weekend lens :: Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend here in Minnesota was rainy and very cold, which actually worked well for us this year to get a bunch of things done inside as we are gearing up for Jake's graduation open house.

snapshots from the weekend:

the front door foyer filled with 9th grade shoes

waking up Saturday morning to a note from Drew

graduation open house season has officially begun

finished Jake's senior poster

gathered pictures for Jake's open house

worked on recovering the kitchen chairs

which became a family project :)

had the driveway resurfaced

put a fresh coat of paint on these chairs

Tyler made us his famous risotto with some garlic lemon chicken... so good!

Happy Memorial Day!

memory lane :: old friends

With Prom this past weekend and Graduation approaching very quickly (maybe too quickly)  it got me thinking how thankful I am that we have lived in the same area for the past 20 years... which has enabled all three boys to form some lifelong friendships. This was something I have always felt very strongly about... I wanted my boys to stay in the same schools, to live in the same area and to live in a neighborhood full of kids. So seeing Jake at Prom with a bunch of his good friends made my heart happy.

Jake and a friend since pre-school days. They have grown up together since the "Clifford Clubhouse" preschool room, through the many years of hockey and now graduating high school.



Another good friend since preschool have gone to all the same schools since pre-school, celebrated many birthdays together, been in boy scouts, pushed each other academically... and now both heading off to Notre Dame in the fall!!!


These are memories that I know is part of who Jake is and means as much to him as it does to me!

senior prom

Saturday was Jake's Senior Prom.

Jake and his date Sara at the Grand March at the high school.

Pictures at the Japanese Garden in Bloomington.

Friends since pre-school and now they are both heading off to Notre Dame in the fall.

Another friend since pre-school.

senior awards

Monday evening was Senior Awards at the high school. Jake received an invitation to attend the ceremony and we were so happy to go and see him receive his awards.

Jake received 2 Departmental Senior Academic Awards; one for Mathematics and the other one for Social Studies. These awards mean he is top in the senior class in these departments. Jake also was awarded a school scholarship during the ceremony.

We are so proud of you Jake and love seeing you being rewarded for all of your hard work!

Mother's Day snapshots

breakfast in bed

flowers

hugs from my boys

a much wanted Kureg gift

a sweet surprise gift of Johnnie CD's from Ty

a walk around Lake Calhoun with my boys (minus Jake who had to work)

dinner at Bucca with the family

 a monster ice cream sundae

celebrating with my Mom and my Sister

all made for an awesome Mother's Day!!

college move out

On Friday we went up to move Tyler out of school and back home for the summer. It is crazy to think that he is done with his Junior year of college! Seriously, these years keep going faster and faster!!

A couple of Ty's good friends from school helped us move him out which was so nice and made for an easy move out!

In just a few months we will be moving Ty back in for his senior year! 

Bahama Adventure {part 3}

Day 3 of our cruise we stopped at Coco Cay which is Royal Caribbean's island for a day of sun and beach.

It was a perfect day of relaxation in the sun!!

That evening we went to Chops Grille for a fabulous steak dinner.

And then the ship was headed back to Port Canaveral in Florida.

We had an amazing little getaway adventure, enjoying the warmth and sunshine and time for just the two of us. It was a perfect!