Isaac and Grandma Connie

My mom came up last weekend since Dan was out of town on a missions retreat. She has made a tradition with the older grandkids of taking them out for a special outing for their birthday. Since Isaac turned 4 this year, she decided to take him out for some one-on-one time with Grandma! We decided to have her take Isaac somewhere that I wouldn't be able to go with all the kids. Since Isaac enjoys painting and crafts, she took him to a ceramic place where you can choose an item to paint. Isaac chose a monkey. He was so cute when he came home...he said he had to leave it there so they could put it in the oven and make it all "sparkley"! After they finished with their painting, they went to a sweet shop in downtown Antioch. Isaac picked out a Sponge Bob (not my fave!) rice krispie treat. My mom also brought us home some fudge and a sucker for both Isaac and Levi. It was a fun outing and hopefully a tradition they can continue!

More time with Grandma and Grandpa Hays

Dan's parents came down to spend a week with us and to go to the spagetti dinner. It was shortly after we returned from Eau Claire but it was nice to have the extra time with them. Our church's youth ministry holds a Spaghetti Dinner/Talent show each year to earn money for youth missions. Each year, businesses or individuals donate items for the silent auction. It's always fun to see what is available. Our couples small group donated a basket "taste of Lake County". We asked the businesses to match our donation, which several of them did. The ladies who put the baskets together did a great job. I bid on several items and ended up with a haircut and a night of babysitting. We're looking forward to using that!

The kids enjoyed their time with Grandma and Grandpa. We went on several walks just to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. There was still quite a bit of snow so the boys had fun climbing on the snow piles.

Grandpa and I played quite a bit of cribbage and we ended up fairly even.

Grandma and Elise

Grandma, Levi, and Isaac

Grandpa and Elise

Grandma and Levi

Grandpa and Elise

Grandma and Elise

Trip to Eau Claire

Last week, we went up to Eau Claire to visit Dan's parents. Aunt Cindy, Uncle Darrell, Bethany, and Uncle Tom also came to visit. The last couple years, Dan has skiied the Birkebeiner ski race but he took a year off. They actually had quite a bit of snow left up there so the boys had fun "sledding" and snowmobiling. My Uncle Dave and Aunt Donna came over for dinner one night so it was good to see them. They gave Isaac this amazing pop-up dinosaur book. He has been having a lot of fun looking at that. Dan's Aunt Shirley came over for lunch one afternoon and his Uncle Vernie and cousin Bobby also joined us for the birthday party. Isaac and Levi have missed Naomi staying with us so they enjoyed spending time with her sister Bethany. They monopolized a lot of her time! We met Bethany's friend Nathan who goes to school at UW Eau Claire. It was a fun time being up north and seing family!

Isaac, Elise, and Levi

Isaac and Levi snowmobiling with Dan

Uncle Dave and Isaac

Elise and Aunt Donna

Levi, Jenny, Isaac, Dan, Uncle Dave, Elise, Aunt Donna

Grandpa, Isaac, and Aunt Cindy

Uncle Tom and Elise

Nathan, Isaac, and Bethany

Uncle Darrell and Isaac

Aunt Shirley and Elise

Elise and Aunt Cindy

Uncle Darrell and Elise

Levi wearing the football helmet

Isaac trying out the cowboy hat

Elise and Jenny

Uncle Tom and Isaac

Bobby, Vernie, and Darlene

Elise and Grandma

Bethany and Isaac

Grandpa, Levi, and Elise

Isaac, Grandma, Levi, Grandpa, Elise

Grandma Connie and Grandpa Les's visit

My parents came up to visit the weekend after Dan's birthday. They had agreed to watch the kids for us while Dan and I went to Blue Man Group. They spent the weekend here so we were able to spend some time with them too. The boys always have a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa. Elise enjoyed her time too! We are thankful for the times we are able to spend with them!

Grandpa and Elise

Grandma reading to Levi and Isaac

Elise hanging out in her Exersaucer

Elise loves her toes!

Grandma, Elise, Grandpa

Having fun coloring.

Grandma and Elise

Family picture

Isaac playing with his new Leapster

My boys love being held!

Elise hanging out with Grandpa

Grandpa and Levi