Memorial Day.

Memorial Day was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's with lots of rain and cousin fun!

Friday night there was a showing of the Lorax in the park. Mommy and Grandma drug the blankets, chairs, jackets, etc from the car. Sat down for ohhhh about 12 minutes.....and Jace was ready to go. Mommy was able to finagle another 15 minutes or so by buying popcorn. Food always wins.

Saturday. This tells the story. Lexa was tired...and she was not afraid to show it. Between the crying and the crying. Oh and the crying...it was a long day.

Sunday Funday with cousins. Ashlan turned 3 and then there was a gathering at the Petersen Plantation.
Kay showing some of the girls her artistic skills. 

Jace played his heart out at Ashlan's and even stayed after Mommy left. He showed up at the Plantation like this....wet and disheveled.

How many cousins can you fit in a dog kenel? At least 6...that would be Emma, Ashlan, Abby, Jace, and Lexa.

Moped ride with Ryan. Sweet helmet to boot!

Ashlan, Jace, and Hayden playing in the puddles. Wet would be an understatement. Jace's shoes are STILL wet.

The End.

All About Bean.

Well. Lexa is handful. She has been testing every fiber of Mommy's being lately. She is smart and she uses it well. Sigh.

This is how she dressed to go to Family Video. Those would be Nike shorts (on backwards mind you), dress shoes, a yellow t-shirt. And a hat. It is useless to argue. Just work it girl.

Oh bedtime. Bedtime has brought the majority of the difficulties. Lexa seems to have figured out how to open her gate. And why oh why would you stay in your room when you can open your gate? Mommy has tried everything from being nice, to being angry, to being sad, to giving rewards, to ignoring. This would be the ignoring. Lexa sat on the stairs for no less than 45 minutes. Finally she yawned and fell asleep on the landing. Because she technically still won as she was not in her bed.

This morning. She cried and cried. Oh why you ask? No reason. Just cause. Then she gets to Tricia's and says she can't stay because she has a cough (insert fake coughing). Mommy says, 'ok call if you are coughing too much'. A couple hours later Mommy receives a text from Tricia...in Lexa's words, 'I'm not coughing yet but in a little while I will and we will have to call Mommy'.

And to top it all off....she has started carrying the Bible with her. Mommy has no idea why but it really is fitting that in all her terror she walks around like this...with a smile and the Bible tucked under her arm.

 Thus concludes the recent tornado known as Lexa.

Kindergarten Mass

Jace has mass every other Tuesday at school. Each week a different homeroom is responsible for all the 'jobs'. Kindergarten goes last because there is a lot of reading involved and well....they are so little! Today was the last mass of the school year and Jace's class was it! 

They got to sit up front. It was amazing to Mommy how much more still and calm Jace sits during school mass than on Sunday.....

 Jace's reading. He nailed it. This is the 3rd time this year he has gotten up in front of a full house and read into a microphone. In Mommy's opinion this is one of the best parts about St. Pats....they start them very young with public speaking. It has benefited Jace greatly as he gets up there like it's no big deal...while Mommy is nearly peeing her pants watching.

 A little clip of the closing song. It was so cute and upbeat. The 8th graders were really getting down but Mommy wanted to get the kindergarteners getting a little jiggy up front.

Mrs. Stone's kindergarten class 2012/2013.
Still working on not wearing our pants to our armpits...

And finally, Jace and one of his best buddies Hunter. 

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma, Nana, and Great Grandma Rosie! Jace and Lexa are so lucky to have such awesome female figures in their lives. They love all of you!

And speaking of Mothers....this post is all about Mommy. Ahem.

Mommy celebrated Mother's Day by running the Market to Market Relay Run from Jefferson to Des Moines. She and 6 other family and friends completed the 75 mile run on Saturday in 10 hours and 45 minutes. It was an amazing day of running, exchange points, van time, gravel roads, LOTS of food, and fun!

Friday night in the fancy Super 8.

Aunt Erin jazzed and ready to go!

Runner #1--Renae starting the race at 7 a.m.

Handoff #1 to Mommy.

And on to Aunt Erin.

 Mommy actually has a picture of each handoff (except for the one she accidently missed) but she won't share all...your welcome. Just some highlights.

A shot of the group leaving one of the exchange points.

The group finish! Ended with an average pace of 8:37 min/mile. Pretty awesome!!

Well.....

Lexa is sick. And dramatic does not begin to cover this girl when she is sick. Granted, she is probably sicker than she has ever been. And she legitimately feels icky. But when she starts to yell 'AHHHHH' and then 'CHOOOOOO'....and she is not even sneezing....it begins to be a bit of overkill. 

She did fall asleep DURING THE DAY. This folks, is epic.

Before all the sickness, Keegan and Aunt Erin were in town last weekend. And Grandma too!
Loving cousins!

There are always brownies at Aunt Cari's!

Mommy was a little concerned with Jace seeing Kona for the first time after losing Ozzy. He still gets teary at times and talks about him many times a day. He did great though and loved having a dog around again for a bit.

A bouncy house was on the agenda for Saturday. And bounce she did.

Jacer teaching his cousin fun tricks.

Big girl swing.

And a biiiiig slide. Lexa went down no problem the first time. The second, Mommy got suspicious when a back up of about 20 kids happened at the top. Then she heard the crying. Then Jace yelling, 'Mooooommmmmy'. Lexa was stuck about halfway up the ladder. Lovely. In the end...she made it.

Eating at the Japanese restaurant. Thumbs up from Jace for the noodles. And a little photo bomb from Keegan.

Swimming at Grandma's hotel.

A woman after Mommy's heart. Lounging in a chair. Mommy sees many a fun summers doing just this with Beaner!

And finally, there was basketball. Check out them skillz!

Jace celebrating beating Aunt Erin at PIG. Like a true victory. She tried. It may have been amusing...to say the least.

That's all for  now. Lexa seems to be on the road to recovery...minus the drama.

This Week.

This week's activities will be presented to you in picture form.....

On Monday, Jace did the birthday blessing reading at Monday Morning Prayer.  In case you were wondering, this is not in fact at school. Mommy remembered to take a picture of him practicing but forgot her camera for the actual event. Typical. But he did great...pulled the microphone down to his level and spoke loudly. The shirt tucked in and shorts to his belly button are still a work in progress....

Meanwhile, Lexa....brushed her teeth? For the life of her, Mommy cannot remember the purpose of this picture. There certainly was one though. So here you go...Lexa with a toothbrush.

Tuesday. Tuesday is the day after karate. So Jace needed a mouthguard. You know...for sparring. Apparently when you put it in your mouth it makes your eyes do weird things too.

 And Lexa did a little jig. Not much more one can say about that.

Wednesday was Jace's art show at school. His picture is the one at the top. Entitled 'Cars'. 

And there you go. A close up. Did you ever doubt Mommy would have a close up?

Thursday Lexa spent the day at home with Daddy. While he painted the kitchen she played dolls. Well, dolls and the Hulk. This picture is living proof she has an older brother.

And the night ended with a cheer. A cheerleader in a tutu!

The weekend is set to include a visit from Keegan, Aunt Erin, and Grandma...that is if they can make it in the May blizzard! Pictures to come.....