Good Times.

Hi blog.  I miss you.  It has been a long time.  Can't really believe it.  Busy season at work during the winter months, indoor soccer and t-ball and life with 3 kids has kept me away, but the good news is that I never stop taking pictures.  And even better news:  I never stop taking mental notes about the loveliness of life that I want to capture, document and share on my blog.  So while not always timely, I'm certain that this space will get caught up eventually.

Right now, I have the luxury of sorting through hundreds of images from a snow day back in January, Valentine's Day, Easter, all 3 kids'  birthday parties and a Disney vacation!  Holy Moly!  Not sure how timely these images will be reviewed/edited/blogged (let's hope for 2013), but I'm not worried about it.  Rather than feel overwhelmed about catching up on stuff that I couldn't get to during the winter months, I'm pleased to blog about our weekend right now.  Our glorious relaxing rainy weekend.

I don't have much to say tonight except that I'm deeply grateful for everything.  For my husband.  For my 3 amazing children.  For my faith.  For our incredibly blessed and privileged life.


This is one of my favorite pics of my Evan bear.  He is growing into such a big boy.  He gets into a lot of trouble, so it is a good thing that God made him so cute.    

Since it was a rainy weekend, we did indoor stuff.  We took the boys to a movie on Saturday afternoon, went to bed early on Saturday night and Dan took the boys to the driving range after Church on Sunday afternoon.  Although it rained a lot this weekend, we did manage to get outside for some exercise.  Evan got a chance to drive his Francesco car outside that he got for Christmas . . . .  

And Drew got the opportunity to ride his 'big boy' bike that he got for Christmas.  Drew was nervous, but after 3 times around the block, he got the hang of it.  Not quite ready for Mom and Dad to let go of the bike though . . .

My Drew bear is an artist.  He loves to draw and spends most of his free time asking to draw.  I love that he draws because it is a direct outlet into the sweet thoughts of a kindergartner.  What was Drew thinking of on this particular day?  Well, he was giving life to his dream of being the lead singer of the band that he created, "Electric Fist" with other members of his kindergarten class.  Apparently, he is compensated very well in this role as evidenced by the bags of money that are thrown at the band's feet . . .



Drew has made a family portrait below; however, he was mad at Owen so he left Owen out.  Instead, Drew remembered to include a few others that are near and dear to our family's heart.  "Yoshi" - the infamous dinosaur type thing from Mario Brothers that the boys are crazy about (I don't know what 'species' Yoshi actually is, but he is crazy popular at our house); "Ducky Momo" - Evan's beloved self-named duck gifted to him by Grandma Patti; and "Pot Belly Bear" - Mommy's bear from when she was a baby for which the boys have since adopted and fell in love with.

As the school year winds down, Drew is nearing his final days of kindergarten (gasp!) and Owen is getting dangerously close to starting kindergarten (double gasp!)  I've so very much enjoyed this year of  kindergarten and the progress Drew has made with reading and writing.  Check out Drew's independent writing below.  He is describing the parts of a flower.  In case you can't tell, he has identified, the "petal," the "stem," the "leaf" and the "root."

One of the highlights of the kindergarten year was the kindergarten play.  Just excellent.  Beautifully done.  A glowing proud mama, I was (sometimes, I talk like Yoda).

Drew's role in the play was "Little Boy Blue."  Upon this assignment, I was went to work attempting to acquire the appropriate attire only to find that "Little Boy Blue" must be the least popular nursery rhyme in America.  No costumes existed; in fact, there wasn't even much information returned upon a google search about him (in fact, I quickly learned that "Little Boy Blue" was actually a rich and greedy individual and not necessarily a model of love and virtue, but I digress . . . . ).

My frustration evolved into procrastination and then into desperation and I found myself the weekend before the play on a shopping trip in Chicago with my Mom, Sister, Sister-in-Law, Aunt and Cousins.  Who would have thought that I could walk out of the Zara store on Michigan Avenue with an appropriate outfit for "Little Boy Blue?"  Well, check it out (the banana was purchased at Schnuck's in Waterloo):
 

The class performance was superb.  The kindergarten class is amazing.  I loved it!  You can enjoy bits of the play in the movie clips below!

And I will leave you this evening with a FAV pic of mine.  This is my Owie bear with the love of his life; his cousin Greta.  He seriously loves Greta (of course, I do too).  They are the best of buddies.  They were in the audience cheering for Drew.  I adore this picture.    



Drew is a movie-star from

Drew is a Movie-Star Part II from