Governor Dodge State Park

One of our favorite things to do in the summer is to go to the state park and splash around in the lake. This year we have not been as often because the gnats are unbelievable this year! In the four years we have lived here I have hardly noticed a single gnat until this year- and now they are everywhere. I hate it. They are especially bad at the state park. Once you get down the hill and out of the grass into the sand, the gnats aren't as bad. Coming down the hill, though, you literally walk through clouds of them.




The day we went with Lauren I was actually more concerned about a horse fly that kept buzzing around the baby. After his nap, though, he was able to join us at the lake and leave the horse fly behind.

I love the rolls! It's the Michelin Tire Man!

A Sad Sad Day

On day one of Marley's visit here, she got dropped face first in my driveway. If these pictures don't break your heart you are dead inside.

Strawberry Picking 2011, With Lauren!

In June, my niece, Lauren, and her two beautiful babies came to visit. It was so great to get to spend two whole weeks with them. I got to cuddle and kiss babies and reconnect with Lauren. Her visit coincided with strawberry season, so one morning we packed up the crew and went strawberry picking. I always look forward to this, but this year I was a bit disappointed. The strawberries weren't that great. I could have gotten better ones at Costco for less money--without being out in the hot field. But then we wouldn't have these great memories. Plus I like to support the local farmer.







This year I only made freezer jam. My family prefers it over the canned- at least with strawberry.

I had a helper this year. He came to the show a bit late, but he helped me fill jars.


Our freezer is now stocked with strawberry jam. Next up- Raspberry!

Moments...

Parenting is sprinkled with moments. Moments when you want to tear your hair out, moments when you want to lock all your children in their rooms, and moments when you just want to run away. *BUT* it is also filled with moments of unfathomable love, moments of pure joy, moments when you just can't kiss your babies enough, moments when your heart is bursting with pride, and moments like this when you feel complete and utter contentment. I had been reading to the three youngest kids and I had to get up to answer the phone or something. When I came back in, Devon and Renie were taking turns reading aloud to Jesse and each other. They were happy and not fighting, thoroughly engrossed in the book. Definitely a sweet moment.

Zoo Trip

Last Friday Lincoln was able to accompany Renie's class on the kindergarten field trip to the zoo. I wasn't there, so I don't have any details, but here are some pictures from the trip.

Spring Soccer

Soccer season is almost over but I FINALLY remembered to take some pictures. During the fall season, Kennedy's team didn't win a single game. In fact, they didn't even score a single goal until the last game! This spring, with the same exact team, they are undefeated. What? And in last Saturday's game, she scored her first goal! Julia and Devon's teams having been doing very well also. Julia has one more game and I would be so happy for her if she scored her first goal!

The Latest at Chateau Tatro

Well, my friends, here we are, halfway through March, and life continues to fly by. By the end of this week, the snow should all be gone and the earth will be stretching and rubbing her sleepy eyes. Of course we'll get more snow, but that doesn't change the fact that the awakening is happening. Once again, daylight savings comes just in time to invigorate my weary soul. The days continue to lengthen and at the conclusion of yet another winter, I'm left wondering if I need to move somewhere warmer. And yet, at the same time, I also find myself thinking that the seasons pass so quickly, even the 5-6 month winter. Once again, I conclude that a sunny vacation in January might be all I need.
So as we rush through March, I am struck by the fact that things will just continue to speed up and get more hectic from here right on through the end of the school year. Kennedy is in the middle school's production of The Fierce Pirate Frank, (I actually can't quite remember the name of the play. But it's some thing like that), and will continue to have play practice leading up to the show in mid-April. Last week, we attended her Spring Pops Concert and I kept thinking, weren't we JUST here for the winter concert? And in other Kennedy news, spring soccer season begins soon. We'll be saying good-bye to our Saturdays once again.


On the Julia front, look soon for haircut pictures. Tomorrow she has a dentist appointment, and afterward she plans to get her hair cut very very short. Also this month, her dance and cheerleading class at Lands' End concluded with a recital. Julia is a really good dancer and I'd like to get her into a studio.


Devon started piano lessons last month. He has mixed feelings about it. Most of the time he's very excited about it, but if he's tired or grumpy he says he wants to quit. He's always excited afterward, though. On Friday we attended his music program at the school. I was happy to see a bit more enthusiasm from him this time. He actually sang and did the motions. He's really come a long way!


My little Renie lost her first tooth! I can't believe it! Unfortunately, she apparently swallowed it. It went the way of the grilled cheese sandwich she had for dinner. Luckily, the Tooth Fairy took pity on her after reading her sweet note, so she still received compensation.


And the other big news of the month is that Jesse learned how to write his name. I know that it isn't really that impressive that a four year old can write his name. What IS impressive, I think, is that he figured it out all on his own. No one has ever sat down with him and showed him how to make the letters. He just suddenly could do it. He first wrote it in the dirt on the side of my car. (See? I keep my car filthy for educational purposes!) I was very amazed and impressed, so I challenged him to write it with a marker when he went to his preschool class. Sure enough, he was able to do it. (I talked to his teachers and they tell me that they haven't done it with him either.) My smart little baby.


So that's the latest. This week I'll be hosting a baby shower at my home and making the cake for the shower. I'm really excited to make the cake and decorations. Fun stuff! Pictures from the event will probably go up on my other blog, Pieces of Molly.

Goodbye, February

I figured that since the last time I posted on this blog was the first of the month, it might be fun to round out February with one last post. This is just my little way of celebrating the end of what is always a trying month. Spring is truly around the corner now. I need warm sunshine on my face, no doubt.

So what happened in February that might be of interest to you? Well, for starters, I did two cake orders and received another order for April. I hope this is the beginning of a side business. At this point I'm really still learning and discovering what I can do, but getting an order here and there is lots of fun. It keeps me motivated to keep developing my skills and learning new techniques.



Also in February, Devon turned seven.




He is growing up so quickly. He continues to be bright and funny and organized. We implemented "Special Nights" this month. Each child gets an evening once a week where they get to stay up half an hour after the other kids and spend time with Mom and Dad. They get to choose the activity (it has to be at home, free, and able to be completed in the 1/2 hour time slot) with Mom and Dad holding veto power (no Monopoly). For Devon's special night last week, we spent half the time moving a set of drawers into his room and organizing and cleaning up. Lincoln thought he was crazy to use his special time for that, and maybe a little too much like his mother. Devon loves Legos and is currently on an Indiana Jones kick. Which is why he requested this birthday cake.


Renie, and the rest of the kindergarten, had their mid-winter program. It's always a treat to watch kindergartners sing and dance.



We held our annual Valentine's Party on February 11th. We kept with the format of desserts and a poetry contest. It is so much fun to hear the poems that everyone comes up with each year. I also had a lot of fun making these pom-poms for decorations this year.




On the last Saturday in February, Lincoln took the Young Men from church to Madison for a basketball tournament. They won one game, which was their goal. It was the first time a team from our branch had ever won a game in a Stake Tournament. Lincoln really enjoyed coaching the boys and I'd love to see him with a regular coaching gig. He's really good at it and derives a lot of joy from it.

That same Saturday Julia had her dance/cheerleading recital. She's been taking a class at Lands End and continues to love dancing.


We also had parent teacher conferences this month. We got great reports on all the kids and I'll spare you the details, other than to say I was so pleased to hear how well Julia is doing. When we first moved here, her teacher was concerned about her reading level. They put her in a special reading group and kept a close eye on her progress in first grade. Fast forward to fourth grade and she's a top reader in her class. Her test scores- in all areas- are well above the average. She seems a bit more motivated lately, (maybe because of the monetary incentive we give our kids. But does it really matter what motivates her if it encourages her to be more responsible and make the extra effort to keep her grades up?), and this helps her to be a bit more organized and responsible.

February is pretty busy around here, but I like it that way. It keeps me distracted and helps the month to fly by so we can get on to March and springtime.