Sweet Summer Days

Today is the first official day of fall, and I find myself looking back at summer photos, realizing it's been WAY TOO LONG since I've posted! Life is flying by and I can hardly believe that fall is here already. Our weather still feels like summer, so I will enjoy it as long as it will stick around.

Our summer was simple, yet fun. Here are just a FEW of our favorite summer memories (we don't have enough space for them all).

Playing outside:

Biking! Elise wants to keep up too!

Sidewalk chalk keeps them happy for hours.

Ice cream: Elise's new discovery!

Water Fun:
Backyard pool is a blast!

Water Fountain!

4th of July Fireworks

We celebrate the 4th with a full day of fun and swimming at JJ and Papa's with all the family!
I don't know why we don't have a picture of that day. In the evening we enjoy neighborhood fireworks. Braden is a pyro!

Our Annual trip to
Grandpa and Grandma's Iowa Farm

Our trip to Iowa is always our summer highlight. It's so great to see friends and all the family: my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins. This year was extra special because I got to meet my two newborn nieces!

Iowa sweet corn is the BEST!

Taking a ride in Grandpa's BIG tractor.Hansen Family Reunion. What a big Family!

My new Nieces: Emma (Jon and Kristin's) and Natalie (Brian and Becca's).

Such sweeties!Uncle Jon is so much fun!Bedtime story with GrandpaTubing on Lake Okoboji. Elise is not impressed with boating!Braden's first year to try water skiing! Not bad!Arnolds Park Amusement Park. Elise's first carousel ride!

Abi and Braden love it...Ashlyn can't wait to get off!
Mall of America: Minneapolis, MN

This year we decided to fly out of MN so that we could visit my friend/college roommate Carla and her family, and also take the kids to Mall of America. It was a great choice!

The Lego StoreBraden and Sheldon rode ALL the scary roller coasters.
This was Braden's highlight!

Camping with Daddy:
Each of the older two got to go on a one on one camping trip with Daddy. Braden and Sheldon hiked up Silver Star and camped up on top.
The next morning there was 50 mph winds. Quite the Adventure!

Ashlyn and Sheldon camped at Sunset Falls.
She was delighted to FINALLY have her first camping trip!

I am grateful to the Lord for summer 2011...many sweet memories!

My Baby is Walking!

She's almost there! Yesterday I would turn around and see Elise walking across the room. Just to be sure I would take a second glance, and YEP...she's for sure going for it. My baby is growing up!

Here's a video that Sheldon made of highlight moments of Elise learning to walk!

Happy First Birthday Elise Ann

My baby turned ONE on May 2nd! I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone. Way too fast for me!






It's been a blast going through all the baby stages again. I think I've enjoyed it even more this time around. Elise's BIG smiles and precious baby kisses, waving and saying bye bye when we leave, and her sweet voiced protests of "all done" when I'm feeding her something she doesn't like, are just a couple of the priceless moments that make being a parent fun.

Just thought I would post a few photos of Elise's first year:

Birth

3 months

6 months

Love from Brother Braden

9 months

Sister Ashlyn loves to play with Elise.

11 months

Looking forward to watching her grow and change in this next year ahead.

More Pictures!

It's fun to be naked

Ashlyn and Braden meeting their new cousin Lotti Jane Nalos. Congratulations Byron and Maria!

Elise hanging out around the house.


Our annual trip to the Woodland tulip fields.



Easter egg hunting at Papa N and Nana J's house.



This is what happens when you put a super cool necklace in an Easter egg, only to have it found by your grandson rather than one of your granddaughters.

He wore it around the house for two days with no shirt on.

We're Still Here...

It's been a long time...
Here's a quick photo summary
of what we've been up to lately!

Everyone likes to get in on playing wild with Daddy!

Enjoying a game together.

Relaxing weekend...I've got myself captured by a good book...

and have lots of company on the couch!

Learning to roller skate at a birthday party!

Sweet, smiley Elise

Braden's lego pinball machine invention. Just part of his daily routine.
There will be a newly designed machine tomorrow!

Sisters....Elise loves the attention!

Animated Ashlyn!

Play hard and CRASH!

More to come!

Are you Sure School Ain't Fun?

So Studious!

First Grade! Preschool! I've been having a blast homeschooling again this year! There is so much flexibility in our schedule, and so many options for learning, all which is very exciting for this teacher-minded mommy!

This year we are using Sonlight curriculum for some of our subjects, which is a literature based program. It's so fun because we learn by reading many different genres of books. I also add my own personal touch to fit our family and schedule.

Braden is learning so much this year in 1st grade! He's reading to us, writing his own stories, and able to add and subtract some pretty big numbers.

Start the day off right with green eggs and ham.

We're also reading several classic children's books, learning about our World's history and geography, studying different cultures, learning Bible stories and memorizing verses, and reading some very encouraging stories about missionaries around the world. We've studied the animals living on each continent, are learning about our human body, and when I'm really ambitious, the kids love to do science experiments!

AND, the year is only half over....we've got a whole lot more in store! I must admit that I'm learning quite a bit too (extra bonus)!

Reading

Science Explosion!

Science video clips: Experiments and Journaling

Both children have liked taking swimming lessons at our community center, and have recently started taking piano lessons from their Nana JJ, who is a very talented pianist and teacher!

Piano Practice Time...Elise wants to play too!

This semester Braden has also been attending Home Choice Academy, which are classes offered for homeschool families through the public school. He attends a 1st/2nd grade blended classroom for reading, writing, and math two mornings per week. In addition, he takes a science experiment class and a simple machines lego class one afternoon a week. Homechoice Academy has a been a nice supplement to what we are doing at home!

Ready for his 1st day of School at Home Choice Academy

I'm thankful for the opportunity to homeschool and for many friends that also do so. Support from others, and mostly my passion for teaching help make it possible for me to keep it up!
Of course, it's a definitely A LOT of work and some days I feel like I'm just trying to "catch up" on life, but it's worth all the effort and I wouldn't trade it for anything different!