Andrew graduates preschool!

It feels like I was just writing the "Andrew is going to preschool" post, but now he has already completed his first year of preschool at American Lutheran Church in Rantoul! He has learned all his letters and what they say, can count to at least 20, and made some very special friends.

Andrew with his carpool friend Naomi

Mrs. Riddle

Andrew with one of the few other boys in the class, Ian.

Grandma Schnitzler came for his graduation program and to help out daddy, since Mommy had to be out of town. Mommy was able to join the fun for a preschool bowling outing a few days later! He even pulled a few spares!

Levi's 1st Birthday - take 1

As his big brother Andrew's says, "We did half of Levi's birthday" on Saturday, May 10. He enjoyed smashing his cake for Uncle Matt, the Rademakers, mommy, daddy and his brothers. He did not hesitate one bit to eat his cake. After digging in with his hands, he went full force pushing his face right in to it, state fair pie eating contest style.

He opened some special gifts and then played with his friends, Hunter and Emily Rademaker. Mommy and Daddy also gave him a very special first birthday book and a bubble mower. His brothers gave him some bubbles for his mower.

Levi - 1 year

At one year, Levi is
- taking a few steps on his own
 - showing more of his own personality (pretending to talk on the phone, pushing his brothers away when they are annoying him, and doing his best to annoying them, as well)
- playing peek-a-boo
- putting things up to his ear like a phone when you ask him, "Who is it?" (note, there doesn't even have to be something in his hands. He will use just his hand.)

He weighs 19 lbs. 7 oz and is 28 1/8 inch tall. (Both 7th percentile!)

Happy Easter!

We stayed close to home for Easter, but that allowed for family fun, visitors, sleepovers, and some home projects.

Jeremiah welcome his friend Nick over for his first non-family member sleepover on Maundy Thursday. They stayed up late, watched movies, played video games and were generally kind to Andrew playing with them. Andrew slept on the couch, which was Mom and Dad's attempt at consoling him being upset about not getting to sleep in the basement with Nick and Jeremiah.
Aunt Sandra and Uncle Roger needed to make a trip to campus with Sophia so Emma and Isabella stopped by to spend time with us on Good Friday. We painted crosses for our church, blew bubbles, played outside and raced each other on the Wii. Isabella took Levi for a stroll around the lake, which sent him in to his afternoon nap. Sophia and Sandra returned to snuggle him for the rest of his nap. Mom and Dad did a few special projects before we dyed Easter eggs.

We spent Saturday doing some house projects and then we went to celebrate Kelson's second birthday. Leave it to Andrew to decide to go barefoot and step in everything from cake frosting to cat poop. Washing his feet upon our return home revealed that he also managed to get quite a few splinters.

We started Easter with the boys' Easter baskets and an egg hunt inside our house. We headed off to church for a nice breakfast, followed by an "Hallelujah, he has risen indeed" hunt, and then celebration service. Jeremiah and Andrew helped set the table for Easter dinner while Mommy and Daddy finished cooking ham, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. They boys also helped make crescent rolls.

The rest of our day was all about spending time together. The Easter bunny brought the movie Frozen so naturally we had to watch that. He also brought kites so we headed out to fly them. It was a great day for flying kites. We wrapped up our holiday by watching Amazing Race, which Jeremiah has now decided is his show to watch with Aunt Sandra. They are calling each other before and after the episodes.

And Monday, it was back to the grind for us all!