Tap-Tap-Tap

This year Kari gets to start tap in dancing!

So exciting (and loud--yippee!)!

Kari has Mary Lorraine as her teacher again and even has two friends in her class, Alice and Ellie.

She loves to dance and is just so cute!

Pretzel Making

Christian loves pretzels and had wanted to try his hand at making some one Sunday afternoon.  (And, of course, Juliana "Me Too" Lindseth had to help too.)  They were really easy to make and turned out so yummy!

Big thumbs up from our official taste-tester!

Britta's Dinner at Gma's

Once and a while, Cubby and I get to go out!  And sometimes, we have found that it's easier to get a babysitter for the four older kids and to drop Britta off at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  It gives B a little individual attention and it's lots' of fun for Grandma and Grandpa!

 Just look at this happy face!  I mean, who wouldn't want to babysit Miss Britta?!

Family Bike Ride

Fantastic-Forced-Family-Fun!  Otherwise known as, the family bike ride.  We had a rare empty Saturday morning and took advantage of it to take the kids out to a new (and fairly flat) recreation area to ride around.  Kari is still not big enough to keep up with the big bikes, so she rode behind Cubby and I pulled the two little girls in the bike carrier (aka their "carriage.")  It takes two cars to get everyone and everything to our destination, but it was great and not nearly as painful as the big kids thought it was going to be!

Skating Party

On a whim, and with some begging from the kids, we went down to the kids' school skating party.  Do you remember going to skating parties when you were a kid?  Yea, it's EXACTLY the same.  So ghetto, but it was so fun!  Kari, who had never roller skated, went out with Cubby and was so cute and did so well.  Christian and Em loved seeing all of their friends.  Juliana liked running around with other younger siblings there, and Britta and I just hung out, chatted with my friends, and took in all of the excitement :-).

Scouts

Now that Christian is eight, he has embarked upon the journey into Scouting.  This was from his first awards ceremony--getting his Bobcat pin.  Scouting is certainly a lot more work for parents than I would prefer, but Christian loves going and doing guy-stuff so I will do my best to support him in his endeavors.

First Day of Preschool

 For the first day of preschool, Juliana chose to wear her new purple My Little Pony tshirt, pink Frozen skirt, and blue polka dotted tennis shoes.  Colorful and adorable!  She is also into being a ham for the camera with her poses.

 More poses outside of preschool.

Almost every time we come in, the girls like to "hide" behind this little counter,
and then "surprise" me when I walk by.

Juliana, showing off her shirt and getting her first-day name tag with Mrs. Denne.

Ju Ju and Eden--say "cheese!"

Rivals

 These handsome boys play for two different soccer clubs and once and a while, they play one another!  It's funny bc I'm cheering for both Christian's team and various players on Henry's team since many of them are Christian's friends.

This time, Henry's team was the victor, but to the boys it was business as usual immediately after the game.  Great boys, great friends!

Preschool Preview

Juliana was so excited to go to preschool!  She had been watching for two years each time I brought Kari and now it was finally her turn!  It was so great to see how comfortable she already was with her surroundings and teachers (since Kari had both of them, Juliana knows them well!)

Juliana's best friend, Eden, is also in her class.  This made the transition even easier as she already had a friend to play with!  (Side note:  I grew up with Eden's mom!  Her grandma and my mom are very good friends as well so it's extra sweet that these two girls are third generation friends!)

Ju Ju and Mrs. Marshall

Don't Worry Mom, I'm Having Fun...

The official report from Kari's first day of kindergarten.

First Day of School

And...I can't believe it's the first day of school again!  It's a whirlwind of mixed emotions--excitement for the kiddos as they are off on a new adventure for them, sadness that they're another year older and that time isn't going as slowly as it once seemed to, and both happiness and sadness that the house will be a whole lot quieter with out them around all day!

 Of course, Miss Ju Ju had to get in on these group pictures.  (Britta was still snoozing at this point.)

Emily, 5th grade

Christian (3rd grade)

Kari (Kindergarten)

And...Juliana, who will start preschool in a couple of weeks!

Cubby walks the kids up to school on the first day every year. 

 (And I always take a few last looks and then go inside with leaky eyes!)

 A few pictures that Cubby took up at school of the kids and their friends.

There she goes!

 Back at home...

When the big kids are away, Mommy and Ju Ju get to play!  While she misses her siblings, I think she enjoys the extra one-on-one time with Mommy.