Sad news...

For some of us.  After lengthy discussions, we have decided to sell Jock.  With our schedule and his hyperactivity, we have decided that a different environment would maybe be better for him.  We found the nicest young couple who are runners!  And now we are all happy.  The kids got some spending money and don't have to keep their door closed anymore, Matt doesn't have to worry about what the dog is doing anymore, and I feel relief that there's one less "kid" to worry about.  We liked him overall and he was not a bad dog, but it was time for him to move on.  So we are happy God provided the right home for him.  

Mother's Day with the Moms!

I love this quote.  "The only thing better than having you for a mom is my children having you for a Grandma."  Matt and I can both say that about our moms.  God has blessed us with a rich heritage of love, wisdom, and service.  It has inspired us to do the same with our lives.   So we are so grateful for the influence they have had.  Also my mom was instrumental in my organization passion, and Matt said his mom was always reminding him to be careful about everything.  So we are a good match!  He reins me in, and I push him forward.  And sometimes it goes the other way too!  We love you, Moms!

After a delicious PF Chang's dinner, we shopped at my favorite shopping places in Maple Grove, and then Saturday also shopped in Anoka and ikea for our house projects.  I came away with a few treasures. 

From the kids and church.  So sweet.  

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a mom as well; and although I know I could do better, God has given me the perfect kids for me to mother, and I am the perfect mom designed for them.  I read that somewhere and try to keep reminding myself that in times of doubt.  God has been good to me even though I don't deserve it.  

Flowers from my sister and a little sign for me. Because I don't have enough. :)

Staging

I was able to help my friend stage (my favorite thing) for an open house in the house they just bought.  It is a lot larger house than they were in previously so lots more space to fill up.  We started with a couch and a bench and ended up finding some unheard of deals at goodwill and a garage sale to help fill the space.  I was in project heaven!  

Upper living area

Kitchen dining area

Lower living area

Vintage wallpaper that kind of grew on me.  Not sure she will keep it up or not.  

The reason for this blog...

I heard somewhere that "The days are long, but the years are short."  So true!

A wapo sandwich (Ava's word for waffle)

Ava's new favorite food:  wapos (waffles)

They got to help granddaddy move some trees this week.  It's kind of nice when they can actually start helping!

Church activity

We had a stick pick up activity at a nearby camp with food and games too for the kids.  I'm loving the outside and the new green everywhere.  And now there's lilacs!  I love lilacs, and they always remind me of my mom Chelsie.  I even have some white lilacs in my backyard.  Beautiful flowers, scent and a beautiful mom.  Here are some more beautiful moms in our church who do so much.  

Last Co-op

We have loved being a part of our homeschool co-op this year and ended up with a potluck and a little bit of a program and art display to show what the kids have learned and done this year.  I joined for my kids to have more social interaction, but they actually did learn!  So it was an added bonus.  And the moms I met there have been a wonderful blessing to me.  Here are the Spanish classes saying John 3:16.  

Spanish teacher Señora Thatcher

Here are two sisters that are as sweet as can be.  Renae and Kim.  

Our special friends Kadyn and Eli.  

And their mom, my friend Carly

Last field trip to the Children's Museum in Mankato.  Brand new and so fun especially with a group.  They learned more about agriculture in Minnesota. 

My favorite part - a Maud Hart Lovelace front porch area.  She is the author of some of my favorite children's books, the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib series based on her life growing up in Mankato with her family and friends in the early 1900's. 

My good friend Katie with her daughter Lauren 

The kids favorite part - a huge treehouse 

Love this!

Kids Perspectives

Ava's highest praise of a meal is when she says, "It's better than pancakes!"  Pancakes and peanut butter and jelly are her two standard favorites.  

Jack said, "Good thing we're having soup today.  It'll help Ava's hoarse breath."   What he meant was that with Ava's cold and losing her voice, soup will help her.  Ha.  That's not what we got out of it!  We laughed and laughed and now he's old enough to be embarrassed, so he didn't appreciate it like we did.  

We were headed to a meeting the other day at a different church, and I happened to call it an appointment.  Ava said, "Ow we getting shots?"  What?  No!  She still talks about the appointment where we didn't get shots.  Kids perspectives are so funny.  Ha!

Saying something like, "Quit pushing each other's buttons" really breaks up an almost argument.  They both stop and try to figure out where in the world are people's buttons and how am I pushing them?

On our friends' motorcycle