Minnehaha Falls

We've had enough of this snowy, cold spring and so we headed up to Minnehaha Falls this afternoon for a little hike down to the falls! We had a great time and it made us all excited to get out more! It started to rain a little on our hike back, but it felt so great to be outside!

We all got a treat after our hike at SeSalt! :) The reward is always the best part! :)

Swimming

Last Saturday (April 13th) was the last session of Bishop's first session of swimming lessons! He had a teacher (Jessica, in the pictures) that was training to become a swimming instructor. Bishop had no problem at all with swimming with her.

He did so well in his lessons and the teacher was confident he could move up to the next class (Eels)! Registration for the next session had already opened  and we had signed him up for the same class he was in (Pike), but that should be ok to repeat the class and become even more comfortable in the water. One of the prerequisites of moving up to EEL is you must swim 2 yards (front and back stroke) all on your own...no floatation device and no help from the teachers. I'm glad it went so well and I'm so happy he enjoys the water so much!

Luke and I switch off every other week to take Nora in the water during Bishop's lessons. The first few lessons she sat and watched Bishop the entire time....now she might make it 5-10 minutes before wanting to get in the water! I'm happy she enjoys the water and isn't afraid!

Happy 2nd Birthday Madelyn!!

Happy 2nd Birthday to sweet Madelyn! Her giggle is contagious--you can't help but smile when you hear her laugh!! It is so fun to watch her grow up--I was so fortunate to be able to spend some time with her on her 2nd birthday today! Nora and I went to visit and everytime we see her she grows up even more... today she kept asking "where B-hop" (where's Bishop?) She really missed him today!

I'll never forget the day you were born--I was so sad to be in NY and not in the hospital with you and your mama and dada! I couldn't get home fast enough and I was so thankful to make it home before you left the hospital! You have brought so many smiles to our family ever since! Bishop and Nora absolutely adore you and it's hard not too, you're a pretty fun girl to be around!

Visiting in the hospital

Madelyn's always been SO good to Nora!

Uncle Luke

Visiting Madelyn when she got her tubes put in! Such a trooper!

Playing with Bishop and Mama!

The North Shore 2011-such a cute, happy girl!

The North Shore 2011--Madelyn's learning to sit up!

Christmas 2011

Hanging out with Bishop and Uncle Luke

Christmas Eve 2012

Happy 2nd birthday Madelyn!

Madelyn, you are such a beautiful girl and I am so proud of you! I'm so excited to see what the next year holds for you, you are one special girl! I love you!!

Madelyn's 2nd Birthday and Jack's Baptism!

On Saturday we celebrated Madelyn's 2nd birthday and Jack's Baptism! It was quite the celebration!! Madelyn was such a sweetheart and had so much fun at her birthday party! I love this little girl so much!! She loves to give hugs and she giggles and giggles and giggles--she's the best!

Baby Jack slept for most of the party and I don't blame him--it was quite chaotic! :)

We celebrated at the Bormann's before church on Saturday! Madelyn opened presents (with some help from her cousin, Bishop), we ate dinner, cake and icecream and then hurried off to church.

Church was at 5:30 and thankfully this time we were in the very last pew in the back of the church....huge sigh of relief on that one! Bishop picked out some books and then set them up and jumped over them. Nora, Luke, Madelyn and her Gpa Kenny colored in the narthex during most of the service. The actual service went very well. After the service they had a separate baptism service for 4 babies being baptized. That's when the kids got a little restless and had a hard time sitting or even standing still, but I don't really blame them. Luke thinks between the two of them they walked 5 miles that night at church! :) It kept me moving, that's for sure!

It was a very nice service and I got a little teary eyed witnessing my nephew being baptized......such a very special event!

Madelyn's Paparazzi!

The girl cousins

The kids with Shelly and Ryan

Bishop, Madelyn, Jack, Cal, Lyla and Nora

Such a sweet big sister--and a very sweet baby brother!

My lil ham!

The boys side of the table....and Auntie Shelly! The guys wanted Shelly to sit with them!

Ha Ha is all I think of when I see this picture!

Nana and Papa are so much fun

Baptism of Jack Ryan Bormann

Baby Jack and his parents and god parents. Mark, Ryan, Shelly and Katie

I'm hoping to see some pictures of our family from my parents camera. It got to be pretty chaotic and crazy at the end, I have no idea how the pictures will turn out--but that's part of the fun of having 4 kids in 3 years!

Congratulations Baby Jack and Happy 2nd Birthday Madelyn! We love you both so much!!

Bishop and Danny

Bishop had his buddy Danny (and his mom and dad) over for dinner on Friday night. The boys had such a blast together! They didn't fight over one toy or really have any troubles at all-it was really fun to see them having so much fun together! One of their favorite games they played was "chase around the kitchen". They ran and ran and ran after each other....all smiles of course!

CHEESE!

Make a funny face!

Baby Jack

I've been fortunate to have lunch with my sister and baby Jack a few times while Shelly's on maternity leave and I'm working in my office. He is the sweetest baby boy and I can't get enough of his smile or his snuggles! I'm going to miss you when your mama goes back to work, Baby Jack!

Easter in Cold Spring

We arrived in Cold Spring around 4pm on Saturday and spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma. On Sunday morning we were up early for church at 8:30. Church was packed, so we were escorted to the very front pew...I was laughing, thinking..this will be good....2 young kids in the front pew on Easter Sunday in a Catholic church. The service lasted 1 1/2 hours--more than double the length of our regular services at Mount Olivet! Nora lasted about 10-15 minutes.....and Bishop lasted about 40 minutes. I hung out with Nora in the "cry room" in the back of the church and Bishop and Luke joined us after awhile. We finally left and spent some time running around the foyer, which made the kids much happier! :)

After church Uncle Jake joined us for lunch, along with Father Al! It was a very nice Easter Sunday! The Easter Bunny knew the kids were staying in Cold Spring, and they were VERY excited about that! These kids are spoiled--they got 3 Easter baskets each this year! 

Fun on Easter Morning!

Grandpa and Grandma with Nora and Bishop

Uncle Jake is SO much fun--the kids absolutely love him!!

The Froehle's!

Like I mentioned the Easter Bunny came 3 times for the kids--they were pretty excited to have Easter Baskets waiting for them at home when we got home!

Among other things, Nora got some new shades and Bishop got a box of bandaids! :)

Easter in Owatonna

On Good Friday we went down to my parents for the night. We celebrated Easter on Saturday with my parents and Shelly and her family! It was a pretty busy day, but lots of fun!

Since my Grandma fell and broke her pelvis and hip, she was placed in the nursing home. Luke and my dad picked up my Gpa to bring him over to visit my Gma and we were all able to spend some time together. My Gma seemed to be doing really well, all things considered.

After our visit at the nursing home we stopped at my parents house and then went to an Egg Hunt! Thankfully it was held indoors, as it was rainy and cold and I don't think the kids would have enjoyed it as much outside (and it would have been a muddy mess)! Each age group had 10 minutes for their own egg hunt. It started with the 2 year olds. We let Nora get in on the action....and she picked up some eggs and put them in her basket! All the eggs were filled with candy....so of course the kids were VERY excited!

After the egg hunt we went back to my parents for our "Easter dinner"! We had a great meal and the Easter Bunny had found his way to Nana and Papa's a day early, so the kids were excited about that! After dinner we packed up and took off for Cold Spring! It was a very fun and memorable Easter in Owatonna!

Nora in her Easter outfit she got from John and Diana!

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma with the Froehle's!

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma with the Bormann's!

Baby Jack taking it all in!

Madelyn and Nora collecting their eggs!

Bishop filling up his bucket (he borrowed it from Madelyn since it was bigger than the one he had)! :)

Cousins!

Bishop's "going to work"

I just realized this never got posted!

A few weekends ago Bishop decided he was "going to work". He got his backpack all ready and went out to the garage. When he got to the garage he took out his sunglasses and put them on...and then used his light saber as his key to get into the garage.

He eventually convinced Luke that he really was "going to work", so Luke drove him around for awhile! I think it was St Patrick's Day weekend and Bishop was looking for "the Irish".....he told Luke they could go home when he realized he couldn't find them!