GratiTuesday

Happy GratiTuesday! This week we're thankful for:

1. Allergy medicine--the kids have unfortunately inherited their mom's hayfever.


2. The kids don't have any problems with sleeping through thunderstorms! Last night we had a doozy, and all of them slept right through it.


3. My friends Kelly and Edna, who made a 5K walk a lot of fun! I had to stop a couple of times because Edna had me laughing so hard, but other than that we finished our walk in record time.


4. My boss who gave me praise and told me he's glad to have me working for him. It went straight to my heart. Yay for happy bosses!!


5. As I mentioned yesterday, we're so thankful to have had Leslie as one of our sitters for as long as we did. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't shed more than a few tears about that chapter ending for us. It's an exciting new chapter for her, though, so we're excited about that!


6. The FPU class is going GREAT at church! The new format has made the class 100 times more interactive, and we learn a lot from class members each week. I'm so glad I decided to stay on for another session!

Farewell, Miss Leslie!!

Miss Leslie has been watching our kids for almost three years (since the boys were 7 weeks old!), and Friday was her last day with us. She graduated this month from WSU and is moving on to greener pastures. We are SO proud of her, but SO heartbroken! Looking back, I know my transition back to work would not have been as smooth without her. She will be enormously successful in whatever she does--our lives are exponentially better for knowing her. This picture was taken on her last day. Each of the kids is holding the quilt she made for them two Christmases ago, which they sleep with every night!

Keep in touch, Miss Leslie!! We miss you already!!

Happy GratiTuesday!

Before I get to the GratiTuesday list, we have a big anniversary wish to shout out:

HAPPY 19th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, DAD & LOUISE!!!

This week we're thankful for:

1. Riverfest! We had a great time at the parade, river run and fireworks. Sadly, the rain put a damper on the other events we had planned to attend, but we're glad we got to participate in what we did.
2. Craigslist! We found an awesome playhouse for the kids, and two tricycles for the boys--all for a fraction of the price of buying them new. (Pictures soon!)
3. The internet--I don't know what I'd do without allrecipes.com. I can whip up dinner in no time after a quick search online!
4. My friend Christy for arranging our next girls' movie date in KC! I can't wait to see you ladies!

I'll get some pictures taken tonight to show you the new playhouse--it's super cute!

GratiTuesday (& pictures!)

First things first, here's my GratiTuesday list for this week:

1. The weather was great for our garage sale last Thursday! Caryn came over and kept us company while we juggled the kids for the day. We didn't have nearly as much stuff as we have in years past, but it was nice to make some extra room in the garage and closets. We were able to sell almost everything by the afternoon, so I'd call it a success!
2. It's RIVER FESTIVAL time in Wichita! We LOVE this time of year--a parade, two walking events, lots of fun events for the kids, and fireworks. We got to watch the parade with Kelly, Melissa and Sue on Friday night--it was kind of chilly, but fun! We walked in the River Run last Saturday, then had a picnic lunch by the river while we watched a jet ski competition. It was a great day! We have the Walkfest this Saturday, then more events by the river and hopefully the fireworks Saturday night.
3. Brent and the kids helped plant a vegetable garden for me for my Mother's Day gift! Brent has moved tons of rock, soil, cages and mulch this week, and has the blisters to prove it!! The garden looks GREAT--I'll post pictures of the finished project soon. (Now if I can just keep the rabbits from eating the plants...any suggestions??)

Now for pictures! Here the kids are waiting patiently for the River Run to start:

With Clifford and Arthur at the KPTS tent after the race (Blake's face is priceless here). Sophie LOVES Clifford and has been talking about meeting him all week. Where is she in this picture? AS FAR AWAY FROM CLIFFORD AS SHE COULD GET.

Our picnic lunch by the river:

Sophie had a birthday party later that afternoon, and needed to wear a costume. Doesn't she make a sassy cowgirl? I love her smile in this picture--she's a happy little thing:

The garden worker bees!!


I LOVE THIS PICTURE:

I'll post more River Festival pictures during the week!

GratiTuesday

Happy GratiTuesday! This week we're thankful for:

1. The kids' imaginations--they say the FUNNIEST things at this age. Some of you have heard this story, but Blake recently stood up in the bathtub and pointed...(ahem)... DOWNWARD...and excitedly announced "Look Mommy! My TAIL!" Then tonight, Sophie had a full (imaginary) telephone discussion with her friend Ryan about a birthday cake. Funny stuff!


2. April 30th was a big deadline for us at work, and our boss took us to lunch to celebrate. We went to my favorite restaurant, Gobi Grille. It was an awesome treat!


3. I interviewed a young lady this week that will help watch the kids this summer, and I think she'll be a great addition to the summer "family." The kids warmed up to her right away, and she works as a para educator for the school district during the school year...so you know she must be good with kids!


4. We bought a LOT of containers, soil and rock for our container vegetable garden, and Brent hauled all of it without complaining a bit. He's a workhorse. There's NO WAY I could have done that without him! (Side note: Remember the plants I was growing downstairs under the grow lamps that were looking AMAZING? I put them outside and they shriveled up and DIED. ALL OF THEM. Now we have to go BUY plants to put in our containers. Grrrrr...I think we watered them too much, so their roots were puny. I'll be doing some research before next year's planting, because I really want to master this vegetable garden thing. I need to channel my inner 'Grandpa Schuler'.)

Happy Derby Day!

Graham in his Kentucky Derby finest!

Isn't he gorgeous?!