I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again

Ariel is all about climbing on ANY elevated surface. She even dropped her ice cream cone because it was proving to much of a challenge to get on this step while also holding the cone.

Ariel falls face first off the step and luckily the ice cream cone was there to catch her fall.

Ariel gets right back up and tries again oblivious to the fact that the cone is now crushed into her shirt.

Waiting for dinner

First Grade Store

One morning a week I help Isaac's first grade teacher run a little store in her classroom. The store is cool and I really enjoy watching the kids develop every week and I get to know them better.

The kids practice counting, adding and subtracting cardboard money. They earn money all week for good behavior, perfect test scores, etc. Kids can lose money too. If you are bothering your neighbor they can charge you 5 cents for talking or taking stuff without permission.

There are many items to purchase i.e. ring pops, airheads, gum, cookies, pencils, toys, passes to get out of homework or sit where you would like at lunch, and every week his teacher has a bonus like pizza or ice cream party.

Isaac does a great job staying on task when we come to help out

even with Ariel climbing all over the place. Ariel is now very familiar with how the store works and expects her token laffy taffy and airhead for coming along.

Boys Night In

Thursday night our friend Steve came over for a haircut which turned into a highlight and then an eyebrow wax. I almost had him talked into a facial, spray tan and manicure until Mike said enough. I find such joy in in hairdressing and making people up and boys are no exception. I had to get a picture of these men enjoying the salon life and threatened to post it on my blog- which I am now doing. I am cruel.

Lets Go Fly a Kite

 

 

 

 

Beautiful pleasant warm windy day to fly our new kite in our backyard. We call it our A10 kite after Uncle Jimmy.

Our Adventure in Paradise

And Lisa thought mice were scary!

chasing birds

Ariel got a little distracted chasing a bird all over the backyard while helping grandpa built the tree house. It was comical to watch. The bird would only let her get so close and then take off again. She took several spills but nothing stopped her until the bird finally took off in flight.

Super Manny and the Treehouse

My dad the Super Manny (male nanny) came and took care of our kids while we were away. He did a fabulous job and we are thinking of ways to get him back again. He whipped together this treehouse in about a day . He had many small hands to help get in his way.

Puerta Vallarta

Como estas? We are alive and well. We tried to take a bus to the marina for dinner but took it way too far and found this Internet cafe. We are hoping to have delicious seafood for dinner. Our resort is excellent and the weather is perfect. We are not doing much other than swimming, reading, and relaxing. Our room has a little pool on the balcony and a nice jacuzzi tub in the room. There is a lazy river that meanders around the grounds of the resort and actually has a wave maker in it that makes it exciting at times. We are somewhat surprised that we have only made it to the beach once. The pools are appealing and keep you from going the few extra feet to the beach. We are loving this R&R.
Mike bought a bunch of fresh fruit at Walmarto and made us papaya, mango, banana smoothies that were delicious.

I know that Grandpa is very hard at work and we're thinking you might be having some nice weather in Wisconsin. Why don't you start building a deck for a treehouse?

Warm and Windy

So warm outside Ariel decides she does not need a jacket.

Warm and windy, perfect for flying kites.

Our next door neighbor helping Ariel find where all the barking was coming from.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I take back all that stuff I was saying about spring. It was all a lie. Winter does not want to leave. It has become rather confusing to Lucas. Everyday at least a few times he asks about Santa and wonders when he is going to show up. Katie brought up the idea of celebrating Christmas twice a winter because the winter is so long. I think she is on to something.

p.s. for some reason i have not been able to upoad images for a while now

spring fun

This is us laughing.
What is that falling thing? not me, not you, but it is you.

Lego ships are all fun. cool.

post by Ike

SpRiNg Is HeRe

I have NEVER EVER looked forward to spring as much as I have this year. I have loved the snow but the below zero temperatures did get old. Friday and Saturday we spent a lot of the day riding scooters, walking and playing at parks. The temps even made it into the low sixties hallelujah spring is here!

piano

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