Monday, June 29, 2009

We're moving!

Well, at least our blog is. I've decided I have just too many sites that I post things on, so in an effort to simplify my life, I'll no longer be posting on this site. I'll instead be using shutterfly, where I can post photo albums, videos, and a little blog. So, check it out and you can even sign up to get weekly updates. It's at gatesfamily5.shutterfly.com

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Day Out With Thomas

Today we took Kyle to a Day Out With Thomas in Green Bay. Aunt Sue-Z bought the tickets for him for his birthday and it was the best gift. Our train ride was at 9:15, so we had to leave the house by 6:45. On a Sunday. UGH. Kyle must have known we had to leave at the crack of dawn, and he helped us out by waking up for the day at 4:45. Sweet. At least it meant that we got on the road on time, which was a good thing because the road we needed to take was closed and we had to drive around for a while until we figured out where we were. Our day there started off with a special surprise for Kyle. We got to ride a school bus over to the Railway Museum where the event was. Kyle was in heaven. He's been asking to ride a school bus for a long time, and I've been telling him he could when he was 5. The actual event was awesome. There was so much to do and we had a fabulous time. Of course the highlight was riding on the train pulled by Thomas, but we also got to meet Sir Topham Hatt, do some crafts, play with trains, bounce on a bouncy castle, play in the sandbox, listen to some music, and board and explore all the trains at the museum. I'm so glad we got to go, and I'm sure we'll be going back again next year! Kyle was great and napped the way there and the way home. He loved it!! In the afternoon, it was gorgeous out, so we went to Brad's softball game. Kyle wanted nothing to do with watching the game, but there was a playground nearby, so we played over there for almost 2 hours. We picked up pizza on the way home, ate outside, and played outside for the rest of the night with our neighbors Cole and Chris. It was really the perfect day. Now, back to reality.



Tuesday, June 2, 2009

We're in Arcadia!

And we've been so busy I haven't had a chance to write. Brad, Kyle, the dogs, and I made the trip up here Memorial Day Weekend. We went in on Friday night to Brad's parents' house to cut down on the drive some (and to get Lou Mal's!) We left about 5:00 on Saturday morning and made great time. Kyle did awesome in the car. This was his first long car ride since he was a newborn, so we didn't know how it would go, but he slept, snacked, played, and amused himself just fine. Brad and the dogs stayed for a week and Kyle and I will be up here until next Monday. We've been busy clearing out the house, setting up the hot tub : -), and exploring with Kyle. It didn't take him long to figure out how to get everywhere. He can find the park, the beach, GG's house, camp, the trail. He's having a blast even though it has been COLD. We've been taking some great walks and even done a few bike rides too. Last year he hated riding on the bike, so I'm glad he likes it now. Either I'm way out of shape though or the bike needs some air in the tires because that thing is hard to ride with both of us on it! We of course went and ate at Boone's and stocked up on some seasoning. Brad and I also went to eat at Arcadia Bluffs, we had pizza in the park one night, and my mom and I went out to lunch. It's so quiet up here this time of year which is kind of nice, but I also miss seeing other people around! We're going to be crazy busy the rest of June after we get back, so I'm enjoying the peace. The rest of our time here I'll be busy painting! Lucky me!! The pictures here are of Kyle playing baseball, climbing up to the treehouse, playing at the park (he climbed all the way up that big slide and then decided not to slide down until later when Brad went with him), eating the bread that he was supposed to be feeding the geese, and 'checking his email' - that's what he tells me he's doing at the computer. He's still cracking us up - his latest phrase is "Yay, we made it!" whenever we make it anywhere - to camp, the beach, up the stairs, wherever. He also likes to say "There we go" when something is done right or a top is put or something like that. He's fiercely independent and wants to do EVERYTHING by himself. I never really got what that was like when I didn't have kids. Wow. Literally everything. Turning on the water, holding the book, picking out clothes, pouring orange juice, etc. It's crazy but fun times!!