Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day with my family at Camp Woody. We camp in the back yard of my Aunt's house. Luke was all excited about the campfire being on. He loved tossing the big frisbee with his cousins. Eva just loved all the attention.

Here is Luke and Boden going down the slide at a rapid fire rate. Luke also loved the burley ride we took in the morning to a local park.

Seven Years of Love

Dave and I got married seven years ago in Madison, WI. Every year we go back to celebrate our marriage and reminisce of the days we met and how much fun we had on campus. I do love Madison and I can't stop smiling the whole time I am there. We got in a few dates... dinner at the Italian Restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner, canoeing in Lake Mendota, biking around Lake Wingra. It was much like the day we got engaged. It is fun to return to my college town with Luke and Eva. I love sharing Madison with them. It is "The Snapple," the Greatest Place on Earth.

My Mom with Eva and the flamingos.

Dave canoeing past lake shore path and the crew house. It reminded me of all my runs along the path and the ones that ended with a jump in the lake. It also reminded me of the white pier that Dave and I swam off of in our early dating days. We canoed near The Edgewater, the first place we went in public when we were engaged. I will never forget looking at my ring sparkle there as we ate dinner.

Luke is playing at James Madison Park. In college, I overlooked this park from my "penthouse" apartment. I could watch the men living in the vans in the parking lot, people playing basketball at all hours, and great sun sets. I laugh about finding a sleeper sofa on the curb and making it our own. I laugh about my roommate riding her scooter in 2 feet of snow with her goggles on. I laugh about the Christmas tree we had with no needles. I laugh about my other roommate dating 3 guys at the same time while she lived there. I loved doing my Nordic track in my bedroom over looking the lake while I listened to Sarah Groves. I liked our acoustic lounge Jackie wanted to sing in. I loved that we had a self portrait of Jackie on the wall.

Here I was re-creating my wedding pictures. I just used Luke instead of Dave.

The picture above shows me practicing spinning with Luke. This is the same place Dave and I practiced our fox trot up on top of the Monona Terrace before our wedding reception. What a great day!

We had a great time walking by the farmer's market. I remember going to the farmers market in college and wishing that I had more than one person to cook for. Now I have this family that I love so much. I never would have guessed it would be so good.

Dave, I will love you forever.

Mother's Day

The Friday before Mother's Day was beautiful. The weather made it seem like spring was really here. I had a very special day with the children.

Mother's Day is deceiving because Luke and Eva are supposed to appreciate you for a day and they do not even know it is Mother's day. So, husbands have to appreciate their wives in honor of the children. But the Friday before Mother's day was such a gift where Luke and Eva really loved me all day long. It started with a mother's day breakfast at school. Luke and I sat a one of his small snack tables and ate a breakfast snack together. His eyes were bright as he was narrorating what everyone was doing. Later, Luke made me a gift at school and when I picked him up he galloped to get it, looked inside, and then shouted, "My Gift," and ran to give me a long hug. I cried just a little. On the way home the grade school was having a half day so there were many buses wating to pick up the children. As we drove past, Luke asked to go back and watch the buses so we made a U-turn and went back to school. We got out of the car and watched all the dismissal activity. Luke stood with a wide stance and his hands clapsed behind his back appearing to be very serious about his bus watching business. Both kids napped at the same time. And then we spent the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful weather. In the evening I went out to eat with 9 great friends that I am doing a bible study with. It is always great to get in some Ladie's nights.

On Sunday we went to Eberts with both sides of the family and then we went out to eat with Dave's family and had a wonderful time. Luke enjoyed reading books with all the familiy members and looking out the window at a bus parked outside.

I have realized that I do not like change. I love my kids just the way they are and don't want them to get one day older. I wish I could always have a 6 month old and a 3 year old around for the rest of my life. The only problem, I will be alive for 60 more years and it is not possible for me to have 30 more children so I can always have young kids. Even if I had 8 more children they would still grow up. When the children are older and I miss this young stage I may need to get a pet; a dog or a horse. I will need something that I can give unlimited kisses to and pet.