Memorial Day Weekend: Rained Out

Memorial Day is our unofficial start to summer.  I hope summer proves to be more tropical than this weekend was.  We spend most of the weekend looking out the windows in awe of the cold wind and rain, reading, and playing games.  My sister and future brother-in-law stayed with us and my parents and Grandma Iris came for a BBQ on Saturday afternoon.  

Grandma Iris, my dad, my sister, my 3 babies, and me.  Isn't my Grandma ageless?  (I have more gray hair AND wrinkles than she does!!)

My sister, Mother, and me.

My father and 3 silly children!

We went fishing between storms.

Ominous sky behind Audrey and Grant.

Auntie and Nora.

A very serious fisherman and his patient dog.

My lovely little sister.

Another serious fisherman.

The wind shifted and it got cold!  

Then the wind shifted again, the sun came out, and it got hot!

Audrey and a bass.

The bass were biting!

William with 'a fighter'!

William Graduates

William has completed 2 years of Preschool and is off to Kindergarten in the fall.  It has been an amazing and transformative 2 years in his little life.  He has learned so much!  

Preschool has been a positive experience for us.  We stumbled upon the most wonderful, nurturing, preschool; staffed by artistic, loving, patient teachers and a caring and fun pastor.  We love Little Lambs Preschool and the dedicated teachers and pastor that staff it!!!

 "Hi, Mom!" 

Waiting with Mrs. Jurvelin to do the official march.

 Commencement begins.

 Auntie Marjia and Baby Livia came to see William's big day.  Here Nora was loving on Marjia and Livia!

 William with his 'homeroom' teachers, Mrs. Beighley and Mrs. Dixon.

 William with Mrs. Derby and Mrs. Jurvelin.  

Audrey, William, and Pastor Gorshe.  

 A family shot of those in attendance.  Thanks for coming Mimi, Grandpa Jeff, Auntie Marjia, and Baby Livia!  

 Friends!  

My dear friend Kelly's boys, Will and Lucas (minus Baby Clark), and my 3.

Each child was presented with an award, specific to him or her.  This was so fun!  Some awards were The Outdoorsman, The Fashionista, and The Technologist.  William was awarded the Presidential Award, in recognition of "his educational growth, his desire to achieve greatness, his academic success and excellence."  

 We are so proud of our William.  He has grown by leaps and bounds, academically, socially, and physically.  We love you, William, and we are so excited for your next adventure!

Weekend in the City

We spent last weekend in Minneapolis.  The timing worked out perfectly for us to make the most of our time away--we had the date already set to spend the day with our dear friends, the Pumpers; my sister and Grant were wonderful hosts who gave up a rare free weekend to hang out with us; AND my cousin Susan had a baby in time for us to meet him!

We met Stacy, Jon, and Ava at the zoo.  Though we don't see the Pumpers as often as we would like, we seem to pick up right where we left off (both the kids and the adults!).

William, Nora, Ava, and Audrey riding the wolf!

A close-up of an alligator.

Who could resist another opportunity to pose with a wolf?

Ava and Audrey.  Ava is 6 weeks older than Audrey.  It never takes long for these girls to warm up to each other!

Aren't they cute?!

The Moms and Kids

All 3 of the kids love Jon!!!

 The Husband and kids in checking out the aquarium from below.

We can't wait to see you again, Stacy, Jon, and Ava!

Next, we got to meet day-old baby Mason.  William was excited to hold him!

Nora loves babies.  Look at Baby Mason's hair!  What a cutie!

Auntie, William, Husband, Nora, and Baby Mason!

On our way to dinner, William met a friendly police officer who offered to show us his car and let William check out his "machines."

Posing for a picture with Officer Scott.

Audrey catching a ride to dinner on Grant's shoulders.  

Giggly Nora and Grant.

The kids have been wanting to ride on a train for quite awhile.  Auntie made it happen!  We rode the Light-Rail to Minnehaha Park.

Audrey

Nora

William

The historic Minnehaha Princess Depot.

The building was locked, but we were able to look in the windows and see the building as it would have been years ago, complete with a ticket counter!

Grant was willing to act as a train for William on the original train tracks.

Audrey loves Grant.  

Thank you, Auntie and Grant, for sharing your life in the city with us and letting us stay with you.  We will be back soon!!!