sweet Ella

Ella was stung by a bee, right on the lip!

My Birthday Boys.

I haven't blogged in awhile, or really done anything "unnecessary" for awhile. At least not around the house. I did go on a shopping trip (necessary?) with my 3 wonderful sisters and mom 2 weeks ago, and spent last Saturday celebrating the most important man in the world, Matt. I did not take any pictures of Matt on his birthday, which I guess is what happens after you've already turned 30. Even the waitress at Famous Dave's forgot his birthday, though I purposely told her and I witnessed her writing it down. Oh well, Matt prefers it this way.

I did however take pictures of Nathan on his birthday, and since I haven't even posted those yet, we'll do a July Birthday Combo blog.

So, Happy Birthday Matt-we all love you so much and are grateful to have such a wondferul husband and father!

Now onto Nathan's birthday...

(breakfast of choice: pancakes)

Wow, really? 5? How can it be? 5 is such a big boy age, it seems like just yesterday...

Grandma Jan and Grandpa Joe were able to join us for Nathan's actually birthday.

We spent much of the morning outside. The plan was to do the slip & slide, but Nathan ended up playing UNO instead. Nathan (and Grandma) played UNO for over 2 hours later that afternoon!

We did Nathan's choice lunch at our house (Hotdogs and fruit), then we went off to Peach Wave for a yogurt treat!

Thankfully Matt was able to take some time during the afternoon and join us.

We have this rule that on your birthday, you are "the boss". So after Peach Wave, we went back home for naps (Nathan played UNO), then we went out to McD's for dinner and some Play Place action. Following dinner, Nathan got to open up his presents!

His present from G&G was a transformer...Matt and Nathan are figuring it out!

We got Nathan a big glider airplane from the Cars 2 movie. (big hunk of styrofoam:)

Here's Ella on her attempt.

Everyone had to figure out their own method to see who could fly it the best!

Grandma and Addie watching...though Grandma also took her shot at it, and ended up having one of the most successful flights of the night.

Of course, Nathan.

This picture feels like a classic to me (in that akward family photo sort of way).

The thing about planes made of styrofoam is that they often require repairs!

(the birthday boys)

The weather was perfect, and we even got everyone to sit for a photo.

Following flight time, we went in for Nathan's fave activity...watching a video (though I don't even remember what we watched)-complete with Puppy Chow, per Nathan's request. It was a great day filled with lots of fun and lots of food!

Nathan

It's been one of those "best of times, worst of times" days with Nathan-I always assumed he would mellow out...he's hasn't.

But, I love his passion and he can be the sweetest most thoughtful little boy.

One of his newer habits is reading in the window sill in his bedroom. It's wide enough where he can comfortably sit with either his legs hanging over the edge or laid down on the sill. It's high enough that nobody else under the age of 5 can get up there. At times he even shuts the curtains and it's his own little retreat.

(this particular time he was reading his children's Bible)

He is growing up so quickly. I cherish these days when he picks me flowers, even though it's clover, hugs and kisses me at night (and through out the day) even though it's "too rough", and writes me little notes, even though they're hard to read. Parenting has it's challenges, but the rewards are far greater!

Remembering Grandma Bird

We returned home 2 days ago from "Grandma Bird's" funeral. It was good to see family and celebrate her life, and of course emotional as everyone will miss her greatly. We rejoice that she is with the Lord and doesn't have to suffer anymore. My heart goes out to Grandpa Bob-whenever I think of loyalty and faithfulness, I will think of him. He was by her side nearly every day-including her final moments. I'm eternally thankful for the positive, Godly influence they have both been in Matt's life and also my own.

Marilyn Linder Thompson

1928-2011

Strawberry Pickin'!

Beautiful, red, ripe strawberries!

(a preview shot of the loot)

It's that time of year again...and we took our 2nd annual trip to Sanderson Gardens in Brookings to pick strawberries. Well, Matt and Nathan actually stayed back and went fishing (which they caught about 10 fish, one of which was Nathan's first ever! Way to go boys!) Me and the girls met my mom, Amy, and Mayah, and got a perfect day for picking!

Mayah's harvest...get that bucket full!

Addie did much better than anticipated. I guessed she would just sit in the straw and gorge on strawberries the whole time. But, she only ate about a half-dozen.

Here's the crew (minus Amy):

total I brought home 19 lbs of strawberries!

Nana and Ella coordinated and wore their red strawberry picking shoes:)

(I love how these are her "sparkly princess shoes". Really they are so worn I don't think they have any sparkle left...but if Ella has her say, she will wear them until her toes grow out the ends!)

Pizza Perfection.

It's been cold this year...and at times it's been hot this year, but finally the other day, it was just right! It was friday night, so we were doing pizza anyway-so we decided to move it out to the grill. This is the second time we've tried pizza on the grill-and both times it has involved lots of running back and forth and a little burnt crust. But, it was soooo worth it! I think we got it down so next time it will be smooth sailing!

(this is my pizza, which was made last...you can see Matt's in the background, which was made first...with a little char).

5.

We are having a bit of a crazy week...

Everyone just returned home yesterday-the kids and I went on a family retreat to Spearfish, SD with my parents, sisters and their families. While Matt went to Minneapolis to visit his grandma, then on to Medford, WI for a family reunion of his own. Yes, we were 800 miles apart, and it broke my heart that I couldn't be with him and his family. But, he had a great time and was able to say good-bye to his grandma before she went to be with the Lord on Sunday July 3, 2011.

Tomorrow we will leave again to go to the Cities for the funeral.

Today Matt's mom is here. The kid's time with her is so treasured by them, we hate to have to leave when she is here, but so it goes.

In the midst of this, Nathan you are 5! You seem so big, yet still so little. You are still the same "passionate" kid as you have always been. It's not uncommon to hear you exclaim multiple times a day that you are having your "worst day ever!", and then later, "your best day ever!".

You are still so smart-you can easily read most "reader" books, and you even started reading a few chapter books. You amaze us with your math skills, and how easily you catch on to adding and subtracting.

You are sweet and shy-yet rough and tough. You love to wrestle with daddy, practice your head stands (which you once held for 8 seconds), play catch with your ball and glove, and of course, watch movies (or really any t.v. at all). Inevitabl, you will retreat to a room by yourself and read books if you are with a large group for more than a couple of hours. It's how you recharge.

I think your love language is gifts-but we are trying to hard to train you to have a thankful heart! You are amazing, wonderful and will always be my baby boy.

We love you!