Pre-K Graduation

Wow--after 5 1/2 years at Kindercare Bishop officially graduated on Tuesday night. There is only one other person in the center who has been there longer than him (Ms. Allie)! He's obviously grown up a LOT in 5 years...in more ways than one and I am proud of the boy he is growing into!

Bishop is at the YMCA for the week at Sports Sampler, so his (2nd) official last day was last Friday. I picked him up early on Tuesday so we went in and helped decorate the cake for the graduation party (and he got to try on his cap and gown).

He's made some pretty neat friendships at Kindercare over the years.....and has bonded with some pretty special teachers as well. We are so thankful for the center for keeping him safe, teaching him, helping him grow, preparing him for Kindergarten and most importantly loving him! I know he caused a little extra stress for a few teachers over the years (especially in the Discovery Preschool room) ;)......and for that I am even more appreciative of everything everyone did for him and our family! It's a bittersweet day--he's growing up and it's time to move on....yet it's sad looking back over 5 very critical and influential years in his life! A huge thank you to all the teachers and staff who made Kindercare a place Bishop looked forward to going to! 

Helping decorate the cake!

Trying on his cap and gown!

Nora-excited to color her Mike the Baker coloring sheet!

Getting ready for graduation!

The program

Besties!

So proud of this boy!

THIS is how we know they are loved! :)

Nana and Papa came to celebrate too!

Just like his daddy!

Bishop and Ms. Molly

Serious Nora

Bishop and Ms. Anita

So proud to have Nana and Papa there!

So special!

Bishop and Rashad

Ms. Stacy came back for graduation!

The week of August 9th!

Here's a little recap of our week and weekend. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures of our weekend after Friday......we were too busy having fun!

Nora running with her daddy!

KRUGER!!! Bishop misses him so much! Had a fun play date at Linden Hills Park on Monday night!

The corn feed-these kids were amazing musicians!

Colin and Bishop playing at the Corn Feed at Linden Hills Park!

 Bishop's official last day at Kindercare was Friday (8/14/15) as he'll be going to the YMCA Sports Sampler next week! Kindergarten isn't that far away....time is FLYING by right now!! I'm loving all we're doing, but I just have to remember to enjoy every moment as they're going by fast!

Bishop's official last day of Kindercare! He brought Teddy for show and share! :)

Bishop's card for Ms. Anita. A picture of the 2 of them!

Ms. Molly and Bishop

Ms. Anita and Bishop

Finn and Bishop

 Friday night we had a pizza party at Melissa's house with some hs friends! There were 12 adults and 15 kids there....mostly boys! Nora was happy to have Olivia and Marah there to support her! :) The kids had SO much fun hanging out together---biking in the cul de sac and running around playing with each other! It was a later night than usual, and we kind of paid for that for the rest of the weekend.....but it was fun and we all enjoyed it!

Liam and Bishop-buds!

Saturday afternoon we had the Sullivan Family reunion at Luke's cousins in Lakeville. There were 58 family members there--quite impressive! A HUGE thanks to his cousins for hosting us....especially on such a hot day when most people stayed inside! Once the kids warmed up they had fun with some other cousins...especially the water balloons!

From the family reunion we headed to our friends in Bloomington for a BBQ. We met up with them in Colorado, so it was fun to connect again at their home and the kids had fun together.

Sunday we took it easy during the day (for the most part) and the Hennum's came for dinner that afternoon/evening. The kids had SO much fun playing in the pool in the backyard. Nora was in her element with the girls.....she was so happy.....even though she was freezing cold she was still all smiles! It rained a little and then the kids came in and played in Nora's room the rest of the night--it was fun to see them having so much fun. We have so many friends that have boys, it was fun to see Nora enjoying some girl time. It was Bishop who couldn't understand why the girls wanted to settle down, when he wanted to keep playing! ;)

Woah--I think I may have over-scheduled us for the weekend....it was all very fun and great to see everyone we did, but the kids were exhausted and definitely out of routine (eating, resting, etc). We all survived!

A weekend at Grandpa and Grandma's!

Rich and Eileen asked to take the kids for 2 nights before school starts and Bishop goes to Kindergarten and this was the only open weekend we had. It was a little sad saying good bye since we were away last weekend, but the kids were excited to go and Luke and I ended up having a nice weekend at home together!

The kids kept busy...they visited Dave's and picked plums. They caught frogs, had a tea party, went to a splash pad, the bakery, helped Grandpa in his shop (above the garage), swept the porch.....and I'm sure many more fun things too! ;) I'm glad it worked out and everyone had such a great time!

While the kids were in Cold Spring Luke and I went on a bike ramble and met up with Tim and Liana on Friday night. We started at BauHaus Brewery, which is really neat spot and a great brewery!! From there we went to Indeed (great beer), Betty Dangers Country Club (it was too long of a wait), so we ended our night at Jax's cafe and had dinner there. It was so fun seeing the Hennum's and catching up....and it was fun biking around (even though I always complain it's hard to dress for a bike ramble as a woman!) ;)

On Saturday we went out for breakfast, got some things done at home, ran some errands, went out for lunch....and ended our night at the Pizza Luce block party dancing to HarMar Superstar!! Sunday morning we went out for breakfast and went to meet Rich and Eileen to pick up the kids! I loved having some one on one time with Luke and being able to get some things done and enjoy our time together while the kids were having fun!

BauHaus brewery

Picking plums at Dave's

Betty Dangers Country Club--I want to ride the ferris wheel sometime!

Parks, new backpack, Kindergarten Picnic!

We had quite the busy and fun week! Monday night the kids and I stopped at the park on our way home from school as Luke had a work function and got home late. Bishop even made me a birthday cake at the park! ;)

Luke was gone Tues and Wed for work as well. Tuesday we did a little shopping and Bishop picked out a new backpack for Kindergarten and Nora got a new pair of shoes! The kids were awesome shopping! We had dinner at Potbelly's and then ended the night at a new park!

Wednesday Nina, Jack and Andrew came for dinner and to play.

Thursday was the Kindergarten picnic for Bishop. It was a rainy day, so they moved the picnic in to the gym. It was pretty warm and crowded--but it was fun to see some friends and find out his teacher! He will have Mrs. Delebo and he knows of 2 friends from Kindercare who will be in his class (twins, Silas and Olivia), so it's comforting that he'll know a couple familiar faces on the first day! It wasn't raining while we were there, but the playground was roped off for some reason--we played with Colin outside for a bit before heading home!

Mom, Look! Take a picture!

Another birthday cake! Such a sweetheart!

Nora had so much fun playing at Pottery Barn while we were shopping for a new backpack!

Dinner at Potbelly's!

The new park!

The mascot, The Dragon with Asa, Olivia, Bishop and Silas!

Bishop and Asa

Colin and Bishop

It's hard to believe he'll be in Kindergarten and starting a new chapter in his life, but I think it will be so good for him! I'm excited for him....a little anxious (but not as much as he is I'm sure) and a little sad of course. He is my baby boy, after all! ;)

Birthday Weekend in Chetek, WI

We enjoyed a couples weekend away at a cabin in Chetek, WI this past weekend. The kids went to my parents and had a blast as well! It was such a fun weekend for everyone! We relaxed with friends, caught up and relaxed some more. We were on a non-motorized lake (Fish Lake) and it was absolutely perfect for us! We swam out to the floating dock. The girls all relaxed on the trampoline and we soaked up some sun while we were at it! We played Celebrity at night and laughed a lot! It was perfect!

The kids had a blast in Owatonna as well! The circus was in town, so they went to the circus on Friday evening and really enjoyed that. Saturday was a busy day--they got donuts, went to a garage sale, fed the ducks, went to the library, played at the park, Bishop and my dad went fishing, had lunch at Mikkel Donald's and then had some quiet time at home. Nora had so much fun she fell asleep on the couch at 5pm! (She was up again before bedtime)!

At the circus in Owatonna

Cotton Candy at the Circus!

Nana and Papa's is so fun!

Meanwhile Luke and I were enjoying this.....

The cabin we stayed at!

On Sunday the kids went to church with my parents. We got up--had some breakfast, packed up and headed for home. We stopped in Hudson on our way home to visit my Grandma Cleo's gravesite. We also drove by her house (it looks great and has been updated/remodeled), grabbed a bite to eat for lunch and headed home.

Nana and Papa's church is so fun!

Swinging with Nana at the park

Tony, Dan, Luke, Phil, Carla, Sarah, Molly, Lisa

Visiting Grandma Cleo's grave

Grandma Cleo's house

The kids were so excited to celebrate my birthday with me--it was the sweetest thing! We had some cake with my parents and then they took off for home while we enjoyed an afternoon at home. Bishop had a great idea to make a pinata out of an old cereal box for my "birthday party"! We've made a few since then....including a water pinata! It was so fun and they were SO good to me! I'm just missing a picture with Luke on my birthday!

I love you, Dad!

I love you, mom!

The pinata! Nice work!

Blessed to celebrate with these 2!

Bishop's water pinata!

 It was such a wonderful weekend! Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes--for our friends and a perfect weekend away.....and especially to my parents for taking the kids and making so many memories with them and making them so happy!