GO LAKEVILLE!

For the second year in a row, Katelin participated in the Lakeville North Homecoming Cheerleading Camp. Kids K-5 get to spend 3 hours with the cheerleaders learning cheers and eating pizza.  Then the get to cheer on the sidelines during the Homecoming game! Katelin and her friend Briana participated last year and had such a great time she wanted to do it again. While I don’t think cheering is in her future, I do know she had a blast and felt pretty important out on the field. What a fun time for the girls! GO Lakeville!

The Great Outdoors!

The kids and I enjoyed the weather this weekend by spending some time with Grandma Sharon at the Arboretum. I hadn’t been there since I was young and now I wish it was something we did more often.  It was beautiful and peaceful (despite it being super busy) and a great way to spend quality time with the family.  (We sure wish Brian could have joined us but hopefully next time.)  The kids LOVED it!  ALL of them!
There was a scarecrow exhibit that we all enjoyed. Annie was a little skeptical at first and wouldn’t stand too close to them to get a picture but she eventually warmed up. Here are a few of the girl’ favorites.

 

The first photo…Annie wouldn’t stand next to the scarecrow!

 

My favorite!

 

Annie’s favorite!

 

Kate’s favorite which is surprising because we can’t even say the word Witch in our house.  We call it “the W”!

 

We spent the majority of the day walking the paths and enjoying the beautiful fall colors. James loved when we let him out of stroller to roam free! Next time we are going to go stroller free so we can off-road it more! We also had a nice picnic lunch.

 

On our peaceful, adventurous walk!

 

Of course Annie couldn’t walk the whole way!

 

 

The maze we thought would be fun to take the kids into.  Never did we think that little man could run so fast and get away from us! Yikes!

 

Of all the pictures, this is my favorite! My three precious, precious kiddos. I am truly blessed!

What a great way to enjoy one of the last beautiful fall weekends! We all decided that we have to explore nature more often!

Glamour Shots!

The girls had picture day and by the way they were dressed you might have thought they were going to a Glamour Shots appointment! It didn’t surprise me in the least that they picked sparkly, bright attire. While last year I might have insisted that they wear something from The Gap, I have learned to love their individuality and am letting them be more “creative” with their clothing selections.  I still try to influence and persuade when I can but I have a feeling those days are going to be coming to an end sooner than I would like.  I do miss my “Gap Girls” but the smile on their faces when they can pick their own clothes is pretty priceless!  I thought these pics were pretty cute.  I wonder what their actual class photos will look like!

First Day Fun!

The first day of school came and went.  In fact, the first two weeks of school came and went.  It has been an adjustment getting back into a routine (especially getting up at 6am every morning again) but good for all of us. The girls LOVE school which makes the days so much better. Annie was so excited and proud of herself to start Kindergarten.  Her face was radiating with joy waiting to get on the bus for the first time.  Katelin was a great big sister and was telling Annie what to expect.  My favorite is when she told her that the bus was total chaos and really noisy!
James started daycare again too and adjusted really well to the change. There were some pretty big tears when Brian dropped him off but he stopped before he was even out of the parking lot. The next day I dropped him off and the whole way to school he was saying “No Momma, No!” He did NOT want to go back. But the teachers assure us that while he may put on a show for us, he has great days, plays with his friends and has a lot of fun!  (What a stinker making us feel sad!)
While we of course took lots and lots of pictures to commemorate the day, here are a few of my favorites!

First day breakfast!

Kate and James’ first day.  Annie had orientation!

My First Grader and Kindergartner! So Proud!

Modeling her new book bag from Justice!

Annie sitting at her desk on orientation day.

You think she is excited?

The girls with their friends.  Looks like blue and pink are the hot colors for fall!

Annie getting off the bus at school!

Annie and her bud waiting in line to go in!

Annual State Fair Fun

The State Fair is an event that the whole family looks forward to every year.  At the beginning of summer, the girls are already asking when they get to go to the fair! This was was the first year we took a day off of work and went during the week.  It was a HOT day so luckily it wasn’t too crowded.  This is definitely the way to go and I am pretty sure we will make this our annual tradition going forward.
We did all the usual things…food, barns, food, skyway ride, food, walking, big slide and more food!!  Brian got his favorite mashed potatoes on a stick (they are delish!!), I tried some oven fired pizza from Blue Moon which is now a new favorite plus I had to have my old favorite The Fudge Puppy!  The kids never eat as much as we do. They stuck to hot dogs, pickles and shared a corn. Much fun was had by everyone and sadly we have to now wait another year before we can do it all over again! (Next year we will try to not lock us out of the house before we leave and not to get a parking ticket!)
Oh, and yes Brian and I had our annual date night this year.  BIG bummer that Pinball on a Stick is no longer there but there were still three machines for us to play.  What a romantic date huh!

James pointing at the silly roosters.  He was hilarious in the barns!

Kate was by far the bravest when it came to touching any animals.

Watching a butter carving contest.  Not very exciting!

Gotta get a family shot!

PICKLES, their favorite!

Annie mastered the flip on the tramp this year!

Kate having fun too! She is a pro at the back flip but didn’t master the front flip yet.  Maybe next year!

Like Father, Like Son! Loving the fries with vinegar!

All the kiddos posing for a pic!

The Big Slide…a LOVE of everyone!!! To bad it costs $10 for our family to go one time!

Can’t wait for next year!