Memorial Weekend Camping

We went on our annual Memorial Day camping trip to Springfield. As always, the kids seemed to have the time of their lives! This is a favorite weekend for everyone. Unfortunately this year we had a rain day, but it didn't seem to bother any of the kids. They still played outside for most of the day, in and out of campers, running with cousins.

Mornings waking up in the camper, I love them.

There was lots of bike riding! This is the first year the boys could ride and keep up with the big kids and they loved every mile they rode!

We brought some board games for those rainy times, but Harlow and I enjoyed them outside by the fire too.

Cousins Kevin, Liz and baby Evianna brought a sand/water table that was a hit with all the younger kids! Harlow played in that thing for hours, literally! HOURS!

What would camping be without electronics though, right?

She was walking on the logs and was so proud of herself until......

She fell smack on her butt. I love the face she made!

I can't say enough wonderful things about Morgan. She is amazing with our kids, especially Harlow. I said we should've paid her for how well and how much she took care of Harlow.

And Declyn, well he's the boys' idol. They look up to him and want to do everything he does. Even go out and chop wood! Hudson got his very own mini-saw and went right to work with Declyn.

This boy, he is a lover of his Grandma's. He holds them dear to his heart, forms a special bond. He tried so hard to stay awake as long as Grandma Sharon at night so he could sleep with her, and he sure was good at buttering her up when he'd ask for more money to treats and snacks!

Thank you for all you do for us on this camping trip Grandma Sharon! We love making the memories!

Track and Field

Hudson had his first and only track and field meet last weekend. It was a 2 week program with several practices that finished off with a meet. Hudson didn't ever admit that he really, really liked it, but I think he did. With sports, I have yet to find something that Hudson "really, really likes". He's usually indifferent, or just plain doesn't like it. But I've told him I'd like him to try everything and if he decides it's not for him then he doesn't have to do it again. But I do feel track and field is one of his favorites, and something he can say he is "good" at. He's a fast runner, maybe it has something to do with his tongue hanging out the entire time he's running? Ha! Seriously, the thing never goes back into his mouth! At this meet, he got 2nd place in the 200 meter dash, which almost took him out! He was out of breath at the finish line, poor little thing couldn't even talk! He got 3rd place in the 50 meter dash and long jump, and a 5th place in the softball throw (but if you ask him he got 4th place, and we'll just let him believe that). He was proud of his 2nd and 3rd place ribbons, not so much of the 5th place/participation ribbon. But I reminded him that participation meant that he tried his best at something that isn't easy for him. And that green (participation color) is his mom's favorite color!

He had some of his best buddies competing with him, Landon and Owen.

We're proud of those ribbons! Proud that he tried his best and had fun doing it. Honestly, with this boy, the fact that he enjoyed it and had fun in a sport means so much more than any ribbon could!

Mother's Day

With clouds and rain looming over Mother's Day, we didn't make any big plans. Didn't really matter as long as I spent the day with my mom and my three kids. And it turned out to be a pretty great day, starting off with breakfast in bed served by Jamie.  

My mom and I went to a movie matinee. Movie dates are pretty much our favorite thing to do so I called her in the morning with a last minute invite to a movie we had both wanted to see, Age of Adeline. Everyday I am so thankful to have a best friend in my mom. 

Came home to some snuggles with this little girl, who I hope thinks of me as her best friend in 20 years. 

We all went to eat and came home to a little surprise for my mom, I ordered a mock angel food cake, her favorite. Even though we were stuffed, we all managed to fill our bellies to the brim with some cake. And what great holiday doesn't end with cake, right?! Notice the shoe filled with flowers...a gift made for me by Hudson at school, with a note saying "Nobody can fill your shoes". So sweet. 

I love these four special people in my life that make Mother's Day a day we get to celebrate. 

prom

Hunter went to prom a couple weeks ago and SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL!

Harlow wanted Brandon to hold her :)

Hudson gave her this "H" he decorated. He does the sweetest things and has such a giving heart....most of the time. 

no training wheels!

Paxton had been complaining about riding his bike so far this Spring, saying he gets tired or his legs hurt, so he usually opts to ride in the trailer with Harlow. So it was a little out of the blue a couple weeks ago when he asked to ride his bike without training wheels. Jamie took them off, and it literally took him 5 minutes and he was riding no problem. And SO EXCITED!! And everyday since then, he begs to ride his bike, and always says, "Can I ride my bike without training wheels in the church parking lot today?" Full sentence, every time. He loves it, and he's confident.

Good job buddy!!! We're proud of you! 

North Park

We hit up the new park a couple weeks ago. It became a quick favorite of all of the kids. With a very high "spider web" climby thingy (not the technical name!) and a zip line thingy (again, not sure what the name is), they love this park!

Another grandmother that was at the park watched Harlow get ready to walk across this, and kindly came to get me and said, "I'm not sure if she's yours, but she's up there by herself and I think she's going to go across." I could tell she was just concerned, but I assured her that this girl, who is mine, will be perfectly fine walking across the very thin bar about 6 feet in the air. And she was......

Even turned herself around midway so I could take a picture. After watching her for a few more minutes, that same grandmother said, "You were right, she can do everything!" She sure can!

But this zip line is the reason this park is #1! 

Papa's Birthday

On April 22nd, we wished Papa/Grandpa a very happy birthday!! His birthday happened to fall on a Wednesday, so lucky him, Aunt Sheri made supper and Hudson and I picked up a Dairy Queen cake for dessert. We love you Papa/Grandpa/Dad!!

FROZEN!!

With every other young child in Minnesota it seems, we hit up Frozen on Ice a couple weeks ago. The day had finally arrived, after Grandma purchased the tickets almost a year ago! The kids were very excited, especially Harlow! Although, when she heard we were also staying at a hotel, I think she would've been just fine skipping any and all other activities....until.....we got to Frozen and Mickey and Minnie came out onto the ice......

She was in awe. She waved and yelled, "Hi Mickey, Hi Minnie!!" I teared up immediately. The boys have been to many Disney shows, they were more into how things were made, what was real and not real, parts of the movie that were missed, and how many snacks they could eat. 

And at the hotel, they spent every second possible in the pool. Harlow was brave and kicked herself all over the pool with this floatie. We thought it was the hotel's floatie (Because other Hampton Inn's do supply toys to play with, but after about an hour, a mommy and daughter came in and asked for it back. Come on Maddi, get your hotel with it and supply some pool toys!) We let the boys pick the activity for the day and Hudson was insistent on going to Sea Life. He even picked that over the rides at Nickelodeon Universe. Us adults don't find Sea Life to be that interesting anymore, but the boys still love it. This was Grandma's first trip so she was a little more amused too.

It was a great weekend, and in the end, they all got eaten by a shark! 

easter

So Easter came and went a few weeks ago- better late than never for a brief update. As usual the kids were excited to get downstairs Easter morning and find what the bunny had left them. Right now, the minions from Despicable Me (both the naughty ones and nice) are a big hit in our house, so the boys got stuffed animals, underwear, socks, lunch box, wallet, and shirts all with those characters on. Harlow got a book, Minnie Mouse matching game, flip flops, a new tea set, and her most favorite thing of all- playdoh. Grandma and Grandpa came with a truck full of presents, the biggest being brand new bikes for each of them! Lucky kids these three! They had 2 more egg hunts, one at home and one at Uncle Lon and Vicky's. Not to mention more presents from their godparents. We have candy overflowing in the house, literally!  

egg dyeing

Like the tradition in most families, we dyed Easter eggs again this year. Three partially naked kids say at the kitchen table, Hudson with rubber gloves on (no surprise there!) and colored the eggs to their hearts delight. They dropped, plopped, stirred, and glittered. 

The following day we went to Grandma Sharon's to celebrate Easter and dyed more eggs. Aunt Lori tried a new technique- shaving cream and food coloring. The kids got to dive in with their hands and get messy, so obviously it was a big hit!