Preschool and the cabin

Well, as promised, another update this week. So Caleb started school last week and he actually had his second class on wednesday. Last week, he did really well until I came to pick him up. He was the 2nd to the last kid sitting there even though I was there right on time! I think he thought I wasn't coming back. As soon as he saw me, he got sad puppy dog eyes and a big lower lip pout. He didn't actually cry, but he was really close! His teachers said he did well, but when we got home, he said he had kicked a kid on the playground and he was not letting other kids go up the slide-I don't want to have the class bully! Hopefully it's just his stress and once he gets used to school, there won't be any behavior problems! This week when I went to pick him up-and I was EARLY, he got a little pout, but not as much as last week. He didn't say he didn't want to go back and he actually said he liked one of the teachers!!! Progress!This is his first day picture. I took it before he knew that I was leaving him there so he was happy!

Here is our landscape work. Tim worked very hard on it and he did do a nice job. I wasn't real happy that he started it in the first place, but now I am glad he did it. I guess I am just resistant to change and I don't like to shell out the dough. We also had work done in the kitchen which I love. I am so happy we decided to do that. I was tired of the yucky stainless steel sink!

This was before the relandscape. He took out that ugly shrub in the front and then the two by the house. We will likely add a few more things next summer, but for the most part, it's done!




This is a little before shot of the kitchen. It's not exact, but it was the only one I could find. At least you can see the improvement on the ugly kitchen sink!!!

As for the cabin, both kids did really well for the most part. The ride wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Both kids ended up napping and we only heard "are we there yet?" about 7 times on the ride up. Pretty good if you ask me! It was made much easier thanks to the modern day appliance called the portable DVD player! Caleb watched this Little People movie about 7 times over the course of 3 days! Whatever winds your binder I guess. "I'm ready to go, mom!"

Caleb with his headphones on so that we didn't have to listen to Aaron Neville sing on the Little People movie-thank heavens for headphones!

Now that's entertainment! We looked back and found her with her whole foot in her mouth-again, whatever winds your binder!
Checking out the big fish at Mille Lacs lake

Caleb with the walkie talkie. He thought that was just great. He's always trying to talk to Ellie in the monitor at home so when this one actually worked, he thought it was so cool!
Trying out the new fishing pole. I'm not convinced that he will be a fisherman! I don't think he has the patience for it.

She decided to shove a WHOLE strawberry in her mouth!

Elle (who has now taken to saying her name is "Fred" when asked what her name is) was OBSESSED with the water. It was soooo cold, but she wanted to be in it! We dipped her feet in and we had to take her out to give our arms a break and she just threw a fit! Finally, I just decided to use a floaty and let her go to town. She sat in the little boat and had a blast for about 10 minutes and then she knew it was time to come out. So funny that she is such a water baby and Caleb doesn't want anything to do with it!

Isn't that cute! Walking with Uncle Jon. She didn't know too much about him this weekend for some reason. She has been a momma's baby lately though so maybe it's just a stage.

Reading with Papa

This was at a little shop on the way home. We thought the crocodile was fun.

A little bit of June

Just some updates...we are all doing well.

Caleb, aka "Dayeb" (Elle can't say her C's), has been doing wonderful with potty training. It's so very nice to just have one in diapers! He will also be having a big week this week. He starts his very first preschool class alone on wednesday. I decided to do one day a week this summer to ease him into the process. He says he doesn't want to go, but I am sure once he gets used to it, he will love it! I'll update after the weekend when we have fun pics from up north to share too.

One week, he was entertained for hours while they started digging up our side street. He just sat out on the deck and watched them work a few afternoons that week. It was kindof nice because we have the gate up so we just let him sit out there and we were able to be in the kitchen working on dinner or updating our blogs ;o) He was just fascinated by their work. We got to go out to the yard when the cement truck poured the cement for the drain and he watched them work. He was full of questions and could barely contain himself with excitement to see what they would do next. When they first started, he didn't know what they were doing and it was nap time. He just said "I NEED to get out there and see what he's doing mom!" it wasn't enough for me to say that they were just working on the road!


Ellery is talking up a storm these days. It is pretty cute for such a little runt to be talking. Another really funny thing-I make smoothies most mornings and she LOVES them. She nearly rips the cup out of my hands when I make them. If I am drinking from the straw, she always has her mitts on it and is constantly saying "have some" or "more Moonie". She calls it a "Moonie" Its really quite cute.

Sharing a smoothie.

Fun with shaving cream.

She has also gotten into babies lately. She will sit for 20 mins at a time just covering and uncovering her baby and feeding her. It's fun. We'll be getting some accessories for her birthday-that'll be cute to see her put her baby to bed etc!

As for Tim and I...we got new countertops and a new sink in the kitchen last week. It's so much nicer. And Tim decided to rip the shrubs out of our front a few weeks ago and so now he is in the process of relandscaping. It is quite a chore. Now he is trying to make me do some of the work and I am thinking-you're the one who ripped the shrubs out and I didn't sign on for this. I have done a little bit of work so he can't say I didn't help at all. I also made him promise that he wouldn't have another project until 2010! He does too many projects, but we'll see if he can actually keep that promise!


Just working in the yard. He worked hard this day. We also found some worms and he wanted to let them sit and fry on the stepping stone. Thankfully I was able to convince him to let them go "home".
"Hey dad, I'll make sure that's level for you."




Our 2nd "P" night. Tim's mom had a tradition when she was little to have "pop, pickles and pizza" night and she carried on with her kids. Tim wanted to continue the tradition and I remember having popcorn on sundays with my grandparents as a kid. Since it also started with a "p" we added it to the list. We also included a few more "p's". we now have "pop, pickles, pizza, popcorn, a picture(movie) in our pj's" night-we only put our jammies on for the movie. The kids get quite a kick out of having pop especially. The above pic is of them enjoying some pop together. Sometimes Caleb is nice and shares with his sis.
Our day at the beach. We actually didn't go for the beach, but Elle wanted to check out the water, so we headed over to the beach and she walked right into the cold water without any hesitation. She just stood in there and picked up rocks and let the water be on her.
All wet! Thankfully I had remembered a change of clothes since I didn't bring their suits.
Caleb even joined us in the water to throw some rocks. It was pretty good for him since he usually isn't a big fan of the water. We'll see how this weekend goes up at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin.

Spring!!! Maybe it's finally here?

We had a glorious day yesterday and the kids and I took advantage of it. I met Kris, Logan, Tonya, Myla, Collin and Aubrey at the park in the morning and the kids had a fabulous time. It's so much better now that we have had a few nice days for the kids to get out and run around.
Caleb and Myla riding in a car. Tonya and I joke that they will go to prom someday-in reality we know they probably won't like eachother much once they are old enough to have their own friends. Oh well, we can wish!


They found some piece of something and they were playing tug of war with it. It was pretty funny.



That's Logan. I almost had a pic of all three, but then Caleb had to run away-GRRR. Logan met us today and the three older kids had so much fun together. It's so nice for me to have friends with kids the same age as mine. that way, the mommies get a little chance to talk to adults (I say a little because Elle especially needs assistance at the park!)





CALEB's DRIVING!!!
This is his new truck. He wasn't aware that he was getting a truck, but ever since he got it, he can't stop asking to ride on it. My parents brought it over for him on wednesday as a belated birthday present. When he first got on it, he was a bit scared, but he got the hang of it right away. We thought at first that we might have crop circles in our backyard because he just kept driving in circles! After the first time, he really got it and now he's driving all over the yard. He just loves it. It's pretty amazing though-my brother won it at a picnic when he was 2 years old. That means that truck is 19 years old. All my parents had to do was get a new battery. I'm so glad they kept it all these years. And our yard is perfect for him to ride around on it. There's plenty of room and that way he doesn't need to go on the street!

Caleb has decided he should be his sister's alarm clock lately. He jumps into her bed and gets under the covers with her. I think the first few days, she either was already awake, or she thought it was fun. Now, after a few days of him waking her, it's getting old-for all but Caleb. I had to tell him that we would have to move her downstairs if he kept waking her up. I think he's finally got it. He came in to my room this morning instead of waking her-progress!

And speaking of progress, I think he's finally potty trained for good! THANK GOD!!! He was doing really well #1 wise, but #2 was trouble. Now, we've been accident free for about a week. It's so freeing to have one out of diapers!

Having a girl is so much fun!!!! Her hair is now just about long enough for one whole pony! It's just too cute!

I forgot to mention last time that Caleb is doing swimming lessons finally. He probably should have started sooner since he is a major "cling-0n" still in class. He has definately improved, but he spends the first 10 minutes with a monkey like grip around my neck. Hopefully, he will be a little more comfortable this summer so that he can enjoy the pool and the lake at the cabin.

More of April

Just hanging out!

I went to an indoor park with my friend Karen and her two girls the other day. Caleb had quite a fun time running around in there with Madison.

Elle's just starting to get into jewelry and stuff. She is pretty good now about doing her hair too. She is getting quite her own mind these days though and has really discovered the word "NO"

Regarding potty training-(dad made me take off the pic of the naked butt....)
Thanks to my coworker Nancy, I decided to take charge and tell Caleb "we're done with diapers" He protested a bit, but then took it in stride. He asked "why?" of course, and we told him that there were other little boys and girls that need them and he is big and doesn't anymore. So, the next two days were spent bottomless!!! Just as Nancy had suggested, he only peed on the floor once. Pretty good I'd say. It's been about two weeks and he's doing pretty well. He only has #2 accidents as of late. He was going #2 in his potty in his room and then I went to work and it all went to pot. He hasn't gone #2 in the potty now for a few days which really bites. I was stern with him today so maybe... --okay, it's been a few days since I started this post. We went back to no pants yesterday and he did #2 on the potty chair yesterday and today. I work this whole weekend though so who knows

Lately he's taken to napping underneath her crib-whatever works I guess.


Mowin with Steve. He was actually scared (not of Steve) and really wanted to get off.
The first time out on the swings 2008. I think they will get more use out of it this year. Elle seems to be excited about climbing now so it should be fun to play outside. I might have trouble keeping them in the yard though...