No Two are Alike

Tonight I am again reminded of the differences between the 1st born and the 4th born...

Mike built a big swing set/ play area in our yard last year. But when I sent Caleb out to play tonight with his siblings, never in a million years would I have expected him to be able to climb up into the club house area. I thought he would try, get frustrated, and move on with his life.

You see, Sofie and John were a completely different toddler. They were always careful and cautious. When we bought this gym for Sofie when she was 20 months, we had to get a little step stool so that she would climb onto the platform! And going down the slide was too scary and it took a lot of coaxing to get her to go down that slide. Caleb on the other hand worked and worked this evening until he was able to go up, all by himself. And down. And the only reason he had help going down was because we insisted on it! And he went round and round and round....

This Is What They'll Remember

My kids won't necessarily remember the thousands of meals that I've cooked for them or the hours of homeschooling that we put in. But they will remember the special moments.

Like when they're cousin comes and stays overnight.

After playing together all day today, Mike and I took everyone to the park and then for some ice-cream.

I was remarking to Mike that isn't it great the kids are still at a young enough age that an outing to the park is more than exciting.And physical exercise is a treat?

Homeschooling, The Early Years

In this family, we start homeschooling young!

Easter In Iowa, Part 3

Well, to wrap my posts about our Iowa weekend. I thought that I would leave you with some random pictures of my children, well, being random.

Sofie discovered my iPod this weekend and quickly became more proficient at it than I am. John is still young enough to enjoy a good Easter Egg hunt and cartoons. I am reminded, once again, that Lilia is only 3 years old and should never be left alone with her Easter candy, or stickers. And lastly, that Caleb, thinks he's a very cool dude with his new haircut...

Easter in Iowa, Part 2

Oh the fun we have! (And I'm not talking about the SWEET! collage that I just learned how to do here)

My family has been motorcycle enthusiasts from waaayyyy back. My Dad has been hugely into motorcycles ever since I've known him... :) And my brother's and I continue on the tradition.Not to mention that Mike has loved motorcycles since he's been old enough to know what they were!
So, going down to Iowa this weekend, of course meant that we bring the kid's mini-bike and let them have fun on my brother's motocross track that he has in the back of his property.

When John came in from his trip around the track, he runs in and yells, "That is the best thing I have EVER done!"

Yup, it continues another generation.And my nephew is just beginning to understand what that means...

Missing You Monday

"by Sofia Wolfe - Miss You Daddy so much"

Easter in Iowa, Part 1

This year we spent Easter in Iowa. It was wonderful to spend time with my family. We had Easter dinner, (on Saturday, at 2 pm :) ) and then headed on over to my brother's home to enjoy some dirt biking and all around family fun. Their house is situated on a big lot and there are lots of places to roam. And that is all that this post is about, because that is all that Caleb wanted to do, roam. He did not want to go inside, he did not want to be contained all he wanted to do was roamand roam and roam.
Finally, he decided he might be O.k. with being in the stroller, as long as the roaming was continued.

Dear Mom,

Dear Mom,

Now Mom, I know that I'm your baby, I know you still want to believe that I'm 6 months old and still needing you for everything! But I'm growing up now! I can walk and take my own shoes off, I'm even saying a couple words.

So since I'm getting so big, I need a big boy haircut. Now I know. You like my hair long and soft, but geesh Mom, I want to look like my Dad and my big brother John! So what do ya say? Can I get a haircut?

Here's the deal, if you let me get my hair cut, I'll still act like I need you from time to time. You know, like to feed me and change my diaper.

Thanks Mom, love you,

Caleb

It Was a Zoo at the Zoo

Just to give you a picture of what the weather is like up here in the Frozen Tundra. The Maple Syruping trip that we took (the last post) was 5 DAYS before this Zoo trip.

If I could bring your attention to the clothing in the Maple Syrup post. Everyone is quite bundled up. It wasn't freezing that day but it was chilly and the wind was blowing. Weather one would expect.

Well five days later it was a whole different story. That day was April 1st. It was as if the weather was pulling an April Fools Day joke on all us Minnesotans. The day just kept getting hotter and hotter and hotter. The thermostat in the car read 82 degrees on our way home from the Zoo. But being a true Northern Tundra girl. I have learned to be thankful for what ever the weather is, because, the joke is, it's gonna change in 5 min. anyway. At one point Sofie asked me, "Mom! Why is it SO hot today!" to which I replied, "because it is a glorious, God given gift!"

We did have a wonderful day at the Zoo. Our Zoo does a month of Farm Babies and so we decided to go see them on opening day. It should be called Pregnant Farm Animals right now. I didn't see many babies, just a lot of uncomfortable Mommas. But that just gives us a good excuse to go back this month to see if any of the babies have been born yet.

So we had a fun time with some friends and enjoyed a beautiful summer day, a couple months early. Nothin' wrong with that.

Where Can You Go?

Where can a person go to watch a boy make a gun out of a stick? Or see more little boys working together as a team? Or a slew of kids enjoying the great outdoors? Well, at the end of March we enjoyed the 2nd Annual Maple Syrup day at Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom was gracious enough to have our homeschooling group back this year to once again see that food doesn't come straight from the grocery store. :) We all (and there were a lot of us!) had a wonderful time.

What do you say Uncle Tom. Is this the making of a tradition?!