Mt. Calvary at Rock Springs

Kiersten has been having a great year at Mt. Calvary preschool. They take lots of field trips and I feel especially blessed that I have been able to stay home with my girls and help with all the preschool fun. Hattie has enjoyed tagging along too.

Today they went to Rock Springs nature preserve for a hike. The kids were actually really well behaved. We started on a trail that had a teepee. They talked all about how the Native Americans lived. And I love that Kiersten says Native Americans. They looked at different animal exhibits and got to look for fish from a large dock with LOTS of railings. We went inside the nature center too. There were lots of turtles and fish to observe as well as a huge window to the outdoors to watch different bird species at different bird feeders. Bug spotted the Cardinal right away. Mrs. Kurecki said we love the bird and the team, and a little boy said "I don't love the Cardinals" to which she replied "you love the bird, just not the team." and Bug chimed right in "well I love the team." That's my girl. It was gorgeous weather and we certainly enjoyed the day!

A Very Confirmation Easter

I mentioned in a previous post, that when we went to the Dells, Tootie and Lisa met me and took the girls home with them to Montevideo for a few days. I returned home, for one night and then Mitch and I hit the road and headed North to Lori and Todd's. Lexi's confirmation was scheduled for Easter Sunday so we all planned to meet and stay in Grand Rapids. Our hotel was right next to the Judy Garland museum that we visited last April and the girls spotted it right away.

Anyway, our time with Mitch's family is always few and far between. Friday night we got to spend with Lori, Todd and the kids and we had a great time. We just love them. We had dinner and played games and just talked a lot. On Saturday I helped get some new decals situated and stuck on the walls while we waited for the girls. Once the Montevideo side of the family arrived Lexi, Shelby and I took Hattie to get her ears pierced. She was a trooper. She cried for just a minute, until she got a lollipop.

Then there was swimming and pizza at the hotel. The NCAA Final Four games were on too, so we of course watched the games. Wisconsin made it to the finals, but lost in the championship game. Sunday morning we all attended church together. Thanked God for all our blessings, for his love and this wonderful bunch of kids and more. When we got back to Lori and Todd's there were Easter Baskets and an Egg hunt before we hit the road back to Illinois. I have to say my girls are the best travelers. And we are already looking forward to going back in June for Shelby's graduation.

Rocking the Wall

When did my baby girl get so big?!?! I just can't believe it. The first time we went to the amusement park she asked if she could climb the rock wall and I thought, "No way, you aren't big enough for that." The second time we went to the amusement park, she was eagerly asking to try it again. I asked the worker if she was big enough, he glanced at her and said "yep". I handed her the cash and she went to buy her ticket. She was actually going to do it!

When it was her turn he helped her gear up, and she didn't waste any time getting started. I couldn't believe how well she did. I hate heights! I would have taken a few steps and turned back, but not my Leah. She just kept going. I was proud of her. She got half war up and got stuck. She tried and tried but couldn't reach the next grip. Eventually she worked her way down. She was frustrated with herself and said she didn't do a good job, but that couldn't be further from the truth. She rocked that wall! Go Leah, Go!

The Dells

Thankfully on Friday the 26th, Hattie was putting some weight on her leg. I called PA Zach Sowa, he was able to fit us in, and he gave us the all clear to let Hattie go to the water park. It was adorable. When he said she could go, she said "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, it's so nice." He laughed and said "I didn't do anything, thank you for healing up so fast." He thinks it is just a bad bone bruise, told me to carry her a lot and not let her get too crazy. NO PROBLEM!!!

So we packed up and headed North. The girls were super excited to have their friends Camryn and Cayde along for the trip. And I was super excited to have Denise to help. Surely the two of us could handle these 5 kids, right?!?! The water park wasn't the best, and the rooming situation could have been better. Our room wasn't bad, it had been remodeled in the near future, but it wasn't actually at the water park. We had to drive off-site so that was a bit of a pain, but the girls didn't let that bother them at all. We made the most of it. I wasn't brave enough to take my phone in the water park, so I only have hotel room, and amusement park pictures, but that's okay. The four older girls were just a tad too short to do anything on their own, so Denise and I took turns going up and down stairs, carrying inner tubes so we could ride the slides. And we spent a lot of time on the lazy river.

The amusement park wasn't too much to get excited about, but the kids enjoyed it. And that's what matters most. I'm glad that we were able to get out of town and enjoy some time with our friends. Grandma Tootie and Aunt Lisa met us in the Dells and took the girls home with them to Montevideo for a few days. What a treat for them...and me!