Preschool: Year 1

One of the most difficult things about being a teacher is not being able to provide opportunities for my own kids to grow during the day time.  I love the option of night preschool and I love that Ms. Britt is the teacher.  Alex and Aiden have had her for their ECFE teacher since birth, so we know and love her!  

Alex goes to preschool every Tuesday night from 6-8 pm.  He absolutely loves going.  He looks forward to Tuesday nights and usually asks me, "is it a school day, Mom?".  One of his favorite things about going to preschool is he gets to go with his friend, Abby.  We take turns driving the kids each week.  Here is a picture of Abby and Alex from Abby's mom.

The year seems to have gone so fast and we are so grateful for all the opportunities and growth Alex has shown this year.  When I asked Alex if he was excited for Tball this summer his reply was, "Yes, Mom.  Is Ms. Britt going to go with me?" When I asked him why she would be going he replied, "To protect me, Mom".  He will miss her.

Ms. Britt made the cutest little book for all the kids filled with pictures, work samples, some projects and interviews.  It is the best little treasure.

On one of the last nights of preschool this year, the class/teachers/parents/siblings met at the local New Market park (Wagner Park) for some play time, circle time, a picture or two and a pizza party.  Alex was in his element running around and playing and Aiden was so proud to be his brother.   

Although I am not able to provide the traditional experiences for my children yet, I am so thankful to New Prague Schools for the opportunities they are providing for working families.  My kids enjoy going to "school" to play with their friends, learn and grow. 

Whatever next year brings, I am thankful for this experience...

It's All About the Moms

Mother's Day brought new traditions this year.  My cousin asked if I wanted to walk in the Race for the Cure at the Mall of America in honor of her Grandma Bone, who passed from Breast Cancer. Mother's Day morning, Along with my mom and aunt we walked in her honor and it was so inspiring.  The crowd was overwhelming and it was nice to see everyone out supporting a good cause.  It seems like there have been so many negative things happening in our society, it was nice to focus on a cause and be supportive.  I hope we do it again.

After the walk, Andy and I invited them along with the rest of the Andersen family over for a lunch BBQ.  My Grandma and Grandma Andersen just arrived back from their winter trip to Florida and it was the first chance to get everyone together. We decided on our menu; grilled shrimp/chicken/steak kabobs, green salad, chicken-apple salad, twice baked potatoes, peach tea or lemon-ice water, and sherbert cream desert.   

We had some flowers for decoration along with special gifts for the women; my Grandma, my mom, my Godmother, and Aiden's Godmother. Andy took the boys down to visit his mom and dad the previous day.  I wish I could have gone, but was under the weather.  I know that Andy, and especially the boys had a great time visiting their Grandparents.

I decided to do some Pinterest projects for the Mom's this year.  For my mom and Kathy I stole an idea from a friend (Bethany) and took the glass out of an old picture frame.  I glued fabric onto the back cardboard, stapled some twine that zig zagged across the frame and used small clothespins to hold pictures on it.  Bethany's turned out way nicer than the ones I made, but I liked the idea.  For Kathy, I printed family pictures. For my mom's, I printed pictures from each of the stadiums she and my dad have visited on their Twins trips. I only have a picture of the Chicago trip in my picture, but I also had pictures from the Twin Cities, Texas, San Fransisco and New York. For the other women, I bought tiles from Home Depot and modge-podged pictures of each of them with family onto the tiles.  I put felt on the bottom and made them into coasters.  It was so much fun doing these Pinterest projects, I sure hope the women like the gifts. 

After lunch we took the opportunity to take some family pictures.  It is rare that we are all together any more with work and other family obligations. 

After the pictures we headed down the road to the local park.  The boys rode their bikes and the women walked while the guys stayed back to watch some golf.

Overall, it was a fun and relaxing day.  After our guests left, we played around the house and enjoyed each others company before heading off for an early bed time.  I should just end each post with...I am truly blessed.

A Guse Family Event

It seems rare these days that we get the entire Guse clan together.  I really could not have asked for a better family to be married into.  They are all wonderful, generous, giving, kind people who enjoy a laugh.  Andy's cousin, Angie, was married in April and we were able to attend the reception to celebrate. So, naturally, we took the opportunity to grab a few snapshots. 

One of the things I am looking forward to most this summer is visiting one of my long time besties, Abby, and Andy's brother, Nate, in Washington.  It was so nice to see them and get in a few laughs. We don't get to talk as often as I would like because with screaming kids, deep and meaningful conversations are difficult to come by. But, I love them and miss them.

I love my little family.

The cousins all have a great time together.  Alex was just showing me last night how Aaron taught him to "toot" with his arm.  I love how you can always count on cousins to teach you/tell you about things your parents won't.  They are lucky kids.

We had a great time at the dance.  Especially Joely, who was cutting a rug.  I think he intimidated Alex a little because Alex told me "I can't dance, Mom". He eventually warmed up a little and even asked me to dance with him a couple of times.  He melts my heart.  The adults had a good time chatting and catching up, too.

My honey loved his Shirley Temples.  Kathy made another beautiful cake.  It was a great weekend filled with wonderful family memories.  Have I told you how blessed I am?  

The Big 3-0

So she said that we were having a fun day and then she had to go meet my dad for a movie.  So she lied.  

I have been dreading the big "3-0".  Yes, I know that it's not really that big, but when you have never been there before it's a large, round, scary number.

Driving down my street I started noticing all these vehicles that looked familiar to me.  The closer we got to my house, the more I noticed the large crowd of people gathered on my driveway. The crowd of people started looking familiar and I started getting nervous.  I hate to be the center of attention in a crowd that large.  I love pulling off parties for people I love, but hate being the center of attention.

Before we left for Florida, my husband had his own to-do list that I had no idea about.  It included micromanaging friends/family to get invitations set and sent out, buying party decorations, changing his phone password, email password and Facebook settings, coordinating schedules and stashing away money to save for this party. I'm still a little wierded out about the money piece.

I couldn't believe he (along with my mom, Cassie, Eva, Kathy, and other friends and family) had pulled off this party.  People from all different parts of my life were there.  I got a card and gift in the mail from a great friend, Steph. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the all the challenges and negatives that life throws our way. The party, the people and the laughs were the best reminder of all the love I have in my life and all that I have to be grateful for in this life.

Some of the laughs from the party were provided by the window statues that my mom painted (free hand mind you). Why didn't I get the artistic gene?

I could not believe all the thought these people had put into the party.  They had decorated, plowed (in April) our driveway, all the food preparations, the pinata, the theme, the pina coladas and other fancy drinks; it was more than I could have ever wanted.

There were a few gifts to open and although a thoughtful idea, the best gift was having everyone there.  Spending time with people and laughing, sharing stories and focusing on the good in life.
 

My littles and Ms. Em had a little sleep over.  How they love spending time with each other.  When they were fast asleep, we stayed up until the wee hours playing games and getting in some more laughs.  I'm glad that life is changing and yet staying the same.  

So she said that we were having a fun day and she did not lie!

Hopping Back into MN

We arrived back from our trip to Florida bright and early Saturday morning.  We arrived in Minnesota around 10 AM.  My parents picked us up at the airport and after a quick stop at home we headed down to Andy's parents house for lunch.

We met the Guse's at Pizza Ranch and spent the afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa's. 

  

The boys had a great time playing with their cousins, Aaron and Rachel.  The Easter Bunny came and left an overwhelming number of eggs (with no complaint from the boys of course) and Aiden got his first wallet! "Money!"

Funny guy, Aiden, dumped his down the stairs...

Opening the eggs and finding the hidden treasures was delightful for the kids as well.  Some of the eggs had money and some had candy.  A healthy balance of each.

After a good night of sleep, we headed to my parents for Easter the following day.  You probably can't tell how exhausted the boys were from this picture...

The boys were greeted with baskets from the Easter Bunny again.  Boy! That Easter Bunny sure loves them. New swimming trunks, goldfish, bubbles and kites were some of the new bunny treats.

Too bad it was so cold to fly kites.

The Easter Bunny must have an abundance of eggs because he sure plopped some around Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's too. 

More candy and coins for the boys. The piggy banks became enlarged this Easter.

We had a great Easter weekend at home.  I didn't touch up the following picture, it is just how burned Andy got from the hot (?) Florida sun.  Happy Belated Easter everyone...