The long weekend is here

Once we got the cabin all cleaned up and ready for company this little beast was the next thing to get hooked up! Happy long weekend to us ;)

The bikes are back in town!

Boogie Fest 2011 Kids Night

Boogie Fest is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated events in our community. This year the Friday night games night was not to disappoint. Jenn and the crew from CFY did a fantastic job. Sure hope they want to do it again next year!

Motorcycle man!

Biker dude

He thinks this is the way to pose for pictures now. "Is that cool mom?"

Awe! My big touch biker dudes!

Graidan got his face painted byt the ever-talented Nicole ;) Seriously, great job Nic!

Graidan was pretty happy with the finished product

Playschool Graduation 2011

Quite a night! I am still having trouble adjusting to the fact that I will have a little man in Kindergarten next year. It just doesn't feel like he should be turning 5 yet..... but I guess it is happening. Tonight Mrs Wilson, our fabulous teacher, put on a special performance with the kids to show just how much they had learned this year. It was so entertaining!

Proud little man walking into the ceremony ;)

Mom and dad are pretty proud of you too buddy!

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Pretty pumped with his performance I guess?!?!

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Receiving his certificate from Mrs Wilson

Thank you Mrs Wilson for all you do. You have the patience of a saint to put up with these little monsters on a daily basis!

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Pictures with Grandma and Papa O'Neill

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And Grandma and Grandpa Irwin

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and one family photo

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We then headed back home for some "celebration" cake

and these two just couldn't wait!

Thank you Mrs Wilson!

I found this cute Teacher Appreciation gift idea in blogland on one of my favorite blogs eighteen25 and decided it would be a neat, different gift to try out for Hudson' Playschool teacher this year.

I started with this clear plastic bucket from Michaels, bought all the candy I needed and decorated it. Pretty simple I would say!

Kenosee Lake Photography Retreat

This past weekend we discovered the next level to our photography courses with the ever so talented Lori Maxim. We spent the whole weekend out at the lake discovering and rediscovering our passion for photos. It was so refreshing to be able to get out our cameras and think of nothing but capturing 'that' shot. Nobody pulling at my pantleg, needing their bum wiped, whining for a drink of milk; just me and my camera and some really interesting girls. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids but I think I need and deserve these little vacays from reality to keep my sanity in check.

Below are a few of my favorite shots that I took over the weekend.

Growing like a....... BEAN!

You may remember Hudson's field trip to the greenhouse from this post. Well here is what his little seed he planted looks like today......

Bakery Field Trip

Today was another field trip day at Hudson's school and guess who had the opportunity to be Parent Helper AGAIN? Just joking. I truly do not mind an outing and really did enjoy the morning tour of the local bakery. Something I had never had the pleasure of experiencing before. I have to admit I was a little scared at first because we were combining the morning and the afternoon classes together giving us up to 20 kids if all were there that day but the kids were very well behaved and I guess I worried for nothing!

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At the end of the tour the bakery staff sent us back to class with a few bags of their WORLD FAMOUS cinnamon buns. And I do mean world famous! Ask anyone around and they are familiar with Carlyle cinnamon buns.

As you can see this little guy sure enjoys them ;)

Thank you Carlyle Bakery for the great morning and making such delicious buns!

Spice it up

My spice cabinet has been a thorn in my side for some time. I don't want to purge and get rid of too many because as soon as I do, you know I will be looking for them but at the same time I loathe the crammed, unorganized space every time I open the door....... Finally I found this cool little invention when I was at my fave store TARGET!

I wouldn't say it made a HUGE difference but it does keep my blood pressure down when I open the cupboard now so I guess, mission accomplished!

Bottlecaps.....

I love these little candies and haven't seen them anywhere in many years. Almost as long ago as pic-a-pop......yes! ......I just dated myself! Iwas lucky enough to stumble upon some this weekend in Minot and, of course, I had to buy them.

Mmmmmmm!

Sleep Inn Swim-a-thon

This being my first weekend off that I didn't have to go back to work on Monday we decided to take off to Minot on Sunday night and stay the night to swim and shop. It is so nice to just take off on a last minute excursion. Something I hope to do more of in the near future.

All my boys being fish

More Water

Still cannot get over how much the lake is coming up. In just 6 days since we were last out there the water was up on shore andother 14 feet. Time to move the boathouse today!!

SURPRISE

Hudson had a play date after preschool this morning and come nap time we had to be a little deceitful in order to get little Graidan to go down for his nap. No way was he sleeping if Hudson and Zadie got to stay up and play! I got the 2 of them to settle down with the iPad for a little while just so Graidan had a chance to fall asleep. Once I went in to tell them they could go downstairs and play I was answered with "That's ok. We are fine here."

Such a couple of cuties!

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Tonight was Danielle's Surprise 30th Birthday Party. We were really sure she was onto the plans but in the end she was shocked. I so wish I had myh camera out to capture her as she came into her own house to find 20+ friends in her kitchen!

The birthday girl herself

Day 1 of the new normal

Today is day 1 of my part-time which means I am off for a week!!! The plan was to plant my flowers finally until this happened.....

HAIL!!!

But I was too stubborn so once it quit I got out and got dirty in my flower beds.

So pretty

A-Philliated Amanda

I am lucky enough to work with some of the sweetest and most thoughtful girls. Today was my last day as a full time working mom and Amanda, one of the craftiest, most creative and inspiring people I know made me a present.

It's a NEW CAMERA STRAP COVER!!!!!!!!

I so, so, so love it! Thanks Amanda. Gonna miss you when you leave us to pursue your education this fall ;)