Cowboy Ernie in Montana

For Annica's class, she had to pick a state (one she had a connection to) and do a project about it. She picked Montana. Huh? I don't know how she ended up with Montana, but we learned a lot about it and she did a great job on the project! They had to decorate a shoebox to look like a float and my favorite was Cowboy Ernie. I guess we'll have to make a trip to Montana now. I've always wanted to see "big sky country" anyway!

p.s. Annica made the pink shirt she's wearing in her sewing class. So cute!

So what makes you think she's MY kid?!

Clara had her own little dance going on at her tumbling recital. She had a great time at least!

This, that, and more

Benjamin's talking more everyday so I tried to get some of it recorded. His favorite words are "this" and "that." He'll ask, "what this?", "what that?" when he points to something. And he actually does the "th" sound - his tongue usually sticks way out when he says it. Of course as soon as I tried recording him talking he just wanted to jump on the couch so most of you won't be too impressed!

Mostly May

We've been loving the summer weather here! The kids and I walked over to Snoasis, a shaved ice shack here in Alpine. From the minute it opens in spring the line is always at least 10 people long. I'd never been, so I finally took the girls. They loved it. I thought it was good too (not as good as the real stuff in Hawaii though)!


Annica was in "Hope of America," a choral/dance show held in the Marriott Center that over 72 schools were a part of. The kids formed an American flag and sang patriotic songs. Annica is part of the 2nd white stripe from the top!


This is inside the gardens at Thanksgiving point, not far from my house. It's part of the tulip festival that they have every year...beautiful!



Benjamin INSISTS that he feed himself now. Occasionally he'll still let me feed him, but this is what happens when he takes control. He eventually just gave up using the spoon here and drank his sweet potatoes (at least he's a good eater)!



I took a fun girls trip at the beginning of May to Chicago. It was so much fun!! I went with my friend (and cousin-in-law?) Tina and we met up with Heather (from Michigan). Heather has a place off of Michigan Avenue and not far from Navy Pier, so we were mostly able to walk/run everywhere. We ran along Lakeshore Dr. (see above) one morning and it was wonderful. Everytime I get on my treadmill now I miss that run.

Heather and Tina in the lobby of her apartment.

Tina and I in front of one of my favorite stores.

One of the best parts of the trip was that my mom just happened to be on a business trip in Chicago the same weekend so she joined up with us one night.



My little brother Steven turned 30! Kat, his wife, threw him a party at the park. We had a picnic and played bocci ball. The best part was Kat's gift to Steven - his old scout shirt with new "updated" badges that she'd pinned on...they were hilarious!


Just a cute picture of Savanna (steven & kat's) eating birthday cake.

I love this shot of some of the kids at the park. Benjamin's leading the pack - he always swings his little arms when he walks...or more like marches!



Last, but not least, Scott made a fabulous mother's day lunch for me last Sunday. He made this centerpiece for the table...gumdrops and taffy topped off with tissue flowers that he also made himself. The girls made the little taffy flowers to go around the vase. Thanks family!!! I love being your mommy!