Well Child Check-ups

Today we had Ellaree's 5 year old & Harry's 18 month check-ups.  They both did great.  We found out that the state of Wisconsin is not recommending that we get a Kindergarten full eye exam done.  So I called our eye clinic and will get that done here in the next couple of weeks.  No immunizations for Ellaree as we got them all taken care of before 4K, but Harry on the other hand got 1 immunization.  He was not thrilled over it - well he really was not thrilled over any of it today (getting mearured, weighed, the whole bit).  But we all survived and we got to do some shopping and go to McDonald's afterwards.  Here are their statistics.

Ellaree
Weight ~ 36 lbs 8 oz ~ 25%
Height ~ 42 1/4 inches ~ 41.3%
And blood pressure was great!

Harry
Weight ~ 23 lbs 3 oz ~ 16%
Height ~ 33 inches ~ 62%
Head Circumference ~ 47.5 cm ~ 38%

So as you can see ~ they are healthy, normal growing children! 

Harry & Lorelai have their 2 & 3 year old appointments scheduled so we hopefully won't see them until the new year!

Harry's 18 Month Pictures

I am back to taking my kids pictures on my own! I had so much fun and look what I got!

Yup this is my all time keeper!  Who new that my painting footstool would come in handy!

This lil man melts my heart every day. love you Harry!

Surprise!

Well we definately got a great surprise Thursday.  In the local paper there was an article about Harry's work.  Intrigued, I started reading and here it was about Harry. 

We are so very proud of Harry!

Wedding & Kentucky Trip

This is going to be a bit lengthy and I appologize but I have been swamped since getting back so instead of trying to do little ones of each event I am going to do a mass posting. 

Saturday, June 16th we received a new member to our family.  My brother got married to the love of his life Kassy!  We are so happy they have found each other and that we got to be apart of their lovely day together.

These pictures are in no specific order.

Jerod & Kassy cutting the cake...which by the way was DELICIOUS!  If I needed something big for a big event I would go through this lady...Yumm-O is all I have to say!

Mom & Dad all dolled up!  What a cute couple they make after 39 years.  Love you guys.

Family picture.  We had to do this outside at the reception as my two little ones fell asleep during the ceremony and slept until we were at the reception. Turned out good.

Our family picture.

Jen, Nick & Madelyn

Ellaree & Kaleb

Wedding Party

Kids sleeping in the pew at church

We had a blast but it sure was tiring.  Sunday Harry & I woke up at 5 and we had everything packed, kids loaded and on the road by 745.  We didn't think that was too bad.  Our goal was 7 but given all that was going on we felt it was still good.  We made good time and was to Grammy's house Sunday night by a little after 8.  The kids were tired and ready to get out of the truck.

The minute we let the kids out of the truck they were on their bikes riding around Grammy's driveway.  This worked out great as they burned off some energy and we got everything carried into the house.

Ellaree went for a tractor ride and helped plant some soybeans.

Mommy was giving 4 Wheeler rides while Daddy was mowing Grammy's lawn with the tractor. 

Lorelai & I went junk shopping with Cousin Mary, Melrose and baby Ruby.  Cousin Laura met us for lunch.  It was a very fun day with lots of goodies bought along the way.

The kids loved their rides with Aunt Beth on her golf cart. 

We got to meet Cousin Al's girlfriend Brandy and her two children Jared & Lily.  We loved them all.  We had a slip-n-slide & pool party.  It was so very fun.

Lily & Ellaree are exactly 1 month apart in age.  Lily was not overly enthused about quiet time but she did good.  After naps/quiet time Brandy & I took all five kids to Clarksville, TN, about 45 minutes from Grammy's, where we had our own little adventure.  The suburban quit on us.  We were able to move it over to the side of the road and after about 5 minutes was able to get it moving again.  The boys were out doing irrigation and was hard to get ahold of them.  When we got back as far as Oak Grove, about 20 minutes, it quit on us again.  But this time we were not so lucky to get it to the side of the road.  So there we sat for another 5 minutes until it gave in and we were off again.  This time I tried very hard to get us back to the farm...which we did all in one piece.  It was quite the adventure but we had a good laugh through it all.  

Harry loved to wear Uncle John's straw hat & one shoe.

Ellaree learned to do the monkey bars while there

See this big sprayer...Harry was in love with it and loved to drive it around.  We were able to get all 5 of us in there and we did 168 acres as a family.

We were able to visit with Grammy every day.  We couldn't stay long as the kids would start climbing the walls but they enjoyed seeing Grammy and telling her of our day.  We also got to be with her for half of her church service before we had to say goodbye.  What a precious time that was with her.  We also got to go to Uncle John & Aunt Beth's church and see their wonderful Pastor Dan and wife Debbie.  We were surrounded by such wonderful people all week long. 

Half way back Sunday night we got a hotel room in Peoria, IL and then Monday we took the kids to the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL. Oh what fun we had. 

Kids in the big dozer bucket

Lorelai & Harry

Ellaree

I could not find both Harry's for the life of me and I finally found them in this.  Daddy was explaining everything to Lil Harry.  It was just too cute.

Mommy & Harry.  He was so tired he did not want to walk around. 

We got home around 4 Monday afternoon to the children complaining about not wanting to get out of the truck.  So we decided to go up to Sleepy Hollow with my trailblazer and see if they could work on it.  To back up a little, a week prior to Jerod's wedding I was delivering 15 pounds of potato salad to my friend Jane's house for her daughter's graduation party when I just got into Viroqua when my trailblazer just quit on me.  Exactly like the suburban did in Kentucky.  So I was able to limp it home, switched everyone over to Harry's truck and went and made my deliver.  Unfortunately Harry was busy at work that my truck sat there and we couldn't find time to get it up to Sleepy Hollow.  So it sat.  So since the kids didn't want to get out we decided it was a good time to get it up there.  We have been looking at trading and so I went into the car lot and started looking again.  Of course nothing there that I needed.  I need 3 rows, 2nd row needs to have captains chairs & I need 4 wheel drive.  Not a tall order, I didn't think.  They only had 1 Tahoe that had all that.  I didn't think there would be enough room but I thought I would test drive it while they worked on my trailblazer and see if I truly did or didn't like it.  Well we are negotiating and it sounds like it is almost a done deal.  I will be getting a tahoe for good very soon.  Yaay for our family.  Ellaree is thrilled with this news as she will have her own seat. 

On top of all this, Tuesday after getting back Ellaree started summer school & swimming lessons.  She missed one week while we were gone but she has been having lots of fun. 

Things are finally calming down as she doesn't have school on Fridays and I am finally getting caught back up on laundry and getting everything put away from the wedding and vacation. 

Ellaree's 4K Graduation

June 1st was Ellaree's 4K Graduation.  It was a very exciting time. 

Here is a picture of the AM group.  There was 19 in Ellaree's class and 16 in the PM class. 

See her on the end?

Mr. Harger did a little talking and then the kids had a very cute song they sang. 

Here is Ellaree doing all the actions.

Yup here she is again singing like an angel.

Do you see her curls?  That week was pretty hectic at our house with me working at the school every day. Since Grama & Daddy had to get all 3 kids to school, I decided to call our good neighbor Angie who works at the local salon. Friday's Angie is off so I called in a favor and asked her if she would mind if Ellaree came over and got her hair curled for the day. Angie was thrilled to do it and Ellaree had a blast going over to her house by herself (which is walking across to lawns to get there), paying her and coming back.  She was definitely a princess!

Ellaree in line to get her diploma

Ellaree receiving her diploma from Mr. Harger

Look at that pose...she is a natural!

AM & PM 4K class of 2025!

Ellaree & Alice...the bestest friends forever!

Mr. Harger & Ellaree...these two have become quite the pals this year.  Even though Ellaree is excited about Kindergarten I know she will always cherish her time in 4K thanks to this guy right here!

Ellaree's 5 Year Pictures

I tried curling Ellaree's hair but by the time we got there it was pretty much gone since she fell asleep.  Oh well, she is still a beautiful girl that loves the camera.

Happy Birthday

My baby is not so little anymore.  Ellaree turned 5 today.  Oh what a beautiful princess the Good Lord has given us.  Here are some pictures from her Ariel Birthday Party on Saturday.

The girls had their own little secret spot up in the playset to eat their lunch. 

Ellaree, Neyla, Maddie & Carmyn

Even though Saturday was not overly warm, that did not make a difference with the kids. 

The slip-n-slide was a must.  They were on it for maybe 20 minutes before everyone was froze and ready to get into something a little warmer.

Cake is always a must.  This year was a Dairy Queen cake.  We had so much fun with school friends, cousins, family & friends. 

Ellaree - You amaze me each and every day of how smart & beautiful you are inside and out.  I am looking forward to this year of experiencing the age of 5 through your eyes.  I love you so very much!