Special day for Stephan...

Tuesday was a special day a Stephan's school. During lunch, it was the annual Hot Dog Day where parents and siblings join the kids on the school lawn for a picnic lunch. Norah and I had fun visiting Stephan's class and playing on the playground after school.

In the evening, Stephan's class along with one other class had Art Night full of singing, poetry and a short play about prairies. Last year, Stephan's class built a prairie that turned into a school-wide project this year.

Stephan gathered up the courage to audition for a small group trio in one of the songs. He got the part and worked so hard on his lines in preparation for the show. He has a sweet little voice and did a great job at the performance!

Did someone say beach party?

Well, Norah has the perfect beach party dress! It was a gorgeous and warm day on Friday when Stephan's school had a beach party for the 4th-6th graders. Stephan did not dress up (it seemed like only the girls dressed for the theme), but Norah wore her new dress that Grandma & Grandpa brought back from Hawaii.

My sweet son called me the Paparazzi so this is the only picture I have from over the weekend. We have a great climbing tree in the front yard. It's also a great picture taking tree!

I love the way she looks at her dad...she has "Daddy moments" these days when she only wants to snuggle with her Daddy. He also has to say good-bye when he leaves the room or she gets sad.

Norah has also decide she is not sure about bath time anymore. (And here I am to capture the moment...sheesh, I really am the paparazzi!) She is also not fond of washing her face after a meal or changing her diaper. She is Miss Sensitive these days and does not want to be wet or inconvenienced!

So many children in need...

After the week of terrible natural disasters in Mynamar and China, I can't help but sit and count my blessings and give thanks for the roof over my children's heads. Many of the most vulnerable after the deadly cyclone and earthquake are children.

One of my favorite organizations, UNICEF, has long had a presence in Mynamar where the organization's mobile relief units have been successful in delivering aid to children despite the government's rejection of other donations. Please don't let the country's politics keep you from considering a donation to help the children. UNICEF describes the devastation as a catastrophe waiting to happen as 1.5 million people are stranded without the necessities to survive. Learn more at www.unicef.org

In China, the Half the Sky Foundation provides exceptional care for the country's orphans. In the wake of the horrible earthquake, the Foundation is working with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs to reach the schools and orphanages where children are in desperate need. The Half the Sky Foundation established a special earthquake fund to help children orphaned by the quake or those temporarily separated from family. Learn more at www.halfthesky.org

You don't think a small donation could make a difference?? Even $5 could save a child's life. Just $2 provides life saving malaria medication and $3 will provide a blanket to a child with no other bed. If you are unable to give at this time, please keep all of these children in your thoughts & prayers. We are so fortunate for what we have...

A happy Mother's Day weekend!

We had a great Mother's Day weekend! I am so blessed and lucky to be a mother. It is a job I do not take for granted. I could not have more wonderful children!

After a relaxing morning, we visited Gramps and Jude at a cabin they frequently rent on Lake Michigan in Sheboygan. It was not the walk on the beach weather we wanted, but it didn't stop Stephan from digging a hole (aka WWII trench) in the sand.

This is Mother's Day last year at the same cabin!

Jude and Peri play fetch on the beach

We ate dinner at Duke's of Devonshire in downtown Sheboygan. There were lots of great English items for Stephan to read on the walls.

On Saturday we went to one of our favorite places--the zoo--with Grammy.
Here they are checking out the new joeys.

Norah and Stephan love the primate building. Most of them were really playful that day. They have a beautiful silverback gorilla who definitely knew he was being watched and let us all know.

The cows in the Family Farm are so exciting!! Norah still does not know what to make of all the big creatures.

Below are a few more pictures of Stephan at the zoo. It is such a fun place to take him because he has such a big heart for all animals. He always takes time to read about the conservation of the natural habitats of animals at the zoo that are endangered in the wild.

Below those pictures are a few of Norah playing with a my bracelets. She carefully inspects one at a time, tastes it, shakes it, waves it and then moves on to the next one.

(**PS--if you do not see the slideshows right away, click the x in the upper right corner of the black square to make the ad disappear)

A quiet weekend

We enjoyed a quiet & relaxing weekend. Today was a gorgeous day and the kids had a blast playing in the backyard.

It's hard to believe Stephan is THIS grown up!

And here is a rare moment when he actually let me take his picture. After years of me constantly taking his picture, every time I pull out the camera, he says "Look at Norah! Take her picture!" and darts away as fast as he can.

This little one is proud that she pulled herself up in her crib. I think it was kind of a fluke because she was sitting up facing the rail. Yesterday she pulled herself up by my jeans. It's exciting at first, but then she decides to wiggle about and loses her grip. She needs a little more stability before she tries this often!

Typical movie night!

Ok, this is kind of a strange picture, but I had to take it because it is so typical for our movie nights. We cannot stay awake through an entire movie! If one of us makes it, it is usually Stephan. Tonight, it was me. This is precious to me because the guys have always made "blanket beds" and watched movies on the floor. Stephan loved this when he was a little guy and thought it was pretty special when we let him fall alseep in his blanket bed. When he was in 4 year old kindergarten, they drew pictures on Monday morning of how they spent the weekend. One Monday, Stephan's drawing said "I slept on the floor again." The picture showed him watching a movie. WE knew what it meant, but shuttered to think what the other parents thought! So, here he is...sleeping on the floor again along side his Daddy Man.

Eight months!

Norah Paige is 8 months. She is pure joy!

Norah likes to practice with her cup. It starts out innocently enough, but when she decides she is finished, she dangles the cup over the side of the chair as low as she can reach just before dropping it, which results in the top popping off with a big splash the floor. She thinks this is quite an accomplishment!