The Top 10 Reason I Am Looking Forward To Summer Vacation

I was laying in bed last night....for the brief moment my eyes remain open once my head hits the pillow...thinking about SUMMER! Glorious, wonderful, fantastic, splendid, super, marvelous....okay well, you get the idea....SUMMER!

So here are my---

Top 10 Reasons I Am Looking Forward to Summer Vacation:

10. Sleeping in -- even with kids sleeping in until 7 or 7:30AM is better than dragging our rear ends out of bed at 5AM!

9. Sunshine and Warm Weather -- we haven't had a lot of sunshine and warm weather this spring, but I am still clinging to the hope that it is on its way!!

8. Swimming -- I can't wait to go to the pools!!! I love the water and I enjoy sharing that love with my children!

7. Camping -- getting out of town...in the woods...far or not too far...using our trailer...letting the kids get really dirty...relaxing...campfires...marshmellows...get the picture?

6. Reading and Writing -- I get to catch up on my own personal reading lists!!! Finally, I will have some time to start putting the ideas in my head down on paper...okay my computer...same thing!

5. Celebrating my 7th Anniversary with my hubby -- we are hoping to get away for a night! Majorly looking forward to that!

4. Going back home -- my youngest brother, Jordan, is graduating from high school...my grandparents from Minnesota will be there...I get to spend time with my mom, sister, and nephew too...take Caleb and Emma to all the fun places back in Rapid City...getting to see friends and their kids...eating at my favorite restaurants there...and so much more!

3. Visitors from Afar -- my grandmother, aunt and 2 cousins from Minnesota are coming out to visit us! I am so looking forward to doing stuff in this area with them and getting to spend TIME with them! I hate living so far away from family. And I am sure we will have other visits during the summer too. We call our house, Hotel Wiese, because we have people in and out quite regularly.

2. Going to the Oregon Coast -- the ocean...the sea food...the shopping...the beaches...camping...campfires...the exploring...the pictures...waking up to the sound of the ocean...the bike rides...

I could go on and on about the things that I love about the coast! You get it though, so I will stop!

1. Getting to spend my summer with my husband and kids -- lots of cuddle time, playing in our kids back yard pool, walks, parks, the zoo, exploring new things, snapping pictures for them non-stop, eating ice cream together...not being in a rush all the time...watching cartoons with the kids...working with the kids on different things (shapes, letters, ABC song, etc.)...

I hope that I can blog a ton this summer and keep you up to date on all the fun things we are doing!

Here Comes The Parade

Saturday morning Caleb, Emma and I headed to downtown Nampa for Parade America. It is an annual parade every year in May honoring the our military and also for Memorial Day coming up.

We have brought the kids for the last 3 years, but this year was the first time that they actually understood that anything really was going on. It was a chore to get then to not run wild while waiting, but they really did quite well. Mommy just needs to relax a little bit more. I think I was so nervous that daddy was not there and we were so close to the road. Plus a lot of people. I was so thankful for the Bowerman's, our family friends from church. We go with them every year and they always help with the kids. Annie and Lexie love to play with and entertain Caleb and Emma. Of course, Dee Ann always helps be the "other parent" when I am by myself.

The parade got started and Caleb and Emma's eyes were glued to the sights. They watched so closely. It was so new to them.

THEN.......

the candy started to be thrown to us......

Oh my goodness, Caleb and Emma were so excited. Especially, Caleb! His eyes got huge and could get to it all fast enough. After the candy started to fly he did not sit down again!

Caleb loved all of it. He watched the bands.... the big trucks....they kids waving...the horses...all of it! He was not afraid of any of it. In all honesty, I think was on the look out for MORE CANDY!!! Ha Ha!

Emma, however, was not every excited about the bands and loud noises. She ran to me at every marching band and the loud horns. She did like the horses though and of course, the candy was a big hit with her as well!

Here are some pics for you to enjoy!

Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day...a day to honor mothers! Yet, I am truly grateful for the gift of getting to be a mother! It is the best job in the whole world.

Our Mother's Day was just wonderful! I was so excited to wake up to sunshine...a perfect spring day! What a blessing! After all the cold we have had, it was a great gift in itself!

I was able to dress the kids in some of their cute shorts outfits from Easter...finally!!!! They were both very excited to get to wear sandals and shorts.

Off to church we went, just like every other Sunday. The kids at church got up in front of the congregation and had a Mother's day poem to share then each kid got to take their mom a rose. Caleb and Emma had a great time climbing up on stage to find me (since I sing on the worship team I was not in my seat yet). They came at me with a red rose and a pink rose and my heart just melted. Caleb and Emma had the biggest smiles on their cute little faces. Emma gave me her flower first, "Here you go mommy!" she said as she handed it up to me. Then she hugged me and kissed me. Caleb followed suit with his pretty red rose. Also a hug and a kiss! My favorite part! Emma did not want to leave me to go back to the nursery to play.

After church we went to lunch with our good friends, the Bowman's, to Outback. Which seems to be a tradition for Mother's Day. We had a very nice lunch! I even got to talk to Ryan while we were at the restaurant. So it was kind of like he was right there with us!

When we got home we took our 3rd annual Mother's Day picture. This year's picture was SO MUCH BETTER than last years! Ha Ha! Here are a couple:

Mother's Day - 2010

Caleb, Mommy and Emma

We all got naps, which was the BEST gift yet! I love my Sunday nap! I know some people say that is a waste, but it is the only time I get down time! And I LOVE IT!

Caleb, Emma and Rick got me some really great Mother's Day gifts too. The first two books in "The Hunger Game " series, the 2nd season of my new favorite show "The Big Bang Theory", and the DVD New Moon! It was a lovely afternoon with my family. We were so full from lunch that we didn't bother with supper, except for Caleb and Emma!

A great surprise today, were the beautiful flowers that Ryan had delivered to me! He is such a great young man! I miss him so much! I can't wait for him to be home!!