Spring break in Wisconsin

We had a wonderful week in Wisconsin. We were able to visit some of our friends in Waukesha for a few days, fellowship with our Sunday group from Milwaukee and then we were able to spend a few days in the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at a hotel there that had an indoor water park and theme park. Rylan loved both places. Carsten had fun, but not to the extent that Rylan did. Here are some photos from the trip:

 

Rylan's Train Party

On Wednesday we had Rylan's birthday party. We invited six of his friends from school and our Sunday group. The party was great! The kids seemed to all have a really good time. I tried to keep it simple yet fun. Here are some pictures that tell the story a little better:

First the kids ate spaghetti for lunch

Then Rylan blew out the 3 candles on his cupcake train

Another picture of the cupcake train

Next they played pick up the coal (tin foil)- they loved it!

I tied strings to trains and hid them- they followed the string to find their train

Next they decorated train sugar cookies. They each had a plastic knife and got to frost and put sprinkles on two cookies. They took these home with them for later. They thought it was really cool to be able to do this on their own. Forgot to take pictures :(

Then of course time for presents!

The kids would give him their present and tell him what it was! So funny.

We ended the party by letting the kids play with Rylan's train set and watch a Thomas the Train video. Overall I thought the party went great! I was exhausted by the end though- two hours with 7 kids ages 3-4 is pretty tiring!

A birthday message from Carsten

Here is the video that Carsten made for Nana's birthday. Sorry it is so late in coming. There is more to come soon on the blog...pictures from our week in Wisconsin and tomorrow is Rylan's birthday party so I will be posting those pictures as well.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Party planning

I have been busy preparing the plans for Rylan's birthday party. It is still a few weeks away, but we leave for Wisconsin tomorrow and don't come back for a week. I knew I had to get the planning done now! Rylan is so excited to have his Thomas the Train birthday party. Here is what the invitation looks like as well as the itinerary for the party!

This looks better in person with a Thomas logo, etc.

I will post pictures of the party once it happens!

New jammies

The boys both got new pajamas at Christmas time that are just now fitting for the spring/summer which is great. Rylan was especially excited about this new pair of pajamas and wants to wear them every night! I don't think Carsten cares, but it is nice to see him in pajamas that fit right.

Then yesterday Carsten was up from his nap before Rylan and was playing with his turtle toy. Jeff was playing with him and I got this cute photo of them together.

And yes Carsten always seems to be pant-less in the pictures I take. I think it is because we often take them off for his nap to make him more comfortable and then I always take pictures at that time of the day. I need to start putting the pants back on after the nap!

Funny moments with Rylan

Lately Rylan has been saying some pretty funny stuff, so I thought I would share a few of those statements with you!

This weekend at retreat we had an accessory swap. Everyone brought accessories that they no longer used to exchange for other ones. I came home with a new scarf and decided to wear it today. After class Rylan was sitting at the table waiting for lunch to be ready and he noticed my scarf. He said, "I wike your blue sarf momma. Where you get it from? From retreat this weekend?" I just laughed...how does he come up with this stuff??!!

The other day I was talking with him about the baby and he was touching my belly (the little one that is starting to show up). He will tell you everytime he is asked that he is having a sister. He told that day that he wanted to hold her and I said the baby was in my belly and could not be held. I pushed on my belly a little and he said, "don't squish her!" I keep trying to tell him that it may not be a sister, but he can't be convinced...hopefully he is right!

Then today he came down from his nap in this outfit:

And he told me, "I match you momma." (I was wearing a yellow sweater) He then said, "isn't this a cool outfit?" I said yes it is! He said the same thing to Jeff when he got back from work today and Jeff was speechless! Fashion guru in the making!