Cole's 8 year birthday pictures and video

We have a busy week ahead of us.  Cole is turning 8, which in our church means he is getting baptized.  We have family coming in town this weekend (Yipee!) and a baptism and birthday to celebrate.  I actually got Cole's pictures done before his birthday, rather than after, yah for me!

He's cute!  I've also attached his 8 year old birthday video.

It's beautiful here

Despite the midwestern summer storms we have had some nice weather.  It is green and beautiful.  We spend most of the day outside.  We grill almost every night and stay out way to late playing soccer in the beautiful evenings.  

Ethan's 10 year birthday pictures and video

Finally catching up with Ethan's birthday pictures and interview.
Again, he talks quiet in the video, but it's all there.

When I took Ethan shopping for his birthday outfit, he saw this cookie monster shirt within the first few minutes.  He was determined he was going to get this shirt and wear it for his pictures.  Despite all the other cute clothes he picked out, he was loyal to the first shirt he picked-cookie monster :)

After taking a few serious pictures he wanted some of him playing soccer.  He is mildly obsessed with soccer right now.  

High Interest Day

Today was High Interest Day at the kids school, one of my favorite days of the year.  I always volunteer and have a great time.  This year I helped with the Kindergarten classes.  High Interest Day is when many of the community businesses come into the school and provide educational experiences for the kids to learn about different activities, jobs, skills, etc. 

This year Ethan took classes from the local Pizzeria (and got to bring home a delicious pizza we ate for dinner, along with rolls), he made homemade chocolates, he learned how to fence, how to play LaCrosse, and made his own custom custard ice cream flavor.

Cole got to learn about animals and hold snakes and gross stuff like that, learned about boats and sailing, learned about astronomy and looked at star formations, learned about electricity, and got to see a fun improve comedy show (and came home with free tickets).

Liv got to spend a day at the farm learning about Farmers Markets.  She played games, planted a fresh Basil plant for my kitchen, and decorated grocery bags, while shopping for real produce that she got to bring home for dinner.  I helped run the Farmers Market.  We let the kids sample all different kinds of fruits and veggies, even the odd ones like cactus and prickly pear.  

Spring Expo

Every year Liv's Gymnastic's company holds a Spring Exposition.  It is a big recital and all the kids get to show off some of their skills and perform a little routine.  Here is Liv warming up with her class.

Practicing some of her skills with her team.  This is mid cartwheel.

Here she is getting out on the floor ready to start her routine.

Here is a video of her routine.  It's not the best recording, the the focus was having problems, but it works.

Last, a final wave to the audience.

First bike ride of the reason

We got the kids bikes out of the basement this weekend.  It took a minute or two to get going, but soon after they were off on a bike adventure.

We had a few pit stops along the way.  One at the park for a quick soccer game, one at the creek to throw a few rocks, and one for a water break.

We also enjoyed a nice walk around Fowler Lake in Oconomowoc the other day.  They have a fun little park by the lake.

So glad the beautiful weather is here.

Field Trips

We only have one month left of the school year.  That means it is field trip time.  This past week I was able to go on two field trips.  I went with Liv's class to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and with Cole's class to the Milwaukee Public Museum.  Both were great, except riding in the back of a bumpy school bus full of screaming kids.  Ethan has a field trip on Monday to the State Capitol in Madison.