Busy, Busy, Busy.

This past week was actually pretty low-key. We didn't have any softball games because of the holiday, and we just didn't have too much going on this past weekend either.

We spent most of the weekend at home. On Friday night, we went out to the B&G Milkway for ice cream. The kids loved the ice cream, and it was fun to eat some ice cream on the tailgate of the truck. We are definitely enjoying having the truck and can't wait to use it this coming weekend when we go camping.

Saturday was actually kind of chilly and windy. So, I took the kids to the Library and signed Emma up for a summer reading program. The kids also got to paint rocks which we were supposed to hide around Sioux Falls, but I had a mom moment and left them at the library. Oh-well. Emma's excited for the reading program anyway, she got a necklace and for each 15 minutes of reading she gets beads to add to the necklace. Then, at the end of the program, she gets her name in a drawing for a grand prize basket.

We also finally planted our garden this past weekend. It only took us until June.

Sunday was kind of busy. We had a brunch at church that I had to help with. After that, John and I took the kids to the fields at Keuhn park, and we all had a little BP practice. It was fun to spend some time outside together, just the four of us.

This week is crazy, insane busy, and I'm kind of just looking forward to it being over. We have our normal softball on Monday and Tuesday night, and then on top of that, the kids have swimming lessons this week, and next week. And of course I couldn't get the kids into the same time slot, so I have Elliott going from 5:30-6pm and Emma from 7-7:45pm. Ugh. Then tomorrow, I had in Dental Appointments for the kids and myself at 3pm. Also, we are going camping this weekend, and we haven't shopped or packed a thing yet. Yikes.

So, the next two weeks are going to be crazy busy, and I will probably have no time to blog. Then, the next week is Emma's birthday, so I will be in planning and hosting mode.

I feel like I am going to blink and summer will be half over. So, I guess I will try to enjoy these busy weeks and not wish them away.

Treats on the stairs 

Ice cream on the tailgate

Emma in her happy place

Family outing. 

Elliott loves to run around the yard in his underwear. 

Memorial Day Weekend 2018.

Somehow May has passed by us in a blink of an eye. One minute it's my birthday, nurses' day, and mother's day, and then the month is over. Our weeks have been flying by with softball two nights a week, work, and family get-togethers. It's no wonder why I can't keep my blog up to date.

For Mother's Day weekend, we kept things pretty low-key and just went out to Jim and Barb's house to help work in the greenhouse and fill our planters. The weather was a little chilly, but overall it was a nice weekend. We also smoked some steaks on the grill for supper, which was delicious.

Emma had her last day of school on May 18th. For the last day, they went to 605 Ninja Academy and got to play there. They had a really good time. Emma had a great year of Kindergarten and is now officially a First Grader. I'm not sure how that happened, but she is very excited to be in first grade next year.

I stumbled across free tickets for the Canaries home opener on that Friday evening. So, the kids and us went to the game and had a great time. The kids got to do the bouncy house, the YMCA on the field, and even got some dippin dots. We also got to actually watch some of the game, so that was nice. It was a beautiful evening for some baseball, and we even got to watch a wonderful fireworks show at the end of the game.

The next morning, we headed to Minnesota for Kyle's graduation party. It was nice to see some distant relatives we hadn't seen in a long time. It was a nice party, and the kids had fun running around and bothering everyone. On Sunday, we stayed to watch Cody and Kyle play on the Cardinals team before we headed back to town. It was really fun to watch them play, and Todd and Julie spoiled our kids during the entire game. It was fun, but made for a late night getting back to Sioux Falls.

This past week was really busy again. We had our typical softball games (I hit a homerun over the fence on Tuesday night, that was pretty fun!). On Wednesday, we had a catch up at home day. On Thursday we headed to Kristina and Johnny's to visit with Bert and Erica who are here from Nashville. It was really nice to visit with them, and it was great weather to just sit outside and visit.

This past Friday, we headed out to Jim and Barb's to have some kabobs on the grill and just "camp" out at their place. It was pretty fun. We got their pool out and the kids had fun with that. Later in the evening we had a campfire and made some smores. The kids really enjoyed that.

On Saturday, the greenhouse was open for the day, so we helped make some deliveries to the cemeteries. It was 95 degrees on Saturday, so it was smoking hot. Especially in the greenhouses. John and I also spent some time filling a couple more planters. The kids spent most of the day running around, riding trikes, and swimming. They had such a fun day. In the evening, we grilled again, and then we went over to Jeff's place to play around with the excavator. They are working on tearing down some buildings on Jeff's place, so they bought an excavator. Jim let the kids ride on it with him, and even let them pull some of the levers. They thought it was pretty cool. John also got in it and played around on it. Finally, we took the tired kids back to Jim and Barb's and got them ready for bed.

Sunday was another busy day. We started it off by going to Lake Vermillion to take the kids fishing. It was Elliott's first time fishing, and he really enjoyed it and did really well with it. Emma also did well, and it kept their attention for quite a while. Neither kids caught anything, but John caught a couple, and that was enough to keep the kids interested. They even touched the fish, which was a pretty big accomplishment. After it got too hot to fish, we took the kids to the beach to go for a swim. They loved swimming in the lake, it probably helped that it was 99 degrees outside. It was so hot out there!! Finally when we couldn't take the heat anymore, we went back to Jim and Barb's to cool off. The kids took a good, long nap and the rest of us took it easy for a little while.

In the evening, the grandparents volunteered to watch the kids another night, so John and I headed into town to have supper and go to a movie. We enjoyed a nice supper at the Pour House, and then we went to see the new Star Wars movie about Han Solo. It was a great evening, and a much-needed adult date.

Today has been pretty exciting. We decided to go look at trucks this morning, and we actually found one we liked and we bought it. We are proud pickup truck owners. After we got it, we headed out to Jim and Barb's in the new pickup to pick up the kids. It was a nice little drive in the new truck. Now, we finally back home, cleaning up doing laundry, and getting ready for another week. The kids are napping, and it's been a great weekend.

Happy Memorial Day!

Such a lucky mom 

So blessed

Mornings at the Nelsons'

Taking in our first Canaries Game

New hats

Last Day of school 

Supporting the Cardinals

Swimming on a hot day. 

First campfire of the year

Dirty kids having a fun day. 

Fishing lessons 

Excited to swim!

31.

Again, these last couple weeks have just been crazy. This past week, we haven't been home before 8pm any night of the week! It makes for fast days and short nights.

Last Friday was my 31st birthday. Not sure how that happened. It was a good day though. After work, a few co-workers and I went out for some drinks on the patio at Monk's. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we all got a little sunburnt. After Monk's we went to Jacky's for some margaritas and burritos. It was delicious! I had a great birthday. Emma even waited up for me to come home and watch me open my present. And Elliott sang me Happy Birthday the next morning. It was pretty sweet.

Last weekend, we headed to Minnesota for Trevor's confirmation. We left town on Saturday, and spent the day playing outside at mom and dad's house. Dad was in the field planting all weekend, so it was just John, Mom, me and the kids. In the evening, we headed to Redwood Falls to Ramsey park. They were having a lighting of the falls, complete with food, drinks, lights and music. The kids loved running around and playing on all the playgrounds. And the lights were pretty cool on the bridges and along the paths. We had two very tired kids after all the activity, and it was pretty easy to put them to bed.

On Sunday, we headed to church at St. John's in the morning, and then to Janel and Tim's house for the confirmation. It was another beautiful day, and we all enjoyed spending some time outside and visiting. And drinking some beer. Jenna also has a trampoline, so the kids had a really good time jumping on it. Both kids napped most of the way home. Then, we headed straight to softball practice, and didn't get home until late.

Monday night was out first softball game of the year. We did okay, but were definitely rusty. We won 19-10 and had a fun game.

Tuesday night, I had women's league games, and we went 1-1. It was a fun evening, but there were some frustrating parts where I could tell it was the first game of the year.

Tomorrow, I have "Muffins with Mom' with Elliott at daycare in the morning, and then I am providing lunch for all the kids at school for Emma. It should be a fun day. Being 31 is definitely treating me well so far, I am very blessed!!

Roadtrips

Emma loving on a little kitty

Siblings

Fun at Ramsey Park

Love.