a Saturday trip

The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we went to Illinois for a memorial service for Andy's grandfather.  It was a beautiful day and we saw some interesting things on our trip.

Did you know that Casey, IL is home to several of the worlds largest things?  Our first stop was the World's Largest Wind Chime.  There was even bus parking for tour groups that fancied a stop.  You could pull on a line to make the chimes sound.  Even though the chimes looked pretty, they didn't sound pretty.  Very low, dull sounding tones.  We needed to change into "nice" clothes anyway.

That's right, I forced them all to pose for a picture.

Coming soon....right across the street from the wind chime.

While in the town of Hazel Dell, the boys got to play some kickball.  We always travel with at least one ball in the car. Mostly because we forget to take it out after a game.

Kinley was on her kind-of-best behavior.

We saw some of our favorite people.

We also stopped to see the World's Largest Golf Tee.  It was on the country club golf course in Casey.  Not as big as I thought it would be.  I guess compared to a normal size golf tee, this one is ginormous.  It did have an observation deck you could climb up.  5 of us got out of the van to see this sight.

Cale is so strong!  He can hold up the tee with his hand!

We saw some family and got to hang out.  It was a lovely day and the kids got to play outside a lot.  We left at 8pm local time and made it back to our house a little before midnight.  To be sure, everyone was exhausted.  But in a good way.

the elementary art fair

Another catch up post from last week.  The elementary school had their art fair and book fair.  The boys actually like it when we go to see their art on the walls and I owed Cale a book from the fair, so we loaded up the van and went over.  I can't remember, but I think this was the night that I loaded finger-y foods in the tote for the kids to eat after the fair.  Because, you see, we had at least 2 soccer games to get to.  

mask by Marcus

Oh yes, I made him pose.  Then I sent him running over to the soccer fields so he wouldn't be late for his game.

mask by Cale

guess who else had a game that night?

Cale's ice cream

and Cale's owl

We also went to the book fair where Cale had to come to terms with the fact that I would buy him a book to read and not a diary, or a lego kit or any kind of trinket.  I encouraged him to purchase those with his own money.  (guess what didn't happen?)  He  came out of the fair with the book of world records and a sulky attitude. *sigh We can't always have a great time.  :-)

Kella is three years old!

from this...

..to this..

Happy Birthday Kella! 

Nicknames

Thinking about my kids nicknames today and how they each got theirs. For the sake of remembering, here I go.

Marcus: "bug" I think Andy started this ne when Marcus was a baby. We also called him "bug-a-boo". 

Cale: "Cale-Cale" I don't remember where this name came from. Admittedly, it is not very imaginative. Cale had recently told me he does not want me to call me by his nickname. Too bad.

Ewan: "ew-bear" I think a lady from church started this nickname. 

Liam: "coco" or "cocoa bean" I do believe that Ewan gave Liam these nicknames. Liam sometimes would only answer to these names. Also, for a long time, the kids at the preschool thought Liam's name was "cocoa bean". Can't imagine what their parents thought.

Kella: "Kella bells" I call Kella this. A shortened form of older nicknames: Kella Bella, and Kella Bella dumpling. I also call Kella "Merida" which is the name of the girl from the movie Brave.

Kinley: "Kinners" I take credit for this name, too. 

There we go.  Imortalized on the internet. 

You're welcome.

preschool ends, there was a program, Liam graduates! (lots of pictures)

It's been almost two weeks since preschool finished for the year.  I'm glad for the break.  It was challenging to get the littles dressed and ready to go in a timely manner.  At least for me it was.  I'm thankful that Andy did the preschool run most of the time. 

Liam on his last preschool day!

Kella, Sage and Jeremy.  These three played together and fought together in the nursery every morning before Kella and Sage went to their class.

And then, the preschool graduation program.  The theme this year was an ocean/fish theme-one of the three spring program themes the preschool does.  Send enough kids through preschool and you begin to notice patterns.

Liam, looking awesome in shades and a towel.

Kella's class, needing lots to guidance to make it to the stage.

All the preschoolers.

Liam did great singing.  He was super excited.  You could tell he was having fun.

Liam's class got to tell jokes in between their songs.  After every joke, Liam laughed so loud! ("Ha, ha, ha!") This made the audience laugh, too.  That boy loved those jokes.  He's still telling them around the house.

Kella's class sang.  Or, really, her teachers sang.  

Kella got her certificate.

Time for graduation!

Kinley chilled in the lobby, being watch by a friend.

Mrs. Bonny, talking to Liam.

Everyone got a Bible with their name on the front.  Liam could probably read some of it right now without help.

I love how they look like little scholars, with everyone looking at their Bibles.

Moving the tassel.

New graduates!

Liam and Kayleigh, his best friend.

Liam and us!  We are holding Liam up.  He was trying to sit down on our arms, that silly boy.

On to kindergarten!