Our last preschooler (sniff, sniff, sniff)

I know you are all wondering- Did I really cry when I dropped off Kaelynn at preschool this morning.  The answer is ...........NO!!!! 

She had a great first day of preschool.  I was a little worried about her crying since she cries every time I tell her she is going to Sunday School, but she didn't cry and said she had a good day :) 

All ready to go at 8:15am....

Hanging up her backpack in her cubby.

Kaelynn and her friend Ava.  Ava is moving out of state sometime soon, so we were surprised to see her there.  Kaelynn was excited to say the least. 

The proud parents and a little girl who was thinking "Enough with the pictures.  I just want to go play."

Playing in the pretend play room.  It is set up with house and store toys.  I'm sure she will spend most of her free time in there. 

Playing with playdoh.  A favorite activity!!!

She is wanting to go back tomorrow so that is a good sign.  We are very excited for this year and the things she will learn and experience.  We love you sweet pea!!!!

Cutest Ballerina Ever!

Kaelynn started ballet lessons last week and it has been so fun to watch her do something she loves.  She is the youngest in the class and has had to work hard to keep up, but she is doing very well.  It is an hour long class- for a 4-year old that's a long time.  She is learning the positions and how to point and use her arms gracefully.  She is so precious and loves it. 

Miss Joni, her instructor and owner of Messiah Dance Theater is on the far right.  Kaelynn is just to the left of her in the pale pink leotard. 

This is a video of a game they play.  They each get to take a turn being the fairy and waking up the others in the class.  When they are awakened- they are to dance around the room until the music stops.  Kaelynn loves it! 

Tonight's plans.......

Guess what we're doing tonight........

San Diego

Last Thursday thru Sunday, Andy and I had the priveledge of traveling to San Diego with 5 other staff from Bethel.  We were there to check out a church that has some great ideas- ones that we are hoping to adapt and implement at our church in the near future.  I won't go too much into that right now, but want to show you some of the fun time we had too. 

I'd never been to California, and haven't expereinced the ocean that much, so it was a ton of fun to experience.  We flew in Thursday morning and tooled around the harbor a little.  We ate shrimp with the seagulls and saw some pretty amazing aircraft carriers. 

 

The team- Andy, Ginger, Pastor Matthew, Wendy, Jodi, and Jonathon

Remember this picture???

Well, in the harbor area they have a very, very large statue replicating this pose.

Of course, since there was a married couple in our group (us), we were the ones chosen to pose in front of the statue.  I don't think we do it justice, but it was fun anyways:

I needed to have my arm down, but I felt like I was going to fall over!!!  So much for trusting my man huh???

The hotel we stayed at was in Carlsbad which is just a bit north of San Diego.  The beach was just across the street.  I don't think I could ever tire of the sounds of ocean!  The waves were beautiful and sand was so soft.  God never ceases to amaze me through His creation!  

We also got to eat an infamous In-N-Out burger.  I had never heard of the place before, but was told that you can't leave California before you have one.  In fact the book I was reading (an autobiography of Mary Beth Chapman) on the way home from San Diego mentioned them.  Weird huh?  They were good, but I think I would take a whopper over them anyday :)

This trip was a blessing and we are so thankful we were able to go.  Thanks mom for helping us with the kids so we could experience this together!  We love you!

First Grade- First Day

Yes, it is the first day of school.  To give you a hint of the excitement in our house this morning, I am posting this before the boys even walk out the door to catch the bus.  They were both up when I got up at 6:20 and Connor was already dressed and had brushed his teeth twice.

Last night we went to Back to school night.  They met their teachers- Mrs. Krogh (Connor) and Mrs. Buck (Carson), brought their supplies, and saw where their lockers were.  Both of their teachers have taught for many, many years and are really great!  Their classrooms are right next to each other, but they are on different lunch/recess schedules, so they won't see each other very much.  I think it will be just fine though!

Here they are last night in front of their lockers:

And here is 20 minutes ago:

We can't have a first day of school without chocolate chip pancakes. 

They look so old to me in these pictures!  I'm excited for them and all that they will learn this year.   

Ranch hands and power plants

The rest of our trip out west was filled with new adventures and learning opportunities.  On Thursday we drove to Belfield, ND to the ranch that uncle Paul grew up on.  We rode horses, fed sheep, collected eggs, rode on 4-wheelers, rode in tractors, shot trap, ate good home-cooked food, celebrated two birthdays and were exhausted after it all.  Here are the pics to prove it....

Uncle Paul gave a little lesson in roping a calf. 

On Friday we drove to Center, ND where Minnkota's power plant  in located.  I often take electricity for granted- it was amazing to see how it all works.  I still don't fully understand it all, but have a new appreciation when I flip the light switch on. 

Hard hats and safety goggles were the apparel of the day.  Not so great for the hair, but better than a concussion or worse!

Inside the plant was hot and noisy.  We had to were headset and grandpa wore a microphone so we could hear him talk.

A sub-station in the background- don't ask me what it does- at least I got the name right.

This is the mine where they get the coal from.  The machine in the background is called a drag line.  It removes the dirt and soil so they can get to the coal.  It was absolutely huge!!!!!  The angled white arm is longer than a football field. 

You better watch out or that piece of coal could end up in your stocking in a few months.....

This is one of the buckets the drag line used to scoop the dirt with.  The size was yet again amazing!

We got to ride in a haul truck.  This truck is loaded with coal at the mine and then drives it to the power plant where it unloads it into a holding tank in the ground. 

Those are tires of the haul truck.  Gives you a little perspective of how huge the trucks are. 

This is one of 3 female drag line operators in the whole country.  Kaelynn also showed us how dirty you can get in a coal mine. 

We had a great time in Bismarck and beyond.  We are now looking forward to our trip to San Diego tomorrow.  Hope you all are doing well!

On the road again....

We have been on the road in the month of August more than we have been home.  We had a great trip to IA and MN and last week we had the opportunity to go to Bismarck for Grandpa in ND's company picnic.  It was special for us all to be there- especially for grandpa.  It was held at the zoo in Bismarck which also has a small amusement park.  The kids had a blast- as did the adults.  Here are some highlights:

Taking a trip on the zoo train- a great way to see the whole zoo :)

No explanation needed....

One of the grizzly bears at the zoo.  He was sweet from behind the glass!

Driving the go-karts.  A scary picture of what is to come.  At least I have 9+ years to prepare myself.

Grandpa even got in a little golf lesson.  Kaelynn's first golf outing was pretty successful!

The fun didn't stop there though.  The next day was filled with more adventures.  More to come.......