2015 Week Twenty-One | May 18 - May 24

The beginning of this week was spent celebrating my grandfather at his visitation and funeral, and the rest of the week flew by just as fast, as it was the last week of school. Memorial day weekend means the start of summer, and we celebrated by going to the zoo.

The night we returned from Grandpa's funeral, Annaliese snuggled with her pink princess zebra for bedtime. I'm not sure if she did this consciously or not, as Grandpa had won the zebra at BINGO and given it to her as a gift. 

Last day of second grade. How do I have a third grader already!

Our first day of summer vacation was rain filled, but that only lasted Saturday...

Sunday the weather was perfect for the zoo. First stop is ALWAYS the aquarium. Annaliese and this puffin were checking each other out. 

Checking out the sea stars, crab, urchins, and other sea dwellers in the touch tank. 

It was her idea to have Ian bury her at the fossil dig site. Luckily, it's not sand, but tiny rubber pellets that make clean up so much easier. 

Petting the goats at the big red barn. 

My two loves with my favorite zoo animal. He did this on his own. They love each other so much. Darrin and I are so blessed!

2014 Week Thirty-Three | August 11 to 17

In my last post, I talked about the start of school, and with that, routine.  Around here, though, the routine has been stay at school late working, come home, make dinner, play outside, do bedtime routine, then continue working on school work. Thus is the life of  teacher.  I did spend some time this past weekend choosing pictures for week thirty-three.

Ian's first day.  Continuing the tradition of pictures by the easel every year.  This year, with the move, means a new school. So far on day 12 of school, he really enjoys the change. 

The front of our house faces east. This was the sunrise on the first day of school. First time in a long time we were up early enough to see the sun rise.  

At our old house, the routine was always a bit of screen time after they were home, had a snack, and homework was done.  In the new house, though, we have a new routine, alternating pool one day after school and screen time the next.  They always have a blast in the pool, but they always whine when I pick them up from school on pool days begging to have screen time instead.  While the weather is good, though, we have to get as much pool time in as possible.  At least that's what I tell them.  

As Darrin and I were going to bed this week, we noticed Annaleise's light was still on.  We went up, and found her like this.  When I asked her about it the next morning, she said she had wanted to stay up and read books like Ian does. 

Spent my first weekend after teaching filling nail holes and sanding down the base cabinets for my scrapbooking table.

Just two pictures being her adorable self.  On the left, she snapped that of herself.  On the right, she was dressed up on Sunday after church in her brother's cowboy boots and carrying the purse she got at church in the swap meet. 

Two pictures of Ian. On the left, at church, laying under the chairs during service on Sunday. He brings a book to church every Sunday, and apparently this position was comfortable. He's reading one of the books in the "How to Train Your Dragon" series.  On the right, his best friend from first grade had a birthday party on Saturday in which they rented the gaming experience truck.  Ian had a great time playing Minecraft and Lego Indiana Jones, which he has already asked to get for home.  

2014 Week Thirty-Two | August 4 to August 10

Today Ian started back to school, and with that, some routine returns to our house.  I'm going to try to get back in to a new routine on here, too, or at least posting more frequently than once a month.

Before Ian started back to school, he had open house last week on Thursday.  He has an energetic teacher who's been very welcoming to him at the new school. And he made a friend at day care this week who is in his class as well. At open house we discovered that his friend sits right next to him, as luck would have it.  It all contributed to a great first day for him today.

We busted out Darrin's father's day present for the first time on Friday. That was the first time we had seen the sun most of the week thanks to rain chances. We forgot to account for the wet wood when we started this, so it was crazy smokey, but we were able to get our smores out of the deal anyway.

One of the brief moments the sky cleared this week. This eventually came over the house and turned into a lovely rain shower.

It was so cold this week with the rain and such, so even though we didn't hang out im the pool, we hung out around it.  Ian, for some reason, loves to use the skimmer on the pool. You have to watch out when he's doing it, though, he gets a bit out of control with the long pole on it.

The driveway at the new house is much bigger than our old one, and it's definitely seeing it's fair share of action. Seems like we're out there every night. Annaliese can usually be found on her scooter (the right picture was taken in the rain, even it couldn't stop her).  Ian's turned in to quite the b-baller with Darrin's guidance.   He's so intense when he's dribbling- it's cute.

2014 Week Three | January 13-19

This past week was exhausting.  I had early meetings 3/5 days this week, and was busy with something every night after work but Friday. Because of that, most of the pictures for this week-in-review come from the weekend.  It's a three-day weekend, so plenty of time to recoup my sleep.

Here's what happened this week:

My office, a place a barely saw this week because I was busy at schools. And when I did, I made a trek.

By the time Friday night rolled around, I was exhausted, so we went out to Red Robin for dinner.  Both kids started out on my side of the booth, and by the time dinner was done, they were on Darrin's side.  If you are going to RR anytime soon, might I suggest the sweet potato fries. They're the best I've ever had.

Saturday was PJ day.  Here, Ian's helping Annaliese on her Innotab. Later, they were practically in the same position, and they were reading their magazine together.  They are each others best friend.

Saturday Darrin installed my tablet shelf he gave me for Christmas.  It frees up much needed counter space and works beautifully... if you're my height. Darrin's too tall and it cuts the top off when sitting vertically.

Saturday it was 63 degrees in January. Unheard of.  Perfect weather for taking down the Christmas lights.  Ian went up in November to put them up with Darrin and never moved from the spot Darrin told him to sit; he was terrified. I walked outside and heard Darrin telling someone to be careful. I figured it wasn't Ian, and yelled up, with astonishment and fear, "You have Annaliese up there!?!?!" She was walking around up there, fearless. Darrin told her to sit so I could snap a picture and she said, "But that's boring!"

When she safely got down, she went for a bike ride.

Then we went for a family walk on the trails behind the houses that are across the street from us.  We've lived here nine years, and this is the first time Darrin and the kids have been back there. I've been running/walking back there when the weather's nice for about a year.

The frozen creek bed. The only sign of winter on the 60+ temp day.

Ian had fun running the trails and jumping off the hills. We saw many bicyclists, and he decided he wants to learn to ride his bike without training wheels so he can ride back there.

King and Queen of the mountain

Annaliese and Darrin headed home, while Ian and I stayed out to explore longer.  I was going to snap a shot of him walking from behind, but he turned in time and posed for me.

Project Life 2013 | Week 21

Week of: May 20-26




Highlights this week: Last day of school, last day of soccer, last day of swimming lessons, new Batman figure,  first picnic, park and bike fun.

Friday was Ian's last day of Kindergarten. I got a shot very similar to the one from the beginning of the year.

Last day of school celebration- Cherry Berry

At Ian's last soccer game for the season, Annaliese entertained herself by snapping pictures with the big camera. It was funny to watch her try and manage it, but she did fairly well. She got this shot of Darrin..

...and this shot of me. Along with lots of pictures of random people.

Enjoying his snacks after his last game. Darrin took this one ;)

On the way home from the game, we stopped by the park to play. We were all on the swings at once.

That night, we picnicked at Standing Bear...

... and then the kids rode their bikes around the lake.

Sunday's swimming lessons were our last. The kids got to stay in their suits when they got home and run through the sprinklers.

Batman gets a lot of play around here and we only had one until I picked up another with a Batbike for Annaliese thinking it would end the arguing. Now they just argue who gets to play with the new one...

Project Life 2013 | Week 19

I'm all caught up in my album, but I've got to get caught-up in my blogging. Hoping to churn out a post every day until I'm caught up.

Week 19: May 6-12

Left page and an insert of pictures from Ian's carnival.

Back of the carnival insert- pictures from the park- and a book Ian wrote me for Mother's Day.

Right page

Highlights: At Ian's school for a BBQ...and Mother's Day...and a carnival. Muffins with Annaliese for Mother's day. Painted bedroom ceilings. Became Godparents again.

Darrin and I joined Ian for his school-wide BBQ. It was a chilly day!

Thursday Ian's class hosted a Mother's Day tea.

Friday morning I joined Annaliese at school for Muffins with Mom.

Seeing as how I was lugging my big camera purse around all week because of the kids' events, I snapped pictures all day long for a "Day in the Life" layout. Here's my messy cubical.

And then we went to CherryBerry.

Friday night there was a carnival at Ian's school. The kids loved the inflatables.

Ian showed us what a great shot he is.

Annaliese got her nails painted for the first time.

After we ran out of carnival tickets, we played on the school's playground.

Annaliese loved figuring out how to move from one moving island to another.

Ian showed us he can do the monkey bars.

Saturday Ian had another soccer game. He made an awesome goal.

Sunday our Godson Henry was baptized.

Here he is with the onesie we gave him.

At the luncheon after the baptism, they had bubble blowers. Annaliese had lots of fun.