Natalie's Night!

 Wednesday was my niece Natalie's 7th birthday; so, we all headed to Berne to enjoy some woodfired pizza!

Charlie loved having a picnic supper!

and so did Natalie and Harvey!

There was lots of play time!

Being silly with Grandpa Alan's hat!

Natalie got to open presents. Do you think she liked them?!

and the best part, CAKE!

While the pizza is a little pricey, it was pretty tasty! We were glad we could celebrate Natalie's birthday with her!

1 Year Under my Belt

 Wednesday was my last day of my first year of teaching, and what a year it was! I really truly have enjoyed myself, and I'm excited to give it another go next fall. I have lots of new ideas to help improve my classes, and I'm excited to give them a try!

My coworker Steve, who was my amazing mentor this year, retired. Here are all the kiddos in our middle school program giving him a big hug! They are really going to miss him, and so am I!

He's going to spend a lot of his retirement fishing up north at his cabin. My cousins, Michelle and Hannah, made his adorable cake! 

This is me on my last day of school. I wore my Diet Coke shirt because it's what got me through my year. I always had a little caffeine pick me up on my drive to school. I did take April off however. No diet coke the entire month! 

We took our kiddos to Todd Park for our last day. We grilled out and had a great time! Here are my 6 that showed up. I had 3 kiddos absent on our last day. 

We had a guest student for the day. The kids were ecstatic to finally meet Charlie! 

They loved playing with him! 

I'm ready to relax and enjoy my summer now!

Delayed Mother's Day Post

This is post 1 of my "catch up" posts. I have been taking a lot more pictures using my phone when we do quick trips places, so I've finally downloaded the 500 pictures. Get ready for some updating!

On Mother's Day Charlie and I brought McDonald's to Grandma Jayne and Grandpa Bob. After Charlie scarfed down his happy meal, he had lots of time to play. Here you see Great Grandpa Bob making a ramp for Charlie's cars.

Great Grandma Jayne is playing blocks with Charlie. They all had a lot of fun playing that day!

Tortoise and the Hare

Liv, Jenna and I did a 5k today in Rochester. I had a pounding headache from the moment I woke up, so I was a little nervous. The headache didn't bother me too much until I hit mile 2. With every step it pounded harder and harder. I did finish though and ran almost the entire thing. I did a short walking stint after the 2 mile marker, but it didn't last too long. Just long enough to give my head a break. I might just keep up with this running gig...

Here we are at home before the race wearing our race shirts. 

We did it! 

Right after we finished! 

Memorial Day Weekend

Becky and Emma came to visit us last weekend. It was SO much fun to have them around. Charlie was very interested in Emma, but he didn't understand why it wasn't okay to shove toys in her face and pet her head like he does to Luna and Sol.

Mom came over right away Sunday morning to hold the little sweetheart.

We brought up some of Charlie's baby toys. We ended up sending this one home with Emma because she loved it so much. We won't be needing it for a while anyways!

I got in LOTS of snuggle time! I was in seventh heaven. 

I just had to share this picture too of Charlie playing away. He looks like such a big boy! 

We brought up the Bumbo. Emma is a little too small still, but she did a pretty good job!

Cute mother daughter shot. 

Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

Emma's first trip to the swings 

I saw this adorable patriotic dress and had to get it! Doesn't she look perfect for Memorial day?!

Charlie was very patriotic as well. 

Here's the little beauty

We had a picnic lunch at Grandpa's house. Charlie only ate baked beans. He wanted more and more and more...

Can you tell he's a bean boy?!

Me with my little sweetie in red, white and blue!

Hump Day

On Wednesday, I took a half day to stay at home with Charlie. It was so beautiful out, so we spent most of our time outdoors.

Here Charlie's sporting his new Brewers Hat. No, I'm not a Brewers fan, but my friend Kelly is a HUGE one, and the hat was only .25. I just couldn't pass it up.

Charlie can play with this guy for hours. Literally! 

We tried out chalk for a bit. 

He'd rather dump the chalk out. 

 8 more days until we get to spend EVERY day in the sun together!

Stride for the Cure

Last Saturday I did something I never thought I'd do; I ran a 5k. Tony and Charlie came along too! We did Stride for the Cure for breast cancer research in Austin. The High School Youth Leadership put together the race. I was incredibly sore from kickball league, so I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but I was proud that I did it. My next race is in 1 week! I better get running again!