A Weekend full of Pictures!

Our Memorial weekend has been busy, fun, and memorable.

Thanks to my parents and my cousin Katie (AKA #1 babysitter), Aron and I were able to escape Detroit (and our kids) and spend two nights in Grand Rapids for a friend's wedding. We stayed downtown at the JW Marriott and enjoyed EVERY minute of our alone time! We walked around downtown, hung out with old friends, and relaxed!

Enjoying our night without kids!

We left Grand Rapids and headed north to celebrate the holiday with my family. My brother, Keith, and his girlfriend, Mary, hosted a FABULOUSLY FUN day at his property near West Branch. The kids had a ball swimming (I forgot to pack swim suits), learning to play croquet, riding the golf cart, tractor, and quad, and fishing! Keith's property is always a wonderful place to go and rejuvenate. We hated to leave!!!

I forgot to pack swim suits, but the kids still managed to go swimming.

Sloane would only let Katie take her for a ride on Keith's golf cart.

What would we do without cousins?!?!

My dad and Aron tried to teach Russell the rules of croquet.

Russell seemed to like his own rules better...he is a LOT like his Uncle Keith!
Today we joined our neighbors at the annual Royal Oak Memorial Day parade. The kids love to watch the bands, trucks, and soldiers march down Main Street. We came home and stuffed our bellies with hot dogs and chips!

The Countdown is On!!!

I can not believe I only have 16 1/2 more "wake-ups" until summer vacation! Every year goes by faster and faster. Overall, my year has been a great one! I will miss my students, but am SO EXCITED to have more time with my own kids all summer.

We spent this past weekend with my parents. I had a bridal shower to attend so we trekked up north for some R&R with Grammy and Papa :-) The kids were of course spoiled by the awesome playroom in my parents' basement and I was spoiled by having two more sets of hands (and eyes) keeping up with them! We hated to leave, but are thrilled to be headed north again for Memorial Weekend at my brother's.

Grammy bought the kids new, motorized tooth brushes. They were a HIT! The kids brushed their teeth at least 4 times between dinner and bedtime on Friday night. This picture shows them brushing in the tub...their teeth must be clean after this weekend!

Sloane insisted on having Grammy polish her finger nails after watching Grammy finish her own. Sloane sat so still as each nail was painted. She was so proud and held her hands so delicately while blowing on them afterward.

While Sloane was upstairs getting beautified, Russell was downstairs building log cabins with Papa. It was fun watching him use the same Lincoln Logs that Keith and I once used!

Russell was so cute "reading" books to Sloane. He told her, "Come sit on my lap Sloanie. I will read to you just like Papa."

After a fun evening playing at the park today, we walked home just in time to catch the ice cream truck driving down our street. Russell chose a Spiderman flavor ice and Sloane chose a Dora one. Yum!

Mothers' Day

We have had a wonderful relaxing day at our home. I was a little worried about Sloane when she woke up with a 103 temperature this morning, but between Tylenol and Motrin I think she is pulling through. On the bright side...I woke up to fresh bagels for breakfast, a full vase of roses on the table, and a brand new lap top computer that is ALL MINE!!! Yeah!!! The kids and I had fun playing games on it this morning and I am having a blast getting it all set up. I can't believe I am saying this, but I am actually excited to start typing my thesis!?!? Am I crazy?!?! I spent all day Saturday in Grand Rapids for a grad school researching class. It was actually extremely productive and has me itching to get working. Prior to class, I met up with some old sorority sisters. We had a great time catching up and reminiscing. After class, I raced home just in time for a Cinco De Mayo party at Jorge and Jen's. The kids had a blast! Russell was so tuckered out that he slept until 9:00 this morning! I have no pictures to post today, but wanted to share a poem that was presented at our daycare's annual Mothers' Day Celebration. I also wanted to say HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY to my mom...I love you so much!!! And to my mother-in-law, grandmothers, aunts, and friends!!! Thank you and I love you all!!!

Dear Lord, its such a hectic day,

With little time to stop and pray.

Life's been anything but calm,

since you called me to be a mom.

Running errands, matching socks,

Building dreams with wooden blocks.

Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes,

And other stuff that children lose.

Fitting lids on bottled bugs,

Wiping tears and giving hugs.

A stack of last week's mail to read--

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet, when I take a moment, Lord,

Just at the sink or ironing board;

To ask the blessing of Your grace,

I see then, in my small one's face;

That you have blessed me all the while,

And I stoop to kiss that precious smile.

A Beautiful Weekend!

I have been stressed lately and overwhelmed with all there is to do at work and home. It is my busy time at work with trying to close up the school year and meet all the goals I have set for myself and my students. I also decided to take on a home bound teaching position in which I go to a child's home and teach after school hours. This particular child is too ill to attend school so I teach him in his home 4 hours a week. I am really enjoying this challenge, but it does mean I am away from my own children that much more. I also just began the last stretch of my Master's degree through GVSU. I began this process way back in 2000, but between moving and having children, grad school was put on the back burner. So...I will be writing my thesis this spring as well as taking an additional class this summer. Beginning June 22nd I will be traveling to Grand Rapids two times a week to attend class. The positive side is that I will see a lot of my old GR pals while there!!! Sooooo...I desperately needed a nice relaxing weekend at home with my family! Friday night we had popcorn and sat around watching our favorite PBS cartoons :-) Saturday we met friends for a picnic at the park. The kids had a ball racing around with their friends and showing off their imaginations, but unfortunately the wind picked up and we were forced to take the picnic back to our house. We didn't want to be catching flying napkins all afternoon. We ended Saturday with a walk to DQ and as Sloane would say, "nummy, nummy, nummy"! Today was absolutely GORGEOUS! We have played outdoors most of the day and Aron grilled up the BEST burgers for dinner! It sounds like most of our weekend revolved around food. Good thing I fit two jogs and a killer yoga session into my weekend! I'm off to take the kids to the park (again) before bath time!

Sloane, Russell, and Antonio playing on the horse wagon. Sloane and Alejandro enjoying the double slide together.

Sloane was cracking me up this morning. She lined up all the sippy cup lids and counted them over and over and over again...