Finally...Summer!!!!!

While I was snapping pictures, I noticed that Kiera was posing in them. We went from refusing to smile and hating getting her picture taken to posing...not sure where this idea came from!!!
Notice where she always places the left arm/hand
What a goof!

Everyone "helping" daddy plant the garden
We finally spent the entire day outside!!! The kids loved having a picnic lunch!
Kiera and I were washing windows and the boys had a tub of about 1/2 inch of water. They both decided to play in the tub rather than splash in it.
We're packed for Oma's!!! Just kidding...I was getting rid of toys into this suitcase and the boys decided to play in the suitcase with all the junk. (Joel Left, Caleb right)

Tulip Time Day 3

Happy Mother's Day! We enjoyed our final day in Pella with Jake and Val. We attended their church in the morning and then went to their house for a yummy lunch. Valerie did all the work which was a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day. Thanks Val! We then spent a while visiting and enjoying the park behind their house. The kids had fun running off some energy. Of course this was the first gorgeous day in a long time, so we had to spend it outside. We then loaded the car and headed back to Sioux Falls. The kids did great traveling and we had a wonderful weekend! Thank you Val and Carolyn for all the fun memories!!!

Tulip Time Day 2

On Saturday we enjoyed sleeping in (as much as is possible with 3 kids) and having a leisurely morning to ourselves. Valerie had to attend a final class to finish her masters degree (Congrats Val!!!!), so we took the morning to relax and give the kids naps. It was still cold outside, but we decided that we would layer up and grab some blankets and enjoy a picnic at the festival. Aren't we brave???!! We debated checking out the world record attempt at having the most people dancing in wooden shoes for 5 minute (which they broke at 2500 people), but it was too chilly. We walked downtown and enjoyed some good fried food for lunch (the kids had a sack lunch).

We had the usual funnel cake, Poffertje's (not sure if I spelled that right, but they are Dutch mini pancakes and really good), kettlecorn, and a steak sandwhich. Mmmm....nice and healthy. Good thing we walked a ton this weekend!!! After lunch we headed to the cheese races. Jake was one of the cheese runners, so we were able to watch him. They explain how cheese is purchased and sold, and then how the runners carry the heavy cheese around the market (basically the summary). Anyway, then the 6 runners have a race...they try to convince you that the cheese is really heavy when actually it is styrafoam. It's all to get the crowd into it and have a little fun.
They were not so happy to be in the shoes (Caleb right, Joel left)
Here come the guys to get the cheese
Jake is in the middle back on the green team
Val, Kiera, and Caleb watching the cheese races

After the cheese races, we headed back for naps, and then back again later for the Tractor Rodeo. This was a lot of fun and it was fun to see Uncle Loren participate. They had each antique tractor try to balance on a teeter-totter of sorts, they had a slow race to see who could drive slowest, and then some other relays the tractors competed in. It was fun and pretty funny to watch. The boys especially loved to see the tractors.
Jake and Joel intently watching the tractors
This picture is for Ryan. This is an example of the first tractor he ever drove.
Uncle Loren on one of his tractors
Uncle Loren balancing his other tractor
The family by the tractor
Kiera trying out the passenger seat
You been farming long???
Come on Joel, let's get movin'!

We then headed to a celabratory supper for Val since she completed her masters and then to the night parade. Ryan stayed home with the babies and Kiera and I and the adults went to the lighted parade. Kiera loved it and had a blast. It was a busy, yet fun day with friends!

Pella Tulip Time Day 1

We were finally able to take a family vacation to a destination other than WA or Prinsburg! We decided to head to the Pella Tulip Festival. My best friend Valerie and her husband Jake live there and encouraged us to come. We left Thursday after work and got there around 10 pm. We stayed with Val's aunt who was a WONDERFUL hostess and spoiled us rotten! She was well prepared for our kids and we were able to enjoy their whole basement to ourselves! The next morning, I was able to head out for breakfast with Val and my other best friend Carolyn. She had also come down with her husband Mark and little girl Hannah. I hadn't seen Hannah yet, so it was fun to spend the time with them as well. We went to the Windmill Cafe for breakfast. We did this for old time's sake as we used to always celebrate our birthday's together with breakfast. We have all been friends since Jr.High (Val since we were 2). We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and had a blast catching up on each other's lives. Carolyn (left) and Valerie (Right)

After that, we went to get our families and headed to the Tulip Time festivities. We enjoyed the afternoon parade, which ended up being TERRIBLY cold as the weather changed and we about froze. Thankfully I had thrown hats, coats, and gloves in last minute! We stayed for most of it and then just visited together inside.

That evening we were able to go to my cousins home for supper. We grilled and enjoyed visiting with my aunt and uncle who were also there. It was fun to see all the kids interact! It was quite noisy!!!
These are my uncle and aunt and my cousin Joy's little girl Lydia. She is only a week younger than the boys (that's Joel on Uncle Loren's lap. He loved sitting by him!)
We enjoyed Day 1 and hope to be better prepared tomorrow for the bitter cold weather!!!

Mommy's New Best Friend

Our neighborhood is having their yearly garage sales and we scored big time this year!!! We now have what we like to call our glorified outdoor playpen...a trampoline. The kids just love it and it was in awesome condition. If you are nearby, come on over and jump! It's tons of fun!!!!

I'd like to take a moment to point out what happens when you let your daughter pick out her own clothes...we get a pink flowered top, green striped skirt, and orange pumpkin socks. Yikes!
Joel
Caleb
While I was gone, my sister-in-law took Eli and Kiera to Color-me-mine where they painted bowls. She did a really cute job and loved it!




Our feuding baseball teams...courtesy of CA friends...
Caleb in back, Joel in front...I love how Caleb has his shirt up....what a guy thing

We'll Call it the Mommymoon...

Click here to view these pictures larger

A few weeks ago my dad had surgery to remove, what they found out to be, a cancerous tumor. He has been struggling with colon cancer for the past 3 years and I felt I really wanted to spend some quality time with my dad and family. Ryan encouraged me to go out to WA for a week alone...no kids!!! I flew out Friday the 16th and stayed until the 23rd. My sister Tami was also able to come out, so our whole family was together. Ryan's mom came for the week to help with the kids while he was at work. She did a great job and I never worried once...even when Caleb was taken to urgent care for strep throat. I had full confidence in them and was able to enjoy a wonderful week with my family. It was also a great time to get some R&R for myself after the last year and a half. I enjoyed LOTS of chatting with my sisters, yummy food provided by mom, shopping (which turns out to be enjoyable when you don't have kids), meals eaten out (ah Red Robin, how I've missed you), a visit to the legendary Skagit Valley Tulip fields which I hadn't seen in over a decade, games played, and enjoying my nieces who have never seen me without kids. We had some great times together and it was nice to have lunch everyday with my dad and even catch quite a few Mariners games together!!! I feel rested and rejuvenated from my little "mommymoon" and thank everyone who helped make it a reality!!!

30th Celebrations!

Mmmmmm ice cream cake!!!

Now some explaining...Ryan and my sister Tami were awesome in getting friends and family to send me 30 things for turning 30. Here are the samples of a few of the things I got. Enjoy the laughs! I sure did! Thanks everyone for the fun and for making my birthday a blast!
I LOVE TRUFFLES!!!!! (from Mom & Dad Link)
30 "Kix" from baby Sakuma...due in August
30 minutes of pampering from the Sakumas! Awesome!!!
Even my sister dog got in on it...Kiera loves eating the tootsie-rolls.
My kids gave me this card with the glued rocks
Dad...I love you...what more can I say!!!!
The CA relatives gave me the 30 bags of nuts to remind me of my CA days! Mmmmm!!!!
30 mostly blue scrapbook pages from the Nelsons!!! Now to find 30 minutes....
Cousin Joy and family gave me this book of 30 fun stories for tuckered out moms
Flowers from friends so I'll stay young (notice the Calla lillies have Hot Flashes on the label)




Mom knows well that I need 30 nights of good sleep (these are for Ryan, so I can sleep!(:)
Oostras gave me these...30 sucks, licks (licorice sticks), and Blows!
And 30 stinks!!! Kiera thought it was so funny that I got diapers.
Valerie and Jake sent me 30 goldfish x 3 tries. When I was 16 she and a friend gave me 16 real goldfish...I managed to kill them all in a short amount of time...almost half a lifetime later I get a 2nd try with a little bit easier variety!

Thanks everyone for making my 30th birthday bearable!!! It was so much fun!!!