School's Out for the Summer!!!

In a blink of an eye the big kids are done with 1st and 2nd grade! Was a year filled with emotional and academic challenges, life lessons learned and milestones reached.
Thank you SMHOC teachers and staff for everything!

Hard to believe both of our big kids have completed 1st grade!

1st GRADE ROCKS!

Getting off the bus last week for the last time. Of course Andray wouldn't pose for me...typical boy!

Carrine loved ECFE pre school this year! I think I learned more about parenting this year than the past 7 years! Very thankful for the great teachers. One class left to go! CC loves school!

If it was up to her, she would've started Kindergarten last fall already at the age of 2 1/2! :)

The 6th grade class had their graduation mass last week. So thankful Father Bob could be back to celebrate with our school/parish community this month of May. A very emotional mass for all involved!

A sincere THANK YOU to the entire staff at SMHOC! My children and our family feel so safe and loved there! Have a great summer everyone! We love our school!

Happy Memorial Weekend...

A very blessed Memorial Day Weekend to all our veterans who have served our country or are currently serving. A special thank you to my Gpa Shorty who served in WWII in the Navy...you are missed every day! And to my dad who fought in the Army in Vietnam, you're my HERO!

We've been fortunate to visit some very special family members in the past week. Miss my Gpa Shorty and Gma and Gpa Frank every day. So honored to have Gma Celestine's name, wish I could've met her.

Spent some quality time at the St. Nicholas cemetery yesterday. 

Andray's very proud to be named after his uncle Paul and Great Gpa Rausch and Great Gpa Andy.

This photo sent shivers up my spine.

This photo was not posed...we were at the Bird Island cemetery and the girls took off to the crucifix. The boys and I walked around the corner and this is what we found, breath-taking!

Our loved ones in heaven are always in our hearts and prayers...

What a Birthday Week for Roz!!!!!!!

This has been a marvelous birthday week for Roslyn!

Although she tells me she doesn't "feel" any different than "6 years old" - Roz is definitely loving celebrating her birthday this week in style!

Would you expect any different from a big brother? :)

Carrine worked hard on this masterpiece.

We surprised Roslyn early with Kirsten, the American Girl Doll!

She was beside herself!

I even painted on freckles for Roslyn's doll so they matched :)

Some summer reading material!

Kirsten's first night in the Stang household...think she's here to stay!

Over the weekend our family traveled to the Mall of America to visit the American Girl Doll store for the first time! Wow, what an experience!

Just a tad excited as we headed into the store to find a new outfit for Kirsten!

One of the first dolls Roslyn saw...she loves Peace signs and fell in love with this outfit!

The girls and their dolls...and Andray photo bombing as usual :)

One happy shopper :) Used her own "hard-earned" money as well!

Finished up with ice cream treats for the fam!

Even Jake had a great time at the MOA! Amazed at what dads do these days for their little girls :)

Thanks to Papa and Grandma Stang who got Roslyn a new sleeping bag and money for college!

She loves it!

Another special THANK YOU to Roslyn's Godmother Rhonda who took her on a shopping date! You spoiled her way too much. But she came home with another doll Celeste, an outfit and soccer ball. Roslyn's exact words to me, "Mom, I got this doll in honor of you!"

Love my sweet and thoughtful Rozzy Roz!

I'll never forget this experience with Roslyn...learning as I go as I never had an American Girl Doll. Can't wait to read the books with her and learn more history about our country.

Despite getting "over-spoiled," I'm happy to say that Roslyn knows the true treasure in life.

As I was tucking her into bed the night after the MOA trip, Roslyn held on tight to her Kirsten doll and said, "Mom, thanks for taking me to the MOA today. I love my new doll and her new outfit, but that's not my true birthday gift. THIS is the best gift of all..." (and she sat up and hugged me with tears in her eyes!) I love my Roslyn, I love my kids, and I love the true treasures in LIFE!

Pretty powerful words from a 7-year-old!

Thanks to everyone who has sent gifts, cards, videos, texts to wish Roslyn a happy birthday.

She can't wait to celebrate with the Franks this weekend!

Roslyn's First Slumber Party in the Books!

Roslyn Ann has had quite a special birthday month...and there's more to celebrate with the Franks this weekend! So proud of our newest 7 year old!

Started the birthday month off with Birthday Mass at school.

Father Bob is back for the month of May...it's so great to have him around again!

Roz is now into PEACE signs...so we found the perfect party plates and napkins for her!

Peace pinata for her party.

The kids had fun smashing it to pieces!

Honestly there are some computers that I would've loved to take a bat to like this "back in the day!"

:)

Candy for everyone!

We picked fresh lilacs as part of the party's scavenger hunt.

Opening gifts is always so much fun.

Roslyn got this t-shirt and purse to color.

Great idea and great gift!

Hard at work coloring.

Finished product! So fun!

Roslyn and 2 of her best friends. So sweet

Cupcake time!

Roslyn and her friends were very kind to Carrine and included her in the entire party (except sleeping in the tent:)

Glad the neighbor boy came over to keep Andray company :)

Made time for manicures and tattoo sessions

Was way too cold for a campfire...so had to stay inside and microwave the SMORES :)

Jake was a trooper and set up the tent for the girls in our living room.

Roslyn's first slumber party with her friends.

They actually slept pretty good but were up quite early the next morning!

First thing Carrine did was run from her room to the tent at 6 am!

Roz was so sweet and let all the girls help her color her t-shirt before breakfast!

Capped off the morning with my Gram's homemade cinnamon rolls...nothing better!