Hockey 101

As many of you know, Terry and Connor took an interest in hockey while following the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The kids recently just received a kids set of golf clubs but recently have been using them for their hockey sticks! As you see below they move items out of the way to make their ice rink and put chairs in place for their goals. The puck is a small whiffle ball. Teams are Connor against Emma and Josie. So far the standings are Connor 5 to Girls o. In the morning after the kids are ready for school, Connor will ask the girls if they want to get a quick hockey game in. Terry even gets in on it when he gets a chance!

Connor defending his goal.

Josie taking a swing at the "puck".

Birthday Boys

On May 17, Terry and Connor celebrated their 38th and 10th birthdays. We celebrated the day with going out to eat at Arby's (Connor's choice) for supper and topped it off with ice cream sundaes from McDonald's (Connor's choice also). After that Terry had to go to a parish meeting and the rest of us headed to the play "The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf" put on by 4th and 5th graders from Holy Family Schools. Connor helped out with the set and passing of programs! They both said they had a great day!

Mother's Day Celebration

Josie's teacher, Mrs.Vance, and the preschool teachers at Holy Ghost have been hosting a Mother's Day Celebration for many years. Each year there is a new theme and so many creative activities. This year it was a Pirate theme. Josie, of course, wished it was a Princess theme like last year for preschool. She wasn't a big fan of dressing up like a pirate, but she was a good sport! Below are some of the activities we did throughout the celebration: the beginning of the celebration always starts out with a few songs and then we get into the fun...

Pirate hat that Josie made; you could also make eye patches, treasure picture frame for a picture of you and your mom; We did it all!

This is the treasure map that we followed to complete all the activities.

WANTED Poster for MOM... it is cute to see how the kids answer the questions.

Josie's answers: My mom's name Jolene

She has blue eyes.

She has brownish hair.

She weighs 100 pounds.

I love it when she gives me ice cream.

I don't like it when she yells at me.

My mom looks prettiest when she wears make- up.

My mom cooks the best cookies.

I help my mom when she plants flowers.

Thank you, Mom, for fruit!

Walking the plank and then jumping into a little kid's blow-up pool

Cannon Ball: two ships were made out of cardboard and two students could go in a boat at one time and through ping pong balls back and forth at each other. Josie was having a battle against Pierce (He is in preschool). They had a great time and this was the most popular activity!

The 4th and 5th graders got to help out at different stations to put an X on the students treasure maps and assist if needed. Here is Connor helping out with the painting station.

Other activities: treasure chest snack, fishing for letters, three-legged race, digging for treasure, and to finish the morning off a Treasure Hunt everyone!! This is always a fun filled morning!! Ms Shelly, preschool teacher, told me as we were leaving that she already has an idea for next year!!

Mother's Day

I had a very enjoyable Mother's Day. It started off with going to Church, Belken's for lunch, home for a walk, and later to the farm for a cook out!! It was a beautiful day outside and great time spent with family!

The kids were excited to brush the ponies and take a little walk/ ride. The kids also enjoyed walking the lambs around also.

Connor, Max and the other kids enjoyed playing in the cotton seed!!

Looks like Connor put some weight on!

We were able to have our scavenger hunt that we couldn't do at Easter because of the weather!

Below is One team (Connor, Terry, Brielle and Kristen) running to find their next clue!

Willa, Karley and Lincoln hanging out on a hay bale after the hunt was over in the calf green house!

Emma's First Communion

On May 1st, Emma made her First Communion at Holy Ghost Church at 9:30A.M. It was a beautiful sunny day though the air was cold and very windy. She was very excited for her big day!! Connor coached her on she was going to have to do. He also told her that the wine taste bad at first but you eventually get use to it! He was also excited for her because he wanted to serve even though he wasn't down too and wanted Carte to serve with him. He later told her that when Josie makes her First Communion that Emma and him could serve for it! After Mass, we had the family and Father Tom over to our house for lunch and play time! Emma really enjoyed her day!!

Showered up and ready to get dressed!

Emma wanted Stacy to come over to put her hair up! (Thanks Stacy!)

Family picture before leaving for Mass.

Emma was a little nervous about walking down the aisle at first but did a great job!

Standing by the alter during the Our Father

Receiving her First Communion

Proud Servers

Banner Emma made for her pew

Emma wanted me to make a loaf of homemade bread to share with our family before we ate lunch. This was her sharing of the bread like she received at Mass.

Emma received many wonderful gifts that she really enjoys! Some things she received were: a rosary with her name on it, All Saints Book, St. Theresa statue, cross, Rosary book, cards and money.

Thanks everyone for celebrating her special day with us!!

Bath Time Buddies

The girls enjoy taking a bath with Tessa now especially since she can sit up and they can hold her. Tessa enjoys her baths also. The kids like to make her laugh! Yes, even Connor will take a bath with just Tessa so he can hold and play with her. He does love his sisters!!

A Good Night Sleep....

Karley getting a good night sleep! Notice NO THUMB!

Tessa enjoys sleeping on her belly now that she can roll around more!

The older kids came home one day with Terry after stopping by his work and came home with a traveling bag. It had lots of goodies that the kids have enjoyed using! It included: blow up pillow, ear plugs, an alarm clock and night mask. The kids LOVE the alarm clock and night mask. They now like to set their alarms for waking up in the morning, but they especially like the mask. After stories and prayers, they all put their mask on and lie down to be tucked in! They all get a good night sleep... even if they go to bed and the sun hasn't fully set yet!!

Look at us..

Tessa and Truman showing how they can sit by themselves.

Dancing

Now that Tessa likes playing in the exersaucer, she gets to be part of all sorts of play. This day Karley was dancing with Tessa as music was playing in the back ground. Karley liked how she could move from side to side very easily! I would say Tessa was rather smooth on her feet!!

Old Grandma

This is Karley's imitation of an Old Grandma!

She came up to me one day and said, " I am an old Grandma walking!"

She must be part of the Red Hat group!

Kneading Bread

Karley enjoys helping out when it comes to making bread.

She especially likes kneading the dough along with the other kids.

Easter Afternoon

After brunch at Belken's, we headed up to Tennyson. Wisconsin for the Rojemann Easter. It was a great day to play outside. There were lots of things for the kids to do for ALL ages!! My uncle Jeff pulled out some old slides and Grandma and her kids got some good laughs out of them and great memories relived!

Terry taking the kids for a walk up the trail behind the house.

Karley and Willa going for a ride on the scooter.

Elly going for a ride with Karley.

I think the adults were the ones that had the biggest workout. My mom and her siblings with the help of Dad and some nieces and nephews played a whiffle ball game against each other. Before that they decided to play a little hopscotch and then later they got into a Red Rover, Red Rover game. Some kids had never played that before! The kids had a great time playing kick ball, catch with the football, scooter kids, drawing with chalk and playing by the creek.

Easter Brunch

After mass, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Belken's for a breakfast brunch for Easter. After brunch, the kids had an Easter egg hunt outside. They had a good time!

Picture of the Belken grandkids

Easter Morning

The kids woke up early and were ready to start looking for their baskets! Connor was the last one to find his basket and then finally found it in the toy room behind some toys. Emma found hers in the kitchen cabinet by the crackers. Josie found hers in the bathroom closet. Karley's basket was hanging behind her coat. Tessa's basket was found by her diapers and Mom and Dad's were found by the coloring books and crayons!! Boy, the Easter Bunny was busy!!

Note written to the Easter Bunny from Emma

Josie's note to the Easter Bunny and some money she left for the Easter Bunny also!

Connor and Karley checking out their goodies!!

Happy Easter 2011!!

Good Friday

We celebrate the Berning Easter on Good Friday at the farm. Unfortunately because of the weather we had to have the Easter Egg Hunt downstairs and saved the Scavenger Hunt for another day. The kids were broken into groups to go down and find their eggs. They are numbered by the number they are so our kids had to find #5, 7,10, 13, and 17. They each had to find 5 eggs!

Group number 2 waiting to go down and find their eggs!! Some are trying to peek!

Emma helping Karley find her eggs!

Kids playing downstairs with Grandpa with the toys and bubbles they got from Grandma and Grandpa Berning.