Sweeping = Second Breakfast or Snack time in Aimee's mind, I have to be quick or she helps herself.
More Paris love :0)
I opened this book to read to you Lij at Easter Seals and someone had written in the French translation below. How cool is that? I of course had to read it in French to you!
Alex riding his bike during Lij & Aimee's afternoon nap, while I contently watched from the front porch rocking chair.
Alex trying on glasses just for fun
Alex's Kindergarten eye exam. It turns out you have a slight astigmatism (like your mom), but nothing to be concerned about at this point, thankfully.
Sweet Aimsey & Alex.
Brother Cash arranged for 3 of us returned missionary sisters (Kathryn Kimball and Sarah Dickinson) from the ward to come and chat with his pre-missionary daughter, Antonia, and her friend before leaving on their missions. The Cashes brought DELICIOUS speciality sandwiches & cheesecake for us chatting ladies and pizza & cookies for Jason, Bry and the kids. It was a fabulous afternoon of sharing stories and testimonies.
Bernadette holding Sarah's new baby while we chatted.
Aimee being a chocolate chip cookie monster :0)
Here's the group of us girls:
Bernadette & Antonia Cash, Sarah Dickinson, friend, me and Kathryn Kimball
Our new "please take off your shoes" sign...since I can't help but give explanations and disclaimers ;0)
A postcard from Marlene Graden from their recent trip. We're getting SO excited for OUR trip!
Alex drew and taped up that little collection of drawings next to my bed <3 p="">
Heading to STL for our final hurrah with the Hintzes (and to attend the temple)
Sweet, sweet girl. We're done with nursing :0(
A CUTE thank you from Aunt Emmie for Dad doing her taxes. It's been 6 or 7 years now.
Adorable present from Aunt Em for Alex's birthday. He was over the moon when he saw the rocket ship card and wrapping paper :0)
My sweet friend Melanie (who I visit teach) totally surprised me on Mother's Day with this truly ADORABLE sign for our kitchen that she had made. I couldn't get over her thoughtfulness. And I just LOVE the sign! Once again, makes me think of our upcoming trip to Paris and my forever love for all things French.
Monday morning, well hello. Yes, our house is definitely not always in order! Especially after road trips. And don't mind that most of the stuff in the laundry room is mine. (Shhh, don't tell)
Alex flying a kite :0)
We purchased 2 comfy terry cloth bathrobes for our guest bathroom. Anyone want to come visit??!
We finally bought you, Lij, your own copy of the Book of Mormon to use during family scripture reading at breakfast. You were so excited!
Cute outfit (from Bompa & Mémé) on a cute girl..who is almost done with 1st grade!
Dad & I at the Peoria Zoo. Brie, your class was heading there for a field trip. You had asked if any of us were going to meet you there and I told you that we hadn't planned on it so no. After you were at school I asked Dad how quickly he could have his grades submitted for the semester. He quickly finished up and we called for an impromptu trip to the zoo to surprise you!
A gorgeous walkway there by the African animals. I love how GREEN the Midwest is.
Sisters (in coordinating outfits) :0)
Brie eating lunch with her class.
Miss Sassy pants :0)
Bola, a mom that I met at Halloween time in Mrs. Kauten's class. We got a picture then of both of us expecting (me with a bike helmet to make my halloween costume more believable), and here we are with our not so little babies now.
Booked our hotel for our last night in Paris! Sorted through DOZENS of hotels and settled on this one because of the sign "bonheur" because Bry = bonheur (happiness) to me.
Aimee got the biggest kick out of Alex shooting the plastic darts up in the air and then chasing after them. Her laugh was the cutest thing ever!
Nicely done, Brie. I love to see your artwork even on a basic assignment.
Reading with my Alex :0)
My new Vionics came in the mail! (thank you 6pm.com) Now to get them broken in before Paris.
Family walk to school, look at this little love muffin!
It's so fun to see the tiny plants start to grow.
Getting Em's ocean package ready to send for her May package (monthly subscription).
Oh my, the kids would LOVE these stamps. Me too!
Found that little beauty of a travel bag at a garage sale for $10. I was so excited and felt so blessed! You can't tell that I am just a little bit TOTALLY excited for our upcoming trip!!
One of favorites from this last round at the library
Brie's 1st grade class
Our cowboy hats arrived for the ranch (thank you Amazon Prime)
Heading to Olayan Nowland's birthday party
Dad hung up my sign. Just lOVE it!
Out to Starbuck's for Chocolate Chip frapuccinos and a pastry...trying to get in the café spirit.
Prepping to teach "Praise to the Man" in primary
Look at Aimee's beautiful dress from the Nowlands
Feeling slimmer and healthier these days...after months and months and months and months...of calorie counting (+ some exercise)
At Mothers & Muffins in Brie's class
A (random) succulent plant I bought for Mrs. Goelitz in a pinch. We didn't do anything for her during teacher appreciation week and I wanted to thank her for being Brie's "school mom". I didn't want a bouquet of flowers to die on her desk during the day and I couldn't find a good potted plant. Hopefully she at least appreciated the gesture ;0)
Alex & Brooke on the last day of preschool!
Good ol' Mrs. Thomas, we LOVE her and the preschool program she is running at NCHS
We all have our boots now. Ranch here we come!...in a few weeks.
Brie's pre-2nd grade dental check up
Cute littles playing in the waiting room at Easter Seals. We're here 2x/month for 1 hour.
Alex & I at Orange Leaf to cash in on Alex's free frozen yogurt for having NO cavities
Getting nightly gifts ready for the ranch
Little flower arrangement for Brie's last day of school
Aimee's 1yr check up, wearing one of my baby outfits
Look at that smile!
I love the time Dad spends with you kids. You have such a wonderful father.
Picking out glasses and sunglasses online from Zenni Optical. You can not beat the price. I am so excited to finally have (polarized) prescription sunglasses and a second pair of glasses.
I love seeing you guys read! One of our favorite past times around here.
Assume the pooing position. Poor girl, this is when you are constipated and straining :0/
Cute book!
Earlier this day in the Talbert's backyard I put Aimee down on the grass and she instantly curled up in a ball because the grass prickled/tickled her little bare legs. We had to reenact it here to show Dad and get a picture.
Date night: trying on and picking out our outfits for Paris & Berlin :0)
At one point Aimee decided to join us
We can't WAIT for our trip <3 p="">
Dropping off the Nowlands at Saturday morning soccer games while John was out of town
Tyler Seader, Tom McCann, Bry and Josh Jensen practicing a quartet piece that they'll perform sometime late Summer
How grown up and handsome are you getting, Alex??
Our thank you notes (& adorable picture that Brie drew) for Mrs. Goelitz.
We got up early to paint your nails for the last day of school
Walking to school, for your last day of 1st grade!
Kelly snuggling baby Deacon while visiting teaching
One more from the last day of school. Two cuties.
Just TOO cute in that Summer outfit....
...and those sweet chubby legs just kill me!
Brie bouncing by with braids on a bouncey horse. I was in a bad mood, this was hilarious and totally cheered me up!
This kind man helped Bry to strategically install a HAM radio antenna in our back yard
Getting my hair done, finally! Blond highlights, dark brown lowlights and a touch of bright red!
Sweet Whitney delivered these beautiful flowers & card from her mom to thank us for carpooling this year
Playing at the Kimballs, great way to ring in Summer!
In Kathryn's kitchen, just love it.
Kathryn and her two cute daugthers, Savannah and Millie. I just love Kathryn and the friend and great example she is to me!
You kids & I making a (boxed) angel food cake for the first time, thanks to Sharon Sagers saving the day, lending us her pan and educating me about bundt vs. angel food cake pan. Had no idea.
Sweet Yuling let me come over one afternoon to look through ALL of her jewelry to see if there was something I wanted to wear for our photo shoot in Paris. She is forever thoughtful!
Cake box cake or not, you can't go wrong with fresh berries.
I had A LOT of fun designing and putting together this singing time for Rachael Winsor to use on Father's Day while we will be in Berlin.
One kid came up to look under a tie to see the song to be sung. If they did a good job singing it they got to help the singer get clean shaven for father's day by removing his facial hair. Silly, but fun, eh?
Our sun glasses came. Now I'll admit, I feel like we look a bit like flies. Mine are not as sophisticated as I would have liked, but alas...$40 is a steal of a deal.
Dad helping me get envelopes and cards ready to use on our trip.
One day I was teasing Lij about not eating his fruits & veggies so he could shrink and I could keep him in my pocket forever. SO silly, I know. For our trip I made a pocket version of Dad & I for you kids to keep and a pocket version of you four for us to take with us on our trip :0)
We LOVE you sweet, Aimee. These are two doting parents indeed.
Memorial day, remembering some of our loved ones who have passed on. We included Uncle Walt's mom, Celia, as well since the Johnsons joined us for dinner.
Our little fam
Talk about feast. Tamara Johnson brought TONS of food to contribute to dinner.
Our first tea party with the very dainty and beautiful crystal sets we got from the Johnsons while sorting, packing and dejunking before Larry moves to Utah.
You boys helping to get roadtrip antics ready for our trip
Some fun books we read leading up to our trip to the Tumbling River Ranch
Oh my sweet babe.
Olivia saved the day AGAIN by coming every morning for about a week so that I could get final trip details in place in pack. It would have been one thing to prepare for 1 trip but we had so many facets to our trip. 2 day road trip. 1 night at a hotel in Colorado. 7 nights at the ranch. 1 day roadtripping to Utah. 2 nights in Utah. Our 7 day trip to Europe while the kids were 3 days at Aunt Rachie's, 3 days at Aunt Emmie's and 2 days at Bompa & Mémé's then 1 more night at Bompa & Mémé's, 2 nights at Grandpa & Nana's then 3 days road trip back to Illinois. Talk about complicated! Anyway, yes, she saved my bacon while I feverishly got everything in place.
