kobs picnic

Dennis often asks when the next kobs picnic will be... one of the main reasons we keep going. It is such a distant family reunion (descendants of my great great grandparents.) that I have no idea who half of the people are. In fact, this year we had a couple of rude and greedy people join in and who was to notice? Anyways, Dennis loves the traditions. 

Here is the shoe kick. 

 Zola was clueless on how to get her shoe to kick off and Dennis's went straight up in the air and didn't go anywhere.

 The crab crawl.

 Dennis got really close... but didn't win.

 The potato sack race. (note the ladies in orange and green do not belong)

 Andrew with one of his favorite people... grandpa.

 And, Dennis was super excited for the bubble blowing contest. He learned how to blow bubbles this year.

 Meanwhile, the little ones got to blow their own kind of bubbles.

 The water balloon toss.

summer sports

Soccer on the school team

 Zola's Dance recital

 swim lessons for Dennis and Zola

 Baseball on the school team.

 within 5 minutes of watching, Andrew found a girlfriend.

 Soccer on the U8 traveling team. Sorren, x, Eli, Jaxon, Kai, Dennis, x, Evan

 Andrew Loves to wear goggles too.

 Zola was so excited for swim lessons that she said, "mom, I know how I am going to pose for my swimming picture!" Unfortunately, they don't do swimming pictures like they do dance and soccer. She was happy with just me taking it.

 Then Andrew needed one too.

 During Zola's lessons, Dennis would get his reading done.

 The first day of swimming lessons was hard for Zola. Not because she is afraid of water but because she is afraid of new people.

 With enough bribes and the help of the pool manager, she was able to get in more and more every day.

 ... even without the pool manager! She really grew to love her boy teacher that when the next session came and she had a new teacher, she was super sad... and had to start all over with bribes and all.

 Andrew started riding his bike!

Dennis caught the biggest fish Memorial Day at the cabin.

He performed the entertainer at his recital. Thanks to Dorothy Edstrom for being such a great teacher. Dennis was so ready to perform that he didn't use his music and he walked right up to the piano and started playing before I even got there to take a video. It seemed that he started playing before he even sat down.

Dennis's self portrait from school.

Yes, he is practicing in his wet suit. Lol. He got his practice in before swimming lessons that day. And then while practicing he muttered under his breath, "i like piano." It makes all those days when its a fight totally worth it.

Yay for 65 degree evenings with straight from the tap freezing cold water. A lot of fun was had by all, head to toe... except for me.

May part 2

 Dennis and Zola are ready for a summer of water fun.

 Andrew is not one to miss out of a photo opp.

 We love Nutella.

 It wasn't the most restful sleep I ever had... but I woke up feeling very blessed to have such awesome kids.

 I finally finished the kids' quilts. They aren't perfect but they are complete.

 They always talk about the dangers of co sleeping for the baby but what about for the parents! I woke up with my head pounding because the circulation was cut off to the rest of my body. You can see the puffy face. And yet, I didn't want to move Andrew because that meant that he would wake up.

 He is a happy kid.

 I was pretty fun watching Andrew at Zola's dance recital. He loved the curtain, the music, and the dancing. He would point and squeal with excitement when the curtain would open to reveal the dancers. He also wouldn't let anyone take his dress shirt off of his left arm.

 Zola did a fantastic job at her first dance recital.

 In a small town it seems like everyone goes to the recitals because they all know someone. So, Our neighbor gave Zola some balloons for doing such a great job.

 Andrew loves his brother. Here he just wanted to cuddle while Dennis was trying to get his reading done.

 Zola's end of year program at school. They sang some songs.

 Miss Liz and Miss Lorie were her teachers.

 falling asleep in my arms is not something that happens often. But the week before my California girls trip it happened a couple of times.

 We love to bike.