AHHH Summer

I love summer vacation. I love getting the break from work, I love spending time with my favorite people, and I love being outside. I will admit that this time of year I physically feel exhausted daily as I work so hard at getting Laura and Sam to expend their energy that it does the same for me. I will admit that my to-do lists rarely get looked at and it's a good day if I get a brush through my hair. Nevertheless, I love summer break and the pictures below are my evidence why I feel this way.

We like to spend our mornings at the Saylorville Beach

Often times, we're the only ones there. 

Pretty clear water for an Iowa lake. 

Sam's an animal on his train bike. 

We look like castaways

Long Grove Strawberry Festival. I love this picture!

Laura got 2nd place in her division of the 1/4 mile race. She later told me she thinks she was speedy because of all the practice running she got when the boys would chase her at preschool. :-/

Sam was distracted by two fire engines during the race and finished last. We'll keep working, Sam. 

Laura assisting Eric while landscaping. 

We had to put on training wheels on Sam's bike as he couldn't figure out how to brake. He was eager to take them off again once he got the hang of it. 

Laura and Aunt Liz strike a pose as they play princess. 

Grandma and Sam working away on the workbench. 

Make your own pizza!

Say "cheese" Sam. 

Tractors and Mother's Day

We spent Saturday morning at John Deere's Drive and Ride event. A free family event for people in the market for a John Deere tractor. We're not in the market for a tractor, but we're always looking for something free to do with the kids.

For Mother's Day Laura made me a beautiful necklace and we went swimming at the Waukee YMCA. Our daycare provider, Dana, asked Laura some questions about me and I will treasure her answers forever.

My mom is 33 years old

She likes to go to the pool

The best thing she cooks is yummy meat in tacos

Her favorite food is Daddy's best noodles

Her favorite thing to do to relax is have me rub her back

We like to go on dates together

She is really good at stretching

As you can see, my mom is special because she is from GG and Papa. 

Determination

Laura learned to ride her bike without training wheels on Sunday!

 Sam could hardly stand watching Laura do something he couldn't do. If you look close enough, you can see him bawling in the background...

Determination, grit, stubbornness, and fearlessness all came forth and by Tuesday Sam learned how to ride a bike without training wheels too. High Trestle Trail, here we come!

Easteriffic

We had fabulous Easter weekends with the Schulz family (last weekend) and the Green family this weekend. Eric and I went to a fancy schmancy wedding in Chicago last weekend. All I can say is that I'm glad Eric and I were one of the first couples to get married in our circle of friends. I swear each wedding we attend the bar keeps getting set higher and higher! I want to remind our friends and relatives that we served Gardetto's for our wedding food appetizer in 2005 and I didn't give it a second thought.
Our time in Glen Ellyn was fun, but way too short. Auntie Em and Liz babysat Sam and Laura so Grandma, Grandpa, Eric, and I could attend the wedding that rivaled Barbie and Ken's. Sam and Laura were spoiled by their personal shopper, Grandma, whose love language is clearly gifts.  Laura was on cloud 9 when she realized Grandma bought her a polka dot bikini! She's been asking about getting a bikini ever since the pond party last summer when cousin Maisie was sporting her two-piece.

Speaking of Maisie, we got to celebrate Maisie's sixth birthday this weekend with a hotel swimming party and Easter at our house with the Greens. Laura thinks Maisie hung the moon which reminds me of how I always admired Maisie's mom. Maisie is a little reading machine and it was fun to listen to Maisie read aloud and see the intent look on Laura's face as she was trying to unlock the code.

The weather was absolutely perfect for drinking Strawberry Pina Coladas on the deck while the kids ran laps around the pond. It was one of the moments in time that made me want to hit the pause button or at least slow motion.

A reading teacher's dream come true!

Sam loves his GG!

New Swing Set and Camera Class

We broke down and bought a swing set for the yard. Although we live across the street from the park, we wanted to have something for the kids to do while we landscape and do other projects this spring and summer. I also attended a photography class so I was able to practice some of my photography tricks while the kids played on the new set. Enjoy.

Sam's in the experimenting with his smile phase. Boy, I love this little man to bits.

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In other news, Sam had an allergic reaction to his antibiotic he was taking for an ear infection. I haven't figured out how to use photo shop yet so hives and dried snot are visible in some of the pictures.