Tanner's Bedtime Routine

I guess Tanner's teddy bears like to sleep hanging upside down.  Or at least he makes it part of his bedtime routine to do so. . .

Flowers in our garden

Along the left side of our house there are a number of different flower plants.  At first I wondered why they were hidden at the side of the house instead of in the back yard, but now that they are in bloom we get to enjoy them from our kitchen windows.  Looking at these flowering plants makes dishes a lot more enjoyable!

Fun in the backyard

I don't think that I mentioned that when we moved in there was a spa in the backyard.  We left it empty for the first six months to get a "baseline" on our utilities so we could know exactly how much the spa was going to cost it.  We have had it filled for a little over a month now and have loved it so much.  Tonight the kids went swimming (or wading really) for a couple of hours before dinner and then got to eat food at the built-in bar attached to the spa.  Oh, the simple joy of eating dinner outside!

Painted Dresser

So, I am on a kick with painting furniture black.  I finished this dresser a little over a month ago.  The before pictures:

And the after:

I really am having way too much fun with it.  My next project is our master bed.  Of course, I am painting it black as well.  Before and after pictures soon to come.

Baseball End of the Year Party

Baseball has ended which has left us a lot more time in our lives.  Although it is a little exciting to have it over, we miss it already as well.  Brett did any amazing job coaching these boys.  Many of the parents are asking him to coach again next year.  I doubt it will happen, but of course I didn't think it was going to happen this year either, so I guess we will just have to wait and see.

 Coach Brett handing out trophies to the boys.

(Spencer is the one with a hat on on the left side of the picture)

Spencer and Coach "Dad"

Bailey's Prize

I was upstairs and heard Bailey start to cry hysterically downstairs.  I ran down the stairs to figure out what was going on.  She told me that she had put a bead up her nose and that she couldn't get it out.  I pulled out our otoscope (that thing the doctors uses to look inside your ears and what not) and honestly couldn't find anything.  After doing a little research on the internet we tried a couple of things and after about 30 minutes of blowing and what not, Bailey finally got her "bead" back:

Yes, that is a little metal washer type thing.  Don't ask me why, or how she got that thing up her nose, but she has definitely learned her lesson to not do it again.  Or course she is my child who stuck a raisin up her nose a couple of years ago.  Some of us have to make mistakes over and over again to finally learn. . .

Happy Birthday Brett

Brett hit the big 3-0 this year.  He really didn't want to celebrate, but I insisted that it wasn't for him.  It is for the kids.  They enjoy a "party" (I use the term loosely) just as much as the next kid.  Brett is actually on a golf trip today, so we celebrate on Wednesday instead.

We are not a huge cake loving family, so for Brett's "cake" this year we did Rice Krispie Brownies (Brownies, covered with marshmallow, with a layer of chocolate and peanut butter covered Rice Krispies.  They are to die for!)

The kids each worked hard on a home made card for Brett.  I love the time and effort they put into making those cards.  You can tell they love their Daddy.

And somehow we missed a picture of Hunter with Brett, but we can't leave out his handsome smiling face!

Las Flores Open House

It was so much fun to be able to visit the kid's classroom at Open House.  Spencer and Natalie have worked really hard this year and learned so much.  And we owe 99.9% of it to these ladies:

Spencer and Mrs. Boelman

Natalie and Mrs. Spensiero

They both have been incredible teachers to our kids and we are so sad that we won't be going to Las Flores next year and that the younger kids won't be able to experience them as teachers.

I think that the kids felt even more special because, not only was all of our family able to go, but Grandpa Bruschke and Lacey and Landon Gilbert were able to go too.  (Landon Gilbert served in our mission and had returned for a visit with his sister.  We were lucky enough to have them stay with us.  They are awesome.)

And Open House isn't Open House without being able to play on the school playground.  All of these pictures are taken on the kindergarten playground.

Las Flores Elementary we will miss you and are hoping that Wagon Wheel Elementary will be as awesome as you have been.