Grandma Katy mail

This time of the year we often get a few surprise "knitted" packages from my Grandma Katy (she is a Great Grandma to Kya and Gavin and expert knitter). Each package has us giddy with handcrafted goodness but this package was extra special — matching Norwegian sweaters for Kya and Gavin. Perfect in every way and an irreplaceable favorite heirloom. I'll be keeping these forever and ever. Thank you Grandma, you have blessed us in so many ways.

First Day of School

Kya started preschool today!
School started two weeks later than scheduled because the hallway remodel project was running late. Well, today was the big day and I am happy to report there were no tears, we all had a great morning, and the remodeled hallway looks amazing.

Kya: 4 1/2 years old

First day of preschool

(eeeek! next year this will be kindergarten)

Did I say there were no tears? 

There were a few from an emotional and very loving little brother. This was the moment we told him Kya would be away from us 3 mornings a week.

Checking out the shiny and bright remodeled hallway. It looks amazing!

Gavin's Birthday Party

Both my and corey's families gathered together on Sunday to celebrate Gavin's first birthday — Gavin has a loving and lively bunch of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents ... it was a very fun party!!!

Many thanks to everyone who celebrated with us!


The party started with a piñata — youngest to oldest (kiddos only).

Connor (Corey's brother's son)


Parker and Lauryn (my cousins)


Big sister Kya




Opening gifts




Cake!


The "before" photo


This is going to be fun!


Yummy!


Cake in the hair.


"After"


It's not fun if it's not messy.


Another year older! We are so very blessed.

Happy 1st Birthday Gavin!

Happy Birthday to our adorable, spunky, sweet, little pal. We love you Gavin!

Kya 4 1/2 years old

I interviewed Kya again today (I also did this last year, right before Gavin arrived). As if it's not completely obvious, we are deep in the "little girl" stage of Disney Princesses and *pink sparkly* everything. We love Kya dearly and she has an incredible imagination and love for life. She is a great big sister and is excited to take on chores like helping to empty the dishwasher and setting the table. Teetering between girly girl and tom boy she is usually dressed in a princess dress and tiara but jumps at the chance to explore the field and/or camp with Daddy. She is shy and small for her age which reminds me of myself at her age. Kya makes friends easily and the children she knows are always are always excited to randomly see her at the grocery store or in church.

Kya's answers, August 2014:
Favorite thing to eat: mac and cheese with hot dogs, ketchup and hot sauce (all mixed together)
Favorite thing to drink: milk with a chocolate straw
Favorite treats: popsicle
Favorite person to visit: Grandma Z
Best friend: Anna Ducky Baby (doll)
Favorite song: Do You Want to Build a Snowman
Favorite movie: Frozen
Favorite color: Pink, purple, and red
Favorite thing to do: make a castle with legos
Favorite animal: monkeys
What she wants to be when she grows up: princess
Favorite book: Snow White and Little House on the Prairie
Kya says she is good at: puzzles and legos and making pictures (coloring)

Kya's answers, August 2013:
Favorite thing to eat: veggies
Favorite thing to drink: water
Favorite treats: jelly beans
Favorite person to visit: Grandma Rene
Best friend: pink bear
Favorite song: DoReMi
Favorite movie: Sound of Music
Favorite color: pink
Favorite thing to do: play with blocks
Favorite animal: cow
What she wants to be when she grows up: a big sister
Favorite book: the Hallmark Bell book (the one with the dog that responds)
Kya says she is good at: dancing and puzzles


Kya requested "bwat-verst" and sauerkraut for dinner ... Then arrived to the table dressed like this.

She got a this darling haircut last week!

St. Pete Beach Vacation 2014

We spent last week soaking up the hot Florida sun and wiggling our toes in the sand. It was a four-generation family trip: our family of four, my parents, and my mom's parents (six adults and 2 kids).

Fun. Sun. and Yum.

The logistics: We flew into Orlando/Sanford direct from Bismarck via Allegiant air (direct flights are AWESOME!!), then rented two mini vans and drove about two hours west to St. Pete. We rented a historic water-front vacation home in St. Pete (across the street from the beach) with a full kitchen and plenty of room to spread out. 

Kya has a horrific black eye due to a playground mishap a few weeks ago, so that made for lovely vacation photos. 

Waiting to board the plane in the Bismarck airport.

One of four walls of windows on the third-floor lookout in the house.

Exploring the neighborhood

Hibiscus in the yard

Kya and Corey had a beach burger lunch date - and Kya loved her first beach piña colada. 

A friendly pelican on our dock

Gavin was quite tuckered out after traveling!

Gavin and Kya meet the beach.

Kya took to the beach like a fish to water. Gavin was quiteoverstimulated with the sand and waves ... so that took some getting used to. By the end of the trip he was a real beach bum.

Another attempt at introducing sand. Little by little.

Corey and Kya ... and my sand castle.

Still not too sure about that sand.

The Hagers on the beach!

Water in the ocean: not ok
Water in a bucket: lots of fun
Sitting on the sand: he likes it!

Recognizing Memorial Day on St. Pete Beach

These two have a bond.

Splish splash!

Relaxing evening on the back patio (probably with a margarita or two)

Florida rain

Gelato treat and one of Kya's many art projects that week.

. . .

Our family, plus my parents drove to Disney World Magic Kingdom on Tuesday (my grandparents stayed at the house).

Funny story:
We arrive at Disney shortly after opening and I B-line for a few rides in Fantasy Land before the lines get long (assuming that the likes of the Winnie the Poo and the Little Mermaid rides will excite Kya). We ride both. She has an incredibly sad look on her face. What's up with that?! We are supposed to be at the happiest place on earth. Kya says, "I want to meet a princess." Abrupt change of plans. To the "meet a princess" line we go. Kya was in fairytale princess heaven.

After meeting the "real thing" Kya was all smiles and we resumed with rides. Priorities. This little girl has her priorities. I am still wondering how I escaped childhood with absolutely no interest in princesses, and yet my daughter is obsessed. Completely obsessed. 

"Cinderella lives there!"
Disney. Oh Disney. You sure are magical. But us rural folks were lost in the mass crowds (even though we visited on an "average" crowd day). I shutter to think what a busy day would be like.

It's A Small World. Immediately after a meal of mom milk while on the ride. 

Meeting "The princess with the long hair"

Rapunzel's kiss!

Kya's favorite, Cinderella!


She was so sweet with Kya and said "Oh you have blue eye and blonde hair just like me! I bet we are sisters! Or maybe even twins!" I think Kya almost passed out when Cinderella said that.

Gavin was the best kid. He naped twice during the day, both times in the stroller, and nursed on a few rides (Pirates of the Caribbean will be an extra fun memory!). Gavin loved the rides and was more than happy to tag along.

On the carousel

Happy girl.

Waiting for Dumbo

Hanging out in Gaston's Pub (fact: no alcohol is served in the Magic Kingdom)

Grandma Z and Kya at Mickey's Dance Party/Parade

Kya requested and encore ride on 'Ariel'.

At the end of the day she got what she'd been eying all day: an Elsa and Anna balloon

We survived!

Sweaty and silly Gavin

The next morning, with a severe Disney hangover 

Some much needed open space after a day at Disney.


Grandpa Z and Corey went parasailing, Grandpa Darwin and I went along for the ride in the boat.

They saw a shark from way up

More beach time!

And more refreshing beach drinks!




We saw groups of sting rays pass by the beach about every 5 minutes. It was special to see these beautiful animals swim (they swam right around us, no worry about being stung).


Ferry to Shell Key Beach for shelling. Shell Key is a nature preserve and is completely free of any man-made structures (not even a bathroom on the island). We found many perfect sand dollars and saw dolphins, and a manatee, and lots of rays.


Relaxing on the patio again.


Enjoying the in-wall fish tank in the house.




Amazing sunset and date night with Corey. Many thanks to my parents and grandparents for babysitting!








Our last day at the house started with a quiet morning on the patio/dock. Then dolphins were spotted!




So close to our house!




Slathering on sunscreen for our last beach day


We drove to a State Park and Gavin had a scenic nap on the beach, in his car seat


Quite possibly the most scenic placed I've nursed.


Afternoon kayaking (Kya was just testing it out while docked).




Kya and Grandma Z tried to catch a fish all week. On found fishing line and a found fishing lure and large hook ... all tied on a log. On the last day, they got serious and bought smaller hooks and bait ... still tied to the log. They win the patience award.


I offered to help, but Kya told me I did't bounce it enough. Humph.


On the evening of the last day, Kya caught her first fish!


Kya and her fish. We would have thrown it back, but it completely swallowed the hook and while removing the hook, the fish passed ...


... So this heron got fish for dinner.


We will miss this place.