5.31.2011

Memorial Day

We had a nice memorial day yesterday, even though it was crazy hot and humid, and I had to work in the morning. In the afternoon we spent time as a family at the hitting range, which was fun until Cole decided to throw-up all over the lawn.  I'm not sure what happened, but he must have caught a bug because he continues to throw-up and has crazy fevers.  







After we got home Cole went inside to sleep and Shawn cooked us up a mean BBQ. 

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5.29.2011

Big Weekend

We have a big week coming up! 

I've been excited to take Ethan out for some baptism pictures in his snappy new suit (doesn't he look so cute and grown-up?)  But when it got down to it we just rushed to get a few after school one day.  So, here are a few of my favorites that we ended up with.


 


Can't wait for this weekend.  Family coming in town and lots of fun things going on!!

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5.21.2011

Liv's 4 year pictures

I finally got Liv's 4 year pictures done.  Now I just need to get Ethan's done and I'll be caught up for a week until Cole's birthday.  Some of these pictures make me laugh.  They are so Liv!  I've told lots of people this, but taking my kids birthday pictures is my favorite part of doing photography.  I love the one on one time that we get to spend together.




 





 

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Friday Night at the Park

We found this cute little park last night after going out to dinner with the kids.  We declared it our Friday Night Park.  Cole even marked his territory there :)


 


 The boys loved spinning on this.  I'm not sure how they didn't get sick.

 Father daughter talk.  I think they were talking about shoes!

Ethan's turned into a little monkey.  I find him everyday after school on top of the monkey bars.


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What we've been up to

Baseball is a big sport here in Milwaukee, especially with the Brewers games so close.  After school the playground is covered with kids playing catch.  We've never really played baseball with the kids, but that has been the new request.  We spend the evenings in the backyard playing catch.



The boys are in swim classes again.  After being spoiled in Las Vegas to find great swim classes we struggled to find something that compared here, but I finally found it.  It's actually competitive swim classes for beginners all the way up to swim teams.  Ethan and Cole are both doing great (despite the first day melt down from Cole).  Cole started in level two and after one week has already advanced to level three.  Ethan started on level three and is already to level five.  On monday he gets to start lane swimming.

Liv can't take these swim classes yet (you have to be five) so she feels a little left out.  She settles for wearing her goggles in the shower and that seems to make her happy.

Back in December Shawn and I were called as the Nursery leaders.  So when the bishop asked to stop by one Saturday night we were a little skeptical as to what was coming.  It turns out that I must have been born to be in the Primary Presidency because that is my new calling.  This is the 3rd presidency I have been in the past 6 years.  I love the primary and am so excited for my new calling.

I've done a few sessions recently.  I even got to do another baby.  I don't to many, but when I do, it is definetly a treat.  Also, we are going to Utah in August and I will be doing several sessions.  I've already spoken with a few people (Jam, Teresa, Rebecca) so if you are interested let me know and I'll see if we can work something out.




Now that the weather is finally thinking about Spring we have been spending as much time as possible outside.  The kids love it!

My work is going great.  I'm working 2-3 shifts per week, which makes for crazy times around our house, but I'm loving it.  Also, I've been doing some more freelance photography for Paper Coterie.  If you haven't check out their website yet you need to.  I have several of their products and they are amazing.

Shawn's busy doing his thing at the hospital.  Saving babies and stuff like that.  He loves it.  It couldn't be a better fit for him.  He is just finishing his first year as a fellow here in Milwaukee and we are looking forward to the upcoming year.  Shawn's research project is also well under way (even thought he doesn't love research).

As you can tell from previous posts, I spend a lot of time at the boys school.  I love that their school is so open and inviting to parents participation in everything.  It has been such a joy to be so involved in their schooling.  Our recent project for Ethan's insect unit involved making a walking stick.

That's about it.  We are keeping busy and having fun.  We have company coming in a few weeks for Ethan's baptism and school gets out soon also.
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5.18.2011

Books and Cookies

We had a "Books and Cookies" celebration at school on Tuesday.  Throughout the school year Cole's teacher has compiled all the kids school work into books.  At the end of the year she will make a separate book for each child to take home with all their work, and it's even laminated.  We had a celebration to look at all the books and eat cookies.  The books are great and I'm so grateful for all his teachers hard work.

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5.13.2011

High Interest Day

I spent the day at the boys school for High Interest Day.  I had never heard of such a thing until we moved here.  It is basically a day at school put on by the parents with fun activities and games all day.  When I got my assignment it just said that I would be working with "the dogs."  I really didn't know what that meant, but I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I showed up to learn that I would be helping the K9 unit do a demonstration for the kids.
 
 
The second graders got to do other fun things today including, art projects, cooking demonstrations, worm composting, soccer, basketball, and drama/acting workshop.  Liv and I spent all day helping with the dogs and then a few hours in the afternoon helping in Cole's class for his "trip to Italy".  The Kindergarteners got to make Pizza, listen/make opera music, Gondola races, make picture frames and other crafts.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  I am so impressed with the boys school.  They have so much parent and community involvement, it's crazy.  This whole day was done with all parent volunteers and resources.  I can't wait until next year.

Here is a fun video I made with a few clips from the Police Dogs workshop.
Untitled from Jenn Reese on Vimeo.

ps.  We pass this house every day on the way to school that is covered with dandelions.  While I know they are weeds, there is something so beautiful about a whole yard covered in them.  See for yourself.

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