Summer Fun

Andrew and Kalin having a squirt gun fight. The kids would fill up their squirt guns in the swimming pool and then they had to stand there until I counted to three...then it was time to get each other. This is our first set of squirt guns and the kids had a lot of fun.

Andrew turned 3 on August 1st. We had an early birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese with Grandpa Dick, Grandma Pat, Uncle Randy, Aunt Becky, Ben, and Nick. The kids loved playing all the games and then we celebrated with Mickey Mouse cupcakes. Then on Andrew's acutal birthday we had a party with just Dad, Kalin and myself. We had Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast and Andrew got to open his gifts. Kalin got him the Slip and Slide and two squirt guns...then later that day we headed out for a short family vacation in Kansas City. Unfortunately you will just have to imagine all the fun we had at the above events, because Andrew broke our digital camera...but as you can see it has been replaced and I'm getting the hang of the new camera.

Father's Day

So I am pretty much way behind in posting pictures from the summer...my goal is to get caught up this weekend so I can post first day of school pictures next week. Anyway we did celebrate Father's Day...I took the kids shopping and we looked and looked for the perfect gift for such an awesome Dad and we came up with a tent. Unfortunately, the only time it has been set up is in our basement....it seemed like everytime we were going to attempt an outing (our backyard) it rained. We still have a couple of weeks left so Bob may get to try out his gift. The kids and I also made Bob is favorite, a big M & M cookie. Bob is a terrific Dad who loves his kids and is a true leader for our family, and for that I am truely grateful.

Janet's Graduation

In June, we made a trip up to Milwaukee to see Janet (Bob's cousin) graduate from high school. Janet is a wonderful young lady, and is a terrific role model for Kalin and Andrew. We also got to take in a Brewer's game, and the kids got their first opportunity to tailgate. It was a great weekend spent with family!

Kalin's dance recital

Kalin took dance lessons this year with Janet Long. Miss Janet was a wonderful teacher not only because she is extremely patient, kind and loving to the girls, but also because she got Kalin to go on stage. I truely gave it a 50/50 chance as to whether she would actually make it on stage. I was so proud of her, she did a wonderful job. This picture is of her and her best friend Addi who was in Kalin's class.

It was a very special night because Grandpa Dick, Grandma Pat, Grandpma Peggy and cousin Hannah all came to watch Kalin perform.

Andrew's first fish.

We went down to my parent's place on the lake over Memorial Day, and Andrew fell in love with fishing. He is so funny, one morning as we were walking down to the dock he was holding his fishing pole chanting out loud, "I just love fishin', I just love fishing". He has his own Superman pole that we tied a rubber fish to the end of, usually he just casts his pole reels it in and gets excited about the rubber fish. Well he wanted to fish like a big boy, so we let him use Kalin's pole (she doesn't like fishing too much) and sure enough he caught a little bass!

Great Grandparents

Our kids are very lucky, because they have three Great Grandparents who love them very much. The kids love spending time with them, and entertaining them. It has taken Andrew a while but we now have all the Grandparents names down and who is who. Grandpa and Grandma Allen are always fun to visit because Grandpa keeps their apartment stocked with fun toys and there are always new ones to play with. Grandma Allen uses a cane and it is always a contest to find where she left it so the kids can give it to her! Grandma Kelly is also a very special grandparent. I am thankful because she gave Andrew a new bunny that he now sleeps with every night, it have replaced an old stinky one. All and all they have always been the best Grandparents to me and they continue to be the best Great Grandparents...we love you!

Happy Birthday Grandma Pat!

Hi Grandma Pat...the kids wanted to give you a special birthday message, since we couldn't be there in person. It says, "Happy Birthday Grandma Pat!"

I asked the kids what makes Grandma so special, here are there answers:

*she makes good food

*we like to go to her house

*she plays with us

*she reads us books, and

*she comes to visit us and watches our recitals.

All in all she is a very special Grandma who we love very much.