Swimming lessons and Kids Day

We started swimming lessons today (I decided on private this summer so the boys could get some good one on one time). Lindsey is great with the boys. I love all her ways she helps the boys remember things. She does them at her family home, so while Connor is going - Jacob, Nolan, Lucas and I keep busy....

and then while Jacob and Nolan go together Connor, Lucas, and I keep busy.

Of course it would have to be one of the cooler weeks of the summer (normally I love this weather - but it makes for some cold morning outside lessons). The boys did great and it was only the first day. I already know I am going to be very happy with this.

We claimed today Kids Day. Awhile back, Connor asked if we could have a kids day because there is a mother's and father's day. So we put it on the calendar. Originally we had it as the 1st, but I had training to go to, so we moved it to today. However, in the future it is going to be August 1st.

After lessons we went to eat where the boys chose, Buffalo Wild Wings (where they watched a Twins replay game), then we went mini golfing, and then came home so Lucas could take a nap. In the meantime Connor got a call to go to a friend's house so he did for a little bit while Jacob and Nolan and I played outside. After we picked Connor up we went for ice cream at the blast and walked around by the river. We came back home and played some more. To top it off Jacob had his last T-ball game. It was a great day to celebrate kids. ;)

Wedding adventure

Like mentioned earlier Matt and I had a wedding reception in Wisconsin Sunday morning. Mom and dad were gracious enough to watch the boys over night because we last minute decided to head over Friday night and make an adventure of it. We figured it would be a piece of cake to find a hotel room somewhere in the area, though we didn't really have any idea of where we were going. Thank goodness for the GPS (Matt will probably love that I said that because normally I give him a hard time about the GPS - he uses it even when we know where we are going - he's addicted to it, and it annoys me! ;) . Like I said, we planned on an adventure and it ended up turning into one.

We went to eat dinner at a place recommended by a coworker of Matt's called La Grolla, an Italian restaurant in the Chapel Hill area of St. Paul. It was WONDERFUL. Our appetizer recommended by our waitress was to die for. Capesante -Mexican Diver Sea Scallops wrapped in Angel Hair, lightly deep fried, served with Lobster sauce and Basil oil. Yummy. I think I have mentioned before that Matt and I like to try new foods, it's so much fun. He had crab stuffed ravioli in a lobster sauce with shrimp on top and I had a seafood risotto with scallops, shrimp, crab, beets (yes beets) in a creamy sauce. We enjoyed some beer and wine to top it off. It seriously was yummy.

After dinner we headed in the direction of where the wedding was. Matt had texted the groom with a question earlier in the day and he invited us to a BBQ/Get-together that they were having for guests already in town that night. So we decided to head over there to say hi. However, we first wanted to find a hotel. This is where the adventure part starts....we called probably 15 hotels in the area and they were all full. Wouldn't you know it, that this weekend was the weekend that 4 different couples wanted to get married in the middle of nowhere. Ha. It started out funny...and then got frustrating. To add to it, we also could not find the cabin where the BBQ was at. We drove by it a few times. We finally found it with the help of the groom. We still didn't have a room, and decided to bank on driving to the Turtle Lake casino after hanging out and getting a cancellation at midnight. It was our last and only option. Matt wasn't too sad about that because it meant we would hang out at the casino for a little while. Long story short (though it already is long) we ended up getting a room, and Matt won some money at the casino that paid for the whole weekend, dinner, gas, and hotel. Win-win!

The bride and groom got married in Columbia earlier in July and on Sunday a reception at this place for those of us that couldn't make it down there. It was beautiful and had some neat touches. The beverages provided were white sangria, bloody mary, beer, and mimosa. They had a stocked coffee bar and lemonade and ice tea area. Our table was out in a tent and the brunch was a delicious family style brunch with french toast, cinnamon rolls, creamy hash browns, bacon, sausage, eggs, and fresh fruit.

It was a beautiful day.

The beautiful couple.

This was my favorite. How cute is this little wine cellar with the cupcake and candy tables?

Everyone in this picture except for the bride and two of the girls went to college together. It was so great catching up with and visiting with these folks who we haven't seen in awhile.

It was a fun day and the whole 24 hours was definitely an adventure.

Big News

We have another boy riding without training wheels. Matt and I have been trying to get him to do this for awhile now, and he's been game - it's just been hard to find time where Matt could dedicate his attention to just Jacob. Matt made it a priority on Saturday morning. Jacob caught on really quickly and before we knew it was riding around the block by himself.

That big smile says it all! Way to go Jakeyman! So proud of you. Woot Woot.

This will make bike rides possible and much easier now....;)

Friday Fun with Friends

We were supposed to go camping this weekend with some great friends, however ended up having too much going on and had to cancel. Sunday we had a wedding in Wisconsin a couple of hours away, and the camp site we were going to was also a couple of hours away. That would have been too much driving in the short amount of time. We were bummed that had to miss out on the great opportunity to be with great people. Hopefully it works to do it again.

So...we made the best of being home. Friday evening mom and dad had an extra Twins ticket so Connor got to go to that with them. Nolan and Jacob were able to have a friend from daycare over. Owen moved out of town and is back visiting, so the boys were excited to have him over. They played outside, went swimming, played some Wii, we made pizzas, had a fire with S'mores, and then they watched the ever so anticipated new Phineas and Ferb movie on TV. It was a fun afternoon and evening.

I love this picture because Lucas just chimes in whenever the boys are playing Wii. He doesn't really play, but he doesn't know that. ;)

Dentist, Pool, Potty Training

With summer time comes all of those appointments and check ups. Connor, Jacob, and I had our dentist appointments. It was Jacob's first time getting his teeth cleaned and checked. Guess who has a cavity that needs to get filled? Nope. Neither of the boys. Yep. The adult who brushes her teeth morning and night. Ugh......

After the dentist we went to the pool with Mattey, K, Kelsey, and Megan. Another great day for swimming. The boys sure are getting their exercise this summer and turning into little tan blondies. I love their little white butts! ;)

Lucas is getting so funny. He'll actually reach down and tug at his diaper and say "PU" after a poopy diaper and while he's going potty. A couple of times he has even said "PU" and pulled me into the bathroom and pointed to the toilet. Tonight he pulled Connor to the toilet, so Connor helped him on there. I don't know if it's just a couple of freak accidents or what....but we're going to go with it, encourage it, and celebrate it. Bring on the potty training (well, I don't know if going to actually focus on it, but we'll participate in whatever is going on right now!)
Tonight Connor kept telling him to "push" and then would grunt, so Lucas would grunt back. It was too comical. Jacob and Nolan were in the bath tub at the time so we were all in there and laughing at him and he just hammed it up like usual.

He is so proud of himself.

Connor Mommy date

Before school starts, I am spending a day with each of the boys individually where they get to decide what we do (within limits!) together. There isn't a ton of one on one time around our house of four boys.

Wednesday was Connor day.

Remember...they choose everything we do.

We started out with a little mini golf.

Then he chose to go have lunch at Culvers. After Culvers he wanted to go shopping to see if there was anything he wanted to buy with his own money. He bought a Bakugan (on sale even!). Then we came home and went for a LONG bike ride. We were both pretty tired after that. We took a break in the air conditioning and snuggled on the couch to watch a Pokemon.

Great choices buddy. I enjoyed every second and glad we got to spend some time together. I am so proud of who you are. I love you.

Happy 3rd Birthday Kelsey girl!

Today is Kelsey's 3rd Birthday! Woot Woot princess!

Yesterday Mattey and K has us over for Kelsey's birthday party.

Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids.

Mattey and K with their birthday girl.

The birthday girl with her Uncle Brian and I, Godparents.

It was a princess birthday party...imagine that!

The boys got a hold of the camera here and took a few pictures.

The kiddos playing one of Kelsey's new games.

Having a coin treasure hunt and playing Duck Duck Grey Duck (right Kristin??). Grandma was the trooper outside with the kids, it was HOT!

Happy 3rd birthday Kelsey girl! We love you and look forward to your many more birthdays!

Can’t get much better than swimming, food, and baseball with family

Saturday we hung out as a family. We did some stuff around the house in the morning and were kind of lazy. It was nice. Then we headed to the water park for the afternoon.

After the waterpark we went out to eat and then came home and watched Sandlot. I love this movie and the boys and Matt had never seen it before. It was a great day together.

Train rides, Horsey rides, and Getting soaked

Thursday while the older two were at VBS Nolan and Lucas and I went downtown to the 5 Days of Fun. Nolan enjoyed helping me pick out new school shoes for everyone (great quality for great prices) and then they got to ride the train, jump in the jumpy castle, and ride the horse.

Friday Jacob and Connor got to get soaked from the fire hose at VBS. They had a blast.

After VBS we met Grandma downtown for lunch. After lunch we stopped at the bookstore to get some books. Jacob and Nolan wanted this super hero comic book however Connor told Grandma that “the content wasn’t very appropriate for them” so they probably shouldn’t get it. Only you Connor! ;)

After Lucas took a nap the boys and I went to the country club pool. I made a bid (got a steal) on and won a pool membership there for the rest of the year at the Dancing with the Steele County Stars. We stayed until close. It was a fun night.