WICKED!

Clayton and Brooke both asked to see Wicked while it was here in town.  I loved watching how both of them watch the show...it's so different.  Brooke sits back and takes it all in - with very little facial expressions as she watches.  Clayton is on the edge of his seat, bopping with the upbeat songs, grabbing my hand during the scary parts, giving thumbs up at the end of the song before clapping, and just overall "into" the show.  It was a fun date.

Annual Strawberry Picking

The weather was looking a little like we might get rained on but given that the calendar was open we decided to take our chances.  After all it's tradition...

 

Waiting for the Tractor to take us to the Fields

 

I was really hopeful that Evelyn wouldn't mind the backpack carrier.

 

Here Comes the Tractor

Lincoln insisted on picking with this Tupperware container.

Evelyn just sat and watched as we picked.

And sat and watched...for 40 minutes!
It's like she's the fourth child and has had a lot of practice at sitting and watching...

 

 16 Pounds later...headed back to the Farm House

 Glad we took our chances with the weather.  The fields were just a little bit muddy and the rain held off until later in the afternoon!  Thanks Grandma Nancy for joining us.

 

Brewer Game - Little League Night

No one in our home plays Little League, but we had some very kind neighbors who offered to get us tickets for the Menomonee Falls Little League night at the Brewer game.  Just ask Clayton if he wants to play baseball TWO times a week and he'll tell you it's too much work.  Baseball just doesn't rank as a top sport for him...I really think the kids only like going to the Brewer Games for the food.  We had eaten dinner before we went to the game and upon sitting down Clayton let me know he wanted a hot dog, cheese curds, pretzel bites, a drink and licorice.  Oh BOY! 

The kids lasted until about the 5th inning and we headed home for bed.  I don't think any of them watched any portion of the game, but it was nice family time.

Got Golf?!

Brooke is in her third summer of golf lessons and Clayton is our rookie. 

This year Brooke had the option of sticking with the 2 hour lessons each week or the 3.5 hour lessons that include playing on the course for the second half.  She opted for the longer time and loved it. 

Clayton did well for his first lesson and thankfully said he also LOVED golf...it might have been a long summer if he didn't. 

We chose Sunday nights because the kids lessons overlap and that gives Mike and I a chance to run errands and play at some nearby parks with just the "little kids".  I was also hopeful that it might be a little cooler than the mid-day lessons - causing Clayton to hate the sport off of temperature alone.

Happy Birthday Grandma Nancy!

What grandma doesn't want to go see a cartoon for her birthday?!  The kids wanted to take Grandma Nancy to see the new Monster's University movie as part of her present. 

And she's a good sport!

Lincoln's 1st movie

 

Time to PLAY

School is OUT...let's PLAY!!

 

Father's Day

It was a beautiful day to celebrate Father's Day.  Mike and I have both been blessed with two very loving and devoted dads.

Lunch with Grandpa Ken
(Baby Evelyn was napping)

Dinner with Grandpa Mark

Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry

Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry was on the kids' snowman list for this year.  Mike was down in Chicago for a conference through Friday, so Brooke, Clayton and I took the 8 a.m. train down to the Museum and Mike met up with us at lunch when his conference wrapped up.  It was a packed day, but a lot of fun!

 

I'd almost venture to call the train ride with the "older kids" easy - I read a book while they worked on various things - AMAZING!  And I had my own little milestone of getting a taxi by myself.  Well actually we just lined up with everyone else in the designated "get a taxi area."

Train Station Downtown

Brooke took the picture

Fairness happens occasionally...Clayton took the picture

 Brooke really enjoyed reading all about the different exhibits and Clayton really enjoyed manipulating any movable part on any and all of the exhibits.

Fine...take another picture...

 We did two "add-ons" for the day....the mine train and the submarine exhibit.  Both were excellent choices and I think two additional tours was just the right amount.

 These two made me laugh when they insisted on doing the fighter pilot simulator.  They got themselves turned upside down a few too many times and hit the emergency stop button after 45 seconds.  Oh boy...

I think we all could have skipped the 3.5 hour drive home.  (Mike chauffeured since he had driven down for the conference.)  Rush hour on a Friday afternoon was exhausting.

Let's GO SWIMMING

The kids have been waiting and waiting and waiting to use the new pool.  It's barely warm enough to swim, but no one seemed to mind (well, maybe Mike did, but Evelyn wanted in on the action...and someone had to stay dry to take pictures...such sacrifices I make as the mom!)

Last Day of School 2013

Just a few quick poses on the last day of Kindergarten and 2nd Grade. 

It's been a year of growth for all of us.

 

Allie & Lincoln...the Best of Friends

Lincoln got to spend a lot of time with our very special friend Allie this year.  Her 4K classes were in the afternoon and with Lincoln not doing preschool this year, they both had many mornings open for play.  Some weeks they saw each other everyday.  They became the best of friends and constantly asked when they could see each other again.  As the school year has come to a close, these two got to enjoy a few special outings.  It is rare that I get emotional about milestones, school years ending, birthdays, etc...but I have been especially emotional for these two as I watch this year close.  Because of the way their birthdays fall, they will be two years apart in school.  Who knows what the future holds but I think the season of friendship that these two have had this year will never be quite the same...and I'm just.plain.sad.

Hoffer's Tropic Pets

 

 

 Surprise Trip to Build A Bear

 

 

 

 I've never cried putting my own kids on the bus, but taking this picture of Allie on her last day of 4K brought me to tears.  It's been such a special year and I'm really sad to say goodbye to it.