Family Pics 2014

We had our friend Megan take family pictures again this past June.  She is one of the boys' daycare providers so she's always able to get them to smile and laugh.  We headed to the University campus for the mid-morning photo session and the boys indeed hammed it up for the camera.  We got some great shots of our family of 5 :)  including some pregnancy photos of the little guy/girl "in Momma's belly" who will be joining us in a few weeks!

T-Ball 2014

James took the field again this year for another season of t-ball.  We registered him in a different league in the neighborhood this year, Highland Groveland Rec Association,  given the lack of direction from the St. Paul park and rec program last year - and minus the crummy weather forecasts for game nights he did well and learned much more this year given their were actually coaches and practices to attend.

The team was fortunate to have a mom who does photography on the side take some pictures of the team and kids - and we as parents were fortunate to get access to these photos.

 

 

 

 

James had a blast and enjoys watching baseball now and commenting on the things he learned this year.  He's making strides in both hitting and throwing - now we just need to keep him engaged and his eye on the ball for fielding!

Kindergarten Round-Up

James got a chance to check out his Kindergarten school, Horace Mann, in early May at a school open house for incoming K students.  He got quite the kick out of checking out the rooms, running around in the gym and just being in awe that he was truly going to be going there this fall.  We got a chance to meet a lot of other parents and hear about their positive experiences with their older kids at the school - we chose a good neighborhood to live in!

We are also fortunate that the school is only three blocks away from our house so he will be able to walk to school with other neighborhood kids which he is excited about.

We can't believe he'll be 5 here soon and starting school!  Where does the time go!!

Off to buy those first round of school supplies here soon!

Easter Celerbations 2014

Still catching up and summer days are fleeting ... somehow we'll make tracks and get caught up before baby #3 is here!  And now as we write this we realize we haven't posted that announcement here yet either ... yet another post to do!

Back to April ... chilly April in which snow continued to fall.  Yes we are looking that far back yet.  We did manage to have a wonderful Easter celebration both as a family and with grandmas and grandpas.

Boys got a kick out of decorating eggs this year and participating in a community Easter egg hunt in addition to attending church services in their Sunday best and having and early celebration with some family the day before and brunch at the Bragg's.

Baskets of course we're a favorite as well - all gmas and gpas spoiled them!  They had candy up until Memorial day to finish off - though Momma and Papa shared in that bounty as well :)

 

 

Swimmin' and Splashin'

The boys have both been enrolled in swim lessons since March and have enjoyed escaping the cold of both the late Minnesota winter and the early spring rain storms.

We enrolled them in lessons once again in lessons at the YMCA, though this time at a different location in Eagan which has been a welcome change to the craziness of the Southdale location.  We don't have to wait long for a changing/shower room or worry about not having a locker.  Needless to say it makes a crazy time of trying to get two kids in and out of swimsuits and showered and dressed a little less stressful - let alone not having the hassle of not being able to find a place to park to begin with.

Both boys are enjoying their classes and James graduated to the "Pike" level after last session.  He is in the water by himself now with an instructor and just three other kids and has been doing well.  Henry is the little fish of the two with no fear whatsoever - somewhat worrisome but he's taken quite well to the water and wants to be jumping in all the time - even when no one is looking!  Needless to say he'll be in a life jacket all summer if he's even near a body of water!  Henry's class this session they are working with him to get comfortable being in the water with just the instructor as he'd be ready to move on assuming he can listen to the teacher and not have to have mom or dad in the water with him.  Lucky for him this time around he's the only one registered for his class level so he's getting a lot of one on one attention.

We hope this session of swim lessons keep the boys interested in swimming and it will be a good transition to some family pool and splash pad time this summer when it finally arrives in Minnesota!

 

Spring Soccer

With the long winter we had we needed to find a way for James to void himself of some of his energy when it was still too cold and wet to be playing outside each evening.  Matt noted an indoor soccer league for 3-5 year olds up at the rec center near our house for six weeks starting in March and we signed him up!

James enjoyed the pace of soccer ... as the kid loves to run!  So we think it was a good fit for him.  Teaching him to only use his feet to control the ball was a challenge but he got the hang of it after a few weeks.  Just as with hockey and t-ball we've discovered he's a left-footed kicker too. 

Henry was disappointed he wasn't allowed to play - we brought him with the first week or two to watch but he wanted to be part of the action and kept running out onto the gym floor ... needless to say one of us stayed home with him for the remaining sessions as he was a handful to keep track of and keep out of the area of play!  Hopefully he can participate next year himself.

James enjoyed soccer and was sad to see it end last month - but I'd imagine it won't be long before he asks when he gets to go again!

Goldy's Track and James' Big Race!

James took part in the Goldy's Kid's Run at the University of Minnesota track in early February.  He was so excited to do the race again and was convinced he was going to do it all by himself - "I can run it all by myself mom."  So that's exactly what he did.  With some help from Mom to find his way to the starting line and waiting with him until the gun went off - he ran solo!

Mom ducked out of the track at about 50 meters in and he finished the mile race (4 times around) with his little arms pumping and legs moving to the finish line.  Momma and Papa were so proud of him and I'm sure we'll get a request from him for another kid's race soon. 

Henry was excited to cheer on big brother as well and I'm sure we'll see him out there next year too - but James will probably leave us in the dust :)