july is almost over?

Can it really be that July is almost over? Schuyler's first day of Kindergarten is Sept 4th and approaching quickly. She has her kindergarten Dr. appt on Monday. The other day, she made us a little book of words she can spell. Lamp, gift, pig, ring, and one other I can't read = ) It's so neat. But, what is truly great is watching her become a caring human being. This year she and the other kindergartner's assume leadership roles. During the summer, she is in the toddler room helping out, serving lunch, helping with walks, helping put on shoes, etc... I witnessed firsthand how well she does the other day at pick up time. A toddler was throwing a huge tantrum on the floor. She looked at John, went over and offered her hand and said "your mom is waiting for you". Off he went = )

Swimming lessons concluded last night and both girls moved to the next class. Next time we resume, Schuyler will be in level 3 and Mack will be in level Aqua Kids (it's like level 1 1/2. For those swimmers who are ready for level 2 but not tall enough). This weekend when we were in Hastings at the waterpark, it was very apparent what great strides both made this year in swimming. Hastings was fun! The kids were busy non-stop. Schuyler enjoyed her first baseball games with Grandpa!

Eli is going non-stop. We are trying desperately to got our house in order. He's in the bathroom, girls' room, etc... There is no containing him. He goes from sit to crawl back to sit! He is pulling himself up on everything. I walk in to get him after nap and he's in his bed standing. Sheesh. That happened fast. He is enjoying all foods! Rice cereal is still his favorite!

Vacation bible school starts next week! Kids will be tired!

feeling under the weather

I'm recouping from some nasty bug! I ended up staying home yesterday because I felt so rotten. It PAINS me to use my very valuable PTO for me being sick but I guess sometimes you have to do just that. My body ached all over and I spent the day in sweat pants, sweat shirt, and socks and could not get warm! And, why does this always happen when hubby is out of town. It's a good thing my MIL was in town with my niece to get the girls to swim lessons, help with dinner, etc... Gma took the girls back to Hastings (we're heading there tonight) and then dad came over in the evening to help with Eli. (Yes I was THAT sick)!

Congrats to my cousin and her husband on the birth of their first child. Jaxon Carter Volkmer entered the world on 7/16/07 at 7:51 p.m. He was 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 in long. (Disclaimer: stats may not be exact). He is a beautiful baby and you can bet I'll share pics (eventually)=)

Here is just one of Mr. Eli at 6 months! Can you believe he pulled himself up yesterday. Goodness gracious. He is really concentrating on those large motor skills!

I'm here!

I’m still here! Just didn’t get around to blogging last week. But I’m back, with lots of tidbits, as usual.

We had a nice 4th. Seems like a long time ago! We enjoyed some swimming at our neighbor’s, Eli and myself included. His first time ever and he had fun! Fireworks were a different story. Schuyler still loves them, especially the yellow “smokies” (translation: smoke bombs). Mack calls them smoke balls and it might be the ONLY firework she enjoys. She held her hands over her ears the whole time. She wouldn’t even take them off for homemade ice cream. I had to feed her the ice cream. We tried some pretty pink earplugs but she kept pulling them out. Eli was not a fan either! They would go off and his little face would scrunch up, the lip would come out and down came the tears. He went to bed around 8:00. I kept Mack out until 10:00 or so but it just wasn’t worth it! I brought her in and she went to bed!

That weekend, the girls went to Hastings to see Mark’s parents. This was a first for them and they kept BUSY. Eli got to be an only child for the weekend!

Last week we resumed swimming lessons. Schuyler is in a class of 4; at least this time there is one other girl! Mack basically enjoyed private lessons on Tuesday b/c there is one other boy and he would not get in the water. He was a little more receptive on Tuesday but it’s just the 2. Eli began veggies on Monday. He’s now had peas, green beans, and carrots and appears to like them all. His favorite is still the rice cereal. He bounces up and down in his high chair. Also, the world is changing for us all as Eli is crawling and becoming very mobile =)

Mack and Eli had Dr. Appts last week, 3 year and 6 month respectively. Eli is 95% for height and 85% for weight. Mack is 50% for both. Can you believe Mack weighs only 10 pounds more than her brother! Both were quite the little show offs. When Dr. asked if he could tripod, I put him down and he sat and then went to his crawl position and off he went! Mack was asked to draw a person among other things. Not only did she draw it, she drew it backwards so it was facing him. LOL! Then, she played little miss shy. She hid behind me when asked to recite the ABC’s, but when he briefly left the room, she was belting them out. He actually heard her 3 doors down. Isn’t she funny =) But, most importantly, they are healthy!

We went to the Farmer’s Market this weekend as a family. It was a warm one but very fun! We got brats, cinnamon rolls, smoothies, kettle corn and homemade root beer. It’s seriously the best!! Unfortunately, they were out of the farm fresh chickens = ( You have to hit that stand early!

Things to come… Eli’s 6-month pics and, hopefully, pics of my bro and SIL puppies. Ernie, the cockapoo, and Sophie, the Weimeranar. In the interim, here’s a beautiful teen from a month or so ago. She is beautiful and it was good practice for seniors!

I am keeping my promise!

As promised, I am including LOTS of recent family pics! But first, thank you to all who gave me input as to which logo to use. The blue came out on top but it was fairly even. Either way, I couldn't have made a wrong choice.

A few tidbits before the pictures (or just scroll down=) Last Thursday concluded the first session of swim lessons. Both girls made significant progress. Schuyler will repeat level 2 again and, much to my surprise, Mack will repeat level 1. She had only one category with a no pass, acutally she marked it in the middle of pass and no pass. That was balance! All the important stuff like floating and holding her breath, she passed. (Okay, I might be a bitter party of one on that subject).


The weekend was fabulous!! Mark and I enjoyed an 18 hole round of golf with our friends and the kids were absolutely spoiled (but in a good way)!!! Mark and I are so blessed to have such awesome family!! I'm enjoying some days at home this week as none of the kids have daycare. We're having fun! I hope everybody has a fun and safe 4th.

One more thing. On a more serious note, my brother's MIL has uterine cancer. Please keep her in your prayers. She is one fantastic woman!

And, at last, pics...

The before and during of the first rice cereal...


The "haircut" incident. I have no clue why our carpet looks so disgusting!!!

The "friend" bday party...

The girl with more spunk than McKenzie, Katie!
Her other friend Shaine, better known as Shainie... (She is blowing her toes dry. How cute!)
The "family" party with, yes, another Lightning McQueen cake. (Or, in Mackie language "Lightning The Queen".!