Almost the end...

It's hard to believe its almost the end of Logan's first year of preschool.  It seems like we just started the year - I can remember how excited he was on his first day in September!  Luckily, he continued to be just as excited for school every Tuesday and Thursday.  It was a wonderful time for him to meet new friends, learn new skills, and explore new things.  Noah's Ark really is an amazing school and we are so lucky to be part of their little family!

Even Bennett has really gotten into the routine, getting excited for "skool!" and grabbing his backpack when Logan does.  I'm not sure who will miss school more...

Next winter, Bennett will be old enough to join Camp Come & Play, for 2.5 year olds.  I have a feeling he will be ready!

Before school on Tuesday, Logan said, "Mommy, I love Mrs. Lien.  She is a great teacher."  Of course, it made me melt.  What a special place to have teachers who are so dearly loved by the preschoolers!

Logan has grown so much this year and I know he will be sad to have school end (so will I!).  The week will be pretty long for  Logan without his two afternoons at school.  We'll have to get creative with some new ways to spend our time.  Today is the official last day and they are celebrating with a ride to Cold Stone Creamery on the city bus!  John is joining in on the fun, so hopefully I will have some photos to share!

Spoiled by Friends!

We were so lucky to be spoiled by our friends yesterday!

My close friend, Carrie, and her six month old sweet baby, Rebecca visited us from Michigan!  It was Rebecca's first visit to our house and only my second time seeing her.  She is seriously the cutest little girl!  My boys really loved her and loved doting on her the second she arrived.  I wanted to keep her...but she went back to Stillwater with Carrie yesterday to spend a fun week with her grandparents and cousins!  Carrie and Rebecca arrived in the morning with lattes!  Yum!

Then Avery came, too!  My dear friend Kim came with a delicious lunch for the moms and the kids!  Her adorable daughter, Avery, is so special and just 6 weeks younger than Bennett.  Avery is such a good talker - she can say both "Logan" and "Bennett" perfectly - and those are not easy names!  She always looks so cute in her little girl clothes.  I loved having a house full of girls yesterday!  With the moms and daughters, my boys were outnumbered!

The kids played really well together while the moms enjoyed some much needed catch up time (with our lattes!).  Lunch was "Delish", as Bennett would say, and we even had time for more playtime before naps and the drive home.  We are so lucky to have friends who make us feel like we don't live far away. Our friends drive to Eau Claire at the drop-of-a-hat to see us, spend time with us, and watch our kids grow.  We are blessed!

Many thanks to Carrie, Kim, and the girls!  We loved having you!

Children's Farm Open House 2011

Today we got to go back to The Children's Farm!  We are lucky to have a spot at the farm this year again for Logan.  We will be attending class with Logan on Fridays in June and July!  I think this year John will get to be Logan's grown-up for farm school, which will be extra special!  Its sure to be a wonderful experience again this year (last May, Logan and I attended the Spring on the Farm class).  Of course, Logan was thrilled to be back at The Children's Farm!

This year, Logan can pump the water all by himself!

Bennett was in on the action at the farm this year, too.  Last year, he spent the open house in the backpack!

Giving the goats some water.

Logan was excited to take the wheelbarrow of hay to the baby calf.

The baby calf needs a name, so Logan suggested something like "Fido".

It was a nice day, so I thought the pigs had the right idea...laying in the sun!

Logan was pretty excited to see the ponies again: Gertie and Midnight!

And Bennett wanted his photo by Gertie, too.  

In just one year, Logan seems so much older at the farm!

We played on the playground and in the sandbox - one of our favorite past times.  The boys were hungry, but didn't want to leave.  I should've packed a picnic lunch, but I didn't think of it.

Logan wouldn't take a photo with Mama...oh well.

The boys loved the cat, soaking up the rays.

They gave a little performance on the step of the shed.

Bennett is the anti-hugger right now (just for Logan).

Before leaving, we visited the baby chicks...

and played in the playroom...

Bennett loved the fish!

Logan played farm.

Bennett didn't want to leave, he took a seat by the pretty flowers.  

We start at the farm in a couple weeks!  What fun!

Week of Friends

We've had such a fun, busy week at our house!  The weather was nice for a couple days, so we spent plenty of time outside!  We also got to host lots of friends!

Carter came Monday morning!  We haven't seen Carter for a while but his parents were in Ireland this week visiting Jon and Holly, so it was nice to have Carter over.

Then we got to see Baby Elise and her mom, Katie on Wednesday.  We don't get to see them often, but Wednesday is Katie's day off, so it was fun to have a little playdate!  Elise is 6 months old and just learned to sit up.  The boys were enamored with Elise and "her tiny toes and tiny fingers".

Logan wanted to write something for Elise, so I told him the order of the letters.  He's really gotten into spelling and learning letters' sounds.

On Thursday, we got to have our friend, Brighton, at our house all day!  He came over and we had breakfast, played outside, ate lunch and he went with while we dropped Logan off at school.  Brighton is now our new neighbor!  His family has moved into their house just a few miles from us and we're excited!

This morning, we got to have Logan's friend, Isaac and his mom here.  The boys have become really great friends at school this year and it was fun to see them play together.  I have to ask John to upload some of the video from this morning!

What a week full of fun and friends - we are so lucky!

  

Spring Party Program

Tonight was Logan's Spring Party/Program at school!  We have really loved Noah's Ark Preschool this year and tonight was a great time to celebrate Logan's first year in preschool.  He has made great friends, learned many new skills, become a wonderful peacemaker, and we are so proud.  Both sets of grandparents came to see the program and even Auntie Amy.  It was a big group - both morning and afternoon Tues/Thurs kids.

Shakey Egg song

(Logan is top row, center with a navy blue t-shirt)

Logan was super loud (I think probably the loudest one) so we could hear him the whole time!  He had so much fun performing his songs with his friends.  Between songs, Logan would wave and say, "Hi Baggie, Hi Bopbop, Hi Mama, Hi Daddy, Hi Benny, Hi Nana, Hi Papa, Hi Amy".  Seriously.  It was funny and quite the list...over and over.  Haha!

After the program we had treats and sat around to visit for a while.

Thanks for coming, Amy!

Big smiles for Baggie and Bopbop!

More smiles for Nana and Papa!

Mother's Day 2011

Last week was a blur so it was great to start a new week with the celebration of Mother's Day!  We were up early with the boys and they gave me a special present - some fun jewelry and a microplane grater (I was so excited!).  Then John took off early for church and I got the boys and myself ready.  When we ere all set in the van, it wouldn't start!  Happy Mother's Day to me.  

Benny sporting his "MOM" tattoo for me!  Love it!  Logan wanted nothing to do with his little tattoo.  I have a feeling that will be how the future is, too:  Logan will not consider a tattoo, but Bennett will come home with one someday and be like "What's the big deal, Mom?".

It was beautiful outside so the boys ran around while I scanned the neighborhood for someone who was awake to help me at 8:30 on Mother's Day.  No luck.  I didn't have the guts to go knocking so I called John and he had time to swing home and get us started!  We were a little late, but church was a lovely service honoring moms so it was fun to be there!

Then, in a last minute decision, the little boys and I decided to drive to Stillwater for the day.  Both my brother and sister and their spouses were going to spend the afternoon at my parents.  John had some work to do to prepare for youth group.  So, instead of spending the day at home with the kids, we drove over the border for the first time in a couple of months!  Its been a long time since we visited, so it was super fun and special for Mother's Day!  We stopped for a little fuel, then we were on our way!

Our first stop was in Woodbury at Kids Hair to get the boys out-of-control hair cut.  I was happy they were open on a Sunday and I called on the way to get appointments.  Logan was a superstar and now has a super short 'do!  Bennett was a stinker (surprised?), sat on my lap, and screamed, "Stop it!" "Owweeee!!" the whole time.  It was pretty embarrassing.  I felt bad for Bennett, since I was holding him in vice grips, but the boy couldn't see past his bangs anymore!  Again...Happy Mother's Day to me.

See that short haircut!  Wow!  Logan suddenly looks like a 12 year old.

Maybe you can't see much difference on B's hair, but it was soooo long.  Its still not short, but its better.  I'm impressed by how quick she cut his hair while he was squirming and screaming.

Just as we were arriving at my parents' house after haircuts, John called and said he had just gotten off the phone with the police department.  They reported a "drive off" at the gas station I visited before I left Eau Claire.  Apparently, I was the suspect, via video.  WHAT?!  Once again...Happy Mother's Day to me.  Here's how the conversation went:

John: "Hey honey..."

Jill: "Hi!  We just made it.  I was gonna call and tell you, but we just got here and we're unloading the kids."

John: "Okay, great, I have a funny question for you...do you have a minute?"

Jill: (thinking...uhoh, what could have happened?) "Sure"

John: "Well, I just got a call from Tony Hudson (a friend of ours), from the Lake Hallie Police Department (uh-oh!), and he said there was a reported gas drive off and your license plate was the suspected theft vehicle."  At this point, John admitted he thought I was going to say, "oh my goodness! I did forget"...or something crazy like that...I am a little crazy lately.

Well, I had printed a receipt, so I was able to give John the transaction number and time stamp to prove my innocence!  So, John had to visit the gas station to clear my name and then call back our friend from church, who is a part time police officer to assure him that I, the pastor's wife, had not driven off without paying for my fuel like a criminal!  Yikes!  Crazy stuff.  Makes a good story...

The boys and I really enjoyed the day with family.  The boys played and were happy to see everyone.  Amy and Andrew brought fruit, Kyle and Ali brought dessert and since we were such a last minute add-on, I didn't bring anything.  I felt bad but Amy said, "That's ok, you brought the entertainment" as the boys danced around and kept everyone laughing.

I wanted a photo with both of the boys, but it just didn't happen.

Benny was snuggled in with his blankie and puppy, so I just snuck in for a photo.

It was a crazy, fun-filled day!  The boys and I headed home at bedtime and I enjoyed some quiet time to end the day before meeting John back at home.  Happy Mother's Day to me...it was great!

Girls Night at Home!

Last night I had the special pleasure of hosting my dear friends for dinner!  Four sweet girls came over and we cooked our delicious dinner together, then ate, caught up on life, laughed and enjoyed each other's company.  Its been a long week and it was so fun to end it with the girls!  John had some much needed time with the boys while the girls took over the house!

Its so much more fun to cook dinner with a group and make it a little fancy!  Yum!

Then we took over the lower level while John did bedtimes.  We indulged in popcorn - salty and sweet, and two, (count 'em!) two chick flicks!  It was great!  Thanks for the good times, ladies!

Wednesday Night Baseball

Logan and John had a baseball session in the front yard tonight.  Logan has become quite the hitter and doesn't like to use the tee anymore.

The last week has been pretty crazy, so it was extra special for John and Logan to have this time in the evening.  Logan had a long nap today so he got to stay up late and I put Bennett to bed while the big boys had their special time.  Love nights like this!