We Built This City...

Tents are all the rage in our house. Tonight after supper the kids built a tent city. It was cute to watch them go into their own tent and then come out get some toys and go back in. The tents had to be fixed quite a few times but they had a blast. I see a lot more tent cities in our future. My sister Jackie and I were pros at making tents and I loved making them. It was nice to see them enjoy such a simple activity like I use to. Who knows maybe one time I will be caught in one...lol.
Zach looking sly...

Alex headed out for a toy...

Liz straightening her section...

Uh-oh...Zach what happened???

"You're Not My Best Friend Anymore"

Anyone who has a little girl knows or will know eventually the drama that goes along with having a little girl. Today Liz threw a tantrum today at naptime. She eventually fell asleep. I came downstairs and began to relax on the couch. About half hour after Liz went to sleep she came downstairs. She came into the living room looked at me as I was looking at her. She quickly put her head down, told me I was not her best friend anymore (a phrase used often when life is not going their way) and proceeded to hide along side the chair. I let her be for a bit and then checked on her to find her fast asleep. When the boys woke up they asked why Liz was sleeping there. Very funny!

Making it a Family Event

We found out at the beginning of the month that Jeremy would not be able to get wood for the heating season this year due to his back issues. Thankfully his dad was able to provide us with some wood. Yesterday the boys took a trip across the state to get the first load. Today we got the tractors ready and the trailer parked close to the house and began the process. The kids were so excited to help. I went out and got them their own wood/gardening gloves. To work we went.
Here is Alex checking out grandpa's tractor and splitter...
Liz pretending to drive daddy's tractor...

Zach checking on the wood in the basement...

Daddy went to the basement to make a little more room...kids making sure he takes it easy...

Alex ready to push a piece down the chute...

...and there it goes!

Zach loving every minute...

...and there his goes!

Liz carrying a log to the chute...

ready...set...

go!

Although having them helped took extra time, it was a lot of fun to do this as a family. Hopefully in a few years they will be as willing as they were today to help. :)

A Girls Day

Today was Liz's first gymnastics class. I signed her up for the class thru the local Park & Rec Dept. Trying to give her something of her own. Also to give her and me some alone time.
Jeremy was planning on taking the boys and heading across the state to pick up our beef as well as get some wood, so Liz and I had some girl time planned. I grabbed some of her craft items and we headed to my craft room.
I did not get much done as I was watching her have fun creating things and being so proud of them. I gave her own table, which is my grandma's old sewing maching & table. Here she is at her work station...
Working very careful to put some glue down...

Working on making a cow that I cut with my cricut machine (I am in love with it...lol)...

Ta-Da! She was very proud of all of her creations...

Put an old cork board of mine up for her to hang up her creation...here she is admiring it.

It was so nice to have some girl time and be able to share my hobby with her. I can actually see me being able accomplish some work with a helper. The possibilities are endless.

1st Day of Preschool

So it has started...the kids' school career! Can't believe they are starting school already!!!
We have enrolled them in a 3k program. It is a local lutheran church that is only 5 minutes from our house. They have VERY reasonable tuition...in fact we were shocked when we were told how much it would be. The program is focused on preparing the kids for 4k, which is what kindergarten use to be. Kindergarten nowadays is not about naps, snacks, playtime and beginning to learn...it is about much more and that is why a lot of parents are choosing to hold back their kids until they are older to start.
So today was their first first day of school. Daddy went into work late to be able to enjoy this milestone with them. We did pictures of him with the kids and then he headed to work and I got the kids to school. We had an open house late last week to show the kids their classroom and to introduce them to their teacher, so they knew where they were going and were comfortable.
I must say I was not prepared for this day to go so smoothly. I think a lot of credit goes to having them in daycare. I know the open house helped as well as the excitement of going to school. I had absolutely no whining, crying, tantrums/fits, complaining...nothing, nothing but excitement.
They could not get to the school's door fast enough and then were super excited to find their hooks to hang their school bags. I had to ask for hugs as they started to walk away from me. Talk about making me feel great...the tears I shed were for my babies growing up. They make me so proud!
Alexander and daddy
Elizabeth and daddy

Zachary and daddy

Daddy with the crew

Alexander and mommy

Elizabeth and mommy

Zachary and mommy

Me and my babies

Zach and Liz running to the door...couldn't take pictures fast enough...Alex did walk beside me...

Not the greatest picture since they did not want to wait for me to get a nice one...

This is what they handed out to the mommies (and a few daddies) dropping off their kids...I scored three of these...lol.

Labor Day Weekend

Our Labor Day weekend started out with a day for daddy. For his birthday I secretly setup a day to brew beer with some of his guy friends (Marcus, Corey and Kevin). I gave him the full day. I made sure the only thing the guys had to worry about was making good beer! They all had a great time, which is the most important thing. Sometimes in our daily lives we end up in a rut and sometimes just need a nudge to get going again. To make us better parents we still need to do things that make us happy outside of the kids. Gives us a refresher. Thanks again to the guys and look forward to the next time.
Sunday was time to celebrate my dad's birthday which was August 31st. We packed up and headed to "cabin" on the lake...it is right in my parent's backyard. They finally got the pontoon boat in the water and enjoyed some fishing prior to the rain coming in.
Liz's first catch of the afternoon...
Auntie Jackie helping Zach fish on the pontoon boat...

The girls with Auntie Jean...

Liz trying to find the fish...

Alex stayed back on land as Grandpa took the others on the pontoon boat to find the fish further out...well we should have stayed with him as he kept catching fish while we found nothing!

Grandpa and Zach trying hard to find the fish...

Monday I worked at the clinic walking dogs. So it was just a day to catch up on projects and chores. It was a very nice long weekend!

1st "real" haircut

Today Liz and I went to the professionals to get our hair cut. This is the first time Liz has had it done professionally. She was SUPER excited! She was a little hesitant as we approached the door to the salon. We had her go first...then she got to watch mommy. She sat so still....like a statue. At times it look like she may doze off. She was such a good girl and was so proud of her new do.
Here we are prior to leaving...
Sitting in the chair, still looking happy...

This is how she look the ENTIRE time she was getting her hair done...

Getting her hair dried...Sandy did a great job...amazing that this little girl use to be bald...

The finished product...what a cutie!!!