OKOBOKJI - Roasting Marshmellows

 
 
 
 

The first night at Okoboji is always the marshmellow roast. After years of experience, we head down to the beach armed with all the fixings for smores. I am finally learning to be patient from Kevin and make them golden instead of charred. Yummmmmmmmmmm.

Dinosaurs!

 
 
 
Before school was out for the summer, we went to check out the dinosaur exhibit at Reiman Gardens. Such fun! The picture with Grandma was in front of Josiah's favorite sculpture. Gabriella and I were fond of the smaller ones. I liked the small flying tucked away in the tree. Gabriella loved the ones that were her size. She would sit down in front of them and motion for her to come to her with great excitement, but no luck. She would move onto the next ones and try again.

Mother's Day

 
 
 

Yes, Mother's Day! I am catching up on some blogging. I wanted to be sure and share about our Mother's day because it was such a lovely one! The boys spent a wonderful overnight with Kevin at Hidden Acres, while Gabriella and I had our own girls day. Here is a photo of us playing hide-n-seek at the Patrick Dougherty sculpture at Ada Hayden, a fun moment in our weekend.
Sunday afternoon the Teske ladies were treated to a lovely dinner from the Teske men. The guys planned, prepared, served and cleaned up our delicious meal. They also set the table with roses and chocolates for us. It was a relaxing afternoon and we felt very spoiled indeed! Thanks guys!

Josiah Moves On. Next Stop, Kindergarten! (May 21)

 

One last story time during Josiah's Moving On ceremony.

 

Crossing the bridge from pre-school to the next stage in life.

 

Kevin, Ben and Gabriella all a-swingin' on the newly hung tire swing.

The Five (5) of Us - May 2009

 

The Teske 5 in a rare photo of ALL of us.

Outside time

 
 
 
 

DKA's visit in April

 
 
 
 

Monster truck and black frosting

 
 
 
 

Ben says:
"We rode to Hickory Park and watched 'Bugs Life' in the monster truck. There were three TV's, one in the console and two in the headrests. It had a loud horn that the driver beeped when we got to school. The truck was 10 feet tall, and when you opened the door one stair came down. We waved to all the people we could see in the cars. I got to ride in the front seat of the truck too (with the air bag off). For lunch we had hot dogs, fries, apple sauce, chocolate milk, and bubble gum ice cream. We had a fun time. When we got back to school from the monster truck, we had a cupcake that was shaped like a penguin. Its wings were wafer cookies, and its beak was a Starburst cut into a triangle. These were special treats made for my teacher's birthday. The black frosting on our faces and tongues was messy! We had a good time!" After the cupcakes all the second graders headed to see me in art. I couldn't resist taking pictures of all their messy faces.

Towel head

 

Flower Child

 
 
 
Gabriella and I were admiring the pretty flowers in the garden this spring. What a great expression in the last one!

VIESHA

 
 
 
 

Easter glimpses

 
 
 
 

Croup-o-dino-stega-saura-t-rex

On Tuesday Josiah seemed a little out of sorts, so we weren't too surprised to find him snoozing croupy with a hint of seal bark this morning. At 10:30 he finally woke up, and came down stairs...

"Mom! huuuuuugh (big inhale) I just saw a squirrel, huuuuuuuuuuuuugh, out the bathroom window, huuuuuuuuuuuuuugh, who was filling his cheeks, huuuuuuuuuuuugh, so full of nuts, huuuuuuuuuuuugh, that he looks like a chipmunk! huuuuuuuuuuuugh, come see!" So bright eyed and full of energy, yet already out of breath as he began his day. I convinced him to come cuddle and watch Word World so that he could catch his breath.

After Tuesday's trip to Reiman to see the dinosaur exhibit, Josiah has latched onto a new passion. We taped a horn and tail onto his clothes when we got home from Reiman, and today he started developing his plan for a real costume with claws and a really long tail and a hood to go over his eyes. Josiah's day came to an end with a good jump on everyone's bed as he followed me around putting away laundry. All the while jumping, smiling, and modifying his new dino name, much to the joy of Mamasaurus. Sleep well little croup-o-dino-stega-saura-t-rex.

Tummy!

Had a great Mother's Day celebration at Mom and Dad T's today. Got to celebrate Lisa, Mom, Grandma F, Aunt J and Laura's mom-ness. Pictures later, but for now:

Gabriella delights in her toddler belly.



G'night all
-kevin

Happy Spring

L says: Kevin took these pictures this (Tuesday) evening while playing with the kids outside. They are loving this weather, all the green, and the little garden they are starting in the back with Kevin.

K says: This was a wonderful evening. Ben and Josiah were playing and chasing on the scooter a little ride-on tractor, Josiah was all set to explore and engage adventure with his backpack... and determined that he needed a fold-up scooter that would fit in his backpack, and for good measure, function as an umbrella. He has since declared that he's going to be a daddy and a scooter designer when he grows up. I so love seeing these guys engage and consume the out-of-doors!

Garden - We had a great time planting the four short rows of our inaugural garden on Monday, and are grateful to our neighbor for accelerating the preparation process with the loan of his ultra-fantastic mini tiller. Josiah is especially eager to see the garden grow: On Tuesday morning he popped his feet into some shoes and headed to the backyard in his PJ's to see if his tomatoes had grown yet :)

On this lovely Tuesday evening, G was all-energy:
Walk, look at birds, walk, climb in/out/in/out/sit/stand (in the coupe), climb out, climb over deck and onto driveway, run to front of house, toddle to porch, climb steps, dangle legs under porch railing, stand up, stand at front door, yell through screen, walk toward steps, walk down steps (with daddy's help), toddle/run like greased lightning down front sidewalk, pursue brothers three houses down, dodge past brothers, explore driveway... take the daddy express back to the house. PHEW! It's going to be a fun and ACTIVE summer. Yeah! This exercise does daddy well.

God bless.
-Kevin and Lisa