Phonograms

Owen brought home some work from school yesterday - some beautifully written words with highlighted phonograms. I'm telling you, he is blowing me away lately. Today he told me he was going to be doing long division...seriously?!

My sweet Walter continues to be a big help around the house. We did some window and mirror cleaning this morning. He loves spraying that spray bottle and almost equally enjoys rubbing the cleaner away. I am enjoying this while it lasts.

This is the best day ever!

Last week as I was starting to gather our stuff to go get Owen, I realized Griffin had gotten into his new arthritis medicine and eaten the entire bottle. So, Griffin got in the car with us and we made an emergency trip to the vet. (crazy pooch!) After the vet, we were on our way home and the boys saw a park and asked if we could play. When I said yes, this was O's response. I love how little things can make their days. We've been living freely during the week lately...there is something about Owen being in school all day that makes me just want to really BE with him once I pick him up. Today after school, we played some at school, got some fresh fruit for tomorrow's lunch, hit up a park and then some tennis courts. We got home in time to eat a quick dinner, take a bath and read a couple books in bed.

I'm hoping to make tomorrow and the next and the next the best day ever! :)

Big News!!!

Owen lost his first tooth this morning! He crawled into bed this morning and we were cuddling and talking, asking about his tooth. As he showed us how far he could move it, it 'popped'. Jer asked if he could give a little tug, Owen obliged and out it came! Pretty exciting!

I'm handy.

It's official, we are remodeling our kitchen, extending it into our addition which will also become our dining room. We have been talking about this idea for quite a while, one of us more than the other...and its starting! This weekend Jer began tearing off the tongue and groove and ripping out the old insulation. There were piles and piles of boards that came down and needed to move to the alley so the boys helped out hauling small boards one by one. Eventually they decided to pile boards on the backs of their bikes to haul their loads. As they were working vigorously, they said "I'm handy" over and over again. Honestly, they were quite helpful and handy!

Friday, Jer & Owen locked up Owen's bike at school in the morning and we rode our bikes to pick him up in the afternoon. We had an enjoyable bike ride home with a few pit stops along the way. Of course we had to stop at DQ for an afternoon snack. (Owen got a huge banana split!) Later we stopped to listen to the frogs and watch a few of them swim. Its really fun to have Owen cruising along side you on his bike. His legs sure work hard and swiftly!

Tufted Puffin

After lots of contemplation and discussion, Owen started full days at Sunny Hollow after spring break. He absolutely loves it and talks about school now more than ever. On Monday he came home and immediately got his bird watching kit out after school. He then climbed up a tree with all his gear and watched for birds. Yesterday, he brought his bird field guide to school and he and a friend compared field guides and drew birds from their books. The guide is still in his locker at school as he used it again today and plans on doing it again tomorrow. I asked him which was his favorite and he said today's favorite was the 'Tufted Puffin.' I am anxious to see all the drawings he's doing. He told me he is compiling them and plans on making a book out of them. Gina (his teacher) said there was a group of 5 children and their field guides drawing and working together this afternoon. They would try and find the same bird and then figure out how many eggs the bird typically lays, the habitat it lives in and what they like to eat. For this reason, and many, many others, I love Sunny Hollow.

I turned 29 for the 6th time on Monday. The boys treated me well with very little bickering or whining and lots of hugs and kisses. Jer made delicious fajitas and Kindi brought over an amazing cake...that the boys enjoyed helping blow out the candles on.

I just need another kiss.

Walter is the king of stalling and is becoming more and more mighty. Tonight after about 7 attempts to get out of bed and get me in to their bedroom, he said this to me when I came in for the 8th time. He then got out another time! Luckily he is so sweet and cute.

We had a full end of the week and weekend. My grandma was recently diagnosed with ALS and was down here for an appointment with a few specialist. Although unfortunate circumstances, it was great to see my grandma and many other family members - including uncle Kurt, who lived with us for a bit when Walter was a baby while he redid our basement for us.

It was a treat to see my grandma for sure. She has the best, most genuine smile and tells it like it is. I've been thinking about her a lot since learning of her diagnosis...she's a great person to have on one's mind. If more people would be like her, there would be much more living and less wanting in the world. There would be lots of Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and yodeling, too! :)

Keep that chicken little.

When we play war, Owen says this every time he loses with a 2, 3, 4 or 5. He says Daddy taught him that one.

Wednesday we headed out to Chaska for playgroup at our old neighbor's house. The kids had fun playing with their friends and us moms really had fun catching up. On our way back to Minneapolis, we stopped by Al's office for a tour and a mini lesson on landscape architecture.