Memorial Day Weekend

We traveled to Niobrara for Memorial Day weekend and the Gratopp's met us there.

All that Jack and Will wanted to do was go fishing. Darren took them to the farm pond and they caught a lot of fish. Will was definitely more ambitious than Jack when it came to taking them off the hook but they both had a great time. The 2nd time out Hannah decided that she wanted to try it. I was surprised but happy that she wanted to go with Darren and the boys. She caught fish also but I don't think she got too close to the fish!

Max cried every time Darren's truck left the driveway of the campsite and he was left behind. It didn't last long but he knew he was missing out on something.

We visited Darren's Grandma who will be 99 this summer! She looked great and I think she enjoyed seeing how big the kids have gotten. Bill and Lana were also up there and Bill's boat was a big hit as always. The kids love playing in it in the driveway. We also drove out to take a picture in front of a house that Darren's great, great, great grandparents built many years ago and recently burned.

We caught up with Ryan and Traci and their kids and our kids were excited to have someone else to play with. Emma and Hannah get along really well and Gage is hilarious!

Sometimes I think that if we just camped in our driveway the kids would be just as happy. They love playing in the bunk beds in the back of the camper, especially Will!

Last Day of School

The last day of school had finally come. This year seemed to go so fast! Everyone but Max decided to wake up well before 7am this morning to start celebrating early. They were dressed and ready by 7:15. They each made their own lunches and were very hyper until it was time to leave. I made them take a picture and we were off.

I picked them up at 1:20 and we went to Dairy Queen as promised. Max decided it would be a good time to pee in his big boy undies so after I cleaned up that mess we went inside. Let's just say that I think every mother in Omaha promised their kids ice cream after school. It was packed!

We took Jack's friend Nolan. I know it was a sad day for Jack knowing it was his last day with his friends but it cannot be changed so we will have to make the best of it.

We are really proud of the kids for working hard this year and being respectful at school. Jack seemed happier and more content this year than we have ever seen him and we were told many times what a great kids Will is. I don't think Hannah got in trouble once this year. She would probably have died if she did. She always tries her best and is a good friend to everyone.

It is hard to believe that next year we will have a 3 year old little monster, 1st grader, 2nd grader and 5th grader!

TURBO Math!

Jack has been working since 2nd grade to earn his "Extreme Turbo Math" ribbons. Some students earn them very quickly and for others it takes longer. The objective of  "Turbo Math" is to learn your math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) inside and out.  You must score above a 98% in the 2 minutes you are given to complete them. In addition, you must achieve each level of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division twice!

After 3 years, Jack did it! I am not sure if I have ever seen him so proud. After you earn your Extreme Ribbon, the principle takes you on a bus to Pizza Hut for lunch. An added bonus was that his best friend earned his this month also so they both went together!

Math is very difficult for Jack so this was a huge accomplishment!

Max & Mom

Max and I spend a lot of time together during the week. He constantly asks where Jack, Will and Hannah are and then starts asking about where dad is. I tell him over and over that dad is at work and he asks over and over again "why". We have our routine where he gets to eat lunch on the couch each day which the other kids are never allowed to. It is funny that he never thinks to ask to eat on the couch for any other meals. It's like he knows it's "our secret".

We read books before nap and he requests that I sing him a dog song. Sometimes we go to the park if I don't have a lot of work to do or he might have "school". When I am on my computer he loves "Photo Booth" and knows exactly what to click on to make it appear. We take a lot of pictures together and then he likes to look through them over and over again. These were from our latest session of Photo Booth!

Mother's Day

From Jack:
1. She helps me with homework 2. Cooks food for me  3. Buys me toys 4. Buys me clothes  5. Drives me to school
6. Drives me to basketball  7. Drives me to football  8. Helps me  9. Give me lunch money  10. Buys us snacks

From Will:
Write how much he loves me

From Jack:
"I only bug you cuz I love you so much"

From Will
For each flower I pick he has to do what is on the stem

From Will:
"Thank you for helping me do stuff and driving me to school and picking me up too. Thank you for putting me to bed at nighttime. And most importantly thank you for loving me the most ."

From Will:
I love my mom because she reads me chapter books
I love my mom because she helps me with hard papers
I love my mom when she makes me laugh by tickling me
I love my mom because she taught me how to make cookies
I love to hear my mom sing songs about me
I love my mom because she finds time to help me
I love my mom because she loves me
I know my mom is smart because she reads books
I love my mom because she works so hard at cooking

From Will

From Will

From Jack:
He made this book of abstract drawings at school with oils and chalk. It is really pretty. The front reads:
"Mom
the most important thing about my mom is she helps me, she is nice and good at crafts, she makes good food, she drives me to basketball practice."

It was a great Mother's Day that started very early at 7am when the kids woke me with their cards. They had kept them under their beds since the week before so they were excited for me to read them. Each of them select so much of their individual personalities! They then rushed me outside for my next surprise which was my car that they had colored and taped! Each of the kids had their own section to decorate. Will used his to tell me over and over how much he loved me, Hannah used hers to draw what made her happy, and Jack used his to advertise for the Boston Celtics. Jack was very embarrassed to ride in the car that day and said that if I dropped him off at school in it that he would rather walk!

We then went to church and over to Grandma Lana's house for brunch. Bill cooked out pancakes and croissant sandwiches and everything was so good! We then went home and Will and I took a nap! I am so lucky to have 4 healthy kids that love me even though they say that I am mean a lot!

I thought it was funny that in all of the "reasons" the kids listed for loving me, driving them places and food were a common theme. I guess they do spend a lot of time going places and eating!