Memorial Day Weekend

Every weekend should be three days long--and this much fun! We spent Saturday at home & then made the trip to Sioux City to spend time with the Vogels & enjoy the sun and water. 

A little boy & a toad (found by our neighbor) on Saturday.

 Kate waiting patiently for grandpa to get the boat.

 Finally on the boat & ready to go.

 At the helm...

Kate explaining boating terminology and what to yell when a wakeboarder goes down (answer:"DOWN")

 Watching mama on round #1 for the summer.

 Definitely the best part: tubing!

 Andrew loved it as well...especially the bumps!

 After missing his nap completely on Sunday, and waking up too early on Monday morning, this boy was tired!

 On the drive home, we stopped at a small town park to stretch our legs. And play on the old-school teeter totter.

 And merry-go-round. 

We could not have asked for a better way to kick off summer!

DJ Andrew

Before

Before I was a Mom -I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Water Baby

Last night, after a patio dinner downtown, we headed to Gray's Lake to enjoy the evening. I envisioned playing in the sand (it was pretty chilly), so I made sure to pack the sand toys. 

It started out as planned...

 Until, out of nowhere, Andrew made a dash for the water. Fully clothed. 

 After that, there was no stopping him.

I took pity on him, as I know how wet jeans feel, so I let him take off his pants. 

And then...

 ...we became "that family" at the beach. 

It was not until his lips were blue with cold that he was forced to come out of the water, and even then he would point at the water and say sadly, "wa-wa". Starting the countdown for the week we spend on a lake in July!

Spring Evening

For these two, there is no better way to spend a gloriously nice evening, than at a park with water & sticks. 

 They could do this for hours. 

 Kate picking me a bouquet of "clover flowers" for mothers day. 

 Not long after we got to the water, we had to relocate to a dock with rails due to Andrew's proximity to the water, which was making us increasingly nervous. 

 The gleeful realization that this new spot had rocks, and that he could carry more than one at a time. 

 Pure 

joy.

Biker Man

Andrew has recently taken an interest to Kate's  bike. Today I couldn't help snapping a few photos. 

He was pretty proud of himself. 

 So was his big sister...

 ...and then she took her bike back.