That just happened!

I went to Hawaii a couple weeks ago.  WAIT...did you hear that?!?  I WENT TO HAWAII!!!!  It really happened!  This has been one of my dreams for my life for a long time.  Then my baby sister moved there.  Then my parents bought me and my other sister tickets so we could go visit said baby sister.  IT WAS AWESOME!!!!  First I got to go to Hawaii.  Second of all I got to spend a week with my sisters.  Third it was Hawaii.  Fourth I got away from mommyville for a while (it was very hard, but also very wonderful.  Thanks to all who filled in for Gil and I during this week because as luck would have it Gil had to be in Philly for three days and wasn't able to experience a mini Honduras type single father thing.  But he did great and the kids did great and the grandparents and great grandparents did great and I did GREAT!).  Fifth I went to HAWAII!!!!

 

If you would like a complete annotated viewing of my approximately 700 photos please clear at least two hours of your time, line up a sitter, and let me know!  Gil will no longer be available to assist in viewings (he apparently has seen enough).  Sidenote:  our wedding contract included a trip to Hawaii which this trip did NOT fulfill.  I will be back beautiful islands.  I will be back!

 

Here is a sampling of the wonder which is Hawaii.

 

Me jumping on top of a pillbox after a hike.

palm tree

view

mountain

Katie and I with Alissa and Tyler

Pearl Harbor Memorial

Hanama Bay

Hanama Bay

Sunrise

Sisters

The Two Travelers

Birthday Boy (and Girl!)

Jude got his first bike!

Birthday Breakfast (he also got a few legos and lot of other great stuff including a quilt handmade by grandma Carolyn!  I will get a pic of that sometime!)

Jude turned 5(!) on April 18, while Cora turned 3(!) on May 22.  It has been a little hectic around here (trying to get away from using the word 'busy') so they get a dual post (sorry guys!).  By the way *I quit my job* which is going to be another post title soon, so I hope to be on here a little more regularly again...we'll see since I hope to have a *new job*!

Ok, on to Jude.  Jude the dude.  The Jude-Man.  He has been waiting ALL YEAR to turn 5 like his friends at preschool.  Yes, he was a big 'ol preschooler this year!  Each morning we went to school together, I saw him at recess and lunch and buckled him into the suburban to go to Nicole's house.  It was nice.  But all year his friends have been turning five and he just couldn't wait.  He is at the younger end of the class, but is still the tallest one.  We debated for a while about waiting a year for kindergarten (mainly I debated because it is a decision and in my mind all decisions need months if not years of debating in my mind), but we believe he is certainly ready for kindergarten socially, academically, and all the other -llys!  So yes, at the conclusion on preschool he is finally five! 

Jude loves building structures out of anything and everything he can find in the house and that mom and dad will let him use.  He recently began loving to color and draw and write letters and words.  He has quite an imagination and is always telling stories (some true some not so much). He is getting good at helping outside with getting eggs and watering and even helping feed his new baby bottle calf that he hopes to show at the fair this year.  He loves to paly in the sand box and is still working on pumping.  Jude plays well with Cora (usually) and is very good with Mikey almost always.  One of his most common phrases is "I'm serious" or "Are you serious?"  He has become quite the big boy!  We love you to space Jude!

Birthday Breakfast

With her Fluttershy from Sarai in her new princess tent (from us)

Cora turned three this week.  A couple weeks ago she had a co-birthday party with her cousin Skyler who turned 2 on the 13th.  It was in the park in Allen and such a beautiful evening!  For a year now whenever Cora wakes up and we ask how she is doing she says, "I two."  So the morning after she turned three she didn't really know how to respond...guess we're gonna have to work on that!  Cora is getting excellent at telling her own stories and often retells events that have recently happened in her own words and then concludes with a, "right mom?"  She is becoming much more aware of what is going on around her!  She LOVES dressing up especially with accessories and insists on wearing a skirt or dress each day and her "princess jammies" each night.  She still loves her ponies, but has also gotten into other dolls.  She is not afraid to get dirty though and loves to be outside as well.  She is 100% potty trained (I won't mention the incident at the park birthday...it's worse than you think...) and is starting to go by herself!!!  She still LOVES to hug and touch and generally give lots of affection.  She is almost always happy and smiley.  Lot of love sissy-poo!

Michael: One Year

 Happy 1st birthday Mikey!

 I know that I haven't blogged since August...I have just decided it is something I cannot squeeze in and if I think about it I feel guilty, so I just forget it!

But my baby turned one (almost a month ago now!).  So I think it is time to get back on the old blog!

Here are some photos that capture the party. I got a new camera with our Christmas money this year and have had fun using it.  Can't wait to figure it out more.  I did do a one year session with Mikey, but haven't had a chance to edit yet...when I do (hopefully before his second birthday) I will attempt to post a few.

Anyway, we had a great party.  Jude and Cora kept running around saying, "Best party ever!"  And Mikey liked it too!  I made an elephant cake and got him a first birthday shirt and hat.  We also got to facetime with Mitch, Minette, Sarai and Alissa and Tyler.  Man this year has flown!

Dear Michael,
You bring us so much happiness and joy.  We can't imagine our family without you!  You have great smiles and really great giggles.  Thank you for all your open-mouthed kisses!  You love to "cut the pickle" and clap and wave.  You are working on saying a few words, but you definitely get your voice heard!  I love your crazy blond locks and bright blue eyes.  You love to chase balls around the house and your latest favorite is climbing all the stairs. Preferably when I don't notice!  You also love to wrestle with daddy and to read books.
We love you!
Mommy, Daddy, Jude, and Cora
P.S.  Jude says he loves to push you in the dump truck
P.S.S. Cora says she loves to let you play with Spike when she is playing with ponies.

Mikey's new tractor from Mitch, Minette, and Sarai!

Summer recap

Here are some pics to remind myself that even though we didn't do EVERYTHING on my summer of fun list (no zoo), we did do many things!  We had a great time...as much as my kids exhaust me, test my patience, need me, and even drive me nuts sometimes, I love being with them and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

me and mikey at the dam party

jude and gil on the boat "giggin" frogs

on grandpa buhman's deer out at the farm

with grandma at the botanical gardens...you can't tell how gorgeous they are from the pic

we took care of lots of flowers and a garden (well gil did at least!)

we read LOTS of books!

at the yankton dam

with cousin Adam

me and mikey at the beach

the koester family farm float for alumni days

jude on the float

cora throwing candy

they needed LOTS of baths

grandma and mikey

john helping gil with the new railings

i made black raspberry jam and cora loved it

trip to sioux falls with the sisters and mom...everyone loves their camera!

sheryl crow concert...this is the best i got...with sisters and mom

swimming lessons for jude

cora and i hung out and watched (with mikey)

at the park after swimming lessons

nap time!  and new backpacks

the petting zoo a the fair

the dragon roller coaster

thumbs up!

painting and new decor for the kitchen

more petting zoo and lots of fun with ashtyn and skyler

prepping for the tractor pull

just keep peddling!

he got a ribbon...and daddy got in a picture!

three baby boys!

I also got a little into running again.  I got some sweet new kicks and put in some miles with Alissa in the mornings.  I took the kids to the library quite a few times and read two fairly long novels.  We watched all three seasons of Downton Abbey in June.  Jude did a week of bible school.  It was fun while it lasted.

See you again in May summer!

the little things

As promised here are some pics from the visits of Sarai, Minette, and Brittany!  We have such a great time when visitors come:)

grandparents with the brood

Brittany and Mikey

Minette and Sarai

meeting the chickens

girls swinging

twinsies!

I also wanted to add a little more about Miss Birthday girl from last week.  I was in a hurry to get something posted on her birthday, so I didn't take the time to add details.

Right now Cora is developing her vocabulary tremendously!  She loves identify things and has begun making short sentences...usually involving Jude (i.e. "Jude did it!").  She knows her colors well.  They just came naturally whereas Jude could care less about them (gender difference?).  She also knows her ABC's for the most part and can count to 10.  She is working on shapes and LOVES to read books!  One of her favorite books right now is one from Grandma Carolyn called "Quite Bunny."  Cora loves playing with Mikey and taking care of her "babies."  She has fairly recently stopped using the binky (Easter weekend) and moved to a big girl bed (weekend after Easter).  Now we are planning on potty training...at least I'm planning on it!  She wants to wear the princess panties, but does NOT want to use the potty chair.  There is a flaw in that plan I keep telling her about.  We will see when she catches on!  I just love to watch her.  I watch her to see what she is thinking and what she will do next and what she will say.  I think she is the cutest thing ever:)  Of course these things are easy to say when currently she is sound asleep in her bed!  Going down for bed at night is another story and currently most often a nightmare of screaming and crying for mommy or daddy...for a long time!  This is a stage I could do without.  But my absolute favorite thing about Cora right now is how she responds with "Awwwite Mommy" when I give her a request.  It is so darn cute!  We have also started reading in her bed together and singing songs and praying together at night.  Cora loves to give hugs and kisses which is also precious.

Love you Cora!