Oh a camping we will go...

Although Andrew had a weekend of studying ahead of him, the kids and I took the van camping! The Memorial Day weekend actually began with a canoe trip down the Missouri River and then camping with the Quam's at the Clay Co Campground. We had a great time! (The pictures aren't great so I apologize.)

Andrew met up with us both nights. (Mainly for the smores is my guess...)

The kids loved playing with Masie the dog! They fought over taking her for "walks." We can't wait to have a dog for the kids (and us of course!).

Alexander giggled the most contagious laugh ever in the swings!

We look forward to many more camping trips with the Quams.

Preschool Graduation

Although I posted earlier, I forgot to blog pictures from Elizabeth's preschool graduation. After a cute ceremony, we ate paper bag lunches and flew home-made kites (plastic bags with yarn which I highly recommend, the kids had a blast!)

Elizabeth has learned so much this year from her teachers and classmates! Every day she came home with some amazing story, song, or new word (such as metamorphosis!).

Each day before lunch, one child uses a puppet to tell the other children what they will be eating. Elizabeth's teacher, Ms Julie (below) shared stories with us of Elizabeth's extravagant and elaborate puppet voices and stories. (Hmmm, maybe a little like her father...!)

Mr. B and Ms. Julie were amazing with the kids and Elizabeth loves them both so much. Often, she would thank God for them in her bedtime prayers!

According to Elizabeth at age 3: she wants to be a pilot when she grows up, her favorite food is french fries, and favorite color is of course pink! Oh, and she is going to become a mom at her next birthday so she can do things only moms can (do you think I use this one too much??).

Much to the Ms. Julie's surprise (but not ours...), Elizabeth dislikes finger painting because she doesn't like to get dirty. According to Ms Julie, shaving cream day was hilarious because Elizabeth hardly used the tip of her finger to write her letters.

In both pictures above, Elizabeth is next to her best friend Rebecca (according to Elizabeth, she has four best friends: Rebecca, Kayle (her soon to be cousin), Conner (Carrie's son), and Toby(Courtney's son)). Elizabeth and Rebecca often made plans for play dates without me knowing. I was randomly informed we were meeting Rebecca at the pool, park, and even to Rebecca's grandma's house for an Easter egg hunt!

Oh my sweet and adorable Elizabeth, we are proud of you!

Motherhood Defined

After driving 6 hours across the state of SD with two screaming children... I literally busted into tears when I walked in the door of our house to find a scavenger hunt that my amazing husband had set up for me. I stayed longer than planned in Rapid to avoid driving on Mothers Day and couldn't understand why Andrew was so sad I wasn't going to be home... Now I know. I was so overwhelmed and impressed with this amazing Mothers Day gift!

"I do not know who

else could take all my heat,

but with grace you do

and this cannot be beat.

"I will always love you

so cute and so sweet

If you'll love me too

I will make you this treat

...and yes, I even put sugar in it.

"This is a scavenger hunt and

here is your first clue."

"I love watching you ride this

Your legs pumping so sleek and strong

It's something I really hate to miss

I think it's even better than ****"

(removed for my privacy! :))

"Sometimes I can not believe

How often I complain to you

Annoyance you must perceive

When I complain about this brew.

"I am sorry."

"I promise to enjoy any brew

If only I can drink it with you."

"Wasps, rain and no hot water

Ironically you've never looked hotter.

"At times this seems such a hassle,

And I'll admit that it's no castle,

But I sure love being with you

No matter what it is we do."

(Inside our camper I found this framed picture with a poem printed on it.)

"Jesus gave a simple law,

to guide and lead mankind,

'Love the Lord your God with all

your heart, your soul, and mind.'

"Then He gave a second law,

so eloquent and refined,

'Love each other, one and all

as you love yourself in kind.'

"Very few, one can recall,

are naturally so inclined,

to love anyone big or small

heart, soul, and mind combined.

"This love that is so raw,

and selflessly aligned,

has sacrificed for us all,

because just as God designed,

"This is Motherhood defined."

Mothers Day with the Anderson's

For Mothers Day, I visited my good friends at their church and then met up with the Anderson's and my two kids for lunch at a restaurant in the Hills. Before heading to Wall, we stopped by Dinosaur Park to let the kids stretch their legs.

Before dinner, Mike got out the dirt bikes and 4wheeler for a little ride. Elizabeth wasn't too keen on riding the 4wheeler but Alexander of course loved it!

We can't wait to spend more time with you guys in July!

Happy 50th Mom!

A party celebrating the most amazing woman in my life.

Dad and I planned a birthday bash for moms birthday. Sarah (until I ruined it...) and Sam both surprised Mom for the party. The place was packed with moms friends from grade school on up through her adult years.

The whole fam-damn-ily. Sharon graciously took both my kids (including one with a raging fever) so I could have the night sans-kids. I love hanging out with my family... we inevitably end up laughing hysterically.

Loving Sam's new hair color!

School's OUT for the summer...

I hope you now have the song in your head; I did for over a week!

Elizabeth "graduated" preschool with an adorable ceremony where they sang a bunch of cute songs for the parents. Funny thing is that Elizabeth still has 2 more years of preschool yet we still had graduation...??

I wasn't sure if we would love having Elizabeth around all day every day or if we'd both miss the daily break... We miss the daily break! :) Hopefully everyone will settle in to a routine soon (my goal for the routine is less than 1 hour of screaming each day... we have quite a ways to go.)!

A Fine and Pleasant Misery

Finally camping season has arrived! The kids absolutely love loading up the camper and taking off to go camping. Their excitement is contagious. Although our first outing wasn't the smoothest (one could blame the rain, wasps, broken water heater, mold, or the screaming 20 month old all night....) we made the best of it. On a walk to the bathroom, Elizabeth and Alex picked me flowers which made it all worth it!

Pink-a-what??

Just ask Elizabeth what "Pinkalicious" is and you will get a very animated and exciting story! After seeing a billboard for a children's play coming to Sioux City, I mentioned it to a friend who then explained to me it was based on a book. Pinkalicious is about a little girl who eats tooo many pink cupcakes and turns, you guessed it, pink! Elizabeth memorized the book before the play and insisted on wearing her pink dress with pink "pretties" in her hair on the big day. Sam came with us for our Girls Day! How adorable to see the Orpheum filled with little girls all wearing pink. Afterwards we of course ate pink cupcakes! I can't wait for more girls days with Elizabeth!

Blogging issues...

Okay, maybe it's not Blogger's problem but I seem to be having issues posting. As in I never do it. So here's April... and I promise to work on May soon.

Alex has such a determined spirit. Needless to say he's become quite comfortable on his bike.

We took advantage of the last (and apparently dirtiest) snow of the year. Andrew taught me and the kids how to make a real snowman. But he soon realized his "vision" for the snowman was more work than he'd imagined... HA, we had to use a plank of wood and both roll the second two balls because they were so heavy! The kids were over the snowman before he'd finished the first ball but in true Andrew spirit, he pushed on! :) Creepy face I know... but in my defense, I only had leftover Easter candy to work with!

In case you were wondering... he belongs to the "VanOsdol Family."

Happy Easter from the kids! Elizabeth and I woke up early for the sunrise service. It was precious because as we were walking up to the service (around the large cross in the yard of the church) Elizabeth goes, "LOOK MOM, it's the cross, like Jesus died on! Become He loves us." Later we had Jenn over for lunch and of course an egg hunt. They had so much fun searching for Easter eggs!

Once he discovered the jelly beans inside the eggs he was out of the hunt!

Can you see the excitement?!

Hi. My name is Christine and my children clean their toes. Sometimes five times a day... Now if only they would wash their hands afterwards! :S

Play date with some great friends. After homemade pizza and lots of fun in the jump house and on the swing set, we made butterfly magnets. I am super excited for this summer because a few of my friends and I have decided to have Field Trip Fridays. Once a week we will take turns organizing a fun play date for the kids (but mostly for us!! :)).

Retired Firefighter

After surviving undergrad and med school, Andrew decided to quit both the fire and EMS department. Cleaning out the locker was bittersweet. Although he will now have more time to dedicate to studying, he is really going to miss the work; it was his outlet. Plus thinking back, we realized the department was our first Vermillion family. Good memories! Great people!