Finally!!

I can't believe I haven't updated my blog in almost 3 months.  We've been busy but not THAT busy.  I fully intend to keep up my blog, but time just seems to escape me.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Feel free to leave comments, so I know if you're enjoying the blog.  I'm better about updating when I know people are actually interested. There are 10 posts in addition to this note.

Enjoy!!!

Random moments of summertime

Here are just some random, fun pictures we've taken so far this summer. 

Andrew's first horse ride.

Annabelle and Penny watching TV together.

Rainy day painting.  Must have been naked day too!

Typical day at the pool.

Annabelle and her napping partner.  Penny never misses an opportunity for a good nap.

Annabelle doing her model pose at the pool

At the Zoo.

At Henry's Ark - a little petting zoo nearby.

Picking strawberries.  She left with more in her tummy than in her bucket.

This illustrates the difference in girls.  This is Annabelle's friend Ellie while we were visiting a farm. 
Dressed appropriately for a farm...

This is how Annabelle dresses to go to the farm.

Here's the outfit a little later after she had time to accessorize.

Penny got accessorized too.

Andrew hanging out at the pool.

Catching fire flies.

Green Bay

 Every time we get to Green Bay in the summertime it is getting to be a tradition that we make a stop at Bay Beach.  The kids just loves the rides and I love the prices!  Annabelle is big enough now to ride things on her own.  We walked up to the horses to see if Andrew wanted to ride one, he said no, but Annabelle say "Me! Me!"  So we put her on one and she was a pro!  Her first horse ride. 

 Penny made a new friend on our trip as well!  Zeus!  Despite the scary faces, they were having fun.

Wisconsin Dells

We recently made our way north for a weekend stop at Wisconsin Dells.  We enjoyed the water park, theme park and even squeezed in a ride on the Ducks. 

Andrew thought the Ducks were a lot like Transformers - able to drive on land and in water. 

Boy, it's a zoo around here!

We had a couple pit stops in Milwaukee and took in some local sites at the Zoo.  I haven't been there in years and the kids love anyplace remotely zoo-like.

 Checking out the sting ray exhibit.

 A couple of Raisanen butts.  Don't worry - no one fell in.

 Andrew took this picture.  He loves jellyfish!

The kids diggin around in a stream by Uncle Paul's house.

Girls Weekend!

 Mommy took a break from her 24 hour a day job and headed up to Chicago to spend the weekend with the Wilson girls.  We did an architectural tour via boat, got in some shopping and had lots of good eats with plenty of laughs all weekend. Annebelle's puppy joined me on the trip.  He is such a tourist - posing every where!

Churchhill Downs

 We always love a good opportunity to act like a bunch of tourists in the town we live in.  The Wilsons came for a visit over Memorial Day weekend so we took them over to Churchhill to check out what drives our local economy.  The kiddos and Dave are posed here with "Mine That Bird" (2009 Derby Winner).  They even touched it.  Annabelle got a little too close and got nibbled by it. Although sad, how many people can say they got bit by a Derby winning horse?!

Beach Bums!!

In early May we made the 11 hour drive to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The drive itself was beautiful.  We drove right through the mountains - Tennessee, North Carolina - great views!!  Andrew, Annabelle and Penny enjoyed their first experiences with the ocean.  Andrew and Annabelle loved searching for and collecting shells.  Penny loved digging holes in the sand and running endlessly down the beach.

While it wasn't perfect beach weather, it allowed for ample opportunity to get in a few rounds of golf - mini golf that is.

Thunder!

Every year in preparation for the Kentucky Derby we kick off with Thunder over Louisville.  Anyone with kids probably enjoys Thunder more than the Derby.  There is so much to do, you can't possibly do it all.  We headed downtown on a chilly Saturday to catch the sights.  They had an air show, kid activities in conjunction with the Science Center and then the largest fireworks display I've ever seen.  We had a great time, even carrying two sleeping children 6 blocks to the car.

Here's a sampling of the air show.  The whole airshow is 8 hours long with something flying overhead every 10-15 minutes.  

 Mr. Andrew built is own rocket and then launched it.  He's just beaming with pride!

The four wimpy Wilsons!  We headed into a coffee shop to purchase cookies and warm up on their couch.  It barely reached 60 degrees that day!  Burrrr!!!

Projects!!

While I have nothing against red kitchens (I painted our previous kitchen red) I am so over it!  Whoever picked red to paint this kitchen must have been a man.  Come on, really!  Dark wood floors, dark cabinets, black counter tops, sure, let's paint the walls DARK red!  After living here almost a year it was time to change it.  This was my project since Dave fulfilled his lifetime painting quota on our last house.

Here's the before....

 And here's the AFTER!

The color is "old time bakery" and we love it.  Dave did help with the back splash.  Even he can't resist a little tile cutting and grouting.  The wall with the windows is a muted green color. Picture it, green and gold/yellow (Go Pack).... hehe... I don't think Dave has figured that theme out yet. 

Preschool - Check!

Well... Andrew is done with Preschool.  He is less than two months away from starting Kindergarten.  "Geez, where has the time gone?!"  While I'd love to say that, I (and Andrew) are ready for him to start Kindergarten.  I have a harder time believing I have a 5, almost 6, year old.  Most days I still feeling like I'm 25.  Andrew is completely and utterly ready for school.  This past year, while memorable, has been long and challenging.  Keeping him entertained, motivated, intellectually stimulated has been a real challenge for me.  Definitely not one I was expecting.  Full time Stay at Home Mom is no easy task with a 5 year old.  Annabelle is much easier as a 2 year old.  However, I'm sure she will prove to be even more challenging when she reaches 5.  Which is why I plan to be back at work by then! LOL!  No really!  I am starting to get the word out that I'm looking for work - part time.  I'd like to get back into the professional world.  I can only talk about potty training, meal ideas and Legos so much.  I need more adult interaction before I go insane.

Here's the little man after Derby Day at Preschool.  Annabelle got dressed up too for the parade.  Andrew was a jockey and his horse was named "Brain Attack".

 And here is the man on graduation day.  While I didn't think a graduation ceremony was necessary for Preschool, it was fun to see him NOT sing throughout the ceremony and then come down and get his diploma.  Andrew has proved throughout the year that whenever it comes time for him to sing in front of an audience, suddenly he is the most sleep deprived child there, as he yawns through every song at every ceremony this year!  I have come to laugh at it.  This is why I don't order copies of the DVD from the ceremony.  Just what I need, a DVD of my kid yawning for 30 minutes.

Botanical Gardens

The kids and I had a fun little trip over to the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens this morning.  The weather was very cooperative coming in sunny and 80 degrees.  I even brought along some sunscreen, just in case.  Andrew was given a scavenger hunt when we arrived which kept him busy the whole time while Annabelle and I enjoyed the flowers and sights. 

 The castle above was built as a pool house.  Pretty neat!

 Our trees are blooming like crazy this week!  So pretty!

 Miss Annabelle, just chillaxin!  Yeah that's our work for chillin and relaxin!

 Mr. Andrew - scavengering.... scavenger... mid-scavenge... well whatever... having fun finding stuff.

 Did I mention we find a cat everywhere we go!

 Pretty flowers!

 Andrew and Jake's hide-n-seek trees.

Miss Annabelle trying to find her prince!