Nibbling cake & ripping paper
Happy 1st birthday to our sweet Little Miss!
Tag: family
1st Day of School 2011
The boys are going to preschool in the afternoon this year. Nolan will go every day and Lincoln on Mondays & Wednesdays. I’m still trying to get my head around what that is going to be like. My house has been full of noise and hustle & bustle for so many years that it really will be strange to have complete quiet for 2 1/2 hours, 2 days a week. (Little miss will be napping while her brothers are at school.)
Our day began with our 1st day of school breakfast…orange rolls & scrambled eggs. I’m not sure what Lincoln is doing here in the photo…
After eating, we had a few last minute (seriously, last minute) things to accomplish before the 1pm preschool start. First stop was CVS for 1 hour prints to complete the boys’ “Spotlight on me” sheets. While our photos were being processed, we began the great backpack search. Lincoln requested a Transformers backpack. We looked for one last week only to find that the entire backpack wall display at Target was empty. I couldn’t believe it. Completely bare. That’ll teach me to leave backpack shopping until the week before class starts.) This morning, Toys R Us came to the rescue. We walked in and there it was…the last Bumblebee Transformers backpack. And it was clearance priced! For once, it payed to procrastinate. With backpack in hand, we spent time wandering the store (to kill time before our photo pick-up.) The boys had fun going up and down the aisles and trying out the toy displays. We could have stayed in the train aisle all morning.
We picked up our 4 pictures and headed home for lunch. Then, with full bellies, we put on new school shoes and went outside for the “1st day” pictures on the steps.
I love these guys so much! They make me laugh multiple times every day.
Lincoln wanted to pose next to Ingrid before we loaded into the truck.
We arrived at school and took one more “1st” picture. It’s going to be a great year!
P.S. Look how much these two have grown from last year’s 1st day!
Watching cars go by
Jake took the boys to see the annual Antique Car Run that finishes at a park near our house. They brought their chairs, bucket hats, and road trip books to pass the time until the cars came. Looks like they also picked up a few refreshments to keep themselves hydrated while they waited. 🙂
Future employees
After dropping off some of our windows at Settergren Hardware (to be re-glazed,) Nolan asked me: “Mommy, when I get older, can I work for Uncle Mark at the hardware store?” Lincoln chimed in, “I want to work for Uncle Mark, too!”
Happy 5th birthday, Nolan!
Dear Nolan,
Wow, 5 years! I can’t believe how fast time has gone. I suppose I may say that with each passing year, but it’s the truth every time. You have grown so much this year I can hardly believe it. You continue to grow in confidence and compassion and are such a funny and loving young boy. I am amazed at how much you absorb throughout the day and am grateful to be able to experience life through your eyes. I am so thankful to be your mother.
Today we began the day in the best way possible, thanking God for the gift of you at mass. When word got out afterward that it was your birthday, you proudly told people that you were now 5! And you held up your fingers to prove it 🙂 We stopped to pick up donuts (which has become a bit of a Sunday tradition) and a cappuccino (for me) and brought them home to share. Then I got started with frosting your cake. This year, I asked if you wanted a caterpillar cake (like the one we saw in a magazine) and you said yes. While I was frosting the cake, Daddy went to the garage to get your present ready. The look on your face when you saw your new red bike in the garage pure joy! Lincoln helped you check out every detail of it and you hopped on to check out the size. I think you have a great summer in store!
Our family & friends arrived around 2:30 for cake and ice cream. After singing to you, we dug in to the tasty caterpillar and then you went outside with Lincoln and our friend, I. A little while later, you asked if everyone could come outside to watch you open your presents. You did a great job sharing your new things. Your uncles helped you break in your new bat, glove & baseball and you also played a round of croquet with Nana.
I pray you always share that wonderful smile and welcoming personality with the world. Your Daddy & I love you very much and look forward to seeing what God has in store for you this coming year.
XOXO
Mommy
Ingrid’s 1st trip to FL
My baby girl and I had our first girls’ weekend in FL. We had an early flight out on Friday morning and spent the weekend with Lois & Kathi. They have been patiently waiting to meet our little miss. This past weekend was extra special because Lois celebrated her 96th birthday on Saturday. I’m so happy we were able to be with her on her special day. She has known me since I was 4 days old and has loved me like a granddaughter. I am so thankful for her!
No trip to the Sunshine State would be complete without a trip to the beach. Ingrid wasn’t too fond of the water or the sand. I’m sure that will change in time. It was a wonderful weekend spent with fantastic ladies! I can’t wait to do it again!
Goodbye Joe
Saturday morning we got ready for the funeral and again, had the boys stay home with a babysitter. The funeral was a beautiful good-bye to Uncle Joe. My brother, cousin Kerri and I were asked to read the readings during the mass and we were also pall bearers along with Jake, Jared & Kyla, and Josh & Jordan.
After we returned from the cemetery, the church ladies provided us with a wonderful luncheon. We were able to visit with many of our extended relatives, many of whom we had not seen for several years. “Why is it that we only get together at weddings and funerals?” was a question that was asked many times over.
Jake and Jared brought the boys to the church after we were finished eating so we could introduce them to family members who had only seen them in pictures. At that point we also selected a few items of Joe’s to remember him by.
After a long & emotional morning/afternoon, we returned to Jared & Kyla’s for the evening. We had dinner and sat around the table reminiscing and looking at photos.
Uncle Joe ended up having the last laugh tonight. My cousin, Josh, had brought home a humidifier box (after the encouragement of my mom). When he opened it at home that night, he had to drive back to Jared & Kyla’s to show us what he had found. Apparently my mom had used the box to send Joe a care package for his birthday back in what we think must have been 2004! The birthday card and treats inside the box were never opened! Little Debbie cakes were hard as rocks and Hershey Kisses exploded while Hershey Miniatures disintegrated. From what we can figure, Uncle Joe must have thought he was getting a humidifier for his birthday and didn’t even bother to open the box. So funny & yet, not surprising 🙂
Weekend trip to SD
We traveled to SD this weekend to lay my Uncle Joe to rest. It was a sad reason to get together with family, but at the same time, good to be with family. The kids and I rode with my dad (my mom had gone down earlier in the week and Jake and Tony drove together after work.) All 3 kids did quite well in the car. The boys were entertained for a while by good ‘ol Cars. Thank you Pixar.
Once we arrived at my cousin’s house, we had dinner, changed and went to the prayer service for my uncle at the church. Jared & Kyla found a sitter to watch all 4 boys so we could attend the service undistracted. When Kyla and I arrived home, we found the boys here:
They remained up until about 11:30. WWWWWAAAAYYYY past bedtime, but they were having so much fun with each other, how could we put them to bed???
Happy 3rd birthday Lincoln!
Dear Lincoln,
I thought I’d write you a recap letter detailing today’s events. I can’t believe you are 3 years old today. As I sit here typing, I’m looking at a picture of you and your big brother when he visited us in the hospital after your birth. You look so tiny! Yet, I can see in your eyes, it’s you! You have become such a fun, independent, inquisitive & loving boy. I thank God for the gift you are in my life!
The day started off much like it did on the Easter Sunday you were born – we woke up to wet, heavy snow. You, Nolan & I had breakfast in our pj’s and gobbled up purple waffles – your request. After getting dressed, we had planned on going to the Children’s Museum, but the snow and slop made the roads extra messy (and dangerous,) so we decided to save that adventure for another day. You didn’t seem to mind since you had a chance to play with a few of the birthday presents you opened in the morning.
For lunch, you asked for “Taco Bells,” so you and Daddy (who took the day off from work) picked up tacos and nachos for us. After lunch, you, Nolan & Daddy went to pick up your cake – Buzz Lightyear was what you asked for this year. I briefly considered making your cake again this year, but decided to let the ladies at the bakery make it for you this go-around. You fell asleep in the car on the way home, so Daddy laid you down for a birthday nap – probably a good idea since you ended up being up past your bed time yet again tonight.
Our family and friends came over for cake and ice cream at about 6:30. We sang “Happy Birthday” to you and your eyes just beamed! I think you enjoyed being the center of attention today 🙂 After cake, you politely asked if you could open your presents, and had so much fun doing so. You received many wonderful, sweet well-wishes & gifts from your grandparents, aunts, uncles & friends.
You are loved by so many wonderful people, Lincoln. Never forget that. And in the words of your great-grandma Fran, God loves you, and so do I!
XOXO
Mommy
Surprise visit!
I looked out the front window this morning and saw a strange truck & trailer parked on the opposite side of the street from our driveway. I strained my eyes to see who was driving and got confused when a man stepped out. He pulled out a baby gift bag and instantly it came to me…my Uncle Ron!
I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was driving home from doing a kitchen installation (he’s a woodworker) and stopped to surprise us on his way by. He spent 5 hours at our house – holding Ingrid, talking to the boys. It was great! I don’t often get a chance to talk one-on-one with him in such a relaxed setting. Our conversations generally take place at holiday gatherings, so we don’t get to really catch up. I was so thankful for his visit today – he made my week!
