Let's catch up

I think about blogging every day. When one of the boys does something funny or when I have a few free minutes to sit down with the computer I think "Man, I should really blog right now" but then just like that the moment is gone and I am on to something else. So, today I sit down with the intention to catch up a bit.

We last left off with my tribute to the wonderful Rancho La Puerta. Coming home from that trip was a bit like a whirlwind. It was wonderful to be home and with all my boys again but life pretty much switched right back into high gear and we were off and running. My in laws came for a week. It was great to see them and the boys had fun with them.

They held down the fort while Peter swept me away for a birthday overnight getaway to The House on the Hill and dinner at the Rowe Inn, both in Ellsworth. It was a quick trip, 24 hours on the dot, but we had a really nice time.

The above photo was taken on the porch at the House on the Hill. The same porch we sipped champagne on to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary while fireworks shot thru the sky and over the little lake just across the street. It was great being back there and we both agree we will not wait another 7 years to make a return trip.

We got home mid morning on my birthday and spent the rest of the day with Peter's parents and the kids. Grammy ordered an ice cream cake from Moomers and picked up things for dinner at home. After dinner I got to open my presents from the boys. While I was at Rancho La Puerta Peter took the kids to Hands on Art where they were able to pick out whatever they wanted to paint for me. Mack insisted on a cat because apparently I love cats. It is so cute and he was SO proud.

Pierson painted a goblet of sorts that he calls a bowl and either way will make a cute candy dish. I guess we didn't get a picture of my goblet but here is another pic with the boys after the gift opening ceremony.

Peter even painted a sushi tray for me and had the kids put their hand prints on either end. So cute and a definite keepsake. It was a great birthday all around that finally wrapped up a week later with a lovely little Mexican dinner party with friends at Cassy's house. It was nice to hang out together at one of our homes without the children. It's not very often that we get to do that and it was a treat. Great food, sangria and company.

Once the birthday festivities were over it was time to move on to Mother's Day. Since my mom did not make it home from Arizona to be with us on Mother's Day this year we decided to take a drive down to Grand Rapids to partake in a Mother's Day barn party at my grandfather's farm. He and his wife Joan do this every year. It's an informal get together at their farm where the kids have a ball watching and cows and getting towed around the farm on one of the big tractors. Unfortunately this year it rained the entire time we were there so we were confined to the barn. The kids still had a ball climbing on the hay bales and playing on one of the tractors that was parked indoors.

It was so great to see my grandpa and other family members that we go way too long without seeing. My cousin Sean and his wife Brecken came in from Chicago with their two kids. We have become such good friends in our adult lives and always enjoy each others company.


Their new baby Paxton was born in February and they have asked Peter and I to be her Godparents. We are so excited and honored. She is a little doll. We took the opportunity of having all the little ones together to get a good shot of them in their "initial tees". So cute!

The countdown to summer is on and boy is the calendar filling up quickly. Only 3 1/2 weeks left of school. I am going to work a revised schedule during the summer months and I am excited about being home a little more. Mack has started playing T Ball and tomorrow is his first game. I'll be sure to post some pictures and highlights from the game. Mack is starting to lose some of his shyness and has become quite the "people person". It's so nice to see him come out of his shell. His imagination is taking off which is great. He and Peter and going to try to figure out how to make a jet powered skate board. I wish I was kidding. He's a great kid and I cannot believe that he will be six years old two weeks from today.

Pierson was not happy about having to go to school this morning and when I told him that I would be back right after lunch time he told me this: "I am not talking to you, I no have nice words say to you!". Hmmm..his own version of "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". He is such a character. He can be the sweetest little thing I have ever laid eyes on one minute and then can completely change on a dime. He absolutely adores being outside playing sidewalk chalk and in his sandbox. We have spent a lot of time tracing the kids bodies on the driveway with sidewalk chalk and then they decorate however they like. Mack comes up with some pretty cool super heroes and Pierson just likes to give all his guys really crazy hair. I'll have to take some pictures.

In reading back over this entry I feel it is a little like a Christmas letter and I apologize for that. I do have some more intense, deep thoughts to write about but I need to be in the right mood. For now, you should be all caught up!