Pre-school

I'm only two weeks late but I guess it's better than nothing.  Meredith misses the kindergarten cutoff by one day this year.  Actually make that 8 hours and 37 minutes.  In MN, you must be 5 on or before September 1 to go to kindergarten and Meredith was born on September 2.  She is ready but that's just not how it was meant to be.

And just because she's cute:

I've had her enrolled in a special class for 5-year-olds since January at God's Discovery Kids at the Rosemount United Methodist Church.  I only looked at two schools because as soon as I went to this one, I knew it was the one for her.  I couldn't be happier with that decision thus far.  The school is great and her teacher is wonderful.  And best of all, Meredith talks about how excited she is to go to pre-school all the time!  She seems to love it.  She goes Monday-Thursday in the mornings.  She even told me that she wishes she could go in the afternoon too.

Science Museum Birthday

I'd like to say thank you to the Baird family for the generous gift of a birthday party at the Science Museum of Minnesota they gave us.  They are donors at the Science Museum in memory of Robert Baird and they get a free birthday party.  Since their kids are grown up, they gave it to us to use for Meredith.  Thanks so much.  

Meredith was really excited about this.  Thank you to everyone who came as well.  Her party was pirate themed and we had a fun day doing activities, opening presents, and exploring the museum.  

Consignment Time

See all this junk?  Well, it's not clogging up my basement anymore:-)  It's all been dropped off for the twice yearly kids consignment sale I participate in.  Let's hope that people will buy my junk (it's really not junk...it's actually all stuff in great shape).  Because I don't want it in my house anymore.  And the money I make from these sales is going to fund my next vacation...along with my 200,000+ Delta Skymiles:-) I can't wait for that day to come!

5!

My little girl turned 5 last week.  I guess I have another year or so that she will be a 'little' girl before she turns school age.  I love how smart and sweet and caring she has grown to be.  

We celebrated her 5th birthday at Lake Byllesby Regional Park.  The day was perfect.  Thanks to everyone who came to make the day special for her.  

This picture is appropriate for the theme of the day.  

Meredith's Great Aunt Shirley (and Great Uncle Don) came up to visit for the weekend since her Grandma and Grandpa Carlson were in town.  

Here are just a few more pictures of the birthday girl.  

Meredith's Great Uncle Robin (and Great Aunt Irene also came).  

Not a great picture, but here are the cousins!

Stanley Cup

Last week Greg took Meredith out to get all her hockey equipment.  We were fortunate enough to get one of the last remaining vouchers from the Rosemount Hockey Association to get free equipment.  They had a Try Hockey For Free day that we were unaware of but they had a few leftover vouchers.  Greg took Mer out and she got fitted for all her equipment and it was free!  Except the skates.  Nice, huh???  I have to enjoy it while I can because next hear hockey is going to be high buck.  

Then the two of them headed to Lakeville as the Stanley Cup was in town.  I know, Meredith looks thrilled.  I'm sure Greg was excited to see it though!  

Great MN Get Together

I hate to say it, but I'm getting kind of worn out on going to the State Fair.  It always was one of my favorite things to do in the summer.  I don't know if it's because I have to drag kids with me or what, but I'm just kind of losing interest:-(  I think it's because I spend a majority of the time in the Kidway, or the animal barns or doing kid stuff.  By the time we're done with all of that, I'm worn out.  **sigh**

It was a hot one, but we had fun!  Meredith helped out on the little farm.  At the end you get to pick a food item from the store and of course she picked the dill pickle chips over a can of vegetables or a box of granola bars.  This picture below shows the forced smile she gives me nowadays.  Ugh.  

 

Next stop was the Kidway.  She went on a bunch of rides and had a lot of fun.  

 Next stop was the food building to eat lunch. We met up with my mom, brother, cousin, aunts & uncles!  

 Peter's 'box' lunch.  

Tennis Camp

We've been experimenting a bit lately with sports and Meredith is officially signed up for hockey this fall!  She'll be playing with the Rosemount Hockey Association's U8 girls.  I previously thought she would be a Mini Mite but that is a boys' classification.  There aren't enough young girls signed up to play where they can actually classify them as Mini Mites, Mites, etc.  So they just get grouped into the U8 (under 8) category based on ability.  

Anyway, I'll be posting more on that once she starts in November.  In the meantime, we signed her up for an Intro to Tennis camp last week.  It's just a week long class that teaches the basics of tennis.  How to hold a racket, practice hitting the ball, etc.  

As expected, Mer is just a tad uncoordinated.  But she did okay though.  She said she REALLY liked it and wants to do it again next summer!  

Meredith is wearing the pink shirt and capri pants in these pictures.  Here's an action shot (those are high school boys in the background, not creepers).  

In true Meredith style, she's off in her own world here and not listening.  

That's better.  Now she's listening!

Anna's 1st Birthday

Well folks, we officially made it to one year! My baby is 1.  It sure doesn't seem like a whole year has passed and I had a newborn at this time last year.  I have been very lucky to spend Anna's whole first year at home with her; taking care of my two wonderful girls.  

We had her party at Lake Byllesby Regional Park in Cannon Falls.  They have lots and lots of picnic tables and shaded areas so I figured that odds are in my favor that we could find a nice spot and we did.  We had perfect weather for a birthday party

This is her birthday outfit that I've had for what seems like ages.  

The cake I got with my Wuollets Groupon.  

She didn't know what to do with her cupcake.  

She finally destroyed it with her hands and ate a little.  

Meredith was very excited to help her open her gifts.  

With her baby cousin, Bowen looking at gifts.  

Some of the guests:

Closing in on 1

Here we are in late July already.  Last year at this time, I was big and pregnant and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our second child.  Meredith came a week early so I had my hopes set on #2 coming early but that wasn't the case.  So here we are just a little over a week until Anna turns 1.  It has been a great year and I am so lucky to be her mommy.  She is more than I could have hoped for and I am so lucky to have not one, but two wonderful, beautiful little girls.

Here are just a couple of cute pictures of my baby in case you missed them on Facebook.  

This one shows all four of her top teeth that she is teething right now.  

Anna's first trip to the cabin

In true fashion, I am almost two weeks late on this post.  I can never update my blog in a timely manner so my apologies.  

We spent the weekend prior to the 4th of July out at the cabin.  It's always fun this weekend because many of my wonderful aunts, uncles, & cousins come out and we have a good time.  Not to mention my immediate family.  Meredith and her Grandma went out one day early and we met up with them the next day.  We went home for the night while Meredith stayed and we returned the next day.  The weather was perfect...except for that it was near 100 degrees.  One day there was no lake breeze and the bugs were biting.  But we still had a good time anyway.  

Oh, and what trip to the cabin is complete without a Biff?  The day before we went out, I got a phone call to let me know that the septic system was not working.  GREAT!  100 degree weather and no facilities???  Thank goodness the Biff got delivered that afternoon.  

Here is the grand moment when everyone lined up to relieve themselves.  

Taking a break to hang out with Juana.  

Gotta have some s'mores.  

The weather was perfect for swimming.  The water was warm and no itch!  

My sweet baby :-)

Playing in the sand is always a hit too.  

Happy 4th of July

We spent the 4th of July running errands.  It was just too darn hot to do anything else.  100 degrees is too hot to even go swimming.  

Greg took Meredith to the Apple Valley fireworks though while I stayed home to put Anna to bed.  It was her first time.  I thought she would be scared of the noise because she is kind of skittish about that kind of stuff but she love it!  She was telling me about all the different shaped fireworks (you know those ones that explode like a heart, circle, bullseye, etc.) and how there was even a toilet shaped firework.  LOL.  

Here they are all decked out in their red, white, & blue courtesy of Grandma Schwake.  

  

Meredith got about 10 compliments on this as we were out running errands.