Labor Day weekend 2015

With school starting before Labor Day it kind of forced us to stay home and have a low key weekend. We enjoyed being home, the kids had a blast playing at home and we were still able to do some fun things and see family and friends!

Saturday we made some last minute plans to head up to Cold Spring--wish Grandpa and Grandma safe travels on their trip to Ireland and watch the Johnny Football game! While we were at Grandpa and Grandma's we checked out the progress Grandpa has made on his one bedroom cabin.....and we picked some (delicious) apples!

Walking down to pick apples!

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for the yummy apples!

Helping Grandma carry the apples back up!

Practicing some kicking after the Johnny game!

On Sunday we hung out close to home....we walked to the bread shop and Farmers Market. The forecast wasn't that great so we pushed our beach day with the Hennum's back to Monday. We did meet them for dinner on Sunday night, which was fun!

Playing at the bread store

Making fans at the Farmers Market

On Monday we enjoyed swimming at lake Harriet and icecream with the Hennum's! It was the perfect way to end a nice, long weekend!

Retzer/Steffel get together--Ms. Lindsay goes back to school

We found a night to get the kids together for dinner since the dad's were all gone for the night! Bishop, Nora, Ashton, Piper, Jack and Andrew all had fun hanging out in the alley....driving the car and playing together!

Nora, Bishop and Ashton taking a cruise!

Ms. Lindsay's last day was Friday--Nora will miss her hugs! Thanks for everything, Ms. Lindsay--have a great year at college!

Bishop is loving Kindergarten and he's been excited to come home to teach Nora what he's learning!

A couple birthday parties and the FFL Draft!

We all survived the first week of school and Bishop had Asa's birthday party to go to on Saturday. It was fun to see Kindercare friends and catch up with other Kindergarten parents. The kids had a blast (at AirMaxx) jumping on the trampolines and playing games together. Nora got some one on one time with her Daddy at the Zoo and she was pretty happy about that!

Saturday night we went to our friend, Jina's, birthday party! The Hennum's were there so the kids were THRILLED to see the girls and we brought some water balloons, which were a pretty big hit, so that was fun!

Luke is still rocking his 24 day challenge and feeling great! The weekends can get a little hard, but he's doing awesome!

On the Merry Go Round at the Zoo!

In the foam pit with Finn!!

Best Buds! Happy birthday, Asa! We are so thankful for your friendship to Bishop!

The Kindercare gang! Such great kids--we miss some of them already!

Playing arcade games

Nora absolutely adores Siena! She is always so happy with her!!

Our Goddaughter, Maia and Nora!

 On Sunday the Bormann's hosted an "in-person" Fantasy Football Draft! It was the first time we've all gotten together and it was a fun day together! Thanks, Shelly and Ryan for hosting and organizing the draft!

Great Grandma Darlene

Nora loving on her Great Grandpa Ray!

The 2nd and 3rd days of school.......

On the second day of school Nora wanted to wear a pretty dress and announced that it was time for pictures! She wanted one in the front of the house and the back, just like the first day of school! I was more than happy to oblige! ;)

Bishop had a great first day of Kindergarten! The 2nd day he went to Mpls Kids before school and it was a little harder of a drop off than the first day. He wanted to go straight to Mrs. Delebo's class so it made me feel good to know he loved school. He has a hard time in new situations and it takes him awhile to warm up sometimes, especially when there isn't structure. Mpls Kids is an awesome program and the kids have a lot of choices of where they can go to play--but it was a hard transition at first for Bishop and there were tears on the 2nd day. Thankfully he has many friends from Kindercare, so that helps!

We had one make up t-ball game that landed on Thursday (2nd day of school). I honestly wasn't crazy about it because I had heard so much about how tired these Kindergartners are their first couple of weeks and how big of a transition it is.....but since Luke was coaching we figured we should go. Well, we were the ONLY people that did go. The kids played for a little bit and then we took off! 

The Froehle's with Nate (the Y employee)! :)

And on the 3rd day of school Nora asked for another fancy dress and to have her picture taken again! :) Bishop wasn't as interested......:)

My heart has gone out to Nora lately, as she's had a lot of transitions too. Bishop moved on to Kindergarten, one of her favorite teachers left, another teacher is leaving to go back to college and most of her friends are moving up to Pre-K soon. She's taking it in stride (mostly) and I don't blame her for having a few hard moments here and there....she's only 3 and has had a lot of change in a few short weeks! So, if she wants to wear a pretty dress and have me take her picture....I will gladly give her that attention! ;)

Bishop's first day of Kindergarten!

Wednesday, August 26th was Bishop's first day of Kindergarten at Lake Harriet Community School! He got a good night sleep and woke up ready to go! While he will be attending Minneapolis Kids for before and after school care, for the first day Luke and I brought him right up to his room. School runs from 9:30-4, so our morning routine won't have to change at all, which is great! Bishop is in Mrs. Delebo's class and she seems great! He knows 2 friends from Kindercare in his class and I know that helps a lot too (Silas and Olivia).

Nora was just as excited for his first day of school pictures! :)

He was so excited and READY!

Waiting for the day to begin!

I was a little nervous on how drop off would go based on the separation anxiety he experienced this summer. He had absolutely no problems--he was so excited and ready to start! He walked right in--found his desk, sat down and was ready to go! We were all beaming all morning and it was so fun to see him so happy! I thought I would be in tears.....but I was so happy and content seeing him so excited that I did just fine! After drop off there was "coffee and kleenex" for the new Kindergarten parents. The principal and PTA president spoke and welcomed us all to the school.

When we picked him up from Mpls Kids in the afternoon we ran into Mrs. Delebo in the hall. She said they had a great day and that Bishop is a great kid! Nice way to start off the school year! The Mpls Kids Kindergartners were in the lunchroom having a snack and all of the Kindercare kids were sitting next to each other.....it's comforting to know they have each other! :)

Bishop, I am so proud of you and am so excited for your academic career to begin! All I ask is that you try your best and have fun--you are perfect just the way you are! Class of 2028 here we come!!

Counting down to Kindergarten!

Kindergarten starts on Wednesday, August 26th for Bishop. He had a couple days with mom before his big first day. On Monday morning we went back to his classroom for an assessment so his teacher has an idea of where he's starting from and what he knows (they came out of the classroom with big smiles and she said he's READY!) ;)

After that we met Liam, Max and Declan at the park for a couple hours (and William was there too).....then Bishop helped me run a few errands and he fell asleep on our way home! My intention was not to tire him out TOO much before he starts school! ;)

On Tuesday we had a great day together! We went to the Zoo, played at the park with Liam AGAIN (and William was there again too)! The boys had so much fun playing together....and there were other boys they met up with and played tag and hide and go seek with, it was so much fun!

Lucy's at his school now!

The kids have LOVED playing basketball with Casey lately! They team up on him and Nora does a great job of distracting him so Bishop can score! ;) Casey is such a good sport about it--he is so good to our kids and we are so thankful to have him as a role model for them!

Coloring with Andrew

At the zoo!!

With my boy at the Zoo!

There's a really cool new park at the zoo-it was awesome!

At the park again!

On Tuesday night we met Colin out for pizza. The boys were pretty much out of control the entire time.......we're thinking next time maybe we'll meet at a park instead.

Basketball buds!

Bishop is pretty excited for his first day of Kindergarten! I had so much fun with him the past 2 days and I'm excited for his new adventure! I think we're all a little anxious for what tomorrow will bring!