Soccer Spring 2015

The kids enjoyed their soccer season. The weather was pretty good, aside from the first and last games, but we made it to all of them!

Nora showed more interest as the season progressed. She wasn't very fond of practicing at first, but she always loved the games....especially when she was on Ana's team! :) Since they played back to back I wasn't able to watch as many of Bishop's games as I was at the park with Nora a lot. When I was able to watch him I enjoyed it and realized he loves to play and he really gets into it! The last week it was raining--and we were the only family to make it to either game.....so mom and dad played too!  Nora's already been asking when she can play again!

Nora's favorite teammate, Ana (from school)!

Nora, Ana, Gabe and Finn (all from Kindercare--having a pizza party after one of their games)

Picnics in the back of the car before their games!

Nora and Ana on the same team again! Lucky girls!

Bishop and Colin head to head!

Playing in the rain! :)

Memorial Day weekend in Appleton

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Appleton, WI at our friends' house. The kids had an absolute blast together and it was a nice weekend to relax and catch up with our good friends!

We arrived Friday night and we spent a lot of the weekend playing at their house. They have a sport court, which was fun for the kids. Saturday we went to a park....played, went for a little hike and then went out for lunch. When we got back Stella set up a lemonade stand and the kids had a blast selling lemonade and popcorn! It was a beautiful day--sunny and mid 70's!

Sunday was a pretty dreary day and the rain came in in the afternoon. We went to a different park in the morning where there was a small farm zoo and we played around for a bit before hanging out at their house for the rest of the afternoon.

Monday morning we packed up and headed home--and we were home with enough time to go to a park and head down to the bandshell for a Summer Kick off party, which was a ton of fun!

Stella painting Nora's nails

Temporary tattoo earrings!

Stella and Bishop on the tire swing!

Shooting hoops on their sport court!

Stella and Nora at the park!

Nora and Fintan....they shared lots of hugs this weekend!

Nora helping Stella with her lemonade stand

Nora cuddling with the neighbor girls

Playing fishes and whales with Luke at the park

Checking out the tadpoles!

Thanks so much for having us for the weekend, McGovern's! It was great to see you and so fun for the kids!

Nora's first dentist appointment

Nora had her first dentist appointment on Thursday. Bishop had his at the same time and was a great helper telling and showing Nora what to expect! She did great--at first she wanted me really close to her and to hold my hand, but she warmed up and let the hygienist and dentist do all the cleanings, flossing and checking of her teeth! So far her teeth look great!

Bishop needed to have x-rays of his back teeth and it's something that we had struggled with the past few visits because the bite wings were big and uncomfortable and he would absolutely refuse them! We talked about it before his appointment and he agreed to do it....and he had absolutely no problems this time! Whew!! He even had to have one side re-taken because it was blurry and so he had to go back to the x-ray room AGAIN....and he was fine with that (and was very proud). The best news is--his teeth look great! 

Checking out her teeth

Loving the shades she got to wear (and put on herself)! :)

That night after school we biked to the bandshell. The agreement was Nora had to bike on the balance bike all the way to the bandshell in order to get ice cream. She did it!! It was more like a duathlon (as she ran and biked), but she made it and she didn't whine or complain asking for "uppy" (to be picked up)! She hasn't been quite as interested in the balance bike as Bishop was so we're working on it! She's getting the hang of it and we'll have to try this again sometime this summer! I thoroughly enjoyed walking with her while she biked, even though it took longer...she was quite the character....she said "hi" to all the dogs and had comments for just about everything we saw! :)

On our way to the bandshell

Swinging at the park at the bandshell

Weekend without DaddyC

Luke left for his yearly spring fishing trip on Saturday morning. After he left the kids and I went to the MN Zoo! We went on the MN trail, which I haven't been on and the kids really seemed to enjoy it as it was something new!

We checked out other areas of the zoo as well and even played at the park!

The kids had Henry Kruger's birthday party in the afternoon and we had a little time between the Zoo and the party so we stopped at the MOA to ride on some rides (I had some wristbands from when they ran the Goldy Run race). The kids had a blast and were very good listeners while we were there. We had a little trouble finding our car when we left....as I went up the stairs instead of down (Bishop told me to go down, but I didn't listen)! Oops! We found our car and made it over to Henry's birthday party at MyGym in Eden Prairie. Nora was a bit reserved at the party, but warmed up by the end.

Best Friends!

Fishing like Daddy!

Riding rides at MOA

The Merry Go Round!

Kruger and Bishop-best buds!

Henry's Bday party-at MyGym

On Sunday we went to church and it was Bishop's last week of Sunday School. My mom came up after church and we went to the carnival at Linden Hills Park. There was a chance for rain and storms, but we were able to enjoy the carnival for awhile before the storms rolled in!

On Monday night we went to the Bormann's to play with their cousins! It was our anniversary on Sunday (May 17th) and Shelly was so sweet to buy roses for me for my anniversary! She is so thoughtful and I'm so lucky to have her as my sister! The kids had fun playing together and it was nice to have a little help too!

Cousins!

Nora having fun on her bike!

The beautiful roses from the Bormann's!

Tuesday night the kids had soccer and Luke was home on Wednesday! We really missed him, but especially Bishop. He missed his daddy A LOT!!! I felt so bad for him. He'd be quiet and sad because he missed him so much--and that's just not like him!

Luke had a good time fishing and he even brought some fish home for us to enjoy! Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best for them.....the ice was out on the lakes, which was nice, but it down poured rain one day and snowed the next! He was cold!

I had a great time with the kids! Every fishing trip is easier and easier as the kids are a little more self sufficient! Bedtime gets a little tricky (and late), but otherwise we had a great time....and we were all excited to have daddy home again! :)

Mother's Day weekend 2015

I had such a nice Mother's Day weekend this year! Luke is usually fishing this weekend, but they pushed their fishing trip back a week this year so it was fun to be able to celebrate together as a family!

We started the weekend out on Friday with dinner at our friends', the Steffel's! Their kids go to Kindercare and Ashton is in Nora's class. They also live 3 houses from the Retzer's so we had a fun time all together, as they were able to join! Bishop and Jack had fun together and Nora had SUCH a fun time with Ashton! They giggled and laughed together the whole night!

Jack, Bishop, Andrew, Nora and Ashton!

Watch out--Bishop's driving!

Jack, Nora and Ashton

On Saturday we got some yard work done in the morning and then biked to SeSalt for lunch. It was a beautiful day! We hurried home as the Moore's came for dinner that night. It was a lovely day together as a family!

My sweet girl!

My crazy boy! :)

Bishop sang in church on Sunday morning and all the grandparents came to watch him! I was so impressed--he sang along and participated in the hand gestures too! He was pretty excited to have a little audience watch him!

After church we hosted brunch at our house with the Froehle's, Bishop's, and Bormann's! The kids had fun together and I think the adults did too! :) My dad's birthday is on the 20th so we celebrated that along with Mother's Day!

Big tight squeeze for Papa!

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Getting the frisbee off the roof!

Two of the very best mother's I know! I'm so blessed to have them to look up to!

Boy cousins!

It was a very nice day and although it was supposed to rain most of the day we were able to get out and play at the park for a bit after brunch!

Happy Mother's day to my Mother in Law, Eileen! I am so thankful for you and the relationship we have! You have introduced me to many new things and I love your sense of style and appreciate your advice on different domestic things! Thanks for being you! I love you!

I am so thankful for my mom! Mom, as I am faced with different parenting challenges I become even more and more impressed with the mother you were and are to me and Shelly! You are simply amazing! I am so thankful for your patience, your understanding and your love! I appreciate all your advice and for ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS being there for me.....for the big things and the little things! Your smile and happiness are contagious and radiate from you wherever you are! I hope I can be half the mother to my children that you are to me! Thanks for your unconditional love and support! I love you!!