10 years!!

Today is our 10th anniversary. We've been married for a decade!! A DECADE!!! Yikes! How did that happen?!? To see pictures from that amazingly fun day, click here. Since we're back in WI for the occasion, I told my dad that we'd like to renew our vows and have another reception at the University Club. We're on our own for that one!!!

Ten years is a long time. Although, it doesn't sound so long when you consider the fact that my sister just turned 40 (and celebrated her 17th anniversary), my sister-in-law and brother-in-law celebrated their 17th anniversary, my in-laws will celebrate their 37th anniversary in a couple days, and my parents will celebrate their 45th anniversary in December . But, how is it possible that we've been married for 10 years already?!?!? We can't be old enough for that, can we? Last year I mentioned that I wanted to go back to Bermuda for our 10th anniversary. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. Instead, we'll be at our friend's wedding in Chicago while my dad watches our kiddos in our hotel room. We'll still have a fun weekend, but it's not the romantic get-away that I envisioned. Maybe we can sneak away for a night or two in the fall. Either way, we will celebrate the fact that we've been together for 14 1/2 years and married for 10! Woo hoo!!!

Right now I'm in Wisconsin visiting my parents. I dug through one of their closets and found my old prom dresses (why my mom saved those, I'm not sure!) along with my wedding shoes and my headband and veil that I made myself. My friend, Sarah, reminded me that she helped me finish sewing my veil during my rehearsal. Thanks, Sarah! I always was (and always will be) a procrastinator! I was a little worried when I found my sister's and my mom's wedding dresses but not my own. Thankfully, my mom had it cleaned, and it was tucked away under a bed and preserved in a special box. I was able to peek through the plastic window to admire my dress. It's not worth pulling out because I know that it won't fit, but it was fun to see it and show my girls!

Isabella modeled the headband and veil and the shoes.

Sienna only wanted to try the veil.

My veil still fits! Yippee!!

Isabella also got a kick out of the petticoat (or whatever it's called) that I wore under my dress.

This is one of those times that I'm glad that my mom saves everything!!!! That's definitely where I get my hoarding behavior, but I love the memories!

Messy Party

Today we enjoyed our (fifth?) annual Messy Party with the MOMS Club!

Sienna loaded up a cookie with frosting and sprinkles.
Elijah went straight for the cookie table, too!

He wasn't so sure about the shaving cream at first.

It didn't take long for Elijah to get messy!

"Cheese!!!"
Elijah tried some painting, too.

Future fire fighters?!?

Many of the children had fun covering the slide (and eachother!) in shaving cream.

You know it's a successful Messy Party when you look like this at the end! Finishing up with some play dough.

Strawberry Picking

Today we went strawberry picking with our friends in the MOMS Club. This is one of our favorite annual outings!

Sarah, Lauren, Sienna, Isabella & Luke on the hayride out to the strawberry fields

Elijah tried a freshly picked snap pea.

He also nibbled on a carrot straight from the garden.

"What's up, Doc?"

Isabella and Sienna getting down to business.

I intentionally dressed Elijah in red knowing that he would sample some strawberries in the field.

Lauren and Sienna paused long enough for a quick picture.

Ready for our return hayride. Elijah loved riding right behind the huge tractor.

Visit with Julian and Corinna

While Isabella was enjoying her last day of first grade, Sienna, Elijah and I met up with my friend (and old teaching partner), Corinna, and her little guy, Julian, for a quick visit.

How many pictures does it take to get an almost three year old, a two year old and a five year old to look at the camera?!

Julian and Sienna-hanging around!

Last Day of First Grade

Today was Isabella's last day of first grade!

Of course, we had to get our traditional picture of Isabella and John on our front steps. Isabella wore the same dress that she wore on the first day of first grade!
Here are most of the kids who ride the bus from our neighborhood. What a crew!

Last ride to school for the year!

The new second graders-Isabella, Hope and Sarah!

Good friends-Isabella, Hope and Sarah (and Elijah)!

Happy Father's Day!

We spent a nice Father's Day together as a family. The girls helped me make our traditional breakfast in bed for Mike.
Of course, he had to share several bites of his breakfast with the three "moochers."
Sienna made a special mug/pencil holder at preschool and made an extra special personalized card.
This is what Sienna's card said:

My Dad is the Greatest!
My dad's name is Dada.
He is 64 years old.
My dad's job is to go to work and get seed packets.
His favorite food is Oreos.
He likes to drink rootbeer.
My dad's favorite sport is basketball.
When we are together, we like to play football and chase around the house.

Isabella made a delicious trail mix for Mike at school.

Elijah got Mike two sets of earmuffs for them to wear when he helps Mike cut the grass. "Dada sit tractor Jijah." (Translation: "Dada sit on the tractor with Elijah."

I made Mike a special Shutterfly book with pictures from our recent trip to Florida.

We went on a family bikeride, had lunch at Qdoba, and Mike had a massage before he took the girls to see Toy Story 3. We wrapped up the day with dinner at home. All in all, we enjoyed a very nice Father's Day together!

Dada/Petro/Michael (as Elijah has been calling him lately)-

We love you and we thank you for working so hard so that I can be home with our kids!!! We appreciate all that you do for us. Thanks for being the best dad (and husband) in the world!!

Happy Father's Day to my dad and father-in-law, too!!!!

Elijah the Smurf

This morning Isabella came to me and said, "Elijah is making himself into a Smurf... and not in a good way!"

That could only mean one thing...
Thankfully, Elijah doesn't typically draw on random things, but I guess that bare belly was too tempting!

"'Nuggle Choo Tom"

If there are two things that Elijah loves, they are our neighbor, Thomas, ("Tom!") and Thomas the Tank Engine ("Choo Choo Tom"). Elijah likes to watch "Choo Choo Tom" On Demand, and he loves his Thomas the Tank Engine blanket that he got from our friend, Jackson. At night we snuggle in Elijah's rocking chair under his Thomas the Tank Engine blanket while we read books. Elijah will say, " 'Nuggle Choo Tom." He was in heaven last night when Thomas was at our house at bedtime. Elijah got to 'nuggle with his two favorite things while Thomas read him some bedtime stories!!!

We got some new truck books from the library, and we learned that Dylan drives a tractor and Tyler drives a semi truck! We already know that "Henry drive dumptruck" and "Jackie drive trash truck!" Have I mentioned that "Joe drive big rig," too?

Boo Boo Bag

It's no secret that Elijah can be a bit aggressive. Sometimes a well-meaning hug can turn into a tight headlock and a tumble to the ground. Other times he pinches, pulls hair and bites other people whether he's frustrated or just looking for attention. We're working hard to curb these behaviors. After removing him from the situation and a short time-out, we tell him that he can't give people boo boos, and we have him give the person a gentle touch or a hug if he hurts someone. Lately, he's been going to our freezer to give a "boo boo bag" to his victim.

A couple of weeks ago, my car was side-swiped by a school bus when it was parked outside of Sienna's school. Elijah points to the dent and says, "Owie buts" (He says "buts" instead of "bus"). Last night after examining the dent, Elijah went and got the boo boo bag for the car! Now if only he could transfer that compassion to his friends!!!

Future Marching Band Members

When we were taking Giacomo for a walk last weekend, we ended up with an impromptu Memorial Day parade through our neighborhood. What started out with our three kids and Hope and Thomas from across the street turned into an 11 person (and 1 dog) parade complete with a variety of percussion instruments. We picked up five friends along the way! Isabella and the other first graders have been practicing for their Memorial Day concert at school, so they sang "You're a Grand Old Flag" at the top of their lungs throughout our entire neighborhood.

Is Luke (the red-head with the maracas) destined to be a drum major, or what?!?

This morning I went to the Memorial Day concert at Isabella's school. The second graders sang several songs and recited a couple of poems. The first graders sang two songs, too! They did a great job.

Isabella's friend, Sarah, is on the far left

John

For some reason, watching a bunch of children dressed in red, white and blue singing patriotic songs makes me teary-especially when the second graders ended with "Proud to be an American." Apparently, the same thing happens to my friends, Holly and Chris. I'm glad that I'm not the only one!! It was a nice little concert!