May 31, 2011

Memorial Day at the cabin 2011!

Things that made our weekend fun:
1) Playing Badmitton all weekend
2) Roasting hot dogs and smores in the camp fire!
3) Finding kittens in the forest and getting to play with them and take care of them all weekend long (thanks to Lisa's quick thinking!)
4) Sofia writing in her Hello Kitty journal each night before bed about her day.
5) Getting to see our kids together -- Sandberg boys and Alfaro girls are the best of friends!
6) Asking Micah questions, just so we could hear him talk! He's 3 and has quite a lot to say!!
7) Getting to go down to the water with Grandma and Grandpa to skip rocks into the water.
8) Getting lots of fun pictures of our family!
9) Doing "the loop" over and over again -- some much needed exercise!
10) Being with our family -- and no tv, video games, Nintendo DS, no computer, phones, Ipods, or any other electonic gizmo's! Yah! We love our yearly Memorial Day trip up to Jay's cabin. We love getting together with our family...Mom, Jay, Kristi, Mike, Lisa and the boys and LaNae. And the best part this year was the fact that Martin got to join us! He is normally in SF during the long weekend each year to visit Aura and Brianna...and Denise Elayne...and Carnival...but this year, it just wasnt possible ($). The weather even cooperated for us this year -- Saturday was a tad chilly, but at least it didn't rain (like it had the previous few days leading up to the weekend). Sunday was absolutely gorgeous! We left for home on Monday with the sun still shining. Finally!

Of course we brought the girls' bikes again this year...they just love riding the loop throughout the weekend! One big bummer of the weekend was that Audriana's bike tire was flat -- and no matter how much we pumped up that tire, it would end up flat minutes later. She was so upset! We finally drove into Sandpoint on Sunday and bought a new innertube from Walmart. Martin brought his bike too, so that was fun. I walked the loop many times with Kristi, Mom, Lisa, LaNae and the kids.


Audriana worked really hard to keep her tire pumped up....but it just wouldn't stay inflated.....no matter how much she tried!







One of the big wins of the entire weekend was playing badmitton! Martin and Audriana found a new set with the net, birdies, and rackets at Goodwill the day before we left for the cabin and we really got our money's worth (all $5 of it) becase we used it all weekend long! The kids loved it and practiced so much that by the end of the long weekend, they had all improved so much! We couldn't believe it! The kids even organized a tournament for everyone on Sunday.















Roasting hotdogs for lunch on Saturday was very exciting for all!







I found a package of POP-ITS at Walmart for a dollar, so I brought them up to the cabin for the kids to use. I wish I would have bought 5 or 6 packages! They loved it and had gone through all of them within a few minutes! But it was a few minutes of pure fun for sure!















Walking and biking "the loop"!







The cousins...2011.







Uncle Mike came up for the day on Saturday. He had fun with the kids playing badmitton!



Oh yeah, don't forget the smores! Noah does a great job of reminding us of how gooey and yummy our favotite cabin dessert can be!


Micah is so adorable -- at 3, he is talking so much and he is such a happy happy boy! Always smiling, laughing, and having a good time! Love him!





Grandpa and the older ones...Ryan (11) and Audriana (8 1/2)

How cute are they?!?!?!

.....ridin' the loop!

Grandpa and his kids in our favorite picture spot.

The kids found a lost kitten that wandered out into the yard on Saturday afternoon. It was a new baby kitten....but where was it's mamma? We looked and looked all afternoon, but couldn't find her. Lisa, our resident animal lover/saver, found a box and a warm towel to keep the kitten in, and fed it and kept it warm all night in the cabin. To make a long story short, the next morning, we found the kittens brothers and sisters -- a total of 4 kittens! But still no mama. Lisa wanted to take the kittens home, but they were so small, that she decided to leave them with the neighbors next door who also do a lot of kitty saving. The kids had so much fun holding the kittens and watching them play. Audriana and Sofia would have done anything to get to keep one....but this mamma said "no"...too much work! It was fun to see Audriana come out of her shell a little and really show some emotion and love to these small kittens. Sofia, too! They both loved the kittens! It was hard for all the kids, Lisa too, to say goodbye to the kittens, but they knew that the neighbors would take good care of them, so that made everyone feel a little better. Poor Noah cried.....Audriana wanted to cry, but didn't.



Micah brought his bike up for the first time, but his little legs got tired a few steps into the loop, so my smart husband brought a rope and pulled him along the way! Isn't that a good idea? Micah loved it!


Time to go down to the lake! The kids love looking for rocks and saving the really cool ones! They are all learning to skip rocks into the water. Lisa and Jay are awesome! Ryan can do it and Audriana is now doing it!


My sweet angel, Sofia, is so infatuated with finding pretty, shiny rocks. She always comes home from the cabin with a bag full of rocks to keep.

Martin and Audriana just chillin.....

Love birds.....

My favorite Memorial Day 2011 picture! Down at the beach...




Below is a tom turkey that was just a few steps away from us! I loved taking pictures of him and got quite a few good ones! He was all puffed up....I guess he was showing off for the 8 girl turkeys that he was with! Ha Ha Ha!



Oh my gosh...our big kids are growing up! They are the best of friends, these two.


Our annual Memorial Day picture on the tractor with grandma and grandpa! So cute! We love our traditions!


Sweet, special, and silly friends.

May 27, 2011

Sofia's first Kindermusik program

Sofia began Kindermusik this past winter and has really enjoyed it. She loves her teachers, Miss Theresa and Miss Danielle. Today was their last class and the kids were each prepared with a little song to sing all by themselves...up on a little stage.....and with a microphone! Sofia's song was "Cumpleanos Feliz" (Happy Birthday song in Spanish). I could tell that she was nervous, but she did so great! A proud moment for sure!
Here is Miss Theresa with the kids. She is so amazing and so wonderful with the kids. Love her!

Miss Danielle is also super sweet and Sofia likes her alot -- mainly because she was the one that handed out little skittles to the kids when they would perform their songs in class (to practice).



Here is Sofia getting ready to perform!


Next fall, Sofia will advance to Young Child! Thank you Miss Theresa for a great start to Sofia's musical beginning!

May 22, 2011

Some cute Spring-time pics!

Audriana and her soccer-buddy, Anna Ackerman.


We love it when Grandma and Grandpa come to the girls' soccer games!


Addy and Sofia -- 2 soccer powerhouses! This Hi-Five came after Addy scored her first goal of the season today! Yeah Addy!





I liked Sofia's outfit today -- I thought she looked so "Spring-y" in her green skirt and yellow top, I just had to take a picture of her. She is standing in front of some of her Montessori Central work (Map of the World).

Mother's Day 2011

Happy Mother's Day to me! We went to Chaps for brunch with our good friends, the Lunds! How lucky we are to have such wonderful children. I am blessed -- I have the best kid in the whole entire world! Thank you God!
My good friend, Denise, and her amazing kids, Everett, Kendra and Addy.
Below is all 5 of them smiling nice for the momma's!



Thank you Audriana and Sofia for making me a proud mom!

May 14, 2011

A Pink Lady Trio!

The Pink Ladies: Sofia, Kiki, and Addy!

May 08, 2011

Audriana's First Eucharist and Confirmation

We woke up knowing this day was going to be special. In fact, Audriana went to bed last night saying how excited she was for the day to finally get here! Her dress and veil were pressed and hanging in her closet...her shoes and tights were laid out and ready to be put on...we had her hair in curlers and her nails painted....all in preperation for her big event. We all remember our First Communion...and I knew Audriana would remember this day, too, so I wanted it to be ultra-special for her. We could not be more proud of our sweet daughter today as receives 2 more sacraments - First Eucharist and Confirmation, as well as renewing her Baptismal vows. Bishop Cupich presided over the mass, which definitely gave everyone a sense of just how important this event was.

All the kids made banners that Joan had hung in the Church. It really made the atmosphere feel so special!


Audriana and Bishop Cupich.

24 kids....2 Sacraments....Confirmation and First Eucharist!

Congratulations kids! Nice job!




Audriana and Joan Leeds, director of religious education at Our Lady of Fatima Parish....what a great lady...so much "pomp and circumstance"...she was a great teacher for the kids!



Aunt Virginia and Audriana.



Audriana and her friend, Derek Chaves. His mom Liz and I have become friends as our kids go to Sunday school together! : )



Bishop Cupich confirming Audriana.....what a special moment! It's hard to see here, but she is holding her Baptismal candle, and has her Godparents behind her.



Our little family...



Audriana and Aunt Kristi.....she doesn't miss any event or get together with the girls.....she's such an amazing sister. Love her!



Tres Leche cake!

Martin had this cake at another event earlier this year and once he tasted the cake, he recruited the lady who made it to make one for Audriana's First Communion. She did a great job and we all loved the cake!
We had Mom and Jay, Dave and Kathleen, and Kristi come over to the house at 2pm for cake and gifts. She received many wonderful gifts: a rosary, a Catholic childrens Bible, a charm bracelet, some charms, a St Christopher medal (charm), a 1st Communion bible, a 1st Communion picture frame, a bracelet and ring set and many nice cards of congratulations. She was also excited to receive Uncle Todd and Aunt Pam's card, which also contained a check for her to buy something special for herself. She decided that we should use it to open up a saving account so she could save up for an Ipod Touch.



We are so proud of you, Audriana!



A beautiful veil, too!







Audriana and her Godparents...Dave and Kathleen Keeney. They drove over from Brier to be here for her special day...we've got such a close and amazing family!



Mom and Jay with Audriana



Audriana was making sure Sofia was paying attention to this event....I heard her say a few times that she would be doing this in 3 more years and would probably be wearing this dress and veil. Very sweet.

May 02, 2011

A Fish Lake Hike!

We had a perfect day with Angie and the boys, Justin and Jake, today. Martin, me, Kristi, Angie, and all the kids headed out to Fish Lake for a nice long 4 mile walk. We brought the bikes for the kids and they had a really fun time riding the trail together. The weather is finally beginning to warm up (a little!), so it was wonderful to be outdoors again.
Jakey and Sofia posing for a quick pic.....


Rock climbing along the way....


There they go!


Us girls....

After the hike, we headed back to our house and had a nice bbq while the kids continued to play the rest of the afternoon. Such a wonderful Sunday....we love our friends!

The Pink Ladies -- soccer superstars!

Our Sweet Pink Ladies (4 and 5 yr olds)


Front row L to R: Jamie, Sammie Jo, Allie


Back row L to R: Kiki, Addy, Sofia, AnnaBelle, and Coach Michelle


Super-Star Sofia and Coach Michelle



Sofia loves her Saturday morning soccer games and has shown us that she sure has a competitive streak in her! She is very focused and serious when playing and is always striving towards scoring as many goals as she can. She is aware of where the ball is at all times and does not hesitate to get herself into the action of playing defense and offense. She runs and runs and runs her little heart out! She is so fun to watch! We are so proud of our sweet soccer-lovin' Sofia!

Soccer picture time -- Sofia is always picture-ready!



L to R: Kiki, Annabelle, Sofia, Jamie and Addy
Sofia is so happy to have 2 of her best buddies from Montessory Central on her team, Addy and Jamie -- they are such cute friends!




We've really had such a cold Spring and one of the parents brought this tent to keep the kids warm. Go Pink Ladies!

The Maroon Baboons! Another Season Undefeated!

Front row sitting L to R: Belin, Peyton, Keeley, Issabella


Center row L to R: Anna, McKenna, Madison


Back row L to R: Asst Coach Brandon, Avery, Audriana and Coach Mike


Grandma and her soccer-lovin' girls! Thanks for braving the cold, windy, and sometimes wet weather, Mom! : )


Coach Mike, Anna, and Audriana -- what a trio!


Awww...my baby is getting big. She's 8 now....has been playing since she was 4!



Audriana's team is made up of such a great group of girls!