work and play

 We spent Memorial Day weekend working on our house...trying to spiff it up a bit. We hope to list it in the next couple weeks...and like I said, there are some little things to get done first!

G & G Barber came on Saturday morning...chain saw in hand...and down went the dead pine tree next our garage. The yard looks very different...but I love it. Once the tree was down, Josh and his dad dug out all the stones by the garage, washed them, and re-laid them in a nice path...the edging, plants, and cedar chips were my work.

I was on an edging and cedar chip roll...I think we may have bought Lowes out of cedar chips. :)

This is along the back of our house...edging and cedar chips done by Megan...dead grass done by Josh. :)

Memorial Day was Jack's 2nd birthday, so we headed over to DeWild's house for a little party. Again...Will was a big cheese when I pulled out the camera. This is his smile...although it kind of looks like he is crying as well. Oh well! :)

The birthday boy! These 2 are good buds...and SO much fun to watch play together. :)

Today was our first stay-home, summer day...just Keatin, Will, and Mom. :) We spent ALL morning playing at 2 different parks...and then we headed home for lunch. I was making lunch...and Keatin and Will were unusually quiet. I found them in my bathroom, taking all my feminie products out of the cupboard and putting them into the various makeup bags I have. I just kind of stood there in shock...and Keatin announced - "Mom, we are trick or treating!" Oh my. :)

last days

Yesterday was Keatin's last day of 3 year old preschool at St. Cecilia's. She has had a wonderful year of school, has learned so much, and more importantly - has LOVED every one of her "preschool days." I begged Josh to take a picture of Keatin with her teacher, Mrs. Handsaker...he did, but later told me he was the only dad taking pictures. :) But so glad he did - the joy on Keatin's face says it all.

Yesterday was also my last day at school...my last day at West Marshall... Starting in August, I will be one of the elementary counselors at Anderson Elementary in Bondurant. (For those of you who don't know, Bondurant is a small town just east of Ankeny.) This is a new journey for me, both professionally and personally. And yesterday was very bittersweet...so bittersweet. I was okay at school, leaving school...I cried last night at home. I am not just leaving a school...I am leaving a family. But, on the other hand, I am SO excited for this new chapter in our lives...which involves trying to list/sell our house in Ames and move to the DM area. We will see what the next couple weeks brings!

just the girls

As Keatin would say..."just the girls" went and got pedicures this afternoon.
I loved it...she loved it...life is good. :)

happy belated mother's day

Happy belated mother's day to all the mom's I know - I truly hope you had a wonderful day, honoring the wonderful people you are. :)

Here are my cuties with their Great-Grandma Heeren on Mother's Day...I didn't even get a picture of myself with my kiddos - oh well, this is a good one!

{sunny saturday afternoon}

Most of the weekend was overcast and rainy...but Saturday afternoon was gorgeous...and we took advantage of it! I filled up our baby pool while the kids were sleeping and after Keatin and Will woke up from their naps, into the pool we went! They both enjoyed playing in the water...and it was just so nice to be outside enjoying the warm weather! Yeah for more days like Saturday...summer will be here soon!

After Will realized it was better to sit in the pool then try to walk around in it, he was a happy boy. :)

Keatin spent most of her time "planting and watering sunflowers" (her words). :)

Will also wanted to "help" mommy water flowers.

Below are 2 picture of the kids sharing and getting along...it doesn't always happen this way, so thought I better capture it on camera. :)

So cute...chubby boy and saggy diaper. :)

And the new "toy" of the weekend...a scooter I got for Keatin at a garage sale for $3. She basically had no idea how to make it work at first, but by Saturday evening...she was a pro! All weekend, she asked to go outside and ride her scooter!

Happy Monday - only 11 days of school left here...crazy!

josh...

...has a nice cellphone.
Mine is going on 3 years, maybe 4 years old.
I guess when you have a fancy phone, you get to take nice pictures.
These pictures showed up in my e-mail inbox...thanks to Josh's phone. :)

(OK - seriously???) :)

Cy-Ride Field Trip

On Thursday morning, I was able to go with Keatin and her preschool class on their spring field trip...a Cy-Ride bus tour around Ames! :) Basically, we rode around on one of the big Cy-Ride buses, saw a few sights in Ames, and even drove the bus through the "bus wash" at the Cy-Ride garage. The bus driver taught the kids to yell "bus stop" every time they saw a Cy-Ride bus stop sign...and Keatin has been yelling it around town ever since! She had a great time and I loved being able to go with her...1st time I have been able to take her to school all year!

Caleb, our field trip partner, and Keatin...getting ready to head out to the bus.

On the bus...a happy girl...

Back at school - we had a great time!

cheese

Our Will is not quiet by any means...he is just a man of few real words.

However, I think we can say he knows the word "cheese." :) It comes out a bit more like "eeez" - but hey, I'll take it!

The other night, he was strutting his "eeez" - kept coming in front of the camera, wanting his picture taken. Love them...snotty nose and all. :)

And, as a side note, it is Teacher Appreciation Week...and I attempted to get all creative with Keatin's gifts for her teachers. I don't think the gifts turned out too shabby!