Mini Vacation Without The Boys

So Monday morning Mike and I will be off to Las Vegas for a mini vacation! Mike of course has been excited all week and has been counting down the days. He can't concentrate on work now that it is only a few days away. We are actually going with some good friends of ours the Larson's. It will be interesting because we have never gone on vacation to Las Vegas with friends. Only family or by ourselves. Lisa likes to gamble just as much as Mike does but she likes to hang out by the pool during the day and than gamble at night. While Mike will wake up at 6am and realize that there is a casino downstairs and get ready for the day and pretty much gamble all day & night. So like I said it will be interesting. We are actually going to see a show this time too, which I am surprised Mike agreed to see. We are going to see Louie Armstrong I think? He is the comedian. Hopefully it will be fun. So, while we are in Vegas, Jon will be staying home with Lolo and Lola because he can't miss school and Nicholas will be staying with Papa and Grandma in Buffalo. We will be back on Thursday so I am pretty excited to get away for a little bit. Hopefully the boys will not be too bad for the grandparents and Lolo & Lola.

I'll give you an update when we return! Have a great weekend!

Been Busy

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but we have been pretty busy. With everything going on every week I haven't had much time to write about much. Plus, now I am volunteering to be a Catechist at our Church for Faith Formation. I am not going to be teaching Jon's grade, but 4th grade. They needed a lot of help in the older elementary classes so I said yes. I am not sure what I got myself into, but this might be the first and last time I do it. Good thing I am paired up with another lady who has experience in VBS and she has no worries about teaching the class. Where I have many worries, actually everything about it, I worry about. I told her if she is fine with it, she can definitely take the lead teaching role and I would be glad to assist. Hopefully it will go well and it is only once a week. Plus, it will help in getting me and Jon to Mass every Sunday.

Jon has really been enjoying Gymnastics. Mike took him last Tuesday because I had training for Catechist. One thing we need to work on is his stretching. He is definitely not as flexible as some in the class. Nicholas continues to enjoy AWANA on Wednesday nights and he is so proud when he memorizes the short verses so quickly. I will start Volleyball next Wednesday night and I am looking forward to it. I just love the sport! Tonight the boys have swimming lessons and last week they both did really well. It did take Nicholas a little bit to get into the water, but hopefully tonight it will be better. Once he got in he was having a lot of fun. Jon was doing really well in his class too. I was actually surprised on how well he swam. Also tonight we are hoping to watch the Stillwater vs. Cretin Derham Hall Football game. It will depend on the weather. We thought it would be fun for the boys to watch a game in real life. Plus we will be watching my High School.

Every other Saturday Mike, myself and Lolo bowl in a Filipino Bowling league. So this Saturday Mike and I are bowling and Bev and Ed are coming over to watch the boys for us since my dad is in the Philippines and my mom has been staying with Tita Li. Sunday is my Elementary's Fall Festival so I am sure I will bring the boys to that while Mike watches the football games.

Thats about it for now. Keep checking our blog for more updates on the family!

Gymnastics, AWANA, & Swimming Lessons

Well, I thought I should give you all an update about what has been going on this week. Tuesday Night Jon had his first gymnastics class at Crowley's Gymnastic Center in Oakdale. Jon had gone with his friend from preschool, Christopher, last year when it was bring a friend night. Ever since than, he had wanted to go to Gymnastics class. We didn't sign him up in the summer because he was in T-ball, so this fall we gave him the option of Gymnastics or Soccer. He choose Gymnastics. I didn't really know what to expect since I have never been there. It was a small older gym, but I had heard great things about the center. When we walked in they showed us around and the lady said you wait here until Ms. Mary calls the class up. His class was actually upstairs and not in the big main area where the older kids practice. Jon is very excited to be able to get to that level. Any way, we all went upstairs and they had an area for the parents to watch. I was thankful that there was 2 other boys in the class. They sat in a circle on the mat and stretched out. Poor Jon wasn't too flexible. Hopefully that will come with more classes. They were also using terms that Jon has never heard before and they sent him home with picture on what the terms were. Like a bridge, a pencil, the 'C' and finish. Then they split them up into 2 groups and got to do the vault and floor, bars, and balance beam. I was actually really surprised on how well Jon did. He actually does a pretty good cartwheel. Some of the parents were surprised on how well he did as well since this was his first class. After the class was done we went back downstairs and he asked me if I was going to buy him a suit. I told him we will have to see and I'm not sure if Daddy wants you in one of them. Plus the teacher said that shorts and a tank top was fine. If he really gets into Gymnastics, I will probably get him one, but for now I am going to stick with shorts and a tank top.

Wednesday nights Nicholas has AWANA, which is like a christian cubs scouts. It is actually ran by our neighbors Shawn and Paula at their church. Jon was in it last year, but he will be starting Faith Formation at our church next month so we did not sign him up in AWANA this year. Nicholas is a Cubby with 3 and 4 year old is his class. They read passages from the bible and even has little short verses they have to memorize. They wear a vest and get patches for all their accomplishments.

Tonight they both have swimming lessons at the YMCA. Jon is a Ray this year and Nicholas is starting out as a Pike 1. This is Nicholas' first time having swimming lessons without me in the water with him. He is pretty excited. It will be fun watching both of them at the same time. My friend Amy signed up her daughter Sylvia in Nicholas' class as well, so it will be good seeing her Fridays.

Well, that is it for now. More updates to come!

Nicholas' 1st Day of Preschool

Preschool Update:
Nicholas had a great fist day at preschool. When I went to go pick him up, I was walking to the playground and Ms. Mary just said I don't have to tell you how he did today! He had a great first day of school. He looked like he was going here for years. I was so glad she told me that because of what he said this morning on the way over there, I was a little worried.
He didn't even see me standing there for awhile. He just kept on playing. I finally said his name and he came running over. I asked how his day was and he said it was good. He told me that they sang songs, colored and a mouse visited their classroom and left them cookies in their cubbies. He was so excited. I don't think I need to worry about this one either! Of course I forgot my camera again! :( Hopefully I will remember to bring it on Thursday.

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Well, today was Nicholas' 1st day of Preschool. He was so excited last night when I told him he had school tomorrow. This morning we did our normal routine of getting dressed and eating breakfast. I had both of them go back up stairs to brush their teeth, and then I had to walk Jon to his bus stop. Don't worry, I didn't leave Nicholas alone, Lolo was downstairs. When I got back, I shouted Nicholas time to go to school. He was so excited. I told him to grab his backpack and we were off into the van. On the way over there, he said he wanted to go to his other school (ECFE) but I said he was too big for that and that he was a big boy and he is going to a big boy school now. He replied that he wanted to be a baby again. That got me a little worried that it would be tough to leave him, but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot his attitude all changed. He said to me, "Mom you have to leave!" I told I would after I signed him in. Obviously not nervous at all! We went in and he found his cubby, put his backpack away and hung his jacket. He knew what to do next which was to go into the bathroom and wash his hands. I signed him in and than he found his name on the table and traced it with his finger. I was talking to his teacher and I looked into the classroom and he had already put his name in the pocket chart. A lot of the parents were hanging out, but I just said good bye to Nicholas and he said bye to me and I left. I think he will have a good morning. I forgot to bring my camera so I don't have any pictures. I hope to remember it when I pick him up. I will give an update later on how his day went, so stayed tuned!

Now It Starts To Get Busy

So this week is the beginning of where we start to get busy. Nicholas starts Preschool this week going Tuesdays & Thursday mornings. Jon has Gymnastics Tuesday nights. Nicholas starts AWANA on Wednesday nights. I will be starting my Fall Women's Volleyball League soon on Wednesday nights as well, and both the boys have swimming lessons at the YMCA on Fridays. Hopefully it won't be too busy for us that I am running around like crazy. I know as the two boys get older it will just keep getting busier and busier!

Nicholas is very excited to start Preschool, although he wants to take the bus to school just like Jon. I told him when he is 5 he will be able to take the bus and go to school with Jon. That seemed to make him happy. He is also excited about AWANA which he actually started last Wednesday night. AWANA is like a Christian Cubs Scoutsand they meet once a week. I think that will be good for him, and he seems to enjoy it. He wanted to go last Fall when Jon was going to AWANA. This year Jon will be doing Faith Formation classes at our church. I believe he will be starting in Oct.

Jon asked this morning if tonight was a school night and I said yes. He seems pretty excited to get back to school on Monday, which I am glad he enjoys school so much. He learns so fast. Only thing for me is that I don't know any of his new friends yet, and I don't know how he is in his classroom. I signed up to volunteer in his class, but I am not sure when that will start. I am pretty excited to start so I can see how Ms. Ritzer runs her classroom and to see how Jon is in the class. I volunteered at Jon's Preschool last year and I always observed him and not really stayed with his group. I wanted to give him his space and he did great.


Mike has been into Ice Fishing the past few years, so yesterday we took our pontoon to a guy that sells Ice Castle Fish Houses in Shakopee, MN. We haven't been using our pontoon as much as we would like so we decided to trade it in for one of the Eliminator Ice Castle Fish Houses. I wasn't sure if I wanted one, but after looking at it yesterday it seemed like a good idea. We can actually use it all year round. It looks like a camper and can be used as a camper in the summer time. It has two bunk beds, a bathroom, a stove/oven, a place to plug in a TV and has a pull up antenna attached to the camper, storage and AC. The AC was a bonus for me because I can't stand being so hot! We plan on buying bunk bed cots for the boys to sleep on and a folding table with benches. Mike actually wants to go next weekend sometime when we get it. Than in the winter time Mike can use it as a fish house. It can actually crank down so the floor is on the ice and it has 5 fishing holes in it already and he plans on adding 2 more. Hopefully it will work out well, and I think it will which means we will be doing a lot of camping next summer and Mike will be doing a lot of ice fishing this winter. I have attached a picture of what it looks like from the outside.



The boys are pretty excited about the camper because they have been wanting to go camping all summer. So when we got home and Mike told them, Jon especially, was pretty excited to go. So, I will give you an update after we go camping next weekend!

End of the Week

So last night at dinner, Jon was really crabby and not listening. I think 3 full days of school was starting to take a toll on our little guy. We could all tell he was tired. We managed to finish our dinner and even Jon finished his as well, and then we all sat down and watch Spy Kids 2 (good old Netflix) until it was time for the boys to go to bed. Surprisingly Jon didn't really make a stink about going to bed, but he complained a little bit. After the kids went to bed, Mike of course was excited because it was the official start to football. Fantasy football is CRAZY! And it makes my husband crazy for football! I on the other hand really only like watching the Vikings, and they are not looking too hot this year. But we will see! For having a good first week of school, I got Jon a little gift. He LOVES High School Musical 1 & 2 so I got him the High School Musical 2 soundtrack. We already have the 1st one and we listening to it everytime we are in the van. I hope he likes it!

As for Nicholas, these last few days he has been getting nose bleeds again. He has had 3 today so far and his second one, I couldn't get it to stop bleeding Ithat finally called his doctor. He says that nose bleeds are very common this time of year with ragweed. I think that is what he said. He told me to get a few things so I am hoping to stop at the store after Jon gets home from school. Poor thing, I just can't get them to stop on there own! Well, hopefully all these things will help him, if they don't I have to take him in to see his doctor. Wish me luck! Have a happy weekend!

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Third Day of Kindergarten

So today marks the 3rd day of Kindergarten for Jon. He has done so well with going to bed on time and waking up and getting ready for school. Mike came home early on the first day so we could all meet Jon at the bus stop when he returned from school. It was suppose to arrive at 3:47pm, but it didn't show up until 4:30pm. Later I heard that the bus over heated and that is why it was so late. When he got off the bus, Mike and I thought he looked SO tired from his 1st day of school. When we got home, he didn't seem that tired though. He showed us his drawings he did at school (see pics below) and told us about his 3rd grade buddy Andy. Andy helped him get lunch and kinda showed him where to go. He just couldn't stop talking about him. When we did ask him about lunch and if he used his lunch code he said he didn't have to, and that Andy said to just sneak in. Mike and I were a little worried! Jon told us that Andy just said to walk by and sit down. I was thinking great! What Jon is learning from the older kids! Well, I talked to my neighbor and she said her son Colin told her that the computer was down so they didn't have to enter it in! Whew! So we asked again on the second day if he used his lunch code and he said he didn't have to and that they just took his name down. So I am assuming the computer is still down and took his name so they could charge it when the computer is back up and running. He also told us about gym class and how much fun that was. He loved recess and playing tether ball. I think that is how you spell it. All in all he had a great first day of school.

Yesterday was another great starting day. Before we put him to sleep we pick out his clothes for the next day and lay it on his bed. He knows now that when he gets up, he needs to change into his clothes and to come into our room ready for the day. We all go downstairs to eat breakfast and once he is done eating breakfast he has to go brush his teeth. That has been our morning routine and it has been working out very smoothly. We start to get ready to walk to the bus stop about five after eight or so, and we are out the door around ten after. He enjoys taking the bus and loves school. When he got home I asked him how his day was and he said it was great. They got to go to the Library that day and play on the computers and was read a story by the Librarian.

Today while we were walking up to the bus stop, Jon says, "There is my 3rd grade buddy Andy." I said, "Where?" Jon says, "Right there at our bus stop." I asked him, "Really?" "Yup" Jon replied. It was our 3rd day out here and he finally tells me his 3rd Grade buddy takes the same bus as him. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth so I had to ask the boy himself! And sure enough, he is his 3rd grade buddy! Too funny! He seems like a very nice boy. He has a younger brother as well who is in first grade.

So, I will just have to say that I am a very proud Mama of my Jonathan! He has been doing so great with this big mile stone in his life! Good job Jonathan! I am SO Proud!


Jon's School Bus (Telephone Bus)



Jon looking out the window



Getting off the Bus. Mike and I thought he looked so tired!


A picture he colored at school


Another picture of Andy (his 3rd Grade Buddy) and him playing four square.

Nicholas' Tour of LCPP

This morning was busy for us as we sent off Jon to Kindergarten, Nicholas also had a tour of his preschool today! He is going to Lutheran Church of Peace Preschool, the same preschool Jon went to for the past two years. Mike and I are really happy with the program there. It was so cute because when we were driving to his preschool, he asked if we were going to his school and I said yes, but he thought we were going to ECFE (we went there last year). I told him we were going to Jon's old school, and I asked if he was excited. He said he was excited to see Jon there. I told him that Jon wasn't going to be there, that he was at his Kindergarten school. This is your preschool now! I don't think he got it until we pulled into the parking lot because he asked, "Is this my school now?!" I said yes and he goes WHOAH WHOO! He was so excited! As we walked into the school we noticed they re-did the floors in the hallway and put down a tile floor. It looked very nice! Nicholas knew exactly where to go to look for his cubby. We found his cubby and put his back pack in it, he just needed to bring his back pack! I showed him the bathroom where he would go and wash his hands before entering the classroom. We walked in and he needed to find his name tag and trace it with his fingers. They changed this because with Jon they traced it right away with a marker, but I'm sure they will get to tracing it with markers later in the year. After that he puts his name in the pocket chart, which he did right away. I had to fill out some paperwork so he ran into the main classroom and knew exactly where he was going to play. He ran to the Train table! He stayed there for awhile and than made his rounds to the other stations. He is so comfortable there! I didn't get to take that many pictures because he wanted me to play with him, so the two below are the only ones I have. After our tour, we went outside to have a picnic with the teachers, Ms. Joni and Ms. Mary. They are the same teachers Jon had when he went there 2 years ago! Nicholas and the other kids got to play outside as well. I am looking forward to Nicholas learning so much from his teachers this year. He is so eager to learn. It will be great to see him grow!

Nicholas at the train table

Taking a picture with his teachers Ms. Joni & Ms. Mary

First Day of School

Well, today was Jon's first day of Kindergarten! The morning went very well. I even got up early so I would have time to shower and get ready myself. I woke up Jon about 10 after 7am and told him. "Today is your 1st day of school!" He was pretty much getting up already and he popped out of bed. I told him top get dressed (We picked out his outfit the night before), and to go downstairs for breakfast. Mike got his breakfast ready while I finished getting ready. When I came down I took a couple of pictures of him eating breakfast and of him with his back back. Nicholas joined him and I snapped a couple more pictures of the two brothers.

By the time we were done it was time to walk to the bus stop. We met our neighbors out in the street and started walking to the bus stop. Jon and Colin were both excited and started running up the street. We weren't really sure where to stand for the bus stop, but we saw some veterans coming and they showed us where to stand. The bus came about 8:10am, it wasn't suppose to come until 8:25am, but I think she was trying to figure out where the first bus stop was which was further down the road. She wasn't the main bus driver either, so I am sure we will have to go out there early again tomorrow morning. I of course took as many pictures as I could and I have posted the ones that turned out. Once they were on the bus, I turned around to look at my neighbor and she was crying. I felt bad for her, but she is also 7 months pregnant so I'm sure her hormones took part as well. I actually did not cry, but I think I was too busy trying to get good pictures. Looking back at the pictures that I took, I just think to myself that I can't believe he is in Kindergarten already! My big boy, is definitely a big boy now. I am so proud! Mike will be coming home early today so we can meet Jon at the bus stop after school. So I will post more pictures later.



Jon loves his Strawberry Yogurt Cheerios!


Jon with his back pack


Trying his back pack on


He had this one last year and didn't want to get a new one


The two Koehn Brothers


Meeting Colin in the street


Jon & Colin running up the street to the bus stop


Pausing so Mommy could take a picture


Waiting for the bus


I love this picture!


Getting on the bus. He was so excited!


Can you see him? He has a big smile and waving!


Another on where he is waving

End of Summer Celebration!

Today Lola, Jon, Nicholas and myself were invited to a family friend son's birthday party. They are actually twins who turned 3. The boys had so much fun, playing with all the other kids who were there, they didn't want to eat when it was time to eat or leave when it was time to go, even though I did the count down with them (example - boys we have 10 minutes before it time to go). They finally ate when the birthday boys blew out their candles and opened gifts. They were so excited to go back to playing they didn't even want cake!

For dinner our neighbors Paula and Shawn invited all the neighbors in the cul de sac for a spaghetti dinner and to celebrate the end of summer. All of us are stay at home moms and all of our kids are pretty much around the same age. We had a great time eating outside and watching the kids play. I used this opportunity to take some pictures of all the kids. The pictures below are some of my favorites. We all talked about the first day of school tomorrow and how we were all going to be. We all have a Kindergartner starting tomorrow, and actually Paula's son Colin will be in Jon's class this year. So we talked about what time we were going to walk to the bus stop tomorrow morning. We want to get there a little early in case the bus shows up early. We don't miss it!

I still do not know how I will be tomorrow, but hopefully, if I do cry, it won't be that bad. I will take lots of pictures so stay tuned! Hope you enjoy some of the pictures from tonight's dinner!

All the kids! They were all digging in the weeds.

Colin - 5 years

Adeline - 3 years

Nicholas- 3 years, Jon - 5 years, Kevin - 5 years

Kaitlyn - 5 years

Callie - 3 years

Ella - 2 years

Sara - 6 years - These next photos I tried something different with

filtering and I loved how Sara's turned out with her pink hat!

Kevin - 5 years

Abby - 3 years