Packer Sunday in May

While I was hosting a mini birthday party for my friend Wendi.....




I asked my parents to take the kids to a softball game: the La Crosse Firefighters vs. The Green Bay Packers. I think we all had a good time (except for Travis who was hard at work at the hospital).

Kya today

Apparently I liked stripes today; oh yes, and some lip gloss. Did you notice I was wearing lip "gloss?" Mom thought gloss was just supposed to make your lips "shinier."



Do you think I had fun at Kyra's birthday party?



Too bad this photo was blurry.

What do you think Kya will look like for the Fancy Nancy party at Barnes and Noble on Tuesday? The instructions said to wear your "fanciest outfit." One can only wonder how that will be interpreted. Oh, don't worry, there will be pictures.

The Informance

Travis and I were SO very impressed with SOTA's end of the year drama and music performance. I had to keep reminding myself that these were only ELEMENTARY students. The amount of preparation and coordination that went into this production was astounding and it looked effortless. I am so thankful for my children to have the opportunity to go to this school. It was very clear that the students learn in so many different ways and have FUN while learning interactively with ALL of the students in the school, not just their classmates. The SOTA students also exhibited an unmatched confidence in themselves and in performing in front of an audience at such a young age. Travis and I were very proud and Kya is very excited to be a part of the performances-she had to wear a costume to the production just in case they needed a little help or someone didn't show up, she was prepared to stand in if necessary.

Happy "Muther's" Day!

This has been the best Mother's Day yet! I have been showered with gifts since Tuesday....a teal beverage dispenser, a rainbow purse (made out of paper and tape-maybe not the most durable), flowers, flowers and more flowers and cards. Therin went so far as to put the tape on my gift in X's and O's. This is what he wrote about me:
"My Mom is a cool Mom. My Mom is a kind Mom. My Mom is a fast Mom. My Mom is a traveling Mom."




My husband has not lost his ability to cook after an almost 3 year hiatus:


Now I don't have to go to NY to eat biminbop!! Yum!!


The house before dinner on Saturday with the Larsons:



As the dishwasher and washer are running, brownies are baking, and the bathroom floor is drying from a good scrubbing, I feel priviledged to do all of these mundane tasks for my family because this is how I show them I love them and without them I would have nothing to celebrate. Happy Mother's Day to all you hard working Moms!!

Prepared for battle

The neighbor Chuck is turning an old dresser into a vanity. Chuck asked Therin if he wanted the wood circle he cut out to accomodate the sink and Therin excitedly said, "Thanks! That's just what I need!!!" and ran away. After several hours of coloring the wood to look like a Turtle shell, Therin and Dad added a spike and a handle. Therin then returned to show Chuck the finished product.

The Coke vs. Pepsi debate

Sorry to get the kids involved, but Mary this one's for you..........


I had the kids put on sunscreen and hats yesterday; Dad didn't take note of my suggestions and has quite a "tan."

Spring: Whoopie pies, lilacs and braids

My first attempt at whoopie pies. They were more jumbo sized but SO good!! Rasberry lemon whoopie pies: recipe from Everyday Food.


Mmmmmmmm. Couldn't they last just a little bit longer......


Apparently I am running a kids salon on the side........




Life is good!

A birthday and bunk beds

My sister, Ashley, came to visit last weekend and Friday was her birthday. It was good to see her but sad too. I've had the luxury of meeting her at the cottage, for holidays or one of us occasionally traveling to visit the other but in another month she'll graduate from medical school and then she'll move to Boise, ID. A VERY long drive from La Crosse. Ashley generously agreed to bring the bottom portion of the bunk beds I had from college and somehow managed to get them in a Tahoe all by her lonesome (and still had room for her dog and it's crate). Anyway, we appreciated the effort and Travis went to work. The kids have SO much space in their room now-it's awesome! I tried to provide Ashley with plenty of good food in celebration of her birthday and for traveling to visit us (with the bed in tow). Sunday afternoon the kids, Ashley and I went bowling-Ashley creamed the rest of us the first game but Therin, who was very proud, won the second.


Kya was quite surprised and disappointed by the number of gifts Ashley got for her birthday. She kept saying, "Only one!?!" I told her we were cheap. Maybe I should have spelled her gifts out in dollar amounts and it might make more sense.