Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Cousin Week with Audrey

We got to have Audrey come stay with us this Spring for a week.  We love this special time to get to have her all to ourselves.  Having one more kid in tow is not anymore work for me, and I love to be able to do this for Mark and April because I know how hard it is to get away without kids.
Rob traveled part of the week so we didn't do anything super extra fun, but she got to tag along with our normal stuff.  We did have an extra couple appointments, and I had been waiting to get into Wolfe Eye Clinic for 5 months, so she did get to see the nice kids play area in several waiting rooms.

 Audrey was always good to me, bring me coffee in the morning. 
 French Toast was a hit
 Four kids in the van
 We stood in line for free Jimmy Johns on customer appreciation day.  I am not sure I would do that again, four kids in tow or not.
 Audrey loved doing Emily's hair
 Play area at Wolfe Eye Clinc
 We we couldn't find Audrey in the house for a minute or so, we always found her in Em's room having cookies and tea with Emily and Mya doll
 It is a big celebration to get her to eat veggies.  We showed her how to get the peas out of the sugar snap pea pod and she ate so many.  Win
 We went to the park, a lot
 Spagetti was also a hit
 Cuddles with Grandpa Dallas
 Talking with Uncle Robert about the General Lee
 She went with us to package Meals for the Heartland at our church.  We sent off over 114,000 meals to Haiti this particular Sunday.  Audrey liked the truck best.
 We also hit up Reiman Gardens, twice, because the tulips are only at their peak for a week and they are my favorite, and I can't seem to get enough.
 One of our first "hot" days we made shaved ice, and topped it with gatorade
 Cuddles with Dallas
 More hugs with Uncle Rob
And at least one photo with me

Noelle Rose loves to Dance!




Noelle was in dance this Spring.  She was invited to be in with the older girls as the instructors told me she knew all the skills in the class she usually takes.  They also told me the older class has less kids typically, so she would have a lower teacher to student ration.  Well that was false! This was a big class, but Noelle did well.  There was another 5 year that joined her in the class and they held their own.  Her class focused on tap and ballet skills but then performed a jazz routine.  Which only meant we had to get another pair of shoes! She really does love it.  She often goes up front to dance at Orbit (youth church) and knows the moves and doesn't mind one bit to be on the stage.  Now to decided if we keep going the cheaper route of Ames Park and Rec lessons or step it up a notch and head out into the wide world of ballet studios!

Also, photo creds to my lovely friend Beth Hinson.  I will have to Beth or Christy (my dear friends with awesome cameras) to put a kid in with Noelle!

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Busy May

 We kicked off May, with delivering May Day baskets (in the rain for the third year in a row) The kids love this.  
 Noelle got to have this sweet friend over most Tuesday afternoons this Spring.  They happened to be dressed very similarly.  Ironically Britta was wearing a 5/6 Small tee and Noelle was still squeezed into her 4t.
 We went to a retirement/birthday party celebration for one of the Homeschool teachers in our HSAP.  We took a picture at the party to give her along with a message.
 Noelle showing off her new tooth gap, although her adult teeth are already there waiting!
 Dallas showing off his new haircut
 I love trampoline season!
 God bless resturanuts that give wikisticks to play with.  I find them much more engaging than colors and a kids menu!
 We went to a friends military retirement cereamony.  It was really moving, thanks for serving John!
 The cousins striking a superhero pose at Charley's 6th birthday party
 Emily's final Spring piano recital
 In progress photo of painting the garage white in hopes that it will be much brighter in there.
 Siblings enjoying a dinner together
 Picking out a couple flowers for Mother's Day
 Anyone notice anything new on the Chevelle?
 Robert got to have lunch with our great friend Jeff while he was laid-over in Des Moines
 My birthday dinner at Fong's Pizza in Ankeny.  I got a hammock as requested!

Ahhh, the Chevelle is home for the summer and seems to enjoy its newly painted digs.