Jared and Jakie made the Newspaper

Here is the link to the article. If you scroll through the pics this one is there as well as a group shot including the rest of us: http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=U0&Dato=20110326&Kategori=APC01&Lopenr=103260802&Ref=PH

Here is why our cuties are now famous:

2 weeks ago we went to Buboltz nature preserve to check out their "sugar bush"...a grove of maple trees from which they harvest sap.

Here is the lidded collection bucket hanging on the tree behind us.

What is inside?

Jakie and Dad enjoying the walk. It was a beautiful day. We loved hearing the birds singing! Bring on spring!

Brielle and Nathan

We found a cool bird. I can't remember its name now, but it was a life lister for Jared. It is sitting in the sticks.

The next Saturday we attended their Maple Syrup Saturday event. It starts out with a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, orange juice and pancakes with maple syrup (of course!).

Mom and Jakie

Then we went on a guided tour. During the previous week we had a HUGE snow storm, so the paths that were easy to walk the week before were very difficult for all of us to manage. We didn't get to hear much of the tour because we struggled keeping up. It was a beautiful day though!

The tour ended at the Sugar Shack where maple sap is boiled all day until it becomes maple syrup. Check out that fire!

Then back to the visitor center for vanilla ice cream topped with maple syrup.

YUM! It is a new favorite dessert!

"Moooom. I'm Standing in a Pee"

So, I have just finished doing preschool with Nathan and one of his friends and I am trying to get cleaned up, take care of Jacob and get lunch going when I hear, "Mooom. I'm standing in a pee." And I think to myself, "Oh joyous. Another big mess to clean up." While Nathan is mostly potty trained, we still have accidents here and there. I find myself hoping he is "standing in pee" on a hard surface rather than somewhere that is covered with carpet as I turn to go and find my son. Can I say that I was thrilled when I found this...

Yes. If you look closely he is standing in a "P". Not only did I avoid cleaning up a mess, I know that preschool for the day was a success as the letter of the day was "P". Hooray!

Barstools!

A breakfast bar. That was something I really wanted in our new home. A breakfast bar. I loved the idea of sitting up at a bar and reading a book while eating a snack. I loved the idea of keeping the breakfast and lunch mess contained to one small area. I loved the idea of having my kids sit up at the bar and help or chat or eat or just be there with me while I was busy with something. And I got it! Hooray! But it has taken us 6 months to find stools for the bar. Jared and I apparently have very different taste in barstools. Who knew? Anyway, we finally found some that we both love!

And I must say, I love having the breakfast bar (with stools!) even more than I thought I would.

And, our first living room decorations! Yay. I found and fell in love with a set of decorations including this vase and candle holder set...and lucky me, the color is perfect!

I must say it is fun to decorate our house...even if it is painfully slow. :)