Snow Pictures

The day it snowed the kids and I went out and played in it. We saw the cranes down in the overflowing stream

Did a little sliding and Alexis pushed all the kids on the horse swing

The boys also helped shovel a lot of snow off the driveway and deck. We had a great time but still wish it was warmer:)

We thought Spring was arriving...

This winter has been brutal. Snow storm after snow storm and cold. So two weeks ago when I snapped these photos. I was encouaged with the warm sun that was melting the snow and making little sprouts of green daffodils pop out of the ground.

The Robins were coming back, we saw at times 20 in our crab apple tree
The little stream was overflowing its banks too. Usually you can't see any water from this spot. If you look close you can see the wood bridge that your suppose to be able to walk over.

and my dads snowmobile was ready to be put in storage. Looks like the track is about to fall to the ground.

And then last week it snowed a few more inches and got cold again. The temperatures were in the 20 and 30's all week. Most of the snow has melted again. But if it would please warm back up so I can see some flowers blooming, and green grass. That would be wonderful:) Thank you!

A Night at the Waterpark

A few weekends ago we used up a gift certificate that we received for Christmas. We had such a fun time at the Holiday Inn waterpark in Owatonna. The kids did a lot of sliding down the slide and tubing down the other slide. They also did some swimming in the lazy river.

Here are Alexis and Jason(We had as much fun as the kids:))

and then Brayden going down the slide by himself
It was nice to get out and have fun with the kids

Stingray Swim Team

Last Summer Alexis and Brayden joined the Swim Team in town. They had such a fun time learning to swim with snorkels and fins in the warm kiddie pool. Alexis moved into the big pool after a week, while Brayden continued in the kiddie pool learning how to do the strokes. In the Fall they both wanted to continue swimming. The current session started after Christmas and Brayden had moved into the colder big pool and decided the temperature of the water was way too chilly for him! Alexis continues on and loves, loves, loves it! She swims three to four days a week and can't get enough. She even has talked about swimming in a swim meet in May.

She loves to do the starts off the starting blocks!

Love my little readers

Reading is something we have done with the kids since they were very little. They continue to love books.

Brayden started school knowing some sight words and has improved so much he is reading Level books. Now reading is not something he will choose to do over playing with legos but he will pick up books every now and then on his own!

Alexis is constantly reading. I can't think of a day in the last year, that she hasn't had her nose in a book! She sometimes is reading two or three books at the same time. Her reading level has increased so much and has surprised me with the books she brings home from school and the library. For Christmas she received a gc to Barnes and Noble and we recently went to use it. She was in awe of all the books and had a very hard time picking one out. She came home with a 300 page book and money left on her gc. It took her only a couple days to finish the book.
I am loving my little readers:)

Birthday Boy

As I mentioned before Brayden turned six in February. He spent part of the day at school and then I got a call from school saying he had a fever. So into town I went to pick him up. He ended up having an ear infection. We did go out for supper to our local small town bar(ha that sounds a little bad!), but they also sell food:) The kids enjoyed it!

All he really wanted this year was Legos so that is what he got from almost everyone, and he plays with all of them daily!

We had his family birthday party the following sunday.

Here is my (two teeth missing) six year old!!! And the cake I created for him.

Snow Fun

We have spent a lot of time this winter playing in the snow. We have had numerous storms that have given us up to 15 inches of snow each time. On this warm day we enjoyed sliding down one of our hills and snowmobiling.

Snowmobiling

2011! Its a new year...

Dare I say I am going to start blogging again? We just got a new internet provider(after not having anything and then trying dial up!!!) and I think(knock on wood) that I might be able to do this again with this higher speed internet. Now to find the time and energy to blog...

Its been a year since I last posted and a lot has happened. I won't be providing details of that missed year because there is no way I could remember all that happened.

Its March and the winter has been a very looong one! Tons of snow and more to come. Brayden and Alexis started swimming on the swim team in town and Alexis is still swimming. Brayden thought it was a bit too cold for him. He will be starting Soccer in a few weeks, something he has wanted to do since he did the 5 day camp last year. Alexis is also in gymnastics and still loves horses! Alexis is now 8 and in 2nd grade. Brayden just turned 6 and started Kindergarten last fall.

It's March!!!

I finally have the Internet at our house! However it doesn't work all the time. The speed is super s l o w ! But I can't complain cause I can check emails and sometimes use the Internet.

We haven't been doing too much in the last month, can't believe it's been that long since my last post. The kids had swimming lessons after we came home from San Diego. It was twice a week for 4 weeks. Both of them did great! Alexis moved up to Level 3 and Brayden will be in Level 1.

I did have a joyful moment in my life and that was on a Saturday my Dad had come over to help Jason fix his snowmobile. While they were doing that I took out, dad helped me diagnose, went and bought, and installed a sump pump, by myself but with the guidance of my dad. I was very proud of myself:) And now I am very thankful that I fixed it because it hasn't stopped working. We have some landscaping that needs to be rerouted away from the house, come spring which is right around the corner! Our snow is melting like crazy, it's been above 32 degrees and it's been raining too. Our driveway is finally cleared off, no more ice and snow. The kids even went outside everyday last week. We got out the bikes and away they went. Brayden wanted his training wheels taken off but tried it and decided he wasn't quite ready. He's still a bit wobbly.

I have also been scrapbooking a few times. I am only a year behind in Alexis album, and two years behind in Braydens.

Last Friday Alexis had her Artwork in an art show that was downtown at the art building. We were very proud of her. The art teachers from all the schools in town each picked a few from each grade. We were very excited for her. Then on Sunday she helped out at church for her religion class.

We have also been dealing with sickness, but whats new right!

Tomorrow we are going to school to see if Brayden makes it into Kindergarten at the school Alexis is at. We are pretty sure he will get in because he has sibling preference. But I guess you never know. They are also having a science fair for the 3rd-6th grades.

I have failed at taking any pictures since we came home(Can you believe that?!) So you are left with my words for today:) I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Birthday Weekend

After arriving home on time late Friday night/Saturday morning. We were up and at em early. We had an appointment in town and then had some groceries to buy. My brother and his family came up for the weekend from Iowa so we were off to my parents home after that to see them.

Here are my parents with their grand kids together in one spot:)

Sunday we had round 2 of Braydens 5th Birthday party.
He loved all his gifts and has played with them all week!

Here he is blowing out the 5 candles on his ice cream cake

Here is another gift, he can't get enough of! Tony Hawk skateboard for the Wii.

Cousin Mitch and Brayden

Day #8-Beach

This morning we headed to the beach for our last day here. Brayden and Tyler played in the sand.

While Alexis, Jena and I found rocks and shells
Jason took pictures

Brayden had a lot of fun

We really don't want to go home, but we must! We had a blast and will be missing everyone! Right now we are off to the airport(as I type this, but not when it's published). Now I will be away from the internet again:(

Day #7-Iron Mountain

We took a walk up this "hill" mountain.

We stopped by a little waterfall
And stopped to play in the dirt

and kept walking

we saw a lizzard along the way

The guys got ahead of the girls

After our 5 mile walk we hung out at home

stay tuned for day #8(last day)

Day #6- Scripps Aquarium

We were planning on going to Sea World when we were here but we found out that a lot of the attractions were closed. So we went to an aquarium instead. I guess this wasn't the best things for the kids to do.

another family picture
We saw a lot of different sea creatures in this area

This area was really neat. It was huge. Look at how big that fish is in the upper left!

Brayden

This was the view from the look out area. We didn't see any whales

The kids had a snack(notice Jason is right there with them)

Alexis was not in the mood for this picture but we finally were able to get her to smile.

Jen and Tyler

Love this picture of a clown fish

They loved playing in this water, they were able to move around the rectangle pieces and move the boats around.