Images of Summer...

Today marks the first day of summer vacation for my kids. They just finished up 4th grade/2nd grade and PreK... Next year all three will be in the same school. The first day of summer often starts with me having my sweet nieces for the day as Colette has to work one more day when kids are done...

Already in this hot summer day we've made paper airplanes, Audra taught them how to make paper boxes, we have each made a SUMMER poster, been to the library, the pool and now having a moment of down time....

They had their lunch as a picnic and the rest is history! Welcome Summer!!
I found Gunnar reading in the fort....

Beginning to the end....

This was the first day of school in August.... Audra starting fourth, Gunnar starting 2nd..
This was yesterday! End of the year!

Your time will come Dane....

Playoffs!

Let it begin... oh yes it's baseball tournament time! The Yankees, who managed to win only 3 games this season (albeit they were all very close games) pulled out a win in the first playoff game. This means....a lot of excitement for Gunnar (who has become quite an excellent hitter..drove in 3 runs in the top of the final inning to bring in what would be their winning run) but it means....more baseball for us. Long season....today they played in 90 degree temps. Ugh!

THis is called....."baseball ready"!!

Water Day

OH YES....this little bugger is DONE with preschool and part of the celebration is a series of "special" days for the kids. For parents this means "the three hours I was going to use for grocery shopping and cleaning" is now GONE as I am up at the school with my child! Anders has been asking me all year...."when do I get a backpack and when do I start kindergarten!!" NOW Anders.... You are done with PreK and you are heading to school with Audra and Gunnar. This little celebration was water day at school. Dane was invited but not to impressed with anything water so spent his time on the playground! Summer is coming!

Quotable quotes from Mother's Day 2011

Happy Mother's Day to our Mothers...

Our funny lines started Thursday when I sat through a little Mother's Day tea at Ander's preschool. He had filled out a little Q&A about his mother and it got to the question "My Mother is how old? 72! was on the line. His teacher said the other kids didn't venture a guess but not Anders he said without batting an eyelash..my mom is 72!

Then my kids greeted me this morning in bed with a bundle of home made and some store bought cute cards. Anders sat sulking and cried out "I hate Mother's Day! I wish it was Father's Day" (because he was mad he had already given me his gift/card on Thursday), Gunnar handed me a tupperware full of "bath salts" he had made in 2nd grade and on it hand written in sharpy pen it says "can I have this when your done....momy...please" I looked at him and said confidently. "Just the container mom, I want to use it for something?" sure...Gunnar. Then they all plop my present on the bed excited "you got a tennis racket mom!" wow I exclaim...I am so excited! and one of them chimes in "yea, daddy got one for himself too:)"

we get ready quickly to make our way out to breakfast...my favorite....no sooner had we ordered our yummy hotcakes and french toast when Dane threw up in the booth! Chris and I look at each other wide eyed.... I said "let's go!" and Chris says no no...."you stay and enjoy your breakfast while I take Dane to the car" (oh ok, that will be easy to enjoy my breakfast while you're in the car with our throwing up son!!) while Anders chimes in "mom you could go sit in the car and daddy could stay with us!"

and on and on....

They really did continue...one line after another (Dane crying for Daddy when I tried to stay home with him instead of Chris), Anders crying for Chris to come to the pool instead of me...

It really should have been Father's Day but honestly....it was a Mother's Day to remember.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!