Peddler's Jamboree!

This weekend Nathan, Robb and Jackson had a boys weekend.  They went on an overnight bike trip (with about 400 participants) 30+ miles to Boonville one day and back the next morning.  It was a super laid back ride with country town stops every 10 miles with a band and refreshments.  

We recently bought Jackson a tag-a-long bike.  He LOVES it.  He says he wants to ride the "tagtail" (his term for it) because he can go farther!

Side note: they took our old camera that is broken so the pictures are sort of weird- or low quality from a blackberry!

Race morning in his new tri shorts!  He was SO excited!

Stop one listening to the band.

Robb & Jackson enjoying the break- and the river!

Daddy & Jackson in Boonville for dinner.

Camping!  Life doesn't get better than this!

Heading back home on Sunday.

Biggest tree we've ever found!  Jackson & Uncle.

67 miles total.  I am SO proud of Jackson!  The most he had ever ridden was 8 miles.  Nathan said he peddled about 75% of the time.  The only thing he complained about was his bottom hurting.  They came back with many stories, memories and smiles.  We are already planning next year!  Mommy is joining the party!

The girls stayed home this year and had a "girl day".   Addison chose her friend Lily to join us for the evening (w/ her mom Jennifer and little sister Rosie).  We went to buy her a new girly movie, went to the splash park, ice cream before dinner and brought pizza back to our house to play.  Addison was SO fun to be with and soaked up the attention!

Camping!

Earlier this year we purchased a used pop-up from some friends.  We have been so excited (not sure if the kids or nate were more excited!) to camp for the first time!  This was our first weekend out in it!  We headed to lawrence, KS for a trial run for our 70.3 race on June 6th.  It RAINED the WHOLE weekend!  I take that back- it did stop a few hours before we left!

I'm sorry that I didn't get pictures of the outside- or any other pictures of the inside!  The kids were SO happy to have their own sleeping bags (another first!).

I forgot the right sized sheets so it was only sleeping bags!

hiding

sleepy!

games in nana & papa's new, beautiful camper

more games...

their favorite place in nana & papa's camper- top bunk!

the racers & cheerleaders

Overall it was a fun weekend.  Papa finally got a camp fire going (with A LOT of work by all gather dry sticks!) on Sat. night and we were able to have smores'.  We can't wait to go back and have a sunny weekend!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was a bit different.  I would have loved to have a lazy day being pampered- which is exactly what Nathan & the kids would have loved to do- BUT I (along with heather & dad) had a 70 mile bike ride on the schedule.  We decided to start it early to get it done.  We got home by 2pm and the picture below is how I spent the rest of my afternoon!  I came home to a beautiful new hammock (which is what I've wanted for years!), wonderful homemade cards from the kids and a beautiful card from my hubs. 

Jackson was SO sweet before I left on my ride.  He followed me around the house while I was getting ready so he could spend time with me!  It was precious and made me all warm inside thinking that he must really have wanted to be with me!

When I got home Nathan was making his famous strawberry 3 layer cake.  It was so beautiful and I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of it!  Everyone (mother's on both sides and 3 generations!) gathered for a HUGE meal prepared by the father's in the family.  That is a tradition of ours now.  It usually happens for brunch but this year with our training had to happen in the evening.  They make dinner just as well as they make brunch!  

It turned out to be a beautiful and perfect day!  I'm the luckiest mom ever!

a cooler day, reading a book, wrapped in a warm blanket and then a little nap listening to the birds sing.... doesn't get any better than that!

Spring fun.

Here are some random pictures of the past week.  We've been finding all sorts of critters including the snake below that mommy would NOT touch!  The kids kept trying to talk me into it.  NO WAY!

Then below is a picture of Jackson's new tag along bike.  In a few weeks Jackson & Daddy are going on an overnight bike trip!  They have been riding a few times a week to try to build miles.  The overnight is 30 miles one way and another 30 miles back home the next.  Tonight they did 8 miles... they have a ways to go!

Snake!

Addison loved it!

Their first ride.

Uncle & Addi.

Just Addi being cute.

Goodbye Training Wheels!

For over a year now Jackson has been so scared to take off his training wheels.  Ashton did it last summer and he watched him take some tumbles and was scared of it.  Then one day about a month ago he decided he was ready.  Nathan took him everyday- and started on grass- so he would build his balance quickly.  The first night I was nervous about his balance.  By night 3 he had ridden around a mile (falling a few times but getting back up and starting again).  He was riding by himself by night 5.  I was SO PROUD!!  And he loves doing it!

Colson's visit!

Our friends, the Colson's came to visit us- all the way from Milwaukee in April.  We had a fun packed filled few days.  Most of the time we were very laid back- not much planned.  The kids had a blast just playing around the house- finding frogs, digging in the dirt, playing games and just enjoying each other.  Jackson & Addison LOVED having a HUGE sleepover in Addison's room.  We fit (barely) all four mattresses in there and even though they didn't get the most sleep possible they had fun and made some memories!

Here are some memories.

The park.

Cute girls- Addison, Olivia & Sophia

We forced the kids into these "set up" pictures.  They did amazingly well for being at a huge playground with all the slides, swings and hanging things to distract them!

Addison & Olivia.  Most the time they loved each other like this picture.  A few times they argued like sisters!

Kite flying.  Sophia helping Addison.  She was SO sweet and big sisterly to Addison the whole time they were here.

This is at "tons of trucks" where you can sit on & pretend to drive nearly every sort of truck or tractor known to man.  I love this picture w/ Kirsten & Jackson.

All the kids at Tons of Trucks.

In the back of a really cool police swat vehicle.

Easter

It was nearly like Christmas morning!  They were so excited about the Easter bunny!  Asking a few too many questions for my comfort level of talking about the bunny.  What color, what size, what was the basket like, where did he come in.... how did he know I liked all this stuff....

Out at Mom & Dad's for an Easter bonfire and egg/candy hunt.  All the cousins.

Addison hunting

Jackson got a bucket full!

Smores' time!!

First Zoo trip 2010

Ashton was on spring break so we choose a warmish day and headed to the Zoo.  We usually go at least 2-3x a year.  We had so much fun and all the animals were very active since it wasn't too hot yet.  Nana, Papa & Gram didn't want to miss the action so they came too.  And we're all in some sort of green because it was St. Patricks Day.

Auntie & Jackson

Missing daddy.

Gram & Addi

Nana & Papa always take them on the train.  A BIG highlight of the day!

I forgot her name but she was doing tricks for us!  It was the BEST elephant show ever!  Jackson's favorite.