Camping in the Backyard

With the TeePee that we will get this spring Brian and I know that our camping cots are not going to fit in as well. So we went to the local REI store and bought Brendan & myself some self inflating camping mats. They are a lot smaller and lighter than the cots so packing them in the trailer bins will be easier but we wanted to make sure that they were comfortable enough to sleep on for a couple days.

So we went camping in the backyard. Brendan was so excited and Brian had him helping with every step of putting the tent together. Maddie even helped a little too, more in the way than helping but it was so cute.
Here are Brendan & Madelyn helping to put the tent on the right spot.Brendan and Madelyn helping to put the top poles together.Brendan helping daddy put the stakes into the ground.Brian even let me help too by chopping some scrap wood for kindling for the fire. (Doesn't he know I don't do well with sharp objects-safe to say I did not get hurt)We had a lot of fun and Brian even made us some brownies out side in his dutch oven for us.
We will go and get Brian a camping pad later in the year closer to spring when we need it and Madelyn can sleep on Brendan's old cot for a couple of years till she needs a mat too.

Brendan's Soccer

We have a couple of up-dates to put up so I should be posting everyday this week to get them all in.
First we have signed Brendan up for Berkley Soccer. His team is the LA Kings and they have had two practices and one game this past Saturday. It is a little different than Clawson's as the games are played in 6 - 5 minute time periods with water breaks in between and a little longer for half time. Also the teams each have 3 players at a time up and no goalies. (Brendan's favorite position).
Here is a photo from the first practice of Brendan warming up.Here is a photo from his first game. He got one goal & was the only player to block a goal on purpose (you could tell from watching that he was thinking of what the other team was going to do).
And we can't not have a photo of Miss Madelyn.
Here she is with her purse. She has days were she wears her purse and carries her baby all over the house.

Brendan's First Week of School

Brendan has finished his first week of school today. Quite a few funny/cute things have happened this week that I thought I would share with you.

First off- Brian walks Brendan to school in the morning, with school starting at 8am and there being k-5 all walking or being dropped off there is always no place to park in the mornings. This morning Brendan and Brian were talking about living in the city versus living in the country which got Brendan talking about the chickens at his 'boys' house which lead to his Barn Yard movie where the chickens can talk and ended with him saying "it takes a strong man to stand up for himself and a stronger man to stand up for others"

Second-his class has snack every day like last year, but this year they can purchase milk for the year if they want to. Brian and I just assumed that Brendan would want to take his favorite juice boxes again this year but for the last two days when I asked Brendan how snack time was he said he had either white or chocolate milk. Which is funny because this morning I made a point of telling him to drink his juice, his reply after school "Milk makes me feel better". So today I wrote the check out to let him get to choose everyday which kind of milk he would like.

Last-Brendan got to be the line leader on thursday. He was so excited about that that he also had to be the line leader at the library, out to lunch, everything we did for almost all of thursday. But want is also nice was when we wasn't line leader today he said that he was fine with it too. (The kids are so cute trying to walk in a straight line at 5).

Funny Kids

Here are a couple pictures from the kids playing outside this past weekend. Playing in the backyard is one of the kids favorite things to do. (Other than going for a bike ride or to the park)
This first one is Brendan likes to lay down on the driveway have has his outline of his body drawn in chalk so he can color it in. At first just Madelyn was doing this (trying to lie down I think) and then Brendan started doing it to and they just kept getting closer and closer together.

Next is our little dirty Madelyn. After a whole day of playing outside you can get a little dirty. You can't tell but her shirt was covered in dirt just like her nose. -She got a bath right after dinner.

Brendan's First Day

Well Brendan had his first day of school today I got a ton done but no resting in that time so hopefully later this week I can take a break for a while.
Brendan said that he: played outside, had snack, listened, talked, did music, had storytime & did a craft about the story, and played with his new friends. WOW a lot of stuff in just 3 hours & 20 minutes. He also told me some of the Young 5's class rules: no running inside, stand in line, you need a bathroom buddy, and some stuff that even I couldn't understand. But some of the things he will be doing this year: they have gym days, art days, computer lab days, library days, they get field trips with the other 4 kindergarten & young 5's classes.
And this year since school started early enough to talk to the teacher I will be taking cupcake to his class to celebrate his birthday on the 12th since they don't have school on the 13th.

Here are the photos from picking him up.
He had to give Madelyn a hug first.Him telling me all about his day on the walk home from school.His big heavy back pack. His teacher gave all the student a set of her favorite books & his lunch box is in there.

Brendan's First Day of School

We just dropped Brendan off for his first day of school. This year he goes everyday from 8 am to 11:20 am. It is very exciting as he has a couple of friends from last year in his class again.
Here are the pictures of him going to school. (I will put more up when I pick him up today)
Here he is going to the car.Here he is at his locker.He was the first one ready for the good-bye at the rug.He he is with his teacher & class getting ready to tell all the parents good-bye.

Planning Christmas

It is that time of year where Brian & I have to plan and decide what to do for Christmas this year.
Brian being the very simple fellow that he is has decided that he doesn't need anything for Christmas this year - but I know a secret..he really wants to get a really cool TeePee for this spring as a different way of camping. The teepee's are really a big item in other countries and is larger & easier to put together than our current tent. So I think any monies to go towards that would be great.
As for me I can only think of furthering my current crafting hobbies. I can give anyone interested further ideas.

As for the kids I already sent out lists of things that they may enjoy.
For things to give people, last year Brendan had this all about presents thing going to this year all the gifts that we will be giving will some how be created by him and or Madelyn. Here are a couple inspiring photos of things to come.
Madelyn with the Hot Gun (don't worry it is not plugged in)Brendan with his "Tools"

Steve-O

Steve-O the Corn Snake has moved from the living room to the up stairs during the floor project.
Well Brian was cleaning the tank and Madelyn is always trying to see in so Brian brought Steve-O downstairs to see Maddie.
The first thing she does is tries to hold him (or her, we don't know).
Here are the photos of her with Steve-O

Latest Fishing Trip

We took the family up the Holly to go fishing at the lake in the canoe. We didn't know how Madelyn would behave since she freaked out last time we had her in the canoe in the UP. But to everyone's amazement she did great.
Here is our Fishing Brendan.Here is our Fishing Madelyn.Both her and Brendan had some snacks and caught some fish.
Brendan caught this small mouth bass all by himself. Brian threw the line out but Brendan did everything else himself. (Although he will not touch a fish right now).Madelyn even caught a couple of fish too. But the difference between her & Brendan is she will touch the fish. Here is a photo that is not in focus but is cute because she is helping to hold her small mouth bass too. It is hard to hold a fish, make sure Maddie doesn't fall out of the canoe & take a picture at the same time.
And finally here is Madelyn helping Brian to fish.

Renaissance Festival

We all went out to the Renaissance Festival here in Holly, Michigan this past Sunday.
We got there just before the opening skit was starting (which means we got really great parking) and everyone had a great time.
Brendan loved watching the Joust & the Highland Games with the caber toss.
Madelyn did great, she got to play, eat and everyone just thought that she was the cutest little princess.Brendan even got to play the rope game & take a ride on the giant swing.

Knights & Dragons

With Brendan's Birthday party only weeks away I need to get the invites out. And of course I can't do anything simple so here is the photo that is going to be on the front of his card.And I know that shadows don't line up but I changed my mind when I was doing the layout on photo shop and it is way to hard to get Maddie to cooperate when I am by myself so this will have to do.

We have a Hole in the Wall

We have our wood stove so we are almost finished with this whole project.
But now comes the not so fun part...cutting the hole in the wall to the outside and running the pipe up the house above the roof line. -That is so Brian's part let me tell you.

Both kiddies are, I guess excited about the wood stove. Brendan asked the all important question of "will we be able to make s'mores inside?" And Maddie likes to look in the glass window on the front. I think that she may be a little upset by the fact that her stage is now being taken over by the stove but she hasn't made to big a fuss about it.

Finally here are the photos.Our Stove.The hole in the wall. To get the correct size hole we (Brian) had to make the hole larger, cut a stud, make supports for the cut stud & remove an outlet. A whole lot of work for just a hole in the wall. Hehe. Side view. The stove will have a wall shield on the back & one side and will sit about 6 inches from the wall shield so it will be back quite a bit.

Papa & Grandma Tatz Visit

Papa & Grandma Tatz came up for a visit to see the kids during our crazy Woodward Dream Cruise. The kids had a ton of fun playing and I think Papa liked seeing all those old cars.
Here are some of the photos from their visit.
Papa & Maddie checking out a older car on Wednesday August 15th (the cruise isn't until the 18th!)Papa & Grandma next to Papa's dream car.Going to the park and the kids being super silly.
Maddie getting stuck at the bottom of the slide.Brendan with crazy hair after going down the slide.The kids & grandma climbing the ladder to go down the big slide.Maddie & Grandma going down the big slide.Papa & Brendan playing hop scotch.

Craft Time

Here are the kids in their craft area coloring from the other day.

TV Time

On monday the kids were being so cute watching their tv together. Now it may look like they are both really into it but Madelyn will only sit and watch for about 5 minutes before she gets bored and goes and plays with the toys and makes a big mess. Now Brendan will sit there and watch tv all day if you don't keep track of what he is doing.

Hockey, Curly Hair & Dentist

Last night Brendan & Eric were playing hockey and it was so cute that I had to take a picture.Also Miss Maddie's hair is getting so curly I took a photo of that too .Today was Brendan's first ever Dentist appointment. He did so great, he has no cavities and he had a yucky fluoride rinse too! Poor kid. But since I Madelyn with me I took him back to the room and stood outside for a couple of minutes but he was so engrossed with the hygienist that he didn't even see me leave. I could hear him talking from the front waiting room, he was telling her all about his Power Rangers tooth brush & tooth paste and all sorts of other stuff. At the end he got to pick a prize for being so great and he got a new cool Puss N Boots tooth brush from the Screk movies.

Jen's President

It is a scary fact I know but I am now officially President of the Berkley Junior Women's Club.
Last night was our Year End Party were the new board got sworn in. So I got to do my first official act as president too by installing the other board members.We had a Hawaiian themed dinner with Brian smoking a pork butt for pulled pork sandwiches. Brian I think had a good time too.

Brendan Busted

Brendan gets hims own personal time everyday at the computer in the office. Well after taking the photos off my camera I noticed some that I did not take. I wonder who took them?

I had the camera sitting on the desk top for a couple of days since I was using the camera everyday so Brendan thought he could play with it too.

Here are two of the twelve pictures that he took. None of them are in focus because he was holding the camera too close to his face but they are cute.