Children's Museum

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Vacation Bible School!!!

Last week we were able to enjoy Pandamania VBS here at our church. I volunteered to do the games, so the boys were able to attend the 2 year old class (the Panda Cub Club). I wasn't sure how it was going to go and since Ryan was gone, I was a little nervous that they wouldn't want to go. Thankfully my mom was here the 1st 2 days, so she was able to sit with them during opening ceremonies and then they felt comfortable enough to attend. Once my mom left I sat with them at the beginning and Joel kept saying "No go bye-bye mommy" and then once his teacher came, he said "you go bye-bye mommy". I'm so relieved that they loved it so much. They knew the actions and the songs and I'm amazed at how much they learned!!! They even knew all about their Bible buddies (little plastic animals they got each day) and had to wear them on their key chain on their belt loop just like Kiera! Kiera, of course, had a blast! She had listened to the cd long before VBS started, so she knew all the songs! It was fun seeing her enjoy it so much!

Panda cub club members!
Waiting for everything to start
The boys hard at work
Kiera at her craft station
Kiera and her friends

Two wild pandas in the jungle...
The boys stood through the whole program! (Joel in grey on left and Caleb in orange facing us)
Kids posing with their panda masks...the boys wouldn't wear them of course
Kiera in the 3rd row singing at the final program and the boys between the two heads in the forefront.

Oma comes to visit

Kiera has lots of influence on the boys. Let's just say they are well-rounded. Here she's having a tea party with them...they were quite waterlogged by the end.
Oma read LOTS of books to the kids!
Aunt Joni's tutu's were well like this day. These pictures will come back to haunt them some day.
Caleb learned all about ballet from Kiera

After our trip to Duluth, my dad flew home and we took Oma back with us to visit for 2 weeks! We had so much fun with her! She spoiled us rotten! We did lots of day trips and had fun spending time with her and showing her our everyday lives here. She was only able to stay for a little bit while Ryan was gone due to weddings, but we appreciated all her help and generosity. We can't wait to see her again in a few weeks!

Duluth Trip

At the end of May my parents flew into Minneapolis and headed up to my sisters house for a visit. We made the trip up there as a family (for the 1st time in quite a while) to spend the week with them. It was so much fun to see my parents and have them see how much our kids had changed. We did lots of fun stuff like the children's museum, train museum, downtown Duluth and saw a ship come in, hiking, sightseeing, eating out, and lots of sitting and visiting. We had a relaxing time and made lots of memories.


Boys and mud...always a good mix. Here they are throwing it on each other.
Kiera and Tori in their matching dresses from Oma
A picnic lunch for the littlest ones.
Lots of cars were played with Opa.
Downtown Duluth where the ship came in. Brrrr was it cold for May!!!
Dad and I
So fun to spend some time with Ryan before he left for Israel.