Where do I begin???

I'm sitting here slightly overwhelmed!!! There's been so much going on here lately and there are so many things I want to put here so that I can remember in the future! But where do I begin??? Hmmm. Maybe I'll start at last Thursday and go forward from there. It might just be the easiest way to remember it all!!!

Last Thursday wasn't supposed to be very warm, and the plan was to take the kids to the pool one last time before school started for the year. So we scrapped that plan and decided to take them to the local zoo. We figured the weather would be nice for that. Well, wouldn't you know by the time we got to the zoo it was HOT outside? It was really warm, but the kids still had a great time! I tried out the "baby leashes" with the twins, so I would know if they'd work for the state fair when we went. .. the answer to that was a great big NO!!!! They drove me BATTY with those on! They pulled mommy in all kinds of directions. I guess we'll be pushing the stroller for a while longer!!!!

This picture is Kaleb and Kendyl at the end of their "rope" while walking around the zoo!!

Then Friday during the day we left for my parents camper. The weather for the weekend couldn't have been more beautiful!!! The kids were able to spend a lot of time at the beach fishing, and swimming. The water was a bit cold though, so they also did a lot of playing on the beach! Saturday I was lucky enough to get a visit from my best friend since 8th grade, Karina. It was so nice to get to catch up with her! I don't get to see her nearly enough!!!! The kids and I came home from that trip on Sunday. I took a TON of pictures though!!!

All my kiddos up at the camper. I LOVE this picture!

Gabriel, 6 years old

Kendyl, 3 years old

Kaleb, 3 years old

Dallas, 7 years old

Braving the chilly water

Doesn't he just look so cool???

Kendyl pouting because Kaleb was using the goggles, and she wanted them.

Kendyl got hit in the ear, and asked for an ice pack. They didn't have any, only a pack of burgers. So she used the burger ice pack to feel better. IT gave her the giggles, and worked rather quickly!!!

Kaleb and his big catch for the weekend! He was SO proud!

Karina!! I miss seeing her!

Eating breakfast with Grandma Marian (my grandma)

mmmmm, french toast and bacon

Kendyl and papa found a butterfly! She was SOOOO proud!

Kaleb's turn to hold it

Can you just imagine how COLD that water was with his face???

My mom

We did a lot of fishing, as I mentioned before. Mostly just bobber fishing right off the dock, because that's what the kids like. Usually they catch sunfish, crappies, and perch. We'd not had much luck, and all of the sudden Gabriels bobber went down in a hurry, and his reel started spinning and clicking. IT freaked him out because it happened so quickly. My dad hopped up to go help him out, and I got the other kids out of the way. Gabriel reeled up his fish, and we were FLOORED with what he'd caught. He caught a 22 inch northern on his little tiny batman pole, while BOBBER fishing!!!!! Look at this thing!!! It was a big fish for that pole!!!! And notice the pride on Gabe's face!!!!

That thing was pretty big. Skinny, but big.

Dallas pulling in a little sunny, after hoping for a northern to keep up with his brother!

Round two with Gabe. Not even five minutes later he caught a SECOND norther off the dock! All totaled that day we caught 4 northers, 10 crappies, and 5 sunfish, just off the dock with bobbers!!! The kids LOVED it!!!

Gabriel and my dad. This one was a bit smaller than the first one.

Yesterday we went to the state fair. Todd was playing in the chapel at the fair. We hung out and listened to him, and then we went out and about in the fair. The kids got to ride the Merry-go-Round for the first time, and had a blast!!! We got some wonderful treasures, like a hand stitched north woods quilt for our new bedroom in the new house, as well as some bear and moose stuff. (I collect bear and moose things!) We were all BEAT by the time we made it to the car. We were able to eat some awesome food that you can only get at the fair, and had a good day as a family!!!

Today was the first day of school for the boys! We were able to meet their teachers last week like I'd previously mentioned. the boys and I got up today, and got them ready, and headed to the new house. I have this tradition of taking the boys' picture by the door on the first day, and the last day so that at the end of the year you can see the difference in growth. Its fun to see. We headed to the new house to take the pictures there, since that's where we'll be by the end of the year. We got their pictures and headed to school. Gabe's teacher was awesome and friendly this morning, and Gabe didn't play the shy card ONCE! I was impressed! Gabe was happy to see some of the boys from his class last year there, and I think that helped some with his anxiety over starting a new school year. Dallas was a little nervous going in. There was so much activity going on in his class that he didn't know what to think!!!!! I'll be curious to know how their days went!!!

First day of school 2008-2009 school year

Dallas, first day of second grade

Gabriel, first day of first grad

There they go! heading for the car to leave for school!

I'm beat! I have so much cleaning to do, and yet I've not done ANY of it yet. I've been sitting here uploading pictures all morning!!!! I suppose, I better get to it!! I only have 2 hours before going to pick up the boys again!!!