HAIL!!!

What a crazy day! Is it sunny and hot? Is it rainy and chilly? How about some hail? All in one day, only in Minnesota!

Today I found out that I am going to be the PPT President Elect next year at Lincoln. PPT stands for Program Planning Team, and it is the Lincoln version of PTSA, or PTA. Right now, I attend meetings as a parent, but it will be a terrific experience to be apart of the team as more than just a parent. As President Elect I will spend a year shadowing the 2 PPT Presidents to learn what it is that I will do when I serve as President. I gave thought and prayer to the decision before I made it and I am looking forward to the challenge it will bring me. I know this is chance for me to grow as a mother and as a future business person, so I am glad that I have the opportunity.
Tonight we spent a perfect evening with the Hoekstra family grilling out and enjoying a few drinks! The men even did the dishes and cleaned up!!

Their daughters Norah (4 1/2) and Marlee (9 months) are absolute beauties, and a joy to be around. Jesse and Brian go way back to childhood, so when they moved into our old neighborhood Tahnee and I naturally became fast friends. We used to spend so much time together cooking out and hanging out but now that we have moved I am afraid that we won't see them as much. Maybe the additional blocks won't feel so far once summer starts and the weather gets even warmer.

Both Brian and I work this weekend, he works at the paddleboats and I work at Refashion, so this was a great way to kick back and relax before the weekend starts. We'll see how the weather holds up...

Memorial Day Weekend

Wow...this has been a very busy weekend!! After the race on Sat Brian went to work at the paddle boats for awhile, so the boys and I went to visit. We rented one of the boats and went for a little ride. It was fun to go around on the lake, we even saw a nest of eggs on the island in the middle of Silver Lake! We looked for Polar Bears, and Black Bears and Penguins...didn't find any, only geese, but it was fun to look! When Brian got home we began painting the trim on the main floor. It has really made a difference in that room already. There are still a few coats to go, so I am sure that is what I will be working on this week. Sunday we all slept in a little and had a big breakfast with Benjamin's favorite melt in your mouth pancakes. Christian of course had chocolate chip pancakes. Can't keep that boy from chocolate! That afternoon Benjamin went to a friend's house, Brian continued painting, and Christian and I went to see the new Indiana Jones movie! I adore Harrison Ford, and to see him as Indiana Jones again was very cool! Christian loved all the action, he loved the end, he loved the movie! A new generation of Indiana fans has started I'm sure!
After the movie we picked up Brian and Benjamin and headed to Lonsdale to visit the wonderful Vulcan family! We love spending time with them, sweet Callie (who is nearly 2 already!) is our Goddaughter, so we enjoy seeing her as much as we can...its just so nice to be in their world for a little while. Andrew (who just turned 3) absolutely ADORES Benjamin, he follows him everywhere! Benjamin is so good about keeping a pace that Andrew can keep up with, he even helped both of the little ones play basketball! Maddie, who is Christian's age is a great buddy for Christian. The 2 of them play like friends and fight like siblings, its actually quite entertaining.

As much fun as it is to be in their busy world for awhile, it is such a wonderful blessing to come back to our own. We stopped in Northfield just briefly to do a little shopping. Because it is Mem. Day, many of the shops were closed, but even the boys are looking forward to going on a day that more are open. We were able to spend a little time in one of them, and everyone found a little something that they liked. Our weekend ended with Benjamin and Brian heading to baseball practice, and me doing laundry... right back at it! And I wouldn't trade it for a thing!

Med City

We could not have asked for better weather for the Med City Kids Marathon this morning! Since the end of April the kids have been part of the Lincoln Running club to prepare for today. Each day before school they ran a mile (25 in all) so today they ran the last 1.2 miles with the rest of the kids who signed up. Both boys did a terrific job, even after the sleepover they had last night!

Yesterday afternoon was the all-school celebration...with a Johnny Jump, Dj, Roosters Softball, the MooMobile...so much to do, and kids everywhere! It was a great way to kick off Memorial Day weekend. We began the weekend with our first grill out of the year, and the sleep over for the boys.

Last week was cub scout graduation! It is a bit of a relief to have one activity done for awhile. Now we are down to just soccer and baseball...the calendar is clearing up little by little, I LOVE this time of year!!

Mother's Day

This year marked yet another wonderful Mother's Day. Our plan this year--Have no plan! After church we spent some time shopping, visted with my mom and sister, and got some work done in the yard. There are 2 large perennial gardens that are full of flowers and shrubs and plants that will bloom at different times! I am excited and nervous to be the caretaker, but I'm up for the challenge!

Benjamin had his first game in the Majors this week. It was fun to watch him back in the "swing". Brian is helping coach again this year...which left me w/o my game watching buddy, but it is fun to see him out there too. He has also agreed to be Assistant Cub Master this year for scouts. Neither of us are sure what he has signed on for, but it should make for an interesting year. Especially when football and scouts overlap in the fall.

I didn't work at all this week so it was the perfect week to catch up on homework, yardwork, housework, and ME time! The weather couldn't have been better for a week off of work! I went to a cute little knitting shop next to church where I found the needles I had been searching for to finish Christian's hat. It looks great, he put it on today and he loves it! My first project is a success! I have a few more that I am looking forward to getting started, including hats for the rest of the family. Maybe even his and hers scarfs?

Since the last time I blogged a few exciting things happened! First, my sister's cat had kittens, and they are sweet as can be! Tiny little voices! They are precious, the boys named the calico looking one Jabbers because he was the most vocal of all of them.

We also had the pleasure of dog-sitting Daisy for the weekend. We loved it! It was so fun to have a dog around, she was playful and cuddly...we aren't used to that attention from our cats. The biggest news comes from soccer. Christian scored 3 goals in 2 games! He is really doing well this year, if only the weather would clean up so we aren't freezing while we watch! I have started knitting again, this time I am going to MAKE something! My first project? A hat for Christian. Tahnee has been a good teacher, she has been patient and even gave advice over the phone! I hope I can finish it soon, and get started on Benjamin's.

This week I have been subbing at the school and I just love it! It feels so good to have finally found a job that I absolutely love in every way! The schedule, the people, the atmosphere! Now that the boys are in school all day, I just couldn't find the right way to spend my time, but being at Lincoln feels like the perfect fit! Even if it is as a sub.

Mother's Day is around the corner, I hope some nicer weather comes with it...