Happy 80th Birthday Grandma!

Grandma Dix turned 80 years old on Thursday so we all surprised her and threw her a party to celebrate in a special way!  She was very surprised and very touched.  She is such a kind and sweet person to us and Alex and Sean just adore her.  She's known as the "puzzle lady" where she lives so the boys decided to get her a photo puzzle of their smiling faces to add to her collection.  Happy Birthday to you, GG!  We hope this year is filled with all things that make you happy!!! 

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Alex and Sean love Great Grandma :)

Grandma is such a special person in Dave's heart!

Photo puzzle to keep Grandma busy!

Seanie put in a request for a camouflage blanket and Grandma came through with a beautiful knitted blanket just for him!

The "puzzle lady" showing off her skills!

Grandma and her grandchildren :)

Happy 80th Birthday to Grandma!!!

 We had a super busy weekend and went from one activity to another.  Sean had a really cool presenter come to school and teach them about animals.  They were able to see them up close and even hold some of them.  Seanie was brave enough to touch the snake that was passed around!

 

Checking out the turtle shell :)

Checking out the frogs, worms, fish and mice!

The boys received a basketball hoop from Santa and we have been anxiously waiting for the weather to warm up to set it up.  Grandpa surprised us all and spent Friday afternoon putting the whole thing together for the boys.  We love it and every spare minute at home is spent outside shooting hoops! 

Thanks for setting up our hoop, Papa Bob!

Alex loves the new hoop!

Seanie loves exploring...especially this time of year!  It's amazing what I find in his pockets when I wash his clothes at the end of the day!

You would have never known it from this picture but my sweet little Seanie was not feeling well all day today.  He got sick around 5 AM and it lasted all day.  So what do you do when your kid is sick and he is asking for his trucks that he buried in the mud last night?  You dig them up in the dark at 5:00 in the morning and wash them off for him.  Hope my little man is on the mend!

Lookin' good, Sean!

 

Alex is preparing for First Communion and the special day is fast approaching.  We spent Saturday morning at the First Communion retreat at Holy Apostles and we had such an amazing time together.  They broke us up into groups and we rotated through 5 different stations.  We painted a chalice together and made real bread together to take home and enjoy.  Father Don took us on a tour of the church and Alex had his first taste of the bread and wine as practice for the big day!

Kneeding the dough :)

Alex added his handprint to the 1st Communion wall at HA!

 We may not be in Arizona but we had to get a pre-season game in!  It was beautiful on Saturday and the perfect day for our first ballgame of the year!  I just love hanging out with my boys at the ballpark.  Such a fun family day :) 

And we're back at Miller Park!



Love my baseball boys!



What a great catch these two are!

St. Patty's Day!

Alex and Sean were so excited for St. Patty's Day and couldn't wait for the Leprechaun to come to our house.  They left gold coins and jewels to try and lure the Leprechaun into their traps they had setup.  I've answered more than my share of Leprechaun questions over the past week...What do they eat?  How big are they?  Do they fly?  Will he come in my room?  What happens if we trap the Leprechaun?  Can we keep him, Mom, please!  He can be our pet!

 

Well, we didn't end up catching the Leprechaun this year. However, he did leave his mark though.  We tracked down his little green footsteps.  He turned our milk green and our toilet water green.  He made quite the mess around the house and turned pictures sideways and lampshades upside down.  He was naughty and silly at the same time!  He left the boys some coins and "gold" rolos, along with a "rainbow" of skittles.  We all enjoyed "Lenny the Leprechaun's" visit!  Until next year...

 

Shamrock shake at McDonalds!

Alex and I went to cheer on the Holy Apostles boys basketball team in the Padre Serra tournament.  We didn't end with a victory but it was fun cheering them on!  Seanie finished up his swim lessons this past week.  His technique is getting stronger and he's getting close to passing to the next level.  Keep up the good work, Sean!!!   

Alex and Miss Katelyn :)  Go Chargers!

Way to go, Sean!

 Sean had a birthday party on Saturday at Helium for his classmate, Elsie.  He had a great time running and jumping with his friends.  It was fun to watch him in his element and enjoying the friendships he has made so far this year in 4K.

Sean and his friend, Grayson!

Happy Birthday to Elsie!

It's still cold but at least the sun is out!

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

Sean had a fun week at school celebrating Dr. Suess' birthday!  Each day had a different theme.  On Friday, he had to dress up as what he wanted to be when he grows up.  He came home and knew just want he wanted to be - a scientist who invents stuff!  He made a pretty cute scientist I must say!

He's a Mad Scientist!!!



Bartholomew and the Oobleck :)

It warmed up just enough to enjoy some fresh air outside this weekend.  Sean went from scientist to police man in a day!  That kid has a great imagination!  Alex wanted to throw the football around with me and I loved every moment of it.  I think he was pleasantly surprised by my ability :)

Officer Michna at your service :)

Always a ball in his hands!

Circus Time!

I can't remember the last time I was at the Circus but we decided to take Alex and Sean and see what it was all about.  Truthfully, I think I was the most excited for the entertainment but we all ended up having a great time!  Each one of us had our favorite part of the show.  So much talent to watch including the acrobats dangling from the ceiling, the animals and their tricks, the amazing jugglers and Sean's favorite - the man that shot out of the cannon!  Yikes!

 

Circus Time

Seanie found a friend at the Circus :)

Oh what a difference a week makes in Wisconsin!  From 70 degree weather to snow flurries and 20 degree weather in just a week.  February has been unpredictable!

There's that white stuff again!!!

One week ago - short sleeves!!!

 

Seanie and his fish, Jumper :)

Alex & Tyler at Chess Club :)

February

Oh, how I am lovin' February and this warm weather!  We were outside all weekend pretending it was spring!  We went on bike rides and took a walk to the park...and we were in short sleeves in February!  Dad and the boys had off on Friday so spent the afternoon at the Zoo checking out the animals.  Alex had his friend, Timmy, over for a playdate and they rotated between playing basketball, baseball and kickball all day.  I'm hoping we don't see any more snow until December!

 

Celebrating Valentine's Day with my two sweethearts!

Zoo day with Dad

New Berlin Magic vs New Berlin Heat

We had to get ice cream on this 70 degree day in February!

Enjoying the day at the playground with his handsome guy!

Twister Fun with Hailey & Logan :)

Catholic Schools Week

This past week was one of our favorite weeks at school for Alex and Sean.  It was Catholic Schools Week and each day was filled with so many fun activities.  On Monday, the whole school went on a field trip to St. John’s Cathedral and then enjoyed an afternoon of bowling.  Alex was the only second grader to be picked to read one of the petitions in church.  His teacher said he has the loudest and clearest voice so her choice was easy!  I forgot how big and beautiful that church was inside.  Alex had a few butterflies in his stomach that morning but I heard he did a fantastic job!

 

St. John's Cathedral

Sean and his big buddy at bowling :)

 

On Tuesday, it was pajama day and the kids enjoyed making pancakes in their classroom and playing games in the cafeteria.  Next came Wacky Wednesday and then spirit day on Thursday with a super fun pep rally in the gym led by the 8^th graders!

Pajama Day

Wacky Wednesday

There was also a Talent Show on Thursday and Alex signed up to do a Magic Show.  The list came out of performers and it went like this…piano, singing, piano, singing, piano, singing, dance, singing, piano, singing and then…MAGICIAN!!!  He was definitely one-of-a-kind!

 

We practiced all week in getting his tricks just right.  He had six great magic tricks that he perfected!  He was nervous to get up on stage in front of everybody but he was excited too.  The audience was engaged and awed by his tricks.  They laughed and clapped.  He did a fantastic job and I was so incredibly proud of him!!!

First trick:  Pulling a rabbit out of his top hat!

Chinese Linking Rings

Vanishing Crayons!!!

Seanie was a volunteer for the magic card trick!

Silly kids!

Alex helped celebrate Trent's birthday on Saturday at the bowling alley with his classmates.  We also had some fun getting ready for the Super Bowl game on Sunday with some games of our own including a competitive game of cookie stacking! 

Alex and Trent :)

Bowling fun!

Seanie's stack of Oreos :)

Concentrating on getting his tower big!