Preschool Celebration!

Haley had her preschool celebration/graduation recently. She didn't officially graduate since she will still be going to preschool next year but it was fun to see all the things she's been doing and the songs she's learned and things. She has absolutely loved preschool and she was always so excited to go. She is very sad that she doesnt get to go in the summer too.

Here are some pics of it - I wanted to get a video on but it hasnt been working so we'll see if I can get it on later.

Haley's class - The "Busy Bees"

She sang all the songs so well and had a big smile on her face!

Haley with her teacher Mrs. Coleman

Haley with her 'best friend' Elliot

One for the Memory books...

I've just been noticing lately how much Parker has been changing and learning! He learns new words all the time and is just turning into the cutest little toddler. He follows his sister around like she is the coolest person in the world and gives the sweetest hugs and kisses. I wanted to write down some of the things he is saying right now because I know that before I know it he'll be saying full sentences and I will have forgotten this stage. I'm sure I wont get all the words he is saying right now but here are some:

"Momma"
"Dad-eeee"
"Ay-lee" He often will walk around the house yelling this until she responds
"Bum-pa" Dual word for grandpa or grandma
"Des-ta" Dexter (one of our dogs)
"Il-eee" Lily (our other dog)
"or-por" Corporal (one of our horses)
Note: During prayers all of the above must be mentioned :)

"Hi" Says this very clear, so clear that grandma has mistaken him for Haley on the phone.
"Bye" Also says this very clear
"Ny-Ny" : Night night
"Beepers" : Binki
"Bus" : a yellow school bus or anything resembling such. Semi trucks and large vans are also called this.
"Tah-tes" : Tractor
"Ba-wa" : Skid Loader - it took me a while to figure out why he was calling it this, but I think he is trying to say the loader part.
"Mon" : Mine
"Aawt" : What - this is very cute. When Haley says to him guess what? He'll respond "Aawt"
"Eeese" : Cheese or Please
"dat-dahh: Hot Dog - without fail whenever I ask him what he wants to eat this is what he says (whether he really wants one or not)
"Bi-byte" : Big bite
"Buzz" : Bugs
"Puppy"
"Airs" : Stairs
"det" : Get - says this in a very demeaning term toward the dogs if they are in his way :)
Eee-sus : Jesus

And I'm sure there are more than that. I just love this little boy so much and feel so lucky to be his mother. I still am amazed at how fast he is growing but I love seeing his little personality come out more and more. Love you Parker!

Omaha ZOO

After we dropped my mom off at the airport in Omaha we decided to make the trip more fun and go to the Omaha zoo! I guess it is the second largest in the country next to San Diego. And it was pretty big with a lot of cool stuff! They had this huge Desert dome - you can see it from the freeway - as well as a huge Jungle house, Aquarium, butterfly house, cat complex, and more! It was awesome and we were all so exhausted when the day was over! Haley favorite thing was definately the Giraffes - from the moment we stepped into the zoo that is all she wanted to see - and they did not dissapoint, she loved it! My favorite was probably the gorillas - there was one that had a one year old baby and she just looked exhausted while the baby was crawling all over her (I could definately relate). Parkers favorite was probably either the monkeys or the fish. He kept saying "ish, ish". Also they were feeding the penguins and the kids got to be right up next to the glass to watch, and they both loved that! They also had a petting zoo which was fun. Haley found this little goat laying down that she became good friends with and after much coaxing Parker pet it as well. It was a wonderful day!

Grandma Jackson's Visit!

As I mentioned before, April was our month of visitors and to end it off was my Mom coming! It was so fun to spend some time with her. It was really cute when we picked her up from the airport - there was a long hallway that we knew she would be coming out of but we had to wait and one end of it. The kids were so anxious to find Grandma! When they saw her coming they both bolted down the hallway and when she saw them she started running too :) I so wish I would have had my video camera or even just my camera to get some pics - it was like a scene out of a movie - but I forgot it of course, so it will just have to be one of those memories ingrained (sp?) in my brain! My mom was able to go to preschool with Haley and she was so excited for Grandma to come with her! It was just so fun and as always we were all so sad when she left!

Flying a kite with Grandma! I can't believe this is the only pic I took of her and the kids - ugh I'm such a slacker sometimes.

WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA JACKSON! WE MISS YOU!

I LOVE SPRING!

Spring is definately my favorite season! I love to see all the buds on the trees, the grass greening up, and the beautiful flowers! I especially love spring in Iowa - it just seems to be so much greener then out west and I LOVE GREEN! Here are some pics I took around our yard (took them a couple weeks ago)

The kids on the tree swing Scott made for them. They love it and so do I! Its just made out of rope with a board to sit on - it looks like its been there forever. BTW the day I took these pics was a grub out day so dont mind the grubby clothes, dirty faces, and crazy hair ;)

These are there Easter outfits - a little late I know, but better late then never :)

Visit from Grandma & Grandpa Wangsgard

April was the month of visitors for us and we loved every minute of it! We had Mike and his family for Easter and then a couple weeks later we had Scotts mom and dad! It was so fun to have them here. The kids loved waking up in the morning and going downstairs to cuddle with Grandpa and Grandma. We also had a fun day at Iowa State with them - there was a college celebration with a parade and carnival and things. It was a lot of fun and we were so glad to share it with scott's mom and dad. We were all so sad to see them leave!


Hanging out with Grandma - doesn't get much better than that!

Chilling out at the parade! We were lucky it was such a nice day!

Look a tractor! Or as Parker would say it "Tah-tes"

Riding the car ride at the Carnival. This truck was the only one with a horn and they both loved it! Both of them had so much fun - it was really cute! (I wonder how much one of these rides costs - it would entertain them all day ;)

In the bounce house (what a rip off!) By the time they had it figured out they had to get out - but they still had fun :)
WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA AND GRANDPA WANGSGARD! THANKS FOR VISITING!