Happy Belated to the M-Cat

Happy Birthday Ms. Marah - we love you and have had a great time getting to see you this summer!

Meow, meow, meow, meow to you...

Cael sang to us in kitty speak (meow, meow, meow...that is the ABC's) while in the Ozarks so we are wishing him a Happy Birthday in Meow today! Hoping that they didn't have a houseful of people for his birthday while I sang Meow into their answering machine (and if you were all listening forgot my singing!). Ms. Kitty even said Meow the two times I requested her voice! Happy 4 Cael!

The Storm Shelter Tour

For those of you who are blessed with basements, here is what the inside of the shelter is like & why it might set off that claustrophobia! My dad asked what I was going to do to get over that and I wasn't worried about it until Sean shut the door when I was in there to see if I could get the handle to flip open by myself and yep, I hit the panic mode! I'll try again but can't help think that Sean is going to need to be with me in there and I might pack some vodka in our supplies!

THE Storm Shelter

Well we are the proud owners of an underground shelter! Never knew I'd want a claustrophobic inducing box so much but after the storms last year it seemed like the best idea ever (to us & the grandparents too). They came on Thursday and installed which became the very best entertainment for Lincoln. We had to stay inside while they used the saw but after that we spent the rest of the instillation watching in the garage. Lincoln stood and watched, sat on the tractor and watched, ate his lunch and watched - seriously LOVED it! I had to document with pictures for Carter being that he was at school. Lets hope we don't have to use it much but are so glad it is there if we do.

The after school smile!

This is the smile I hoped I'd see at 3:45 - he had a great day and his teacher complimented him on his nice manners (thanks, Ms. Nan!)

We had such a busy day - 1st day of school, my dad having surgery, getting a tornado shelter (more on that to come) - it was so nice that it was under 80 today much appreciated for this chaotic day - glad all turned out so well and after too many sleepless nights I will sleep WELL tonight!

My kindergartner

Well is is official we have a kindergartner, I can hardly wait to pick him up from school today to hear what he has to say! He was pretty nervous yesterday at meet the teacher, me too to be honest not enough organization for my liking (yes I know it is hard to live up to my liking!). He seemed more excited this morning and got dressed quickly and ready to go, the excitement was great at home (when our neighbor & buddy Parker was outside snapping his pictures too) but fell a bit when we got to school. He did great in the room until goodbye - as did I! But we made it and only 5 hours and 45 minutes until we pick him up! Kindergarten The Reaction coming to you soon...stay tuned!

The Ozarks 2011

Yes I know I'm hot and cold on blogging! I've got lots to say this week - we had a great trip to the Ozarks with the Hogan family. We had the most awesome house that fit our large family well -plenty of space for all of us - big & small. The kids had a great time together with minimal conflict - it is so much fun to see them together. Lincoln and Cael bonded like never before which was fun for me to see - my same age cousin was one of my best friends and I hope they will be good friends too - in fact I'm already sending them to Iowa State together but I guess we have a few more years before we sign them up for that! Carter loves all of his big cousins but seems to be a sucker for Charlee - they will both be in Kindergarten this year and for at least a few months each year are the same age, we overheard them saying "I'm 5" and "me too!". Loved seeing the big girls swim like crazy fish - they were having so much fun & are getting to be old enough to play with the moms & dads - especially on the water trampoline. And Ms. Elin was a little delight on our trip, she's such a little trooper and did great - even taking a dip in the lake at the old age of 4 months! Thanks Hogan family for the memories!