Summer So Far

Drew had his first session of swim lessons the last 2 weeks of June. He is much more timid when it comes to water, especially when it comes up to his shoulders. He LOVES water slides and fountains where, at most, the water came up to his knees. He did so well, that by the end of the second day he was putting his head under water and doing 10 "bobs". And of course all poor Kelsey could do was watch. (We saw the doctor again, took another x-ray, and the plan is one more appt at the end of July with a strong possibility of Kelsey being able to participate in the last session of swim class in August.)

The weekend of the 4th, we celebrated Craig's cousin's wedding. He was the officiant and it was a gorgeous outdoor ceremony. Drew was a DANCING MACHINE! I hope someone caught his amazing moves on camera - he was doing a break-dance spin, the worm, and what he called "a minion dance!" The kids were able to hang with their cousins all weekend too. There were lots of giggles and fun times.

On the 4th, we traveled north to my home town for the parade and picnic. As my cousin's children get older, we have quite the group of littles with us now (handing clothes down and around just like when we were their age!) Kelsey has also started dance this week. She does 3 hours, which includes ballet, jazz, and tap. She loves them all, especially since there are fancy shoes to wear for each dance!

Our broken kid vs. our new "fish"

These 3 have been buddies since K &D were 3 months old and started going to the sitter

Wedding selfies

Clearly, there is a gender difference in our house

Come on with these 2

Drew hugging the fire dog at the parade

The next generation of trouble-making Stahl cousins!

God Bless 'Merica, Y'all

Here We Come Summer

I have some end of the year photos, K4 graduation pics, and our long weekend at the lake. It's been a busy start to the summer. Craig and I had 2 busy weekends away before school ended and then 2 days after Craig's official last day, we were off to the lake house to spend some time with my family. It was a very relaxing way to cap off the end-of-the-year craziness! Now swim lessons have started, along with Drew's baseball games. Kelsey is supposed to have ballet/team auditions on Monday but she is very protective of her injury so I'm not sure how willing she will be (and she is SUPER shy about talking about her broken clavicle - she will ask me to tell people what happened when we are about to see someone who doesn't know or if we are in a group).

Yay! Onto K5

Last day of school

getting rid of the sling and now wearing the immobilizer. we have another appt on July 5th and we will see what the x-ray looks like and HOPEFULLY she can start doing things again

We spent 4 days up north on a chain of lakes with my extended family. LOTS of boating, fishing, swimming and fun:)

Master fisherman

Of course he had to drive the boat!!

Pretty good for a self-timer ipad photo

More Grey Hair

It's sort of a rite of childhood...breaking bones, getting stitches. I think my brother fell down the stairs, broke his collarbone and his arm all before he was 5! Kelsey and Drew were goofing around on the couch, doing this thing where they turn upside down. Somehow Kelsey jumped or bumped into Drew while trying to flip upside down and came crashing to the floor pretty hard on her upper arm/shoulder. I was pretty convinced she broke her clavicle by the amount of pain she was in and the guarding of that whole side of her body. It was just me and the kids and we were about to take Drew to baseball practice. Kelsey did NOT want to go to the doctor but the pain didn't get better and she wouldn't even let me touch it. So we headed to urgent care, which was a surprisingly quick process. We were home by 7:30 pm and went straight to bed. She slept through the night and Craig said she woke up ok. She'll push through. She's my tough cookie :)

Thankfully no surgery, just a sling for a couple of weeks. She did well with school and resting and icing it. We will see an ortho doc in follow up next week and see what our actual restrictions will be for the rest of the summer.

Drew has been the best brother-helper too. He will get all the doors, carry her backpack, help her take her shoes off. I thanked him for being such a great helper and he said, "well yea mom, I'm the big brother now." Ok kid, just keep being awesome.

Even with a broken clavicle, she's loving the camera!

"Get well" gifts from Melissa and Erin

This Post Brought to you by the Letter B

Baseball - Ballet - Bonins.

 Drew has started baseball and man is he excited about it! Every day he comes home from practice or a game, he tells it was the best one ever! He's the youngest one on the team so we had the talk about how he might not start every game but he will bat every time. He seemed cool with it. I told him that when he's 6 and 7 he'll be the older kid and probably get to play first.

Kelsey had her dance recital on Sunday and I was finally able to see what she has been learning! She refuses to show us anything at home (my kids are still pretty shy about some stuff). It was a new venue for the show and the seating wasn't all that great (neither was the lighting). Regardless, she wore a sweet little ballet dress and looked adorable in her ballet bun:)

Just another day

Life in pictures (and not many...). We have some fun stuff coming up with Kelsey's ballet show, Drew's gymnastics show and first "real" baseball game. We absolutely enjoyed the weather the past weekend and are excited for summer to get here!

Silly kids went to Starbucks before school on fun Friday with on of their favorite ICS teachers! 

Saturday morning laziness...

A beautiful April Saturday, taking our first bike ride to our friend's house

Party Time and 5 yr Appt

Well of course we had to celebrate with friends and family! And sure enough, it snowed that day. And then it was sunny. And then blizzardy snow. I guess that's what you get with Spring in Wisconsin! We had such a nice time with everyone and it's great to see what little people Kelsey and Drew are becoming at 5.

The kids had their check-up yesterday and the only thing that surprised me was their weight. I probably would have bet anyone that Kelsey is a good 3lbs heavier than Drew. In reality, it came down to half a pound difference and half an inch in height. They are right around 38 lbs and 43in. Drew's eye test was on the cusp of seeing a specialist. I think he sees things just fine; he was cheating and telling Kelsey the letters during her test! He got a little nervous when he didn't answer one right and then shut down. Obviously if things change or we notice something, we'll have him checked again. They did get a high five for going a whole year without seeing the pediatrician.

Now we are patiently waiting for Spring to show up; followed by a nice Summer! Craig is coaching Drew's "rookie" league baseball team that starts this week. Kelsey will finish up rec ballet and then has been asked to join company team ballet, which starts in July. And of course getting some swim lessons in;)

Someone gets a little shy when on the spot!

This kid doesn't discriminate! First a blue cupcake, then a pink one!

Our ham!

We are a house divided!

Cousins ;)

Oh Hey, We're 5 Now

This year the kid's birthday fell on the exact day they were born AND it was Good Friday AND it was the first day of spring break! What a crazy couple of days we had! They are definitely at an age where they "get" it - like trying to explain why their birthday is Friday but the party isn't until the next Saturday (to accommodate vacations and holiday plans). Drew was pretty bummed that there wasn't people waiting at home for him when we finished our birthday dinner.

preparing birthday treats for classmates

The kids picked Red Lobster as their birthday restaurant/dinner! Drew ate all his crab legs :)

Classic. Ordered the mac n cheese!

Easter egg hunting in the snow up by my mom at the fire station

Is there a such thing as a non-creepy Easter bunny costume?

Cousins and auntie Tara hanging at grandma's for her birthday (after egg hunting)

Drew got his first gift from auntie Tara - real tree camo for hunting season with uncle Matt

Birthday balloons! (and her cute Easter dress)