What a day!

Today was a day filled with animals of all kinds.

Beyond the typical spiders & woodticks & june bugs,

you wouldn't believe what I saw out my living room window this afternoon!

A fox or coyote, we're not sure which, but we do know that

momma & her pups love having playdates in our backyard!

UNBELIEVABLE. 

Then the unthinkable happened......AHHHHHH

I was sitting on the couch watching tv 

while Luke was taking a paged call from the clinic.

When all of a sudden he crouched down & ran into the room whispering,

 "BAT!"

As he's giving medical advice to someone, 

he's also now panting & running into the living room & garage

to find a tennis racket!

Once he got off the call he couldn't stop laughing 

& I couldn't stop shaking

from the bat almost landing on my head as it swooped down when I 

RAN

for the boys' room!

A minute later I heard a big slap 

& Luke still laughing.

(He must have been thinking about the Great Outdoors 

& I was picturing him with a wastebasket on his head!).

But bless Jesus, he got the bat. 

This about sums up my day!

Exhausted from all these animals.

Goodnight. 

Memorial day weekend.

I love weekends like this past one.

We had absolutely no plans earlier in the week 

& somehow everyday filled up with lots of fun.

Friday-Luke & I sat in our new room (that I just LOVE) & watched "Argo" the movie.

It was so intense & so good, knowing that it's a true story.

You should really watch it if you haven't.

Saturday-we took off to visit the Olberding's for one last time in their house in Bloomington

& the next time we visit they will be a closer drive to Rockford.

While we visited, we went to Chutes & Ladders park & had a blast.

Luke even got in on the action!

I think he might have had too much fun on this spinning seat thingy.

And the kids & I (along with the dads too!) had a great time on this rolling slide. 

The slide gave you one heck of a vibration when you went down! 

Sunday-we invited some friendly neighbors over to catch frogs 

& have a grill out.  The boys always have a good time with the Browns.

Our house was filled with 6 little boys! 

 Marcus got right in the wetlands to help the boys go froggin!

Time for dessert.  We were all so excited because Molly made owl cupcakes! 

Monday- G & G Johnson stopped by with Gabe & the boys played all day.

Grandpa Wayne took us out for Pizza Ranch for supper too.

What a wonderful way to end the weekend!

Preschool picnic.

Every year Agape Christian Preschool 

has a picnic for the families.

And for some fun reason, 

all the preschoolers

just LOVE this day.

Adler & his pals run around like crazy

& then we eat some good picnic food.

The 3 stooges! (Tanner, Rafe, Adler)

Hanging on tight while Kendrick spins them round & round. 

Picnic lunch on the grass with Sigrid & Peter.

It was another wonderful year at Agape!

(And I will be back next year 

& the year after that,

one year off,

then back the next year

& the year after that!!!)

Brock.

I must share...

Brock & Adler are playing outside in this lovely weather

when Brock busts open the door & announces,

"I have to poop again, there's some more little turds, I can hear them!"

then proceeds to run to the bathroom.

I'm trying not to laugh & assuming that he means he's been tooting?

I can only hope.

Ohhh kids say the funniest things, especially my Brockster!

Adler's preschool graduation.

Adler is officially done with preschool.

What a great feeling to not have to drive him 3 days a week to school, 

but kind of sad that he's getting older.
Life goes on (and quickly at that).

Kindergarten here we come!

It always feels like your kids will stay little for longer,

then reality sets in & pretty soon we'll probably be so busy running

them all around to sports & school activities.

Ohh man, I better get myself ready for all of the craziness coming soon!

Adler walking into his graduation ceremony.

Adler actually sang & did the gestures to songs this year.

It was so nice to see him do more then just stand there (like last year!) 

Standing by his buddies...Tanner & Kyleigh.

 Getting his diploma from his teacher, Mrs. Gardas.

Mom & her graduate! 

All the boys getting VERY rowdy afterwards (like always).

The rest of us were trying to eat cake & chat

realizing we will not be seeing each other 3 days a week anymore. 

Adler will be going to school at Becker next year

& will attend kindergarten every other day (full days).

Brock will be starting preschool & he is quite excited about that.

They will both be going to school Tuesday's & Thursday's (& then every other Friday for Adler).

We're all going to enjoy our summer with no obligations

except the obligation to get to the beach as much as possible.

Spring days.

Our days have been filled with a lot more than just 

'working on the new room'.

It has been so nice to get out and chat with friends

& give some attention back to ours kids at night!

We called up some friends & they told us we should swing in to their house on the lake.

And we're so glad we did.  

Because look at what they set up in their backyard!

Here's Luke taking a stab at the 'jumping thing'.

 Then our daring one (Adler) decided he wanted to give it a shot.

Then he never got off!

 This past weekend we had friends over for supper.

We live in the same town and rarely get to see each other.

It's always funny how and why that happens, but it does!

They also brought us our latest favorite...Red Lobster biscuit mix!!!

Yes, it's true.  I think they buy it at Sam's Club & they taste just like (no kidding) the ones

at the restaurant.

I think I know what my dad is going to get for his birthday.

And we're enjoying the new room!

Doesn't get much better than that.

Reading some books in our new window seat.

The only thing left is to put the brick on the fireplace

and that is occuring right now. 

Here's Luke working on my favorite part of the room.

My pendant light!!!

It's spectacular.  Maybe even...unbelievable!

I love it. 

There she is in all her glory. 

And this is how she hangs.

Ohh to die for! 

My sister & nephew skipped a day of kindergarten & came to visit.

It was a morning full of swimming & birthday wishes to the new 7 year old, Gabe.

The boys picked out his gift...a bug catching net & a bug wrangler.

Then they had to stop playing for a moment to get a snack (of course).

Snacks, snacks, snacks.  

I think kids could just live off snacks (well mine anyway!). 

Someone didn't get a nap & later that day I found this on the couch! 

Reading books in the new living room.

Do we even have another living room???

Because I will always be in the new one! 

Grandma stopped by after work to play a little & read books too. 

We gave Vance a sippy cup

& he mastered it on the first try.

That's our parental sign that he's ready to be a big boy already!

Ohh man, where did the time go?

(I love only his one foot under the high chair! haha) 

Happy Spring...FINALLY! 

Let's get some summer weather coming now.

I need the heat!

Fun at the park.

Our friends little guy (Breck) had a birthday party at an indoor park.

It was fabulous!

The boys ran around like crazy & had so much fun.

There were so many areas to play in.

From the bounce house to the scooter & basketball area

to this HUGE climbing/sliding contraption! 

There was also a infant area perfect for Vance to crawl around. 

The crew watching the kids burn off some energy. 

The dads ran off to act like kids & play some bball.

 After playtime we went out to eat.

We sang birthday wishes to Breck, ate cupcakes, & the boys went home 

with a goodie bag (their favorite part!).

Thanks for a great morning of having fun & visiting with friends.