Spring Break, Imagination Station at the Museum, & Reid's 2nd Birthday

Both kids love to help me bake…especially if it involves doing a little taste testing of the batter.  This time around it was banana chocolate chip muffins. YUMMY!

A couple of Friday's ago Maddox didn't have preschool as it was Kindergarten round up day throughout the Pleasant Valley school district.  To say she had a BLAST is an understatement. We got all gussied up with new clothes, curled her hair and headed to Pleasant View grade school after we dropped Kennon off at preschool.  Almost immediately upon arriving she was scooped up by a 6th grader in the building and was led down the hallway to Mrs. Doyle's classroom, one of the four Kindergarten teachers. Eric and I were like 'ok…bye!!??'  But she had a great time and was all excited to tell us about her experience. She got to ride the school bus, drew a picture, got to explore her potential classroom, read a book with Mrs. Doyle and then got some chocolate chip bears as a snack.  The theme of the event was like a circus and there were balloons and decorations all over the building. She even got a 'partying gift'….this really nice popcorn box of goodies..pencils, erasers, stamps, and even a red bozo clown nose.  We will find out on August 17th who her teacher is and then they have a staggered start with her first full day of school to be August 24th, I believe. She is MORE than ready!! I'm so excited for her. 

Kindergarten round up day proved to be a BIG day for Maddox as directly after Kindergarten round up she got to go to Monkey Joe's to a birthday party for one of her preschool classmates, Aubrienne.  Monkey Joe's is a party place with several inflatables and is just perfect for children under the age of 10. I could barely get her out of the place when the party was over. This is not a great picture of Maddox but check out the cake Aubrienne's mom made it….amazing..and it tasted great too!!  My new cake project maybe….

Maddox and Aubrienne in the birthday 'chair of honor'. 

Maddox, Sara and Aubrienne…two of Maddox's besties from Our Savior. 

With the weather warming up over the last couple of weeks we have been outside almost daily…anything above 30 degrees is fair game to bundle up and hit the riding toys.  Both kids are amazing on their pedal bikes.  Kennon, after just a couple of weeks, is totally sufficient at starting/stopping on his pedal bike. We have already logged several miles about the neighborhood. It is going to be a fun summer. 

Maddox and Kennon building with the last of the snow banks before they melted that night. 

Last week was Spring break and Monday we were blessed with 80 degree weather!!! We rode our bikes down to Friendship park, about 1 mile each direction, and got in some good park time.  Unfortunately then it turned kind of cold…but we still managed to bundle up and get in some good outdoor time the rest of the week. 

This photo doesn't do it justice but some of the sunrises have been just gorgeous lately. It is reflecting off a little pond of water over in the new construction area. 

The museum offered some 'special spring break' activities last week. We only went to one as they tend to be very crowded. This one was to be a balloon guy but ultimately he did more magic tricks than balloon making. But the kids had fun nonetheless. You can see in this picture Kennon's nose looks great. About 30 minutes after this shot he tripped at the library and skinned up his nose. Poor guy.  But the scab fell off yesterday and he is looking 'back to normal'….ready to bum it up again! 

Still getting in some bike riding in the chilly weather…. when it's cold and Kennon has to wear his stocking cap he uses Eric's bike helmet as it fits over the hat better.  I'm so thankful both kids don't put up a fuss about their bike helmets. I think it helps that Eric and I both have them too.  

On probably the coldest day of Spring Break, we headed out to Orion to get Grammy's box ready for Spring.  We always have these great conversations about Heaven on the way out there. It is VERY clear to me Maddox is well aware that Grammy's box is literally just a box and that she is LIVING up in Heaven with her best friend Jesus. There is just something comforting knowing she has this great understanding of her life after death. I think Kennon is getting the complex idea too.  I guess we have our life experiences and Our Savior Preschool to thank for that knowledge.

Another quick trip to rocket park on the way back from Orion. Brrrrr..

Last Friday night we got to attend a special evening at the Museum. It was put on by Iowa Public Television.  The Planning Center sponsors supports several different organizations, including PBS, and as a result they were allotted several tickets to this private event.  They served kiddo type food and had little arts and crafts and activities. But the best part was getting to sing and dance with Mr. Steve from PBS Kids as well as meet 10 different characters from PBS Kids programming.  Maddox and Kennon had a blast and it was actually great fun watching them run from character to character to get a little hug.  The little boy up above is Christopher, another Planning Center kiddo.  If you can believe it Christopher just turned 4. He is so tall!!

Curious George…although I have to say I think he looks a tad more like a TeleTubby than Curious George 

'Cat' from Peg and Cat

Peg from Peg and Cat

Elmo and the kids with a terrible photo bomb! Each character had like a 'helper' person….this one unfortunately got right in my shot!

Clifford the Big Red Dog…although he seemed kind of short to me :) 

Daniel Tiger from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood 

Word Girl .  You can't read it but the tree that is on the wall over Word Girl's right shoulder has 'Eric and Laura Kies' written near it.  This mural in the museum is a picture replica of the new playground that the museum is going to put in this spring. It is all farm themed.  Back in January you could donate to sponsor a piece of the new playground…there was everything from the barn that was sponsored by the Von Maur family, a tractor, a sun, trees, cows, pigs, horses, dogs, ears of corn etc….each one with a monetary value.  Eric and I decided to make a donation and sponsor one of the trees.  We spend SO much time at the museum and the kids especially love the outdoor space that is currently looking a little tired. We are hoping the new and improved farm playground with the Kies Family Tree will be a good way for us to talk with Maddox and Kennon about not only Grandma Doris and Grandpa Orville and what hard workers they were, but also the need to give back to the community.  

Maddox and Christopher rocking it out on the playground teeter totter. 

Maddox and Christoper dancing with Mr. Steve. Maddox has on the purple sweater. 

Last weekend we traveled up to Waunakee to celebrate Reid's second birthday and baby Cashin's baptism.  But first we stopped in Madison and picked up Eric's nephews, Zach and Ian, and took them to lunch.  They go to the University of Madison and are both studying engineering.  Zach will graduate in  Spring 2016 and Ian is just getting started as a freshman.  Go BADGERS!!…. as I believe I heard they won their game last night.  We had a nice time visiting and catching up with them. Maddox and Kennon love to laugh with and sure do look up to these two guys, in more ways than one:) 

I got PLENTY of snuggles in with this happy little guy this past weekend.  A little selfie action with my youngest nephew Cashin. 

These two pictures were taken just after Cashin's baptism service.  I think they are great!! Love all their silly smiles.  

Let's see what else. We are gearing up for our secret vacation to Florida the end of April. I called about renting bicycles this week as well as, I got a rental car secured which was kind of the last thing on the 'to do' list.  We still haven't told the kiddos but they are going to get some goggles in their Easter baskets this year so we'll see what they say about those…although they are also starting swim lessons the first week in April so not sure they'll catch on.  This was was the first week to start signing the kids up for summer camps. It looks like they are going to have lots of fun at camps this summer….superhero, princess, kindness, compassion, soccer…just to name a few of the themes.  We are also planning on some good ol' fashion summer play in the neighborhood too.  Who needs camp when you've got glitter sidewalk chalk (thank you to Uncle Jay and Carolyn!!)!! Eric had some big news at The Planning Center this week.  He and his partners were featured on the COVER of the April issue of Financial Planning magazine.  This is a very popular magazine in his industry, but not generally something you'd see at the newsstands.  I haven't gotten a chance to read the article yet but Eric is quoted and I believe it shines a light on The Planning Center's fee structure which is somewhat unique but becoming more and more popular in the industry. Way to go Eric and The Planning Center staff!! 

Storybook Ball, Sand, John Deere Tractors and more

A couple of Saturday nights ago Maddox and I attended the annual Storybook Ball at the museum. This year, unlike last, we got to share the experience with three of our neighborhood girlfriends and their families, Grace, Maddie and Priya. We had a grand time just like last year.  Maddox was just as enamored with the Princesses as she was last year. She just followed Aurora around most of the evening and danced the night away.  

Katie, Grace's mom, and I.  Katie is in one of my bible study groups and a close neighborhood 'stay at home' mom friend.  

This year the partying gift was a little jewelry box that you got to decorate in the 'Think Shop' area of the museum. It is this room with little stations all set up with hammers, saws, nails, levels, and like every other type of hardware/tool.  The idea is for kids to go in and make creations with the help of their parents…and of course safety glasses!!  In the center of the room is this big table with several glue guns and like every 'thing-a-ma-bob' know to man donated by local community members. So sometimes you go in and there is a basket of old medication bottles and other times there are a bunch of buttons. Just all kinds of things. A fun spot. Maddox didn't spend long decorating her box as she knew time spent decorating meant LESS time dancing!!  She was quick to leave the Think Shop and head back out to the Great Hall. She is my dancer….!! But, oddly enough says she doesn't want to take dance next year :(   :(   :(  She is really interested in soccer.  I honestly think dance is hard for her and Miss Alyssa her teacher asks her to do things that require a lot of core, hip, knee and especially ankle musculoskeletal coordination.   I actually had her evaluated by a pediatric neurologist last week through the University of Iowa. Dr. Maxwell and her team come to Bettendorf once a month.   They didn't find anything significant or give her any strong medical diagnosis but did declare she is SEVERELY left legged, meaning her right leg is probably always going to lag behind. It's kind of the same philosophy as being right handed verses left handed. You can have a dominant leg too and in Maddox's case her left leg is REALLY REALLY dominant.  In addition she is extremely hypERmobile at her knees and ankles which can cause lack of coordination ( I"m sure you are thinking..well Laura must have her physical therapy brain on because I think Maddox is F…I…N…E…!!) So they basically said just keep doing what we are doing…. dance, ballet, gymnastics if she wants, and swimming. They recommended swimming because the water provides proprioceptive feedback to the joints to help her realize where her joints are in space….  Ok…I'll get off my PT box now.  She is fine but will likely always have a bit of lack of coordination in the right leg verses the left leg….not necessarily noticeable to the untrained eye.  :)  

Maddox sitting on Aurora's lap next to Belle. 

Maddox and Priya dancing with Peter Pan and her shadow.  

Getting a good bye hug from Aurora. 

Kennon and I still enjoy our solo play time at the  museum during Maddox's dance lessons. This day it was all about the firetruck. 

We have been steadily adding spring/summer gear to our wardrobe as the weather will warm here shortly and we'll be off to Florida soon.  I ordered a big box of clothes for Maddox a couple of weeks ago. She enjoyed trying everything on and modeling it for me. 

Kennon got in on the action too. He got a new sun hat!! Ultimately this particular one went back to REI but we just had another one delivered that is a keeper. 

Wearing her new duds to school. 

Thanks to our new church providing a night of babysitting for free, Eric and I went out on a real date back around Valentine's day.  The kids had a grand time at the church and we enjoyed ourselves as well. So nice to have some alone time. We are really likely our new church and the kids are too.  We have plugged into some small groups and continue to meet people. 

Craft project!  February was a busy month with birthdays in our family. We sent out homemade butterflies to all the lucky birthday people. 

Priya and Maddox in a John Deere tractor wheel at Deere headquarters in Moline. 

All three kids in a loader 'scoop'…I'm CERTAIN there is a more technical term but darned if I know it…. anyone?? anyone??  …Bueller??…..Bueller??….  oh wait I"m here alone. 

We met Grandma Jean and Grandpa Jim on Grandma Jean's birthday at the mall in Coralville. We had a great time shopping, riding the carousel and playing at the indoor playground on this cold day!  What a perfect little get away on President's Day, since the kids didn't have school. Happy Birthday Grandma Jean! 

We are wanting to put up some curtains in our family room.  I decided to take Kennon to Target with me to see if I could find something. You can see he is definitely haven't more fun than I!!  I came home empty handed, while he sent the 30 minutes swinging around the curtain rods as if they were swords and playing hide-n-seek behind the display curtains. He was actually well behaved…!! If some of you are reading this and thinking 'that is well behaved??'..trust me…for my rambunctious, stubborn, active  three, almost four, year old….THAT IS!! :) 

We joined Lula, Leo and Arlo ( in the stroller in the background) at the Rock Island Botanical Center last Tuesday. They bring in a pretty large pile of sand and allow the kids to play play play!! It is pretty warm and sunny in the botanical center itself and there are ponds with fish and turtles to feed.  It almost felt like we were on the beach…but oh wait…then we left, chins tucked, into a freezing headwind to get back to our cars!!  Thank goodness it looks like it is going to warm up next week. The boys did a good job of sharing all the toys!! We love our playdates with the Heuer family. 

mmm…sorry..somehow got these out of order. Kennon is sitting up in the digger. 

Priya and Maddox in the Utility Vehicle….any guesses how much for this bad boy?? 

Carl, Priya's dad who is driving the kids in the gator, actually works in this building for Deere. He took us on our very own private tour of the headquarter building. So so so super cool. In the middle of the two buildings, named East and West, sits this fabulous botanical/garden area with all these beautiful trees and flowers!  Really cool to think we live this close to the hub of a major company like John Deere.  Go Green! 

Monday was March 2nd and Dr Seuess' birthday.  That means pajama day in the world of preschool!! The kids were so excited to go to school on Monday in their comfy PJs.  Can't say I blame them. 

Maddox sporting the leg warmers…those things have made a comeback haven't they? 

Maddox dancing with one of her new outfits on. 

We have dance parties in the family room almost daily.  Usually after dinner or after lunch to get the sillies out. 

Maddox didn't have school on Tuesday due to the ice so we filled the day with games, working on subtraction and addition with Maddox and name writing with Kennon. All in all a good day.  

Yesterday was peek week at dance class so we got the opportunity to see a bit of Maddox's dance routine.  She is doing pretty well just needs to get memorizing a bit. The tall, older gal she is standing next to is her helper. The cues in the background are being given by her official teacher. I know the videos are fussy when they get uploaded but hopefully you are able to see some of the routine. It is to a cute Winnie The Pooh song.  

Let's see what else.  If it seems longer since my last post, I think it has been.  Work is keeping me relatively busy doing chart audits from home. About 5-10 hours per week is what it averages out to be…which is just perfect!! However that usually eats up my blogging time.  I'm currently waiting for another batch of audits ( all the patients that fell at home AND went to the emergency room for evaluation or admission to the hospital) so I thought I'd quick get in another post. Tomorrow is Kindergarten round up for Maddox! We are so excited. She is too!! She'll get to go for a bus ride and meet all the Kindergarten teachers. Then afterwards she is going to Monkey Joe's for a birthday party!  A big day for Miss Maddox.  I just signed both Maddox and Kennon up for soccer this Spring as well as swim lessons at the Y.  And I'm already thinking about which summer camps they'll be attending, some through their current church preschool and some through the Bettendorf Parks and Recreation Organization…oh and the museum too.  There are a lot of good options out there.  It is best if I keep them in a routine of getting up and getting dressed and going for the day.  They loved most all of the camps we did last summer.