Class of 2023

Welcome Class of 2023. Wow - 2023 seems so far away...but if the past 10 years are any indicator, it will F.L.Y by! I know September will be hard for me when Ryan goes to kindergarten. I was wiping a stray tear tonight at orientation. Yeah, I am that Mom... He was so excited and had so much fun - I know he will love school!




I think he's really going to miss me when he goes to school...

You can just make out that grin through the bus window!

Coming back from the bus ride:

Happy Meal

The boys dug out the McDonald's Playdoh set today. That set has to be at least 7-8 years old. It was Kyle's when he was little (we have since replaced the dried out playdoh!) Ryan had a great time 'serving' us with chicken nuggets, shakes, fries, and hamburgers. Carter just played happily with his 'pancake sandwiches'. Kept them busy while I was working around the house, but man, what a mess to clean up when they are done!!!!

Baking

Jill, my daycare provider, gave us a starter for Amish Friendship bread almost 3 weeks ago. Since then, we have baked 18 loaves. I use the term 'we' loosely - I helped with the first 8 loaves, Mom baked the 10 loaves today on her own while I unpacked and did laundry after our weekend away. Thanks, Mom- you've made our house smell wonderful and our waistlines a little thicker - and we still love you for it! :)

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

We attended our neighborhood Easter egg hunt today for the first time. We have been out of town every weekend in year's past, so I was glad we could attend today. Our neighbor stuffed and hid 3,000 Easter eggs in the backyards of the neighbor's. The boys had a blast - their favorite was the tattoos in the Easter eggs!!!

Carter and the Bunny:

Lining up, waiting for the hunt to begin:

And they're off:

Carter looking for eggs:

Carter and Kyle with their loot:

Ryan and Grandma:

Everyone sitting down after the hunt, opening eggs:

Waterpark Weekend

18 of us piled down to the Waterpark in Owatonna for a fun filled weekend. Despite the wait to check in for some of us, we still had a great weekend (all truth be told - the 60% they gave us off of our rooms for the long wait helped!) The kids LOVED the slides and waterpark. I wish I would have counted how many times I went down the slides with the kids - it had to be well over 100 times. I looked at climbing those 44 steps every time as my workout for the weekend! :)

Ryan coming off the tube slide:

Loving life!!!

Ryan and Kyle in the double tube:

Noah (the birthday boy) and Kim:

Evan and Carter:

He wasn't sure at first if he wanted to go, but he loved it after the first time down:

Just look at that smile:

Check out Evan's face - they flipped - Carter never knew what happened, Evan kept him upright!

SAFE!

Olivia and Bella:

Lilly:

Henry:

Noah's 4th Birthday Party:

Kyle opening a few birthday gifts early:

Carter in front of the kiddie pool:

Bottom of the kiddie slide:

All smiles in the kiddie pool - it was crowded Saturday but very quiet Sunday morning:

Trying to learn how to float - he worked on kicking with a board on Saturday. He starts swimming lessons next week!!!

Can you tell how mad he was that we had to leave the waterpark???

Anniversary

Even though Evan and I will not celebrate our Anniversary until next weekend, I was given the 'nod' to pick myself up a few things at the camera store that have been on my wish list for ages. Probably doesn't look like standard Anniversary gift material to most, but I am thrilled. I purchased an external flash for my camera, a dome to deflect the flash, a set of the latest and greatest rechargable batteries with charger, and a backpack bag to carry all of my gear. I like to have one bag, with everything in it. And this bag has it, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. I have my SLR camera (the one I shoot with about 99.99% of the time, point and shoot camera, video camera, all sets of chargers, extra batteries, memory cards, lens caps, rain gear, manuals, etc. It is loaded...it is heavy...and I am excited to put it all to the test at the water park this weekend! FUN! :) Now...what do I get Evan for our Anniversary???? Any ideas?

Las Vegas Fun

Evan and I took in the sights of Las Vegas, Nevada for 6 days last week. We stayed at the newly remodeled Mirage Hotel on the strip. It was gorgeous and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. We couldn't have had better weather - 70s and sunshine all week long, Monday even topped 80* - perfect!

Remodeled room:

Entry:

Love the mirrored lights - I want one!!!

View from our hotel room:

Mirage pool area - so lush and gorgeous:

Evan taking in the pool scene on the afternoon we arrived:

Love the waterfalls:

Heading back up to our room when the pool closed on Friday:

Self portrait heading to the pool on Saturday morning:

Bridge between pool areas:

My drink of choice on vacation, pina colada:

Evan relaxing after a hard day on the golf course:

By the pool:

Heading to the cocktail reception on Sunday night:

Bare Pool VIP Lounge on Monday - best day there, weather-wise:

Gorgeous and pampering - what more could a girl want?

View from our daybed:

Andy and Evan relaxing in the sunshine:

Frozen fruit - better in concept that in reality:

Pool area filling up:

Jo and Tom dressed up for Beatles Night:

Andy had a few more cocktails than I had, obviously:

Non-conformists on Beatles Night:

All you need is LOVE:

Group at Awards Dinner:

Steve and Bette - our good friends from Maine:

One of the best desserts I've ever eaten:

Awards Dinner:

Self portrait on the way back from awards dinner:

Bellagio Light Show - simply amazing:

First song was Walking in the Rain:

Next song was God Bless the USA:

Strip at night:

Mirage Volcano Erupting:



Inside Mirage Hotel:

Mirage Aquarium - literally hundreds of fish inside, stretches the entire length of the counter:

Front of Mirage Hotel:

View from the Street:

Duck swimming peacefully in the midst of the Las Vegas strip:

I could listen to water running all day long - I love the Mirage's fountains and waterfalls:

Gorgeous:

The strip on a very quiet Thursday morning: