A rare moment of domesticity.

The following conversation actually took place between me and my husband today.

Me: I went to Dollar General and got some stuff we needed.
Ben: Like what?
Me: Toothpaste, hair clips, the usual.
Ben: Did you remember to get bread, because we are totally out of bread?
Me: Dang it, I totally forgot the bread.
Ben: We could always wait until tomorrow.
Me: Yeah...actually no. I'll just make some bread.
***crickets chirping***
Ben: Well, yeah, I guess you could do that.
Me: I totally can. Wow, that was weird wasn't it? That my mind went there.
Ben: A little bit. Awesome, but a little bit.

If you had told me four months ago that I would feel comfortable enough making bread that I would offer to whip up a batch instead of driving to Walmart I would have laughed.

In the last three months I've learned how to make granola, granola bars, whole wheat pizza crust, zucchini brownies, and whole wheat bread from scratch. I love staying at home.

1st Grade is Awesome!

Today was Connor's first day of 1st grade. I think I was more nervous than Connor was for day one. I just wanted Connor to like it. Connor is the kind of kid that if he likes something, he likes it and if he doesn't, well...our life just gets more difficult.

We sent him off this morning with smiles on his face.

 Sophia thought she should also be in the picture. She wanted to go to school very bad. She asked me all day where Connor was and if she could go to school. 

 My handsome boy ready to go. 

To remind him of summer vacation. 

 Connor's best nervous face. 

Connor showing how excited he is. 

 Trinity Lutheran School

 My happy 1st grader. 

 My unhappy two year old after I told her she can't go to school with Buddy. 

Connor demonstrating how tired 1st grade made him.

When I asked Connor how his first day of 1st grade went he said that "IT WAS AWESOME!"

Rolling, rolling, rolling.

Elinor loves to roll.

Ta Da!

Too bad she hates being on her tummy.

Of Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

One of the things I love about living in Atchison is being so much closer to our family. After living more than eleven hours away from them for three years, it is pretty fantastic to be just an hour away from our parents, and even a few siblings. 

This past weekend we were able to spend a lot of time with Ben's sister, Amber, and her family. I always neglected to bring my camera when we were hanging out with them. Just picture in your mind a room full of grown ups and older cousins watching the Olympics and then a house full of a dozen or so kids running around, chasing dogs, playing outside, eating Oreo cookies, and just having a grand time and you've pretty much nailed it. 

Today we were able to spend some time with my sister, Michelle, and her kids. And guess what...yep...she is just about an hour away. Most of the time Michelle and I meet somewhere in the Kansas City area, and today was no exception with a trip to Crown Center, dinner at Fritz's, and fun at a splash park. 

I love that Connor, Sophia, and Elinor (to a slightly lesser extent) are getting to know Michelle's kids this summer. 

Here are some fun photos from the day. 

We had lunch at Fritz's. You order your food on the telephone and then a train that runs along the top of the restaurant brings you your tray of food. Cheesy? Yes. Awesome? Definitely. 

 After lunch we hit a splash park. Connor was testing the water pressure. 

My nephew (blue swim shorts) splashing around. 

Connor finally gets a chance to use the water gun. They really need to add more water guns to splash parks (this is a universal problem) and also make the water guns less likely to splash parents who are sitting in the shade on the side (may not be a universal problem, but is a problem anytime my kids are playing with the water guns). 

 My nephew again. I think by this point they were all freezing to death because, you know, it was only 90 degrees instead of 105. 

 Little miss Sophie splashing around. 

 My niece. Could she be any prettier? 

 It is hard to tell, but all four of them are actually in this picture. 

We are looking forward to many more moths of living so close to our family and many more opportunities to do some fun cousin activities.