Happy Birthday Dede!

 

We hope you have a great day!

Happy Golden Birthday Connor!

Last sleep as an eight year old.   You still sleep with your eyes partly open.  It kind of freaks me out. ;)

 

Walking through the gold streamers. 

 

Connor started the morning with opening a few of his presents and then we went to church.  He is saving up for an iPod touch, so we’ll see if he gets it or not.  ;) What a great way to start off the day, thanking God for such a blessing in our lives.

 

    

 

He got to choose what we did for his day and it was opening football Sunday so he wanted to hang out and watch the Vikings.  He chose to go out for supper at BWs.

We came home and had some ice cream for dessert.

 

Here is what Connor says his favorites are right now:
Color: Red
Number: 18
Sport: Football
Game: Monopoly
Book: Harry Potter Series
Show: Dragons Riders of Berk .
Song: Breathing
Wii/iPad game: Minecraft
Food: Pizza
Drink: Lemonade
Hobby: Legos
Animal: Eagle
Candy: Nerds
Friends: Noah, Jackson, Dominic

Favorite memory from your year as a 8 year old: First Holy Communion, Playing real baseball finally, Wisconsin Dells and Duluth

 

It is hard to believe that you are 9 years old Connor (well, that time has gone by that fast at least…it feels like you’ve been 9 for awhile now just because you are so grown up).  I love you so much and try to tell you that as much as I can.  I hope you know how proud of you I am, truly proud of the kid you are.  You have a great sense of humor, a huge caring heart, an inquisitive mind, and zest for life.  I am proud of the goals you make and conquer.  I don’t think I was setting goals and going for them at your age.   I am proud of the things you try even if you are a little nervous about them.  You push yourself to do better all the time.  I am amazed at what you all do, think about, and figure out as only a 9 year old.  Your faith is so refreshing as well.  I love talking about God with you and watching you grow into a Christian all on your own.  I am loving reading Harry Potter with you and then watching the movies.  I get a kick out of listening to you and daddy talking sports all the time.  It has been fun watching you get more competitive and intense about sports (in a good way).  I know we expect a lot out of you sometimes, but it’s hard when you keep on living up to those expectations.  You are an amazing brother (of course there are times….;) ), and your brothers look up to you in so many ways.  I look forward to all that you have to offer the world, and what it has in store for you.  It’s gonna be good. Love you bud.

Random Stories Ironically all about Nolan

We watched the movie We Bought a Zoo the other night, and for the next couple of days and evenings Nolan was obsessed about us having a zoo and how cool it would be.  We have some pretty funny conversations.

Nolan’s teacher Mrs. L. came into my room one day after school, and shame on me, but my first reaction is always “oh oh”.  She was smiling and told me that Nolan is just hilarious and so much fun to have in class.  It made my day and I told her I was so so happy and appreciated that she could see that in him.  He is.  He is so much fun and has this infectious smile and laugh…when he is happy and making good choices the kid is hilarious and full of life.  It’s so great and a relief that he is doing well in school.  Thank you Mrs. L. for recognizing that quality in him.

One afternoon at school during my prep Nolan came strolling by and peeked in my room with this huge smile and big wave.  I stopped him and gave him a big hug and said, “Whatcha up to?”.  He told me he was getting a drink.  Ha.  He was on the opposite end of the building on a completely different floor.  I’m not sure if he was just exploring or if he made the jaunt because he wanted to come see me.  I took his hand and we had a nice little talk while we strolled back down to his hallway.  We talked about how I absolutely LOVE being able to see him, but it’s probably a good idea to get a drink from the drinking fountain right outside of his classroom. ;)

One more Nolan story for you.  Matt had to work late one night and it had been a long day, so the boys and I went out to eat.  The last thing I wanted to do was make dinner.  Nolan was so excited about half a walnut and rock that he found at daycare.  I suggested to him that he keep them in the van while we went in to eat so they didn’t get lost.   He was determined that he needed to bring them in.  We had a great dinner, the boys were good, and our bellies were full.  We got out to the van and Nolan quickly remembers that he left his walnut and rock on the table.  He and Connor headed back in to look for them.  Not much time went by and they were back out and Nolan opened the van door and burst into tears.  He said our table was already cleared.  I started by telling him of course that I told him he should have kept them in the van and I could not understand what the big deal was.  I asked him why the items were so special to him.  He told me because the walnut had a heart in it and he wanted to give it to me.  Ahhhh….. I couldn’t just leave now.  I parked the car and made my way back into the restaurant.  I asked our waitress if she happened to see a walnut and rock at our table when she was cleaning up.  She said yes, but that everything was already in the bin.  This nice waiter came over to help and happened to take a peek in the bin, and there on one of our plates was the walnut.  It wasn’t in a gross mess or anything.  They looked at me kind of funny for making such a big deal about a walnut, but then I showed them the heart and they all thought it was pretty cute.  I brought it out to Nolan and his face automatically beamed.  He said, “I want you to keep it mommy because you can always remember that I love you.”  How do you not melt to that?!  It was very sweet and I will keep the walnut in a very special place and look at it often to keep my cool with this kid and remember the good in times of near blow up! ;)

Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

 

You guys are such a great example!  Thank you for everything you do for us.  Your relationship, how important family is to you, your faith, your support, your unselfishness, all of it……such a true testament to what life is supposed to be all about. 

 

Here’s to many many more!

First Day of School

The time has come.

Here is our 3rd grader, 1st grader, Kindergartner, and daycare preschooler.

 

 

Lucas insisted on being included by making sure he got to pick out his own new shirt and shoes just like his brothers picked their own out.  Mary does school at daycare and she is going to include him this year.  I am so excited to see how he does (she said he sat through the whole thing the first two days- unbelievable).  He is young yet, but LOVES to be like the big boys…and loves to learn and is so inquisitive.  He also had to bring his backpack.

 

 

   

 

 

The boys love their teachers already.  Nolan didn’t even want to wait for me to walk him down to his class, he wanted to go by himself.  I can’t complain about that.  However, I did have to follow him to get his picture.:) 

Happy First week of school!

Last weekend of summer

We had to go out with a bang.

Friday night we went up to Sky Zone in Plymouth.  There are a few of them in the cities and this was our first time at it.  The boys had a blast and it was hard to get them out after our hour was up.

  

 

  

After Sky Zone we went out to eat at Old Chicago and sat out in the patio.  It was a beautiful evening.

 

Saturday morning mom and the boys and I headed up to Chutes and Ladder park in Bloomington. If you haven’t been there before and you live in this area, you have to check it out.  It is awesome….and the best part….it’s free.  It is a huge area with about 6 different play areas.  It’s part of the Three Rivers Parks in the Hyland Lake Park Reserve.  You also have options for swimming at the beach and renting canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats.  There are a ton of picnic tables and little areas.

 

     

 

Noley was such a great helper with Lucas.  He always tries to help him, but often gets over shadowed by the older two and today it was awesome to see just the two of them have some time.  Nolan totally played the big brother, and played it well.

     

 

Just chillin’ with my grandma, she’s so cool!

 

Saturday night we had our friends the Hodgeman’s over.  They have 3 kids that all match up grade levels with our three older boys and they get a long great.  Noah and Connor are inseparable (though this year they are in different classes so that will be interesting).  It was also Noah’s birthday.

 

Sunday after church the men had their fantasy outing where they go golfing, have a nice steak dinner, and then head to an alternating place to have their fantasy football draft.  Mom, Kristin and the girls, and the boys and I went to the park and had a pizza picnic.  The boys had been begging to go back to Mineral Springs Park so that they can catch crayfish and tadpoles and lucky for them it was also where Kelsey wanted to go.  They played at the park, played hide and seek, and yes…went in the river.  The boys caught 21 tadpoles but I would only let them bring four home – one for each of them.  I figured it’s a good science lesson to watch them go through their cycle.  We have quite the zoo at our house now with our tadpoles and hermit crabs!  Aye Aye.  What’s next?

 

   

 

 

This evening we had our fancy Back to School dinner.  We had salad and Matt grilled steak and chicken kabobs, potatoes, asparagus, and then spoiled us by making malts for dessert. 

Cheers to a great school year!  I can’t believe it’s here and not sure if I am ready yet, but am so excited to see what it brings for these little men of mine!