5 Really?!

I don't know how we're already here...Paige is 5!  I don't know how the times has flown.  Rob and I sat last night and talked about where we were when we had Paige and how much has changed since then.  5 years ago we just moved out of my Mom's house and into our duplex in Ankeny.  I was still unemployed from our move from Cedar Rapids.  We had Paige, bought a new car, bought a house.  Lost a job found a career, had Henry.  Now we're about to jump into the world of Kindergarden.  I feel like now that she's 5 she's going to be 12 tomorrow. 

This little girl has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me.  She is the kindest and most caring person I know.  She is wise beyond her years and very much an old soul.  Rob and I are lucky to have been blessed with this little nugget.

Happy Birthday Paigey girl.  Mom and Dad love you so much!!

PS - Pictures from the day will come later!

This Weather!!!

Man has the weather been amazing in Iowa.  My kids have been enjoying all of it!!  We've been outside eating dinner, riding bikes and practicing our basketball shooting.  Rob is doing a great job with Paige teaching her everything she needs to know.  She's so competitive though (wonder what family she got that from ;) ) that she gets frustrated so quickly!  Hopefully the amazing weather comes back soon!

Surprise Mini Vacation

So Friday we surprised the kids with a mini vacation to Omaha.  Rob and I decided we all needed a weekend away from home.  We both took a half day of vacation and packed the car before picking the kids up.  We left straight from daycare and they were both so excited!!  We stayed at the Embassy Suites and enjoyed all of the amenities.  

Who doesn't enjoy starting and ending their weekend with this!!  Couldn't be more proud to be a Cyclone!!  Now onto the NCAA Tournament!!

This is Paige's excited face to be on the road and off for vacation!!!

Henry and Paige off to get our luggage from the car.

Who's ready to go swimming?!  I don't think these are the same kids as last summer.  Paigey was a fish in the pool.  She swam with her lifejacket all by herself up and down the pool.  We seemed to always time it right to be in the pool pretty much alone.  Henry didn't know what to think at first and by the end he had no fear.  We're going to have to watch out for that one.

Embassy Suites offers a managers special or cocktail hour as my kids know it.  They were so excited when they found out there were goldfish and cheetos!

Friday night Rob and I were both up late watching a crazy ISU game.  So when the kids were up early for breakfast and the children's museum this Mama needed a coffee.

The kids had such an amazing time at the children's museum!  Thanks Grandma Pat and Papa Gary for the zoo and science center membership because it got us into this children's museum for free!!

Of course we weren't there long as Paige wanted to make sure she got some swimming in before nap time.  

Saturday night we went to our friends Rob and Nicole's to watch ISU in the championship game.  It was so fun to be with friends who cheer as loud as we do for ISU.  They also have two girls who are the same ages and my kids so they just played and played!!  This is Henry and I Sunday morning before we packed up and headed home.  Over all it was an amazing vacation.  It was nice to be somewhere just the 4 of us and do everything on our own schedule.  Paige is already asking if we can go back and if we can stay 3 nights next time.

Paige on IPTV

Well Paige's class went on a field trip to Iowa Public Television.  A Dad of a classmate of hers works there.  He was able to line up for them to be on TV.  Paige was so excited!  Go to the link below and watch her!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shbw0ijoL5Q&feature=youtu.be

New Photos of The Kids

 So about a month ago we did new photos of our kids.  These would be for Henry being 18 months old.  We used an amazing co-worker and friend of mine to take them this time.  Her name is Kristi and she ROCKS with my kids.  I love that she caught the personality of both of them.  Paige had some of the best photos I've had of her in a long time.  Of course being almost 5 she knows how to just turn it on for the camera and be done.  Henry you can see exactly who he is these days.  He's a stinker who is testing his limits on what he can and can't get away with.  Enjoy all of the pictures!!

This is my favorite!!  I want a giant canvas of it in my house!

This is just who they are...having a dance party!!