Yucky Weather

A couple weeks ago my sister in law, Amy, posted a comment about the weather in Oregon. She's fed up and just needed to vent a little. At the time, I didn't understand how she was feeling, because it was starting to get a little warmer here in Minnesota. That was a couple weeks ago! Where did all our warm weather go? I'm looking out the window right now, and it's gloomy, overcast, depressing, and a little chilly. I've had it, I've had it, I've had it. I guess Amy and I will need to move to the carribean if our husbands want us to be at all happy for the remainder of life on earth. Anyone else want to go with? The rumor is that it's going to be a chilly summer here. I can handle a little breeze in the air, I just can't stand this gloomy, rainy, depressing, stuck in the house all day, weather. We'll go crazy if this is what's to come the next few months.

Wow, That feels good to get that out. Thanks Amy!

"Roadmaster"

We don't have an original Radio Flyer, but this Roadmaster sure works great! Here's the story of when we got it...

Brooklyn was 2 and we wanted a little bike for her, but we lived in an apartment, so I didn't want anything too big, so we went to Walmart one day, and I saw that this bike was in the front of the store on clearance for $20.00. It was already put together, everything looked okay on it, and so I decided 20 dollars was a bit much (it actually isn't that bad), but as a "retired" Purchasing Agent I needed to look for a better deal, so I bargained! YES, at WALMART. I asked an associate there if they would be willing to take $10.00 for this bike. She called back to toys and asked, they said "Sure." I wish they had a camera for my reaction. I was so shocked and surprised at the same time, I beat the system! The Walmart system!!!!! 3 1/2 years later, this bike is still pretty awesome. Gavin loves it just as much as Brooklyn did.

This next picture I thought was adorable. Doesn't he look like a little pitcher on the mound waiting for the right signal? So cute!

New Cook Book

I worked at the Scholastic Book Fair last week and earned book credit, so Brooklyn and I went to buy a whole bunch of books. She was really excited when she saw the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Yummy Cookbook that came with her own PINK measuring spoons! Her first item she made was Huckleberry Pie's Favorite Fudge. "His Fort is right by the River Fudge, and he loves to share this fudge with his friends!" She did it all on her own too.

Here is the so simple dimple recipe:

1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips

1 1/2 Cups Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 tsp. Vanilla

Line the bottom of an 8X8 pan with wax paper. In medium pot, combine the chocolate chips, and condensed milk over low heat until the chocolate chips are melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla. Spread the fudge into pan, chill in fridge until firm (4-5 hours). When done, remove from pan, peel off waxed paper, and cut fudge into 1x1 inch squares. ENJOY!

Last day of Pre-school

Last Thursday was Brooklyn's last day of pre-school. It was known as "Bike Day." They brought their bikes to school and had lots of activities set up in the park near by. It was a beautiful day, and was a lot of fun.


They had a Bike path marked out, t-ball set up in the field, twirly ribbons, sidewalk chalk, they could decorate their bikes with tons of ribbon and things, and even fit in some snacks and a couple rounds at the park.


I have to describe the situation of these next few pictures. Most of Brooklyn's best friends at school are the boys. She wanted to play t-ball, so the rules that the boys made were: after your turn at bat, you get to decide the next batter and "NO Complaining." Brooklyn walked up, and the little boy holding the bat said, chose Brooklyn to be next. She just got there, the other boys were being so patient, and now they had to wait until Brooklyn was done with her 3 swings. The "No complaining" rule was going well, until "Sam" (black and yellow shirt), wanted the turn. He would not give up the ball. The other boys chased him down til they got it. All was well.

Brooklyn & Jeanette

Brooklyn's Graduation

Well, She did it. I wasn't sure she would make it, it was trying at times, it was incovenient some days, and She just didn't want it to end, but Pre-school Graduation happened on Tuesday! That's it, she is officially a kindergartener! As the mother of this beautiful little girl, I feel I have the right to be proud and lucky at the same time. She's so smart and she's mine (well, ours).

She had a great year at Arbor View with a wonderful teacher; Jeanette. We think the world of her. Brooklyn has said, she is really going to miss her, and wants to come back to visit often. I'm not sure she understands her schedule next year (Every day, half day), there won't be too much time to spare. I plan on getting Gavin involved in the classes there starting in the fall.

Here are some of the pictures from Graduation...



This is her class. There were 12 kids total (two were late)



Linda (Class helper), Brooklyn & Jeanette






This is one of Gavin's teachers, Erin. One of his other teachers was out sick on the last day, he loves her and he says her name so sweetly; "Stewa" (Stella)




Brooklyn, Mariam, Ibrahim & Gavin. Ibrahim is one of Brooklyns best friends. He is the cutest boy ever! We have a little favoritism towards him in class. His little Sister Mariam is in Gavin's class. They are a wonderful family, we hope to keep in touch with through-out the summer.







Here is a quick little video of her Graduation walk.

I should probably explain the gloves. This was an activity they did through-out the year with a black light and made them glow. They performed a couple songs while they wore them. This was one of their favorite activities.

Kindergarten Round up

Brooklyn and I went to Kindergarten round-up on Thursday morning. It was probably more for parents than the kids. They left us about 5 minutes into the meeting and didn't see them again until an hour later. They went to visit the classrooms, make some projects, had some snacks, and even went on a bus ride around the neighborhood! Lucky them. Brooklyn is so excited to start school in the fall. I'm real excited for her too. I'm sure I'll be a little sad, but I'll hide it. I will actually be driving her to school this year. Our neighborhood is definetely bus students, but I think she's too little, and am not comfortable letting her ride it yet. Maybe first grade, but let's not look too far in advance yet.

Adam will be attending the same school. We should get our schedules and teachers names in June. She also knows another little girl from church, Syndey, and a little girl that she is in pre-school with right now, Jenna. Jenna and her family live pretty close to us, so we should be getting together this summer with them too.

Brooklyn and Adam:

Jenna at our house playing dress-up

Good Friends

I think the exact words that Brooklyn said was: "Oh, that Adam is such a cute a boy"



We had Adam and Anna over on Saturday and decided to take funny pictures and dance. I got a couple really good pictures. I told them that I would post these.










We do a babysitting swap with the Grays once a month so the spouses can go on a date and not have to pay a babysitter. Works out really nice. Obviously, the kids enjoy themselves!