Rich's 1963 Team and Cloud Cult

The weekend of April 26-28 was a busy one for us and it was very fun! We started the weekend off with swimming lessons on Saturday morning. Our weekly tradition usually includes, swimming lessons, swimming as a family and then Luke and I work out for a bit while the kids go to their respective daycares. Once you turn 3 you can go into this really neat slide area, so Bishop loves it. Unfortunately, Nora is still with the baby, babies, so she's not so fond of it, but it's growing on here. However, April 27th, it was beautiful out, so we left right after swimming and hung out outside for awhile instead.

Grandma and Grandpa came in the afternoon to hang out with the kids. Luke and I biked downtown to the Cloud Cult Concert at First Ave. I'll be honest....I put up a bit of a "fight" against biking downtown to a show, but as Luke suspected, I survived the bike and even enjoyed it! I'm not in shape and I had a million excuses lined up (what will I wear, I'm not comfortable biking in the dark, especially after drinking, etc). Luke was right-it was fun and it didn't take us too long to get there (or get home) ;) I'm sure we'll be doing that again sometime in the future.

Sunday night we celebrated Rich's 1963 St John's Football team that won the National Championship! They were definitely the underdogs in the game and they pulled off a big upset. It was a program held at St Thomas (of all places;), honoring all sorts of football players and contributors (high school scholars, college players, some Vikings players and even some contributors to the sport). It was a fun night for Rich to catch up with some of his old teammates and we heard some great stories about Rich! He was (and still is) a tough guy who was an integral part of their win! Congrats, Rich, you deserve it!

1963 Team
Rich is number 41 on the right

Number 41.......Rich Froehle!

Rich and his proud sons

Rich introduced himself to Leslie Frazier! :)

Snowy Spring

I want to make sure to document this winter that never ends (in case I somehow forget it in the future)! :) We had enough snow to make a snowman on April 18th 2013. Owatonna got 13+ inches of snow on May 2nd!! We've seen some 70 degree days now, so we're hoping we can say spring is finally here (to stay)!

The kids were so excited for spring they didn't care what the weather was like....once April hit they wanted to be outside whether it was raining, snowy or sunny!

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!