Some fun pics from last week...

Last week we went to an "EMS Week" picnic for our paramedic group, and our kids were treated to a ride in the ambulance (along with our friend's kids). They were all smiles with the lights and sirens going off... it was a fun ride.

So what does this look like to you? Much to our surprise, we found it in our garden mulch. April found out it's a type of fungus called "Dog Vomit Slime Mold"... I'm still not sure I believe that.

Nate made April breakfast in bed... chocolate chip pancakes (I helped a little). He was very proud of his good deed for Mom.

Elin and frosting... what more is there to say? I don't know about you, but when I was a kid, I was only allowed to lick the beater. Nowadays they get the whole bowl!

Hair Trauma!

So, Nate's hair grows like a lion's mane. Seriously, he has thick, dense hair that seems like a hat in and of it self. He swears he doesn't need a hat in the snow here. Perhaps he doesn't. Anyway, so this morning I decided to trim his hair myself. I told him I was going to cut it short. I guess I didn't make myself very clear, because about 10 minutes later one would think I had drawn and quartered my child. "I don't want to look this way- you cut it too short." I really never thought Nathaniel would care. I guess I have to work on my skills a bit. Oh well I saved 14 bucks.

Rockets, Dinner by Nate, and Movie Night

Nate received this rocket for Christmas, and was ecstatic when it finally became warm enough to launch it. So April and Nate just put it together, and we all put it to the test. It's propelled by a baking powder and vinegar reaction, which should provide a good boost to about 80 feet. We've only reached about 15 feet, so we'll keep trying. But Nate and his buddy had lots of fun anyway!

Nate loves to help with dinner. This night April let Nate make the eggs all by himself. He cracked the eggs, stirred the eggs, and served the eggs. Go Nate!

Every now and then Nate and Elin have a movie and popcorn night. It's usually when I've been gone all day and April is at her wit's end. The kids love it, April gets a break, and everyone's happy!

Like brother like sister. I'm not sure what their hands are doing in their mouths, but it must be fairly important since they're doing it together. I was careful not to disturb them.

Blood, Sweat, and Yard work...

April and I spent several days this past week working on our yard and garden. Growing up, I didn't spend a lot of time doing yard or garden work (I was the mower, trimmer, and weed-picker), so a lot of this is new to me. April is teaching me, Nate and Elin along the way, and I'm finding out there is some serious back-breaking work to be done.

April had to transplant several plants, and apparently our day-lillies were growing too large, so we split them in half and put them on the side of the house.

Stripping the sod on the side of our house was one of the hardest things I've ever done! LOTS of heavy dirt and clay (and wet from recent rain), and I didn't have a wheel-barrow so I had to carry it away in the green bucket. Boy was I SORE the next day. But I think it turned out alright. Here's a before and after...

Nate is helping April with the pea-sprouts just starting to pop up- he gets very excited about these.

This is just a pic of our cherry tree- Montmorency cherries, or Door County cherries. I thought the white blooms were awesome, hopefully we'll get some cherries this year.

Caught Red-Handed!

A few days ago one of my patient's brought me some chocolates for diagnosing/treating his heart attack (it's nice to be appreciated!). Well, Elin found them and thought she was being sneaky...

"Uh-oh."

"Uhmmm... Here's a chocolate for you!"

Loving Warm Weather

The kids have been spending a lot of time outside now that it's finally warmer out. I'm talking HOURS in the backyard... it's incredible! Here are a few spring pics...

Nate and his friends found THREE frogs in the back, and our watertable has become a frog home. The girls were a little standoff-ish, but Nate is all boy and couldn't hold them enough.

Nate and our next-door neighbor Delaney. I guess it was reeeeally sunny out, so Nate needed TWO hats. He's also sporting the cool pajama pants... don't ask me.

Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-Laaaaaaaaaaaaaa... (I'm stuck on La)

I guess Elin likes Mom's gardening sombrero.

Dylan's First Communion...

Last weekend we took a trip down to Chicago to attend our nephew Dylan's first Communion in his Church. It was a nice weekend getaway... we stayed at my parent's home, where our kids swam in the hot tub and played with the 3 dogs, and other fun things (thanks, Mom and Dad, always good to see you!). On Saturday morning we first joined April's parents at Church as her Dad, Zan, was set apart into the Stake Presidency... a neat experience (good luck, Zan!). Later on Saturday we attended Dylan's first Communion service, also a neat experience, and then we all went out to a large, yummy lunch. Lots of family... it was great to see everyone! My Dad and I took a couple bike rides- always fun, but always painful for my legs to try to keep up with him.

Kids in the hot tub... go Elin!

Congratulations, Dylan! What a great day for you...

Mmmmm... ice cream!

Grandpa Sikich and Grandma Foreman... I don't get to see them enough, it was about time.

Cousin Krissy and her son, Jayden (such a good boy, Elin could learn some tips :)

Cousin Katy (wait, where's Becca? this is a first!)

The family...

A Week of "Firsts"

The last couple of days have brought several "firsts" for Nate and Elin, and it's been a lot of fun to watch.

Nate's first soccer game... he had a smile on his face the entire time! He was having so much fun on the field, he would forget what to do with the ball when he got it. I can't believe I have a child old enough to be in a soccer league! This soccer game was one of the funniest things I've ever seen... kids running every direction, doing sommer-saults, wrestling, day-dreaming- quite fun to watch.

Nate's first dental appointment... calm, cool, and collected (is this really Nate?). Check out the sweet sunglasses! And hey, why don't they ever let me hold the saliva sucker thing?

Elin's first haircut... it was getting a bit frizzy and unruly. I wasn't there, but I heard she sat fairly still and was a good girl (a far cry from Nate's first haircut).

Pics from San Diego!

Here are some pics from my friend Sarah's wedding. Lots of fun and little sleep!

Just Me and the Kids (but not really)

The kids and I had a couple of days together while April went to San Diego for her friend's wedding, so we made the most of it! We lucked out with beautiful weather the entire time, which really helped. There was lots of playing outside, several parks, art projects, baking cookies, McDonalds AND Dairy Queen (Nate was ecstatic), hiking in the forest preserve, and yes, even Monkey Joe's (although there are no pictures of this). And to top it off, my parents flew in and spent a night with us (thanks Mom and Dad, we had a great time!).

Nate's animal adventure art project (lots of cutting!)

A warm afternoon at a nearby park... Nate made a "girl" friend there, and at one point came to me (with her Mom near) and asked, "Dad, what's our phone number?" Ugh- it starts!

A perfect day for hiking... and the kids loved it. Especially snack time. The frog and snake were a little scary for Elin, though.

My Mom and Dad spoiled us with Dairy Queen. They also brought the kids a "treat"... a bubble machine that makes a gazillion bubbles at a time, and of course they couldn't put it down.