Mother's Day

This year we went to Tinker Falls for Mother's Day. When I told the kids this is what I wanted to do I was met with lots of complaints. "I don't want to do that." "Can I stay in the van?" "I wanted to take you to the mall."(Sophia said that one.)  But here we are checking out the area map before we start the short hike to the falls. Actually the car ride there was a pretty drive and we found a little truck museum we hope to visit another day.

We came upon a fallen tree, one of many we'd see. A great chance to do some climbing and see how good the kids' balance was.

There's Tinker Falls in the background. You can barely see the water there just isn't much of it.

Climbing the steps to go behind the water fall.

We made it behind the falls.

Now climbing to the top of the water fall.

At the top! Some nice girl took a family picture for us.

Randy, Luke and Sophia getting right in the stream that leads to the water falls.

Alex,

Timmy,

and Max. And do you know what everyone is saying to me? "Mom, this is SO FUN!" "Can we do this every Mother's Day?" "I love this!"  Henry even came up to me and said, "Mom, I'm sorry I complained, this is really a lot of fun." They were right it was great!

Mom and Luke

Timmy

Luke and Me again.

Henry following the water.

A lot of time was spent climbing this fallen down tree.

Alex took a picture of Randy and me.

With kids nothing's complete without a snack. We finished tromping around the woods and took the long way home, got a late lunch and finshed the day by jamming out supper loud to Everything is Awesome (from the Lego movie), and hey, it was!

Daddy's Helper

Randy and the rest of us are lucky enough that he has enough vacation time to take off Fridays all through May and June. Last Friday he was kind enough to use his day off to make a loft bed for a friend of mine with seven kids. Timmy was eager to help. He pulled boards apart, that  Randy got out of the throw away pile from work.

Made me nervous as he used a hammer.

And he could not wipe the smile off his face. Happy from being a helper as well as being so proud of the work he was doing with Dad.

"Is that how you do it Dad?"

Holding boards to help make cuts. Working all day the bed was done by the end of the day.

Sophia's Ballet Recital

Tuesday, May 5th Sophia had her ballet recital.

Here is the final pose of their dance (she's in blue on her knees). This year Sophia took dance at school again. We are fortunate that a dance company comes to St. Rose, so Sophia goes to after school (in the church basement), then is walked over to a class room, with the other girls taking ballet, and has her lesson. Then everyone is walked back to after school and then either Randy or I come pick her up. With lots of little brothers it is such a great way for us to have her take dance.

After the recital with the beautiful yellow tulips her Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dale brought her.

Sophia's 1st communion

April 25th Sophia received her first communion at St. Rose of Lima Church. Here she is processing in.

Sophia read an intention during the service and there's the back of her head as she receives her first communion from Fr. Seite.

This year they took a moment for a group photo.

Sophia processing out.

After communion we did a number of pictures. Here's all 6 munchkins dressed up.

A family photo.

All of us with Grandma.

Mom, Sophia and Dad.

Sophia wore her cousin Kelli's dress, so we definitely needed a picture of the two girls together.

We were so glad to have Sophia's Grandma Steffen out for Sophia's important day.

Sophia and her godfather, Bob.

Bob and all his god children, Sophia, Parker, who is so happy to be in the picture, and Kelli.

The girl cousins that were there, Samantha, Sophia, Julia and Kelli. (The boys were way to busy playing, running, and doing anything but being in a picture.)

Sophia and Julia.  Sophia was blessed with lots of visitors for her special day.  Her guest that we didn't get pictures of were Aunt Coco, Aunt Wendy, Aunt Sara, Uncle Eric, Oliver, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dale. As well Rebecca and Madisen plus Madisen's mom, Karen, came.

After pictures we had lunch followed by cupcakes.

After the cupcakes that afternoon all the ladies got either a pedicure or manicure. It was a great way to celebrate together. Sophia absolutely loved it, she got her toes done and couldn't stop smiling, none of us could really.

Randy made us a compost bin!

About a month ago, Randy made us a compost bin. We got a blue bin off craig's list, and away he went. Here's Max peeking in the door Randy made so we have a way to throw scrapes in and get compost out.

While Randy worked and I helped some, Timmy rode his bike.

Sophia helping Luke on his bike around the cul de sac in front of our house.

Randy made a stand for the bin, so it's easy to rotate and mix it all up, it's also harder for animals in our back yard to get  into and we can pull the wheelbarrow up and fill it with all our compost. Sophia and Madisen gave it it's first coat of paint.

Then Henry joined in for a little while.

Randy spay painting it black.

While he worked Henry and Timmy ate some Cheeto's!

And Luke continued to ride his bike.

Here it is drying in the back patio.

Ta - Da! All done and in it's final spot.