Play Structure Update

The main part of the play structure is basically complete. I was short a few shingles so i had to buy a pack to complete the roof. Also you will notice that some of the siding is painted already it was left over from the house. I had to go buy 2 more sheets to finish. The pitch of the slide was pretty fast so i raised it a little to slow it down. Luke tries to go down it all the time, so we have to watch him. Im going to build some windows out of plexi glass that fold down. Also a large door will be added to the back to allow for the climbing wall. Alex has given me some ideas on what color to paint it, but i think we are going to stick with a neutral color.


I added some handles to the inside so the boys can hang from them. Also tucked some dryer sheets into the plywood of the roof. I read that it keeps spiders away and seems to be working.


Handles were added to the top of the ladder. Above the wheel there is a 2x8 that will hold the beam of the swing set(installed this fall).




Boys love playing in it. Many times now they have eaten their lunch in there with Michelle or one of the sitters. All in all after the swing set is complete i will have a total of about $650 invested in it.

New Tool Box

Alex loves playing with my tools. I thought it would be a good idea to get him a small tool box and maybe a few items to go in it. Has to be craftsman. We took Steve over to Sears on Fathers day to use his gift card. I found Alex a small tool box, a 16ft tape measure(not a kids one he didnt like those), and a screw driver(phillips). He is very excited to have his own tools when im using mine. My intentions are that I hope he still has these things when he is older.

Helping me clean up after working with our tools outside

With his new tools at Sears

First Day of Preschool!

Alex had his first day of preschool today! It's a wierd time of the year to begin school, but he needed it right now. I was looking for preschools for the fall and found this one. I learned they had a more laid back program that was all hands on science learning in the summer. The class is also smaller in the summer (6 kids). I thought this would be the perfect way for Alex to start out. It seems as though I was right. He had a great morning with minimal tears and was excitedly showing me everything he did when I came to pick him up. He has been talking about how he is excited to go back Friday. (I just signed him up for two days in the summer.) I will do more if he shows the need. I loved that it was a very home-like setting. The teacher lives upstairs and runs the preschool out of her walk-out basement. You can't tell by entering that it's someone's home. It looks just like a classroom. She also has a dog and a pig that get frequent visits and lots of outdoor toys, not to mention a fountain that Alex loves. He found a friend quickly that appears to have the same passion for all things electronic like Alex too. They quickly got in a discussion about the ceiling fan about how it turns, how big it was, what color the blades were, etc. To funny to listen to the preschool scientific talk.



He wouldn't take a picture any other way this morning, but I got a good one while we were eating lunch in the fort. It was a beautiful, breezy 70 degree day!



His first picture made at school! They did bubble paiting.

Grandpa Ciolek's 80th Birthday Party

Andre Reu

This accidently turned on when Kris grabbed the remote from Luke and threw it on the couch. It just happened to turn on. Alex's was instantly intrigued and made himself comfortable right in front of the TV and remained there for a half hour until it was over. We used it as a teaching moment of how he holds his bow (what we are trying to learn and are resistent to at this time). He just wants to hold with a good old power grasp, which mommy can understand as on OT. Pretty typical for a three year old. But, he has been showing a little improvement each day. We have been practicing the bow hold with a pencil as its a little lighter and easier to hold onto. In the meantime we are working on plucking and attempting to pluck a certain string, a particular amount of times. A little gain is seen each day and it's wonderful to see Alex with a huge "I'm so proud of myself smile" when he finally gets it right.

It Just Never Gets Boring...

Alex's Violin

Alex has been taking violin lessons for about a month now. We are using the Suzuki method which is learning to play by ear, so they advise to start young. He has always had an intense interest in music. Ever since he could sit up he would intensely watch Grandma or Margaret play the piano. He adored anyone that could play the guitar (Music Together Lessons, Raffi, "big" Alex, etc.). We also learned at church if we sit by the instruments, we get very good behavior as he is so busy intensely watching. Then about five months ago he found out he could strum the heat register and it would make a "musical" noise. He found the biggest one, behind the couch in the family room and insisted it be moved so he could better reach it. He often goes there and "plays", stomps, sings, and dances. I felt a bit like I was starving his interest in only providing a heat register to play music on. So, we decided to begin violin. It has been going well, as much as I would expect out of him as he is only a three. We are at the stage of learning to pluck the instrument, so you don't see the bow in his hand yet. I have learned the the bow and the bow hold are very complicated things. In the Suzuki method the parent have to learn to play also, as we are the teachers at home. He goes twice a week to lessons, practices each night for at least fifteen minutes, as well as listens to a CD daily of the first songs he will learn to play so he can memorize them. The routine is built into our day so it not too difficult. The method requires practicing at the same time each day. We have chose after dinner. It's so great to see him get out of his chair and say "It's time to play violin now!" All day when it's lesson day he talks about how we are going to visit Miss Dawn (his violin teacher). He has taken complete ownership over his violin and is very protective over it. So far he seems to enjoy it.

Below is a video Kris took with his phone of one of his musical performances on the heat register. It's one of his songs that he composed and wrote the lyrics to.

A Leaf Falling on the Edge of the Grass

A Night Getaway to South Haven

Theresa watched the boys while we got away for a night in South Haven. We went to a winery, ate great food, enjoyed the water and the small town atmosphere. It was very refreshing to get away for a bit. I haven't felt that well rested in a long, long time. Thanks Theresa! Below are some pictures I took of the sunset. I can never take enough sunrise/sunset pictures. It's one of my favorite sights. What better there was also a beautiful sailboat to photograph also! I would say the self-timer camera on a log worked pretty well as a photographer also.

Luke: Thirteen Months

Memorial Day Picnic

On Memorial Day we had a picnic dinner at Independence Lake. It was a warm day so it was perfect to play in the water a bit before and after dinner.


Alex fell asleep on the way there so, it took a bit to warm up to the idea of joining the kids in the water.


Mommy and Luke staying in the shade with our hats.

Enjoying his picnic dinner. We ate leftover spaghetti for dinner, so this was more like lunch, a little easier to pack.

Alex decided he like the smaller more predictable fountains.

Getting hydrated on the way home.