THE TALENT SHOW IS OVER...

OK...I hate to admit it...BUT...I had a lot of fun the past 2 days co-chairing the Talent Show. Everything went remarkably well. Very few "technical" difficulties. There were some adorable acts including a group doing the chicken dance, a group singing Secret Agent Man, a group doing Jailhouse Rock, one doing Build Me Up Buttercup and of course a ROCK BAND, which was Jake's favorite!! He now wants to be the lead singer of his band (which consists of his friend Adam on guitar & his friend Ben on drums).

ALLIE'S B-DAY PARTY AT SCHOOL

Yesterday Allie's class made ice cream sundaes for all of the summer birthdays. At first she was sad that she had to share her birthday at school with 5 other kids. Then she found out that they were making sundaes and got to pick a book out of the birthday book bin. After that, everything was just fine!! So typical of Miss Allie. Tomorrow is her last day of school. She is having a picnic (she gets to take brownies) and they are doing a mini concert.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND




Well, it was a LONG weekend here. Scott & I both came down with nasty colds and haven't been feeling great all weekend. Neither of us have slept much and we haven't been much fun to be around :) We did however take the kids to see the movie "Over the Hedge" and we also took them mini-golfing. That was about the extent of our fun!! Maybe next year will be more exciting.

Tomorrow is day one of the Hansen Talent Show...I will post more after that is over....

LONG WEEK

It has been an unusually long week...not sure why!! Yesterday, Jake went to his friend Ben's house for about an hour. He rode his scooter over by himself and home by himself. They live behind us, so he had to go around the block. I was nervous, but I guess it is time that I allow him to do these things. I watched him until he was out of my sight, then Ben's mom took over and made sure he got there o.k. Jake had no clue that as soon as he took off for home that Ben's mom called me so that I could be on the lookout for him! I guess we'll just let him think that he's doing it all alone :)

I had my cousin Brooke come over last night and watch the kids so that I could go to a meeting. I joined a committee that is fundraising for new playground equipment at Hansen. The current equipment is very old and it is time for a change. We are doing 2 phases in this large project to the tune of well over $100,000!! We'd really like to NOT have our kids going door to door to fund this project, so we are going to hopefully rely on grants, businesses and private donations to take care of it. We've come up with several activities for the kids to participate in as well...we'll see how this goes!

I had my final dentist appointment yesterday and only had to endure 2 shots this time. It was a breeze. I go back in 8 weeks and we'll see what comes next!

Jake is pretty pumped up for school today. They have Field Days this afternoon. He told me it is like having gym ALL afternoon. He can hardly wait! After school today we are heading to the gym to set up the stage for next week's Talent Show.

We don't have any big plans for the weekend. I wanted to go somewhere and enjoy the sun...Scott wasn't up for traveling. So, I guess I'll enlist in his help to wash the windows...maybe next time he'll want to travel ha, ha!!!

DANCE PICTURE

Allie's dance pictures came in yesterday. They turned out cute. There was a great close up black and white on the photographer's website. I'm ordering that one too. This is Allie's last year in the little girl's movement class. Next year she's tackling pre-ballet!

NEW CAMERA

I love my new camera! I played with it all afternoon and learned about all of the cool features that it has (that my old one didn't have). The zoom on this baby is awesome! I can't believe how much better it is than my old zoom. This camera also has a close up feature that my old camera didn't have (note the pic of the purple pansy...Allie's idea). The other really cool feature that it has is a quick shot that allows me to take like 1 picture per second...note the pics of Allie turning on the swing. That feature will be great during t-ball season. Well, I didn't get much cleaning done today, but I learned all about this cool new camera...I know, I'm a geek!

THE WEEKEND

We went out and enjoyed the 75 degree day yesterday at the park. The kids played and played on the merry go round.
You don't see too many merry go rounds anymore. Allie is soooo clumsy, she managed to fall down everytime she made an attempt to give it a push. Her legs are full of bruises today.

The tree guy finally came yesterday and ground the stumps in our back yard. I may have grass in that area by the end of the summer! Jake thought that the grinder that he used was really cool!

We went to CR today to celebrate Scott's niece Lindsay's birthday. The kids both slept in the car on the way home. They were up late last night having a "sleepover" on Allie's floor. They thought sleeping in their sleeping bags was really cool!

My camera broke last weekend while visiting my family. The part that holds the battery in the camera won't stay closed. I've had it duct taped all week. I have been researching new cameras online and had it narrowed down to 2 different Kodak cameras. On our way home from CR today, we stopped and picked a new one out. Happy early 10 year anniversary to me!! Scott will be going to buy himself a new golf club sometime soon...Happy 10 year anniversary to him!! We both got what we wanted and couldn't be happier :) I'm going to take some pics tomorrow and post them.

We have another busy ahead...the usual weekly kid's activities and a fundraising meeting for playground equipment at Jake's school, a couple of Talent Show things to handle and yet another dentist appointment for me. I've had 18 shots (no joke) in my mouth over the course of the past 2 weeks...what is a couple more on Thursday??

PLANTING FLOWERS



It is a beautiful day out today so Allie and I made a quick trip to Hy Vee to get annuals for our pots. Allie chose all of the colors of the various flowers we picked. She also planted and watered most of them. She thought she was pretty hot stuff using her gardening supplies that Aunt Kim bought her!

It has been a really LONG week...we have NOTHING on the calendar for tomorrow so I'm anxious to sleep in (yeah right) and hang out with the kids. The next 3 weeks look to be a little nutty too, then the kids are out of school and our days get easy hanging out at the pool!!

PLAYSTATION

Jake got out of school at noon yesterday so that the teachers had the afternoon to write their end of the year evaluations. We had planned to go to the park for a picnic lunch. That idea was literally blown away with the 30 MPH winds here. So, we went for Plan B. We (Sophie & I) decided to go to CR to Playstation and let the kids RUN & CLIMB. They had a great time. I made them lay in the ball pit for a picture because I was not about to climb/crawl through the tubes to get pictures of them!!

SOOOO TIRED

Have you ever been THIS tired?? Last night before Scott & I went to bed, we went to check on the kids. We found Allie sleeping like this! Of course, I made Scott wait to put her into bed until I got my camera!! In the middle of the night, Allie snuck into my bed. I woke up with Scott telling me to move over & I realized that the reason that I was on "his side" was because Allie was on my side. She says she had a bad dream!! You'd think I would remember her sneaking into my bed!!

I also took a picture of Jake sleeping, but he looked much more comfortable!!

WEEKEND

It was an eventful weekend...

We went to Michael & Kim's this weekend. Despite the weather, we had a nice time.
We grilled out Friday night and Kim had a birthday dessert for Scott. One of his favorites, Heath Bar Dessert. The kids thought is was cool that she bought him candles that were in the shape of the number 34.The kids had a lot of fun playing pool on Michael's pool table too.


Saturday, Allie & I went wedding dress shopping with Kim. She found 2 dresses that she loved and looks gorgeous in. Now she just has to decide which one! We went out with the Green girls and their spouses on Saturday night. It was great to catch up with them.

Sunday, we had a pastry brunch with my family and then went to Mandy's new house and helped her get moved in. The house is really nice.

The kids both made me great things at school for Mother's Day. Scott (with the help of Kim), had the kids get me the Mother & Child Isabel Bloom. I love it!! The kids also got me a Willow Tree Angel (with the help of Sophie). All in all a wonderful Mother's Day. I got to spend it with my kids, husband, parents & siblings.


On a sad note, my brother Will's roommate committed suicide on Friday night in Will's house. Will has been staying with my parents and is planning to sell his house. I feel terrible for Will and am praying that he feels better soon. He has a tight knit group of friends and of course his family that will help him get through this. What a tragedy.

WEATHER

This weather STINKS!!! We are heading to Michael & Kim's tonight and had big plans to grill and hang out on the deck. Kim promised Allie a bonfire...that's not happening! Tomorrow the guys were going golfing all day. I'm guessing that isn't happening either. At least us girls can still go wedding dress shopping with Kim. Hopefully, Sunday is nicer. I'd like to plant some annuals if the weather cooperates. I suppose the weather could be worse...here's a picture of the kids in the snow in January of 2005. I'm glad it isn't like this!

NOAH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

The kids went to a birthday party the other night at Doughy Joey's in Waterloo. They enjoyed the pizza, breadsticks & of course cake. They had a great time with their friends and were exhausted when we got home.


GO THE DISTANCE DAY

Jake's school had "Go the Distance Day" yesterday. The entire school went to the track and either walked or ran for 30 minutes. I happened to be finishing up Talent Show auditions while they were walking so I stopped to watch & take some pictures. Jake ran like a crazy man around the track! Go figure!

ALLIE'S NEW OUTFIT

Allie loves this new skirt and shirt that she got. She wore it the other day and wanted me to take pictures of her by the tulips. She looks pretty cute! For those of you that know about my tulip "issues", please note that they grew this year. The neighbors got a yellow lab puppy and our rabbits have pretty much disappeared, thus my tulips didn't get eaten!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT!!

The kids made Scott cards for his birthday. Of course, I had to take pictures of them and post them. They are precious.


Here is Jake's card.












Here is Allie's.

AUDITIONS

At the very first PTA meeting of the year, back in September, my dear friend Sophie volunteered to CO-CHAIR the Hansen Talent Show. I happened to be sitting next to her at that meeting and also by last year's co-chair, my friend Denise. The PTA president asked if Sophie or Denise knew of anyone else that would be willing to co-chair the show with Sophie. I tried my very best NOT to make eye contact with ANYONE!! There was an awkward silence when I noticed all eyes on me. In a moment of weakness, I said I would do it. We began planning for this year's show in about mid-March. In mid-April things started to really roll...last week was plain crazy!! I had the students, parents & teachers calling/emailing/stopping me in the halls constantly. It has been fun, but at times a little stressful. Today we started auditions. We have 4-5 more days of auditions, then the real fun begins. Did I mention that neither Jake nor my co-chair's son Brock are in the show??? Hmmmmm......I'm still wondering what came over me back in September when I volunteered to do this???

Allie was really excited to go to Jake's school this afternoon. She chose her outfit VERY carefully. See the attached pictures...she matches right down to her little rings...

CINCO de MAYO & FUN BUNCH


Last night we went to my friend Sophie's house and celebrated Cinco de Mayo in true Mexican style. We had a taco bar, chips/salsa & of course Margaritas & Corona. It was a hoot until Allie waited too long to use the restroom and had an accident. Both Scott & I have talked to her about going potty right away etc. The child REFUSES to do as she is told. SO, Scott took her home while Jake & I stayed at the party. She was CRUSHED! She didn't get to be there for the pinata, which killed her. She had been talking about Sophie's party and the pinata since she woke up. She left the party with large crocidile tears streaming down her face...it broke my heart. Jake had a ball whacking at the pinata, while Allie spent the evening at home crying most of the time according to Scott.

Today the kids and I went to the Fun Bunch at the mall. The kids got to make beaded bracelets to either keep or give to Mom for Mother's Day. Jake chose to make a purple and gold bracelet and will give it to me.
He says that I can wear it to all of the UNI games this year. Allie made a bracelet with heart beads and of course in true Allie style kept it for herself!! She told me it was just too pretty to give away. So typical of my 2 kids....

CAREER DAY

Jake's doing a unit in school all about careers. The kids had to send a stuffed animal to work with a parent for a day. They then had to answer 5 questions regarding the animal's day at work. They will do a report tomorrow at sharing time. Jake chose to send his alligator "Cheerful" to work with Scott on Tuesday. Scott took the alligator to work with him. Jake was asking Scott a million questions regarding Cheerful's visit to John Deery Motors. I heard Scott say that "all of my co-workers were asking me why I had an alligator on my desk". Jake thought that was cool. I told Scott later that I thought it was sweet that he told Jake he took the animal into work, even though he really didn't. Scott swears that he actually set him in his office for the day! I figured that animal would sit in Scott's car all day long. Anyway, Cheerful came home with 24 John Deery Motors keyrings to give to each of Jake's classmates when Jake gives his report tomorrow...good advertising Scott!!

I've also attached another older picture favorite pic of the kids. Enjoy!!


Some extended family news...

My future sister-in-law Kim (engaged to my brother Michael) starts her new job as an ER nurse soon, she'll be awesome. Tonight is her last night on the neuro floor. Good luck!

My sister Mandy & her husband Mike have officially set a move in date into their new home. May 14th is the date!! They've been building for almost a year & are ready to move.

Our nephew Alex (Tracy's son) is ready to start earning his green belt in Tae Kwon Doe...way to go Alex! He's worked SO hard to get to this point.

Scott's sister Kelley & her fiancee Mike had a baby boy named Lucas Jackson (not sure on the spelling)tonight. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. Everyone is doing well.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We've been on the go non-stop since yesterday morning! Allie & I went to the park for a picnic lunch with her friends Abbie & Ashley yesterday. It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. We found a "new" park that overlooked the river and had a rock climbing wall, which the kids really liked. Allie was filthy and had to get to dance class so she took a quick bath before dance at 2:45! She also had tumbling last night and looked really good on the mini uneven bars.

Allie starts pre-ballet next year at dance. Her teacher, Ms. Debra got the bar out for the girls to practice with. I took a few pictures after class of Allie showing me what she worked on, of course I've put those pictures on the site :)

Allie and I spent this morning running errands. We met Sophie, Brock & Abbie at Chuck E. Cheese's after school. The kids ran like crazy while the moms worked on assembling notes for teachers/students regarding next week's Talent Show auditions. Being the co-chair of the Talent Show has taken a lot more time than I anticipated! We'll spend next week watching auditions & the following week getting the order of the acts ready for the show.

Another busy day tomorrow...hopefully we can slow down over the weekend?!?!?

Happy May Day!!!

Jake got out of school today and INSISTED that we make May Day baskets. Since I totally spaced off that it was May Day, I had to run to the store for supplies. We came home armed with puffed corn, M&M's, candy corn & Dots. The kids assembled about 20 bags of goodies complete with a little note stating who the goods were from. Jake ran about 100 miles per hour to each house to drop the bags, ring the bell and run as fast as possible back to me. Then, he would head back to watch the kids get the bags! Allie, on the other hand typically got caught because she'd lose a shoe or fall down on her way back to me. The kids think that this whole May Day thing is pretty cool. Our doorbell has been ringing all evening and now the kids are sitting in the living room trying to catch the next person that dares to ring the bell!! I wonder how I will entertain them tomorrow night????