Sun!

Just one post this week!  This has been a busy time at the Wilde bed and breakfast!  We've had lots of visitors, including Grandma Ann!  While she was here she spent many hours with the children, and even tried out the trampoline. . .

We were also blessed with a sunny day and got to take her down to our beloved Lake Grove swim park!  Ah, paradise.  We are back!  It was just as glorious as I remembered, and maybe even more since I'm not entombed in nylon stockings.  Here are a few snapshots. . .

In other news. . .  GORDON'S SABBATICAL STARTED!!!  And the backyard digging has begun.  I'll try to get a few pictures for documentation this week, as right now, it's just dirt.  I keep telling the kids this is going to be the best summer ever, because daddy's on summer vacation too!  Happy Summer Everyone!!!

First Tooth

Somebody finally has a tooth!

Water Balloons

 hop scotch

 Triple.  A balloon, in a balloon, in a balloon.

Welcome to Summer!

School is out!  We celebrated with a pizza party and friends immediately after school Thursday.  We had about 20 kids from church and the neighborhood.  BRING ON SUMMER!!!

5th Grade Celebration

These are terrible pictures, but I forgot my camera and these were from a friend, I'm just glad I have a couple!  Ethan is all done with elementary school.  Sniff.  This year they are moving 6th grade to the middle school and so off he goes.  No more elementary!  They are of course making this a fun transition and had a big "graduation" ceremony with a slide show, music, and a "graduation" of sorts.  Then, they took them all bowling.  What fun!

I can't believe my little guy is headed off for middle school.  I have mixed feelings about it.  But when they brought the kindergarteners in to sing to the big kids at this ceremony, I got totally misty!  They said, "think about your little one when he started school just a few years ago" and I couldn't help it!  Look at this little guy!

Wasn't this last month??????  It's scary how fast he's going to be done with high school.  I can feel it!  Congratulations Ethan!  On to wonderful things!

Last day of Kinder

Chandler finished up Kindergarten on Wednesday.  It was a bitter sweet little day!  He took a little treat to his teacher. . .

 gave the school a hug. . .

 and then we headed to the park with his whole class.

 They had a pinata and a party with a cake.  We will miss his spanish immersion buddies, he's had a great time with them!

 Thank you Senora Vasquez!  You have been a wonderful and caring teacher!

the Daddy Daughter Campout

Emilee was SO excited to go on the daddy daughter campout!  She has been looking forward to it since the boys went on theirs.  It was pouring rain that day, but they were brave and went any way.

 Emilee fell asleep 5 minutes into the journey, just like she does every day during a 4 p.m. drive.

 DQ for dinner?  I'm in!

It was a great time had by all the little ladies and their daddies!  Can't wait for next year, and I can't wait for the first family camp out!

Arrow of Light

Our little man cub is growing up!  Ethan received his arrow of light, the highest award in cub scouting.  He has worked hard for this for the past 3 years and we are so proud of him!  Great Job Ethan!

We started the night off with an obstical course,

 and then they had to fight off the white ninja,

 Heidi enjoyed the show from the backpack.

 And here he is with his arrow.  He was a very pleased boy.  On to boy scouts!

Dad's and Doughnuts

Chandler's Kindergarten hosts a celebration for fathers day a little early.  They invite all the dad's to come to school and they build bird houses together (and eat doughnuts of course)!  This was such an awesome activity. Here is Chandler with his house, and his little buddy, Sam.

They sang a song for all the dads, Chandler has been practicing for weeks!  Love all the nose wiggling, he must have had an itchy nose!

Upon arrival at home, he pronounced that it MUST be painted immediately!  So, we got straight to work.  He designed and painted it up.

Well Done Chandler and Dad!  This great looking bird house is going to be a great addition to our yard.

Timber!

When we bought this house, the backyard was covered in large bushes with no usable space for the kids.  We have spent the last 6 months pulling out bushes.  This week, we moved on from bushes, to this lovely little Magnolia tree.  It was sad to chop it down as it was such a pretty little thing, but it had to go to accommodate "the plans."  The kids all took turns notching into it and then Aidan did the honors and "TIMBER" was shouted.  We counted about 20 rings in it's trunk.  Emilee was very upset as she is every time we chop out a bush.  "Mom!  I want the beautiful bushes!!!"  I'm sure she'll love the new beautiful bushes and lawn as well, it's hard to see the big picture when you're 4.