First Day of School '09

It's hard to believe that summer is over already. I guess it is a good thing that it seems to have flown. That just means we had a lot of fun, right?? I get so sentimental when a new school year begins. It is just another reminder that time is passing quickly and we need to keep making the most of it with our children.

Jake is ready for the FOURTH grade!!!!

Jake loves his new teacher and he said there is a new boy in his class that he thinks he will become great friends with. (He's TALLER than Jake!!! This is very impressive. Jake said he couldn't stop looking at him. Usually HE is the tallest!)

These two are happy to be together during the day. I am going to be homeschooling Caroline (and Luke) this year. It was a hard decision to make, but we feel it is the best for us right now. I tutor a lot during the evening hours and John and I thought it would be best for Caroline to have a lot of "Mommy" time during the day. She is a very good candidate for homeschooling. She loves to learn. This should be a FUN year!!

Sundaes With the Kriegers

Last week, we went to my cousin, Julie's house. We had ice cream sundaes to celebrate Richard's and Caroline's birthdays. Their birthdays are about a week apart.

White Sox Game

On Wednesday, Jake had the opportunity to bring Caleb Larson to a White Sox game. They had so much fun and the Sox won!!! Yay! Thank you Uncle Colin and Auntie Diane for the tickets!!

Package from Aunt Carole

Last week, Caroline got a package on our doorstep from Aunt Carole!!

She knew there was going to be CHOCOLATE!! A whole bag, just for her!! She has been enjoying passing it out to the family. She keeps the bag in her desk drawer upstairs and every once in a while we all have a bar. :)There was also a very cute book about gardening, 2 Webkinz (a Walrus, "Wally" and a Puppy, "Biscuit"), and a water gun that shoots out two holes!!Caroline posing with her treasures.

Thank you, Aunt Carole!!! Your packages are so much fun. Jake said, "Aunt Carole gives the best presents. . . she is so generous." You are a blessing to our family.

Caroline's 7th Birthday Party

Caroline had her puppy birthday party on Friday.

While she was waiting for everyone to come, she got a fun card in the mail from Grandma Koz.

We made puppy pawprint cupcakes. (the paws were made with peppermint patties and Junior Mints)

The party favors were dog bone candies and a CD with puppy songs.



The CD. . .Grandpa made the labels.



Here is a picture of the pool before the girls got here . . .
Here is a picture of the pool after the girls got here. . . .yikes!!

John telling the girls all the pool rules.

Josie, the neighbor's dog, came to the party. :)
The diving board was very popular.

John and Luke sitting in the "lifeguard chair".

Sitting in the "hot tub".

Build a Bear

Uncle Mike, Aunt Lori, and Daria sent Luke and Caroline Build-a-Bear gift cards for their birthdays. How perfect!! After we ate lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, we headed upstairs to Build-a-Bear and had a great time!!

Luke gave his bear the "squeeze" test to see is it was fluffy enough. . .it was. In fact, he named his bear Fluffy.

Making a wish on a little heart.
Putting in the little heart that he kissed and made a wish on.

Caroline gave her dog, Blacky, the "squeeze" test to see if it had the right amount of fluffiness. . .it did.

Putting in the heart.

Caroline gave Blacky a "bath".

Luke picked out a Batman costume for his bear.

Dressing the dog.

Yay!! Look at the finished products. . ."Fluffy" and "Blacky". . .Luke is so proud of his.

Thank you sooo much Uncle Mike, Aunt Lori, and Daria!!! We had so much fun doing this. It is something we never would have done without the gift cards!!