Funny

I re-discovered these pictures on my computer tonight. This was one of the posts I couldn't bring myself to do back in sweet Virginia. I think it was the last night Mom, Dad, Josie and the girls came over to my house on Shadow Ridge for dinner. We ate, we decorated cookies, we took a bath in the sink (yes, the kitchen sink), then we ventured outside to catch fireflies, and there was even dress up too. I typical dinner night at the house with the grandparents and cousins, well maybe minus the bath in the kitchen sink.

It all started with the amounts of sprinkles and icing that was accumulating on Stephen's cookies, Claire was busy eating the icing..... I mean why waste the time to a

pply it to a cookie when all you are going to do is lick it off anyways? I think she was just cutting to the chase, saving a step, just cracking me up.... I miss that funny face. Kate and Madeline however have really grasped the cookie making process and even have their own flair! They like to build up, add layers of icing, sprinkles, cookies, icing, sprinkles.... and MORE sprinkles. Darn, they make a good cookie! And if you look real close, Kate takes a bite out of each one of them as she decorates.

MKE

Yes, we are here! We arrive on July 29th and I know I am terribly behind on posts.... I am back in the saddle, I promise!

In Virginia, I just couldn't blog anymore at home, my emotions with the move were just too raw. The more I thought about it, the more I could let myself break apart. And frankly, I didn't want to cry about it. I just wanted to take this whole situation by the horns and ride the adventure that followed. So, we are riding along?!&%?

Part of being behind on my posts is my personal analness, if that is even a word. It just drives me nuts to see things out of place and know that I need to organize. I have to force myself to let things go and live with them the way they are, until it eats me up again. For the most part, things are in their place. Don't get me started on what to do next, maybe just something fun. The dogs have their fence and the kids got their swing set today. The house is really great. I love living in a ranch style house with a big basement. The yard is nice and flat. A great driveway and cul-de-sac for bike riding. The backyard is level and has thick green grass.... hopefully it will stay that way with the dogs. We have ventured out to a local beach that we keep going back too. And of course, ice cream, all you can eat crab legs, Fat Tire, and local sausage just to name a few of the great finds so far. This weekend The State Fair and Irish Festival..... we are staying busy!

Cowboys & Indians

Tonight Kate, Madeline, Claire, Aubrey, and Sydney all attended their first swim meet.  None of the girls participated in the competition, but we thought it would be a great introduction to what they could do in the future.  Plus, we wanted to show support for our team.  Last week when the girls were jumping and practicing jumping off the diving board, Coach Cary told us about the swim team theme of Cowboys and Indians.  He specifically asked us to dress up the girls as Indians, so we did.  (Disclaimer:  I cannot take any credit for the adorable costumes!  Christy and Josie helped the girls with their costumes this afternoon and they did an amazing job!) 

Josie called me as I arrived by myself to the pool to ask me if there were many Indians.... I saw very few.  However, all the coaches did wear head pieces.  Then walk in our five little Indians....  They were an instant hit!  I think I had at least 20 parents tell me how adorable the girls were and taking pictures of them.  I must admit, they were DARN CUTE!  The girls really enjoyed watching the swimmers compete, they were fascinated.  They also watched their fellow mites compete, even their friend Michael.  I think it was a great experience to get them excited about the next meet and maybe they will be ready to jump in.

The highlight of the evening had to be seeing Coach Cary and showing him their Indian dresses.  The moment Michael told Madeline she could go over to see him, she made a b-line to him.  When she arrived, she literally jumped into his arms.    

Go Michael, go!

I love Madeline's dreamy eyes for Coach Cary.  

3 of the 5 Little Indians

 

Say cheese

Do you like Stephen's "cheese" face?

Fireflies

When the fireflies are out and the crickets are singing, that is when I know summer is here.  Every summer when I hear the crickets for the first time of the season something inside of me changes too.  Maybe its childhood calling, but it seems even stronger now having little ones to run around with.  The other night we were playing in the yard after dinner, catching the early night fireflies.  Stephen definitely wants to participate.  I hear, "I catch, I catch bug."  Well, I'll be darn, he did!  All by himself! 

St. Mark's

Well Kate is officially done with school for the summer.... Let the late nights, sleep in mornings, pool play dates, swim team practice, ice cream, and tanned bodies run free.  The past 2 weeks Kate has had summer camp at St. Mark's.  I am a little nostalgic as she ends her time at St. Mark's Preschool.  Yes, my little girl is growing up and looking back it seems just too fast.  However her departure from her preschool may also have a little something to do with the fact that I went to preschool at St. Mark's too.  It is not at the same church location and we did not have any of the same teachers.  However, I can remember making little friends, discovering caterpillars on the play ground, getting stung by a bee for the first time, and riding round on a red tricycle.  I try to remember what it was like to be four and even though the memories are few, many of them include St. Mark's.  It is a wonderful preschool and I am thrilled that we shared in our experiences.  I guess it is also the close of a chapter in both of our lives.  It is the start of a new beginning and a new adventure.  

Kate's 1st day at St.Mark's Preschool, September 2007 

Shadow Ridge

Okay, so I guess the count has begun, we are a month away.  July 9th the movers pack us up, July 10th they load the truck and that night we will be out of this house.  A month from now this house will no longer be ours.  I am trying to fight back the tears...  When we bought this house I thought we would be here at least until the kids went to college.  I had visions of first days of school on the big yellow bus and high school age kids fighting over who got to use the "shared" bathroom first. David wanted to cut down the tree in front of our house so Kate could not climb out her window.  (If you have seen High Sch@@l Musical 1 or 3 you know what I am talking about.) I know it is a just a house, but I love the memories and the people who have graced this space to make it our home.  

It's not just the house or the people in it, but the people who live next door... Joanna, Eric, Josh, Ava, and Julie.  We will miss you terribly.  Where to begin... We are always there for each other.  Whether it is a impromptu play time of 5 minutes or 5 hours, a run to Chick fil a ... (how many people can fit into a mini-van?), giving each other Mommy breaks, red light - green light, dinner together when the husbands are away, scooters & bike rides in the drive way, kids laughing or kids crying, jumping into piles of leaves, borrowing a cup of _____ , dual pizza pick up, "Hey, I am just calling to let you know that Josh is over here", popsicles, gardening, clothes sharing, breastfeeding advice, time-outs or naughty chairs, T@rget runs, birthday parties or just a phone call to check in.....  I know we will still be friends and talk on the phone, but I am very sad because soon you will no longer be my next door neighbors.   

Kate, a more civilized method...

A fork! 

How Stephen eats his Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Pickin'

I am overdue with this post, we had so much fun!  Kate is already asking when we can go back and do it again.  I agree, you forget just how delicious berries are right after you pick them.  

We all ate our way through the patch, but Claire took the grand prize this year.  I think Madeline and Stephen ran a close second.  Stephen really got into the "pickin" this year and after he had about 10 in his basket, he sat down and ate them all.  

Yes, he is also wearing a winter hat.  It is his favorite hat and the ONLY hat he will wear, I have tried many others.  So, this summer you might see him wear this hat at the pool.  Winter hat or sunburn... you know which one I will pick.  

Kate loved it, no help this year from me, she was going to do it all my herself and she did.  She picked 8 pounds of strawberries all by herself.  We shared with her teachers and she could actually say, I picked them just for you!  

I really think that when you are in the middle of the patch the air smells like a strawberry milkshake!  Ahhh... it is a beautiful smell.  And by the way, as our berry season here has ended, the season in Milwaukee just started.