Memorial weekend.

We didn't have plans for Memorial Weekend,

but that quickly changed & we ended up

having a visit by family & a party with some friends from town.

Mom came to 'fix' my bridesmaid dress so that it would fit for the wedding!
And dad came to saw down a tree.
It was a big day for the boys to play with grandpa & their cousin Gabe all afternoon.

On Sunday we had some friends over from town.

I met the 'moms' from preschool

and between the 3 families we each have 3 boys (NO girls!).

It should be a fun summer spending time with all the boys

while school is out and fun for me to spend time with

the moms (since they only work part time).

Next time we get together there will be 9 boys to us 3 moms!

Lord help us.

Bridal Shower.

We held a bridal shower & bachelorette party

for Katie (soon to be Mrs. Aleckson!).

It was a great afternoon to spend with lots of friends,

but because I'm SO pregnant I had to miss out on the fun

bachelorette festivities that followed the shower.

Peter & Katie's wedding is June 2nd

(a week before our little guy should arrive)

so I hope I can fulfill my duties as a bridesmaid.

I'm going to look like a whale, but I'll be there!

The bride & I.

Preschool.

Adler completed his 1st year of preschool.

Every Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00-11:30

he would spend time with Mrs. John & Mrs. Holli

learning shapes, letters, social skills

& everything inbetween.

He loved school & met some great friends.

We too also met a few parents that we now spend time with.

Adler still continues to avoid dancing & singing

and all that 'silly stuff'.

He is a shy guy, but school has helped him be more social

& allowed him to spend some time away from his mom & brother!

We had a end of the year picnic & the kids were wild

showing off all their playground skills to all of us parents.

Ohh they're too funny!

The boys told Mrs. John to sit by them during the picnic!



The boys.

Brock trying to dribble the ball like dad!

(I think he's going to be a bball player....he loves shooting hoops).

Typical 'pee break' at our house.

I just hope no one drives by when this occurs!

Adler was quite impressed with himself after building a BIG tower!

Having fun with our splash pad.

The water was absolutely freezing,

but they didn't seem to mind!

Enjoying some Schwan's ice cream treats

after a long day of playing.

Typical choice...

Luke-orange push-up

Brock-ice cream sandwich

Adler-orange push-up

Myself-chocolate push-up

& any other day we scarf down popsicles!

Adler & Brock caught a little bug recently.

But poor Brock got hit hard.

He was out for 3 days or more.

Here's Livy sleeping with Brock on the couch.

She just loves her boys!



Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is such a special day.

It's a day you wait for all year

to see what your kids will make you,

what they will say to you,

& all the hugs & kisses!

(We started the day by calling our mothers and wishing them a happy day

since I was spending the day with just my boys).

Luke helped the boys make Mother's Day cards

& when I woke up they were so excited to bring their cards to me.

Adler also made me a book mark with his picture on it.

I heard many I love you's & spent the day having fun.

We took the boys to the park

&

ate at Pizza Ranch (my idea!). 

Mother to these two handsome boys

(and the little one in my tummy!)

Having fun at Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove.

(It's neverending & unbelieveably amazing!  You must go sometime.) 

And a bonus...the Pizza Ranch buffet didn't cost us a fortune

like all the other 'brunch' eateries out there.

That's why we love you Ranch!

Later that evening on Mother's Day

our two neighbor girls stopped by to give me this...

It was SO sweet of them!

8 years.

We celebrated our 8th Anniversary on May 8!

I can't believe it's been 8 years already,

but so much has happened

throughout that time

(that is sometimes also seems forever ago).

8 years ago...

I was just starting my career as a nursing home administrator,

I just moved to Le Mars, Iowa (love that town.),

I just bought a house,

& Luke & I got married!

And as soon as we were married he started

more schooling at Des Moines University to become a PA.

So our first 2 years of marriage consisted of a long distance marriage.

We were crazy!

But if you know you want to spend the rest of your life together,

why wait?!

On our anniversary Luke & I went out to eat at Rockwoods in Otsego

(and we ate for free! haha groupon deals & deal chicken deals combined, made for a free meal

& it was excellent!).

Luke also gave me the BEST gifts.

He brought home roses &

I told him of the softest, practical robe I saw at Anthropologie

but could NEVER spend the $ for it.

Well he did & I wear it every morning & night.

I love it.

And I LOVE HIM!

Happy 8 years to us.

Little ones.

I invited my best friends over for a little playdate last week

& it was so good to just sit, chat, & snuggle the newest little ones.

While the older ones just ran around & played the whole time.

It was wonderful!



Daddy time.

Luke has been spending his extra time finishing up

the last few to-do's before baby arrives.

For the plan is to relax and enjoy

our new little bundle when he arrives

and not worry about getting anything done.

As always, whatever daddy is working on,

the boys are too!

Fixing the snowblower before packing it away in the shed.

Running through the sprinkler

that is supposed to be watering our latest sod addition. 

Just about every night the boys ask dad to play sports.

Which ranges from soccer, to squirt guns, to baseball, & basketball

& everything else that's in our big sports bucket.

Luke & I take turns reading the boys their bedtime stories

& last night they had a mini picnic on their blankets with cereal

& several new books from the library!

The library has a great reading program going on & based on the # of books that

the boys read they get to pick prizes from a treasure chest.

Their latest picks were pink disney princess containers & matching pencils!!! haha

It was a clear sign to me that we've been watching too many disney movies lately.

On a good note....it was the first time ever that I didn't wake up

in the middle of the night

to use the bathroom (since the beginning of my pregnancy)!

WOW!

What a great night!!! hahaha