MN 2014 - Week 2

Another week bites the dust.

Wed- Rylee had bible school so Jace and I went to story hour at the library, then my parents watched the kids so I could have coffee uptown with Chelsie, and Rylee started her dance and gymnastics classes (two classes back to back this year).

Thurs- Rylee was at bible school so Jace and I visited with Big Grandpa Bob. We also had Jace's swimming lessons that night.

Fri- Rylee's last day at bible school (she loved it so she was so sad), Jace and I played outside here at the resort,




we visited with Jeanne (after she and my Mom got back from garage saling) and Jack and Judy came up for a visit and slept overnight in cabin 8. We also ran to Brd for dinner and tried a new pizza place (gasp!). Rylee loved it, but I still prefer Rafferty's.

Sat- breakfast with Jack and Judy, Rylee, Mom and I went to Tanya's bridal shower at Heather's (so fun!). Before we left, Papa put up the kiddie pool and slide for the kids to play while Mom and I cooked. Jace was in heaven!

Sun- the weather and our schedule finally aligned so we could take our first pontoon ride! Jace wasn't so sure about it and stayed on my lap the whole time,




but Rylee practiced driving...







Rylee and I hung out in Cabin 8 that afternoon. She gave us all a half hour concert/performance of all her bible school songs that night (so cute!) and Jace started sleeping in the bottom bunk. (We got rid of the crib so he didn't really have a choice!) He's been doing great at night. Sometimes he gets up during nap time though...

Mon- my mom gave both the kids their much needed haircuts, we played outside here (bounce house, croquet, little four wheeler, golf cart to name a few).



Tues- more outdoor play, another movie/playtime afternoon in Cabin 8 (I mean Rylee and Jace's clubhouse number 8!), and Mom and I snuck (sneaked?) away for some shopping at Ruttger's.

Whew! What a week!

Hope you're all having as much fun as we are!

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MN 2014- Week 1

Tues- we had an interesting travel day last week. Bad weather delayed our flight in Ft Lauderdale so it didn't look like we would make our connection to Brainerd. Rather than be stuck in the cities, my Dad drove down and picked us up. It made for a long day for the kids, but they were awesome. Neither one made a peep on the airplane. And even though they didn't get to sleep until 1 am Florida time, they were still in good spirits (thanks in part to Jace's new TV/iPad obsession: Paw Patrol)

Wed- unpacking day and a visit with my "sister" Sara

Thurs- Jace started his private swimming lessons. He did great! I didn't even have to get in the water and Rylee had fun as the assistant.

Fri- visit with Big Grandpa Bob

Sat- Howard and Lilly came up to the cabin for a quick visit.

Sun- Father's Day fun with Papa, a visit to see Grandpa Chip and Connie, skyping with Daddy

Mon- Rylee started vacation bible school. She was nervous going in, but now she loves it and has two new besties. :) We finally had some nice weather too. It had been rainy and freezing ever since we got here so Jace and I hit the park.

Tues- VBS for Rylee, outdoor play for Jace, and then Rylee spent the afternoon exploring all her MN toys/activities: driving her four wheeler, riding her bike, trying to roller skate, and of course, throwing rocks in the lake. I even tried driving the new (old) golf cart. :)

The kids are having a blast. They are doing great sharing their room again. I can even put them down at the same time this year which is nice. Oh, and Rylee has officially moved up to the top bunk! Now to work on getting Jace out of the crib and into the bottom bunk. We'll see...

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The Graduate

Rylee graduated from VPK yesterday.  It was the cutest little ceremony.  They started with the "Pledge of Allegiance."  Rylee still says hers with her teacher's Spanish accent.  I suppose I'll have to work on that with her over the summer, but for now, it's still adorable.  :)

Then they sang "God Bless America" and a cute song about "moving up to Kindergarten."  Afterwards, they sang a song about phonics where each kid got to hold up a letter or two when it was their part (Rylee was J and W).

Then Rylee stepped up to the front and center.  She announced: "Miss Maria and Miss Coleen let us pick this song and we hope you enjoy it."  Then what began to play, but this year's breakout hit: "Let it Go" from Frozen.  Rylee stayed in the front and basically led the whole song.  All the kids were watching her for the arm movements and she was definitely the loudest!  She was really emoting too (as she pointed out to me when we were watching the playback).  Everyone kept telling us that she is destined for Hollywood afterward!  Lol!  She's dramatic anyway!  I don't have pics, since I was using my camera to take videos, so you'll just have to take my word for it that she was adorable!  :)

They had tissue boxes underneath random seats (which I had kind of laughed at before the program started), but when they sang their last song, "So Long, Farewell" (from the Sound of Music), I couldn't help but tear up.  Rylee's special part was: "I hate to go and leave this pretty sight" (which she pronounces "side" like her teacher).  Gaga tried to correct her, but Rylee did not take kindly to it.  Lol!  

After their performances, they called their names so they could get their diploma.  It was a lovely ceremony. Here are some photos from afterward.

With Daddy (two months into his six month "epic beard" experiment)...

She has three best friends.  Here she is with Asrielle and Kenzie...

With Kenzie and her little sister, Mikaela...

With her other bestie, Devri...

With me!  Each kid made a little project and wrote what they wanted to do after graduation.  Rylee said she wanted "to give her Mom a big hug."  Awww.  That's exactly what she did too.  :)

Rylee also had to fill out a paper about her teacher.  She wrote that Miss Maria always says: "sit down, we are reading books," that her teacher would be a "monkey because she is so funny," and that she's thankful that her teacher taught her "to count by tens."  :)  I'm thankful to her teacher too.  Rylee has had the best time this year and she is excited for Kindergarten.  That's all I could ask for.

I've worked with Rylee at home too.  I am so impressed with her growing skills: she reads a leveled reader to Jace and I every night, but her writing skills are my favorite.  She uses phonetic spelling and really stretches her words.  She can get most of the consonant sounds and is even starting to spell some of her sight words correctly.  Writing was my favorite subject to teach in Kindergarten so I love getting to help her through this stage.  Not that she credits me with any of her accomplishments.  The other day she told me that she learned about the "magic e" from her friend, Jake.  Yes, I'm sure it was him and not the 100+ times I've mentioned it over the last year.  :)

Congratulations Rylee!  We're so proud of you!