop and look at everything, EVERYTHING! So, every 15 seconds we'd stop and look at the large hole in the ground, the baby rabbit eating, the yellow flowers, the one blade of grass that was bent in a different direction...the list goes on.

I'd be curious to know how many times I said, "OK buddy, let's keep going", "keep going buddy", "Jack, let's keep going", "JACK we need to move or we're never going to get there", "never, momma?" "JUST KEEP GOING"!

So we finally made it to the ice cream store. I ordered the cones for the kids and wondered if it would be illegal for me to walk home with an open bottle of wine. I opted just to share the cone with Maddie :)

We finished our yummy ice cream cones and headed home. It was a much smoother ride on the way back. Maddie fell asleep and Jack and I had a nice talk about what bunnies think about when they're first born. "Momma, can bunnies even think when they're born? Who teaches them how to hop, if their mom's and dad's can't even talk?" He's so funny.

Maybe next time, I'll start with ice cream and then go for the bike ride.

Happy Fathers Day...a day late

Happy Fathers Day!

I am so lucky to have 4 wonderful men to say "Happy Father's Day" to each year.

Dad (Kyle), Steve, Dave and Nathan you are all truly amazing fathers. I think about how lucky we all are to have you in our daily lives. Jack and Maddie have excellent role models and love spending time with you. Thank you for being my rocks and my sounding board.

Dad, thank you especially for being my meal ticket to an award winning book. The stories I have yet to write down about you, will surely fund our retirement.

Love to you all!

The "funny" of the day...

Last night, (Saturday) Nathan was putting Jack to bed. Jack found his wolf pup that he got for Christmas. It's a pup that's "real". It has sensors in it's back and makes sounds like a real wolf pup would. Nathan and Jack were talking about the fur on the pup. Nathan asked Jack if he thought the fur was from a real wolf. Jack said, "no, but I think they got the fur from Grandpa Kyle's head". Grandpa Kyle has a full head a BEAUTIFUL white/grey/black hair! :)