Just the way I like it...

It's been a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend here in the midwest; if only we had some nearby cousins to share it with!  We have had fun as a family though and would love to share what we've been up to~

Ella Jane has finished up her preschool year.  She's so excited about Kindergarten now and trying to make sense of time as she has the whole summer to go before she is "officially" in elementary school.  Matthew has about a week and a half yet before he is done.  He told me today he is "asi-asi."  (He finished up a Spanish Club at school a few weeks ago and often uses a few Spanish words to get his point across.)  He's happy for the end of the year, but sad that it is over.  My sensitive boy he is.

Sara turned two while we were out in Seattle.  She and I took an unexpected trip out there last month to attend a funeral for one of my uncles.  We had a party Seattle family style; aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole shebang.  It was fun to be around everyone for one of those events because really, it's usually just us and a few friends.

Ella Jane is signed up for soccer and she couldn't be more excited.  She keeps talking to me about her pink shinguards.  This is the first time any of our kids have been in a sport.  We're all excited to watch her.

The kids and I are entered in a local 1&4mile run in June.  Grandma will be here and they are thrilled that she will be cheering them on.

I've been making some tremendous dinners as of late.  And cleaning up afterwards.  That says a lot.  I don't always make the yummiest meals and I don't always clean up.  But Jim has started his doctarate program so we've had to be a little more on top of things to keep everything moving smoothly!

This morning the kids and I had a WONDERFUL time at the nature center.  We got an early start and thankfully it was pretty cool~ no humidity.  We finished a hike that we had started but not had time to finish back in March.  This time the kids were braver going across the suspension bridge.  And so was I, I must admit.

We stopped to throw some rocks in a pond.

Then kept on hiking.  I carried Sara a lot of the way but she also handled it pretty well on her own.  Just look at her mastering this bridge!

And what hike wouldn't be complete without a snack and a water break?

We had a lot of fun and the kids love going there.  After our hike we went inside and explored all the fun thing they have for us there.  Now it's quiet time/rest time at our house and I broke away from a game of Rush Hour to put up a post.  Ever played it?  Matthew and I are masters.  We really love it.  And it's a fun way for us to connect with each other.

Summer will be here before we know it and we'll get in on all the sleeping in we can, trips to the library for FUN programs, time with Grandma while she and Grandpa visit, swim lessons and of course a little soccer!~