Mother's Day 2015

I had a lovely Mother's Day this year:) Dave had the week prior off and we also had the best weather! So, it was doubly wonderful as we were able to get a lot of spring cleaning/chores done and spend a lot of time outside! And with Dave home, I definitely took my "child load" down a child or two and that is always a nice break! He really likes to take Kate and Collin on errands, they always have a great time and then I have some one-on-one time with Little Man. Works out pretty well:)

We obviously had soccer once again. Of course on that day they were taking pictures. Outside. And it was, like, 40 mph wind gusts. Okay, maybe not quite. But out in those open fields, I'm pretty sure it is a steady 30 mph wind all the time. It was exhausting to be out in it! They just practiced until their team was called. I played soccer with Collin off the field and Dave got Ayden to sleep in his arms and then draped a blanket over him to keep the wind off his face. He thought it looked like he was nursing him. And it kind of did:) A woman was talking to me when Kate went up and did her picture, so I didn't have a chance to push her hair out of her face, so we'll see what it looks like! By the way, how much would you estimate a family pays for pictures for their kids' activities? Kate is five. I feel like I'm constantly writing a check for pictures of her stuff already. Maybe if she weren't so darn cute. But possibly, I will have to start just getting one small photo and scan it!

We also picked up our first box of the CSA we are doing. A CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and this cool farm near the Dells provides food in shares and we purchased a spring share (once a week in May) and an every-other-week share throughout the summer. Our friends have done it for a couple years and convinced us to do it. Our health insurance also reimburses for the program, I don't think the whole amount, but over half of it. I am not doing a garden this year (except for some herbs, hopefully) so why not? We all drove down together to pick it up and we were surprised at how great the produce looked and how much there was! We will definitely be opening up our horizons with some of the produce and it has helped me make some healthier meals already! We'll see how we feel through the summer. But we are super happy so far. (This week's box contained: bok choy, arugula, pea shoots, radishes, salad turnips, green onions, chives, spring lettuce mix, asian greens mix, spinach, and a head of a lovely green lettuce, I forget the variety)

Here's what came in our box this first week!

Unfortunately, the weekend weather was a bit more dreary, but oh well. We can't complain too much yet, right? On Friday night, Dave went out with work people to the Hooterbowl - yup, that's what it is called. They took a party bus down to Hustler, WI and bowled. They wanted me to come along and I did consider it, but with Ayden not taking the bottle lately, I just couldn't do it. I didn't want to be the one sober person, stuck without a car and wondering if my baby was screaming. 

Saturday morning we had the Healthy Family Fun Run/Walk (5K) in Lake Delton. My clinic/doctor's office puts it on and we have gone two of the last three years and I really wanted to do it this year. Poor Dave did not get to bed early for the event:) After downing some water and Ibuprofen, he was a trooper and helped with the kids and got us out the door. After debate on whom was taking whom, it ended up with Dave pushing both boys in the stroller (because Ryan was pushing his two girls in their stroller:) and I had to convince Kate to come with me. She is such a Daddy's girl! 

Ready to start the race!

Ayden in his new Hawkeyes track suit:)

It was a lot of fun, the boys took off right away and did a great job! Kate and I started running and she definitely went further than I expected her to. But after the initial start. She only wanted to run in short bursts. Which was honestly fine with me. We talked about everything we saw along the way and had a good time:) Towards the end, Dave and the boys ran back to help us along! They met us and tried to get Kate to run to the end. She was pretty adamant about walking. but she did finish strong and ran to the finish line. 

We crossed over the interstate...very loud!

We had a good time

Dave coming back to help us the rest of the way - what a guy!

Kate finishing the race strong (the course turned right at the cone and went on a ways)

And, as nice people do, they were cheering her on, and shouting, "Go Kate! You can do it, Kate! Run, run!" Well, all this attention was way too much for her. She was crying as we actually finished the race! She loves us cheering at soccer, but on Saturday we were the only ones in a big group of strangers to her and it was too much. Then my P.A. came over and was trying to tell her she did great and I had to just say, it's too much, she doesn't like the attention. Poor girl. She certainly wants us all to watch her dance and perform at home (and her recitals), it will be interesting to see this develops over time. 

Anywho...after promptly nursing Ayden and tearing the kids away from some toys in the clinic, we loaded up and went to find some food. We decided on MooseJaw and got there just as they were opening for lunch - yeah! It's our favorite thing, eating at ridiculously early hours, so it is less crowded, the service is fast and we can keep our kids on a "schedule." Rock on. The kids did really great and Dave held Ayden while he ate. Dave and I had some "recovery drinks" for the run:) and then we hit the Outlet so I could do a return and pick up some warm-weather jammies for the kids. We had a lazy rest of the Saturday and Dave and I actually got everyone asleep and the house picked up and watched a movie on DirecTV! We watched Into the Woods. It was alright. A little darker and weirder than I expected. Dave was just SO tired and I could tell he didn't want to stay up for it, but he powered through:) 

Look at these guys. They are super fun:) 

Look how excited Kate is for a picture:)

Our recovery drinks

He was such a goon - and loved his moose ears -
(didn't touch his Spaghetti Os, I think Dave ordered them for himself:)

Sunday was another dreary, lazy day and I loved it. I got to sort of sleep in...with Ayden, and Dave brought me a coffee while I was still in bed:) Then I sat down and watched CBS Sunday Morning and didn't get up. That's right! Dave tended to all the little needs while I just sat and watched the whole show. And he made me eggs:) Then Kate brought me what she had made at school. It was so precious and useful! In art I think, they made a brown sugar buddy (that keeps your brown sugar from clumping) and she picked a flower design. She also made the wrapping paper, which I thought was super cool! In her classroom, she colored a hot pad and wrote on the back - Mothers Day 2015. I loved it all! 

The gifts

And then he told me I'd better get crackin' if I was going to get the other things done that I needed to do:) Well, he was right. I went for a walk alone and then came back and baked with Kate. We made layered dessert and some cookies. It was fun to bake with her and Ayden happily watching on. Collin was taking a nap. We also chatted with each of our moms, wish we could have seen them in person to give hugs and celebrate, maybe next time! We love you guys so much and appreciate you so much more with "old age." Having children definitely makes me understand/love/need you even more!

Then we headed over in the afternoon to our friend's house for some supper and playtime. The kids did really good. Collin only hit Harper once! A victory in my book. It was fun to chat with Angie and play with the kids. Ryan and Dave stood out on the beautiful deck and watched the grill while drinking a beer, as men do. The food was fantastic and we left to head home around 8 p.m. The kids were so cute, endlessly hugging and saying good bye. 

I wanted to try and get a picture of us and our kiddos on Mothers Day... not bad

And I kept pushing my luck and wanted one of just me and my kids right before bed.
Dave loves it when I do this:)

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there!