Summer: Rewind

It always happens. Life gets busy and blogging disappears. Several months later we have so much to share! The end of summer proved to be packed with fun activities, trips, and birthdays. Now, fall has come and we're back to school and the same exciting activities pack our weekends.

- we celebrated Harper's 4th birthday! She continues to grow and carry her spunk with her. Brett was out of town so the kids and I made a day of it. We went for donuts, Chuck E. Cheese, and Chinese for lunch...all at her request. 
- Riley went to tennis camp again this summer. She enjoys going, but her interest seems to be dying down.
- Riley and Harper went to swim lessons again this summer. They both love being in the water and are gaining confidence with their skills.
- We went to Spirit Lake to celebrate Riley's birthday. She requested a boat ride and so we rented a pontoon for the day. We had fun trolling around the lake, swimming, snacking,  and fishing. Like always the lake is a favorite summer trip.
- Brett and I got away to Florida for a few days of relaxation. We had a couple days of rain and gloom, but it was nice to get away just the two of us.
- I was able to get away to Texas for a Young Living convention with two of my best friends. It was fun to get away and learn some new information.
- We lost my Grandpa Melvin in August. It was a tough few months as we watched him battle pancreatic cancer. He was a fighter and I like to remember that even in his last days he did something he enjoyed, playing the slots at Prairie Meadows.
- Harp continued with gymnastics. She really loves it!

- Cole started wearing big boy undies. He was the easiest one to train. We literally put him underwear and that was that. He trained in one day and had the stomach flu while he was at it. 
- Riley joined a U8 softball team, WAC Black. She enjoys it, but doesn't love it. She has made some new friends and has really improved her skills. She continued playing through the fall and will pick back up in the spring.

Gymnastics

Harp finished up her first year of gymnastics! She loves the sport and has so much fun in class. Things we learned:
- She loves the trampoline and jumping.
- She is easily distracted by the other gymnasts and had a hard time paying attention.
- She is a daredevil and loves to jump and swing in the pit.

Her teacher, Miss Kim, would often shake her head and smile up at me during class.

At the end of the year Miss Kim signed Harp's certificate saying she has great skills and improved her listening skills!

Last Day of Kindergarten

Riley is officially a first grader! She was so excited for the last day of school, but was so sad when she got off the bus. In her own words, she couldn't even say goodbye to Jim (her bus driver) because she was crying a little. For the next hour, while the rest of the neighborhood was celebrating, Ri was inside crying. She was going to miss her teacher and friends and she didn't want to be a first grader! She has since recovered and is enjoying summer! We are so proud of the little student and friend she became this year!

Brava 2015

Riley had a great time participating in Brava this year. She met a bunch of new girls, learned some new songs, memorized some lines in a skit, and put on a great performance at the end of the year!

Preschool Graduation!

Harper graduated 3 year old preschool in May! She was super excited to go to school and sing her songs. When the time came to perform, she stood still and made uncomfortable faces! It was both adorable and cringeworthy. We are so proud of how well she did in school this year.

April 2015: In Rewind

Things are really flying by with all of our spring activities! In April, Riley started softball and soccer (in addition to Brava). Harper had gymnastics every Friday. We planted our vegetable garden. This year we have tomatoes, banana peppers, jalapenos, peas, green beans, green onions, asparagus, strawberries, and cucumbers. We bought a bike trailer and Brett took the kids for a ride. We flew kites on a beautiful Sunday night. Harper and Cole planted a butterfly garden in the back yard. I chaperoned Riley's field trip to the Science Center. Brett played his first of several planned golf tournaments. Cole and I joined Harper at the Waukee library for her field trip. Riley is officially on the count down to the end of the year. Less than 3 weeks left. Harp has two weeks left! Cole had two molars come in. Wow! So much going on and so much to look forward to over the next few months!

Cole Carlson: 2 Years, 4 Months

Cole buddy is growing so fast! Here is what he's been up to:

*He is a lover, but definitely has a temper. He loves everyone, unless you take one of his toys or try to get him dressed...or change his diaper.
* He gives the best hugs. Full embrace around the neck, usually with a kiss. 💋
* He is a sports enthusiast, unless we are watching one of Riley's games. He loves hockey and golf the most. Really he loves anything he can swing or throw.
* he still struggles with eczema on his legs. We can't seem to get did of it completely. He also was recently diagnosed with seasonal allergies.
* He weighed in at 23 pounds, fully clothed, at his last doctor appointment. He is a pipsqueak, but he makes up for it in personality.
* He is so energetic! I swear he talks with exclamation points. !!!! My favorite line is: Yeah, Sure! This is his answer for most things.
* he is still wearing a size 5/6 shoe. He is in size 2t clothes. Since we have had a few warm days he has worn some of last summer's shorts (including a size 9-12 month shorts).
* He loves lip gloss. We can thank Harper for this.
* He also has a love for gum. He will usually spit it out when he's done, but I'm sure he's swallowed his fair share of gum.
* His number one request: Candy!! Number 2: popcorn!!

Easter 2015

We had a great time celebrating Easter this year. The kids were spoiled with dying eggs twice, 3 egg hunts, and 4 Easter baskets. Lots of candy and fun!! Something new this year was a neighborhood egg hunt. A new neighbor organized the hunt with 4,000 eggs at our neighborhood park! The kids had a blast!