I feel sometimes like my life goes by in 10 minute segments. My breaks are typically short-lived like this, before someone notices I'm missing and comes to find me. But honestly, sometimes 10 minute sis all I need.
But then sometimes, I need an entire evening off!
I was taking a picture of the model # of my fridge to order a replacement drawer when I thought "why not take a picture of what's IN my fridge?" So...here it is lol In May 2021, this is what I was feeding my family.
I'm slowly finishing this one up - only a couple weeks left! I've said it before on here, but I'll say it again: This is an EXCELLENT book to help process loss and changes and how to learn to place value on yourself when your self-esteem is in the crapper. It's going so slow because I'm processing SO much with EVERY chapter, and the practices sometimes take up almost an entire morning session themselves. IT's SO good. I've sent it to a couple of my friends already, and would recommend it to anyone, really. It isn't really about finding love or relationships, but rather about learning to love yourself enough to let someone else love you too and not try to convince them otherwise.
We have been SO thankful for all the Subway (and other, of course) gift cards! They've provided a number meals this month for the kiddos and I.
Just when I thought the renovations were complete. It's my fault, btw. I, for whatever reason, decided to re-install the toilet myself after the flooring was laid, and I didn't use a wax ring. (We won't talk about what I used instead - I wasn't, at the time, well-versed in toilet installation). So...the toiet has been leaking for a period of time. I knew I had to replace one tile, since the vanity was installed after the flooring, and there was a sizeable gap. But when I went to do it, I realized that not only a couple tiles around the toilet, but the ENTIRE bathroom floor would have to be replaced. But I'm handy, right? I've got skills. So I opted to do it myself. I already had a ton of spare flooring (two differnet boxes partially full), but what I didn't realize was that the flooring wasn't the same (and while eerily similar, it'd be noticeable to have them side-by-side.) So...I called up the furniture store I ordered it from to see if I could get another box, and while I *could*, apparently the manufacturer changed up the height of the tiles, so I was going to have to rip it out and start again. Grrrr! To be continued.
Nothing better than some Plaza Jalisco for lunch with my Jil!
Almost looks like we have not a care in the world, right? lol We're really good at pretending, anyway!
Aside from the massive time suck soccer brings, there's also the matter of making sure we have the right socks for the kids as well. Oy! I guess it's just practice, right?
Little Miss Kins must have been growing this month, because holy mylanta did she take naps often.
I love the new carwash in Worthington! It pulls you through it like a conveyor belt, and it's done in like...45 seconds, and the blower is amazing!
In the early soccer season, I made mistakes. Mistakes like stopping at the park AFTER practice to play. I mean, they had fun, but the amount of sleep lost as a result was palpable. Oy! On the upside, only one of the 4 kids actually likes socccer (at least for now), so I think I've bit a bullet there!
My kids have apparently embraced my love for selfies together lol I know I go a little overboard, it's just...pictures are free. But not having pictures and then having someone die leaves you without pictures with them. I'd rather have too many than not enough.
It is the sweetest thing to walk into the living room and see these two snuggled up next to each other. They are typically glued at the hip when at home, even when they're on my lap.
It's so funny to watch the little kids eat tacos or burgers. The food is as big as their heads lol
#KitchenGoals
We got this tent from Mark's cousins, and apparently they played in it as kids. My kids are big fans in cycles with it. They'll play in it a ton and then it'll sit for six months before they play with it for another few weeks straight.
Games and Birthday fun for Grandma Pam!
A little Aunt Jess time as well!
A great way to wind down after a busy weekend! As an aside, I LOVE these glasses I bought a while back. I wish I had seen them back when my MOm was alive, as they'd be AWESOME for someone with a tremor like she had with Parkinson's. They're not cheap, but I LOVE them and would buy them again for sure!
Mother's Day was a strange one this year. We opted to go up to Mankato to go to the waterfall and do a little park hopping and grab lunch, and Uncle Daniel had to go up there too, so he came along. HE had to be there earlier, though, so we skipped church that morning to go. I LOVE Minneopa Falls, and I also love that my kids are finally old enough to hike there without having to bring a baby carrier or actually carry them.
This was take 4, I think. Cannot get this kid to take a normal picture for the life of me right now lol
My one ask every year for Mother's Day is to get a nice picture with my kiddos. I'd say we accomplished that!
Just plain gorgeous! This is the lower falls (the previous picture was taken on the bridge you see in this picture).
I love seeing them so happy these days. I mean, it isn't all the time, but their default is typically happy, and I love that!
My sweet little family!
Uncle Daniel and his niece and nephews.
Always playing with the hair.
It was NOT warm enough for them to be out in swimsuits doing a bike wash this particular day, but it sure looks like summer, right? lol
Flowers make me so happy! I'm still super bummed that having them inside makes my allergies go insane :(
Afternoon chillin' with Grandma Diane
My favorite times are when they want to snuggle in my bed and watch a show.
Always waiting for me, it seems.
Adding in the solar lights is a new thing this year (I usually put them in with the stones in the front of the house) I love how homey it makes the house look when I'm getting home after dark.
All the sweet Mother's Day crafts I found in the kids' backpacks Sunday night.
This month was a little scarce at the gym, but I decided to add in some resistance band work as well as the jump rope.
Love this sweet, sassy little lady!
I miss these places and the people I met (or found) when I was there.
Well hey there!
This made me laugh a little too hard. I'm also pretty sure I may have almost choked on my water lol #SorryNotSorry
Sibling Snuggles are my favorites.
The one nice thing about the kids having out of town soccer games on week nights is that I won't be dragging ALL the kids to them, so I get a little one-on-one time with the boys.
Kendrick really doesn't like soccer, but he's not half bad. He definitely brings the hustle. But he says he loves baseball and wrestling, so I think we'll stick with those two!
He has his Daddy's calves for SURE, which makes it pretty hard to get soccer socks to go over not only his calves, but also the shinguards. #ItIsWhatItIs
I was SO thrilled to finally be rid of this setup while at work and away from my desk!
I love finding her like this in my bed. She's the only baby I didn't co-sleep with the first two years. I was getting so little sleep after Mark moved out that I had to get her to sleep elsewhere or I would have lost my mind. So, at 9 months, she started sleeping in her crib and hasn't slept with me since...until recently. And I'm not discouraging it at this point. Why not? She stays on her side and is quiet and doesn't kick me in the face.
Kinsley had her little friend over to play one day, and I walked out to find half her bedroom on the back deck, along with a plethora of snacks, including...
...this concoction. I get so frustrated when they reach this age, and I'm so ready for it to be done lol It usually only takes once of me making them actually eat it, but it's so cringe-worthy that I just can't do it lol This one, however, wasn't half bad. Cheetos and applesauce? Do-able.
The hardest part about having friends who help with your kids on an impromptu time like when Cashel wanted to test out his new kayak is that you don't get to actually sit and visit with them for long.
It's summertime!!
It really doesn't take much. It really doesn't.
Inaugural kayak trip! He was on cloud 9!
Pretty sure I have no need for most of this at this point, but we have so much! So, question #1: Does anyone want some of it? and #2) Where do you dispose of stuff like this?
My kids pretty much will only order meatballs when we get Subway. I was pretty thrilled when I saw they came out with these protein bowls, because usually they don't even care to eat the bread, so why not?
Is this not the cutest? The kids' Sunday School teacher Pam made them, and I'm just in love!
Mark's gravesite is out near this field that sorta leads to a little pond. We see so much wildlife out there, and they're always wanting to go explore a bit. It warms my heart seeing all the deer that come around.
I call Ryan my little "Choo Choo". I'm not really sure why, but it's a nickname that just stuck with him. Sometimes I shorten it to "Chooch" or "Choochy". I just adore this little man. He makes me smile daily. HE's growing so fast, but he still has those sweet little baby cheekers, and I just love kissing on them all the time.
Cashel had his first soccer game this month, and he was thrilled to get $10 to spend at the concession stand lol
They lost pretty much every game the month of May, but he still loves playing, and I think he's going to be my soccer kid!
It's taking me a bit to get back into Smule-ing since Mark passed away. I'm not really sure why, but I'm struggling with it. I mostly feel about the same, but I feel like my emotions maybe are a little more blunted.
Li'l Miss getting herself ready for the day. Oy!
She's finally able to click her buckles in place, and all I have to do is tighten them when she's done! While she's already big enough to ditch the convertible carseat, she's not quite old enough, so we wait. How on earth are we going to be down to just 2 booster seats in the car soon???
The night of the AWANA Awards ceremony, the kids didn't really eat super fast. I had made pork loin, mashed potatoes and corn, but Kinsley was super upset about not getting to take her food with her, so she put it all in this tiny mason jar and tok it along lol She kept saying she was just going to have a little "pork snack" lol The rest of the night was a hot mess. Oh, man, am I ready for the little two to stop being so nuts!
Kinsley finished her first year of AWANA, Ryan his 2nd year, Kendrick his 4th year and Cashel his 6th year! It's so crazy to see them so grown up, and I love hearing them talk about what they're learning at AWANA.
A simple brush with my new bike pedal, and I'm thinking I may have a forever scar here. :(
That smile!
Cashel is definitely my soccer guy!
She's turning into a little monkey like her big brother Ryan!
Kendrick isn't a big fan of soccer, honestly, but he IS a big fan of being on a team. His sports of choice, however, are baseball and wrestling, so this will be his only year of soccer most likely.
Mark's headstone arrived towards the middle of the month, and we were so pleased to get over to check it out! It's so nice going out there and having something in place now. I was really unsure what I thought about having his picture engraved on there, but honestly I love it. I love being able to go visit and just talk to him. Maybe it's weird, but all of us have felt so much more peace since it has been in place.
Remember that painting I ordered a couple months ago? Well, it arrived, and apparently what I had ordered was just the canvas itself, but it wasn't framed. So...I took it over to Hobby Lobby, and once I donate a kidney, I can get it back. lol Holy mylanta is framing expensive, but I went ahead and went with it,
Vaccinations rock, people! Meet just SOME of the incredible people I've welcomed into our family as they loved on Mark for so long at The Pillars. These ladies are so incredible (and so are the guys, who were busy that evening), as well as so many more who weren't able to make it. I'm SO looking forward to our next get-together, as we always have SO much fun. Love you guys! Thank you so much for continuing to love on my family and I.
All day soccer tournament in New Ulm before our dear friends Matt and Trisha's wedding back in Kasota that evening means...super early drive home Saturday morning (having stayed in Mankato) and a delicious iced cinnamon dolce latte with almond milk (my new favorite).
It was SUPER hot all day, but the boys did great!
Something I'm learning about Kendrick is that I'm going to have to really work hard to help him recognize what's worth the effort and what isn't. He's the kind of kid who is going to give EVERYTHING he does 110%. He really doesn't like soccer, guys, but he seriously keeps showing up and busting his butt.
So...the focus is going to have to be to recognize that there are times where less than 110% can suffice so you don't burn yourself out. It's going to be a hard road to teach him that, though.
Cashel will, no problem, turn into "that Dad" someday lol He's 9 and already yelling at the sidelines. Oy! It makes me giggle a bit.
He loves soccer, though, and really puts in the work too!
Kendrick's solution to getting out of the sun...build a little tent over the camp chair lol
We hadn't been to Pizza Ranch in YEARS, honestly. The boys were so excited that they had one in New Ulm. It was kinda "the" place we went as a family when Mark was healthy, but the last time we went was when Kinsley was a few months old and the boys were crazy and Mark was solely focused on getting himself food and eating and then getting himself more food and eating, and I was going to pull my hair out. When I left, I was carrying Kinsley's carseat in one arm and Ryan in the other, and I tripped walking out the door and messed up my hip flexor and my ankle (although I didn't realize it for a while after). #Memories
#ThisIsNine
We clean up alright!
There is almost ALWAYS a shot like this when the kids are taking pictures that I'm aware of lol
Don't mind if I do! This wedding was gorgeous! They had it at Chankaska Winery, and it's a 100% chance I'll be back with some friends in the near future. We had a really great evening!
These guys are pretty incredible. Honestly. When the whole 60 Minutes story aired, she saw it and recognized me from when we both lived back in Iowa and went to the same church. She reached out on Facebook and said she wanted to help in whatever capacity I needed help. It's not lost on me that God put them in our path during this time. At that point, Mark had just moved to The Pillars, and we had been at this whole long-distance thing for just over a year. I was so weary from bringing the kids, needing far more time for myself each week, but leaving them behind with a sitter meant I spent most of a weekend day every week without them. Matt and Trisha graciously opened up their home and hearts to take the kids for a few hours on various weekends so we could all be in Mankato together, and the kids could visit in shifts. They lived just about a mile from Mark's facility, so it was an easy jaunt to drop off the next kid and take another one over to visit, or to visit in sets of 2. It meant the difference between spending 6 hours away from my kids on the weekends to only spending 1-2 hours, and then getting to explore Mankato. I love you guys more than you know! Thank you SO very much for being so selfless and loving on our family. I don't know how I would ever be able to repay you for all the kindness you've shown!
On another note, is Trisha not just the most gorgeous bride ever? I LOVE her dress and her makeup and her eyes and smile and skin...goodness! Matt, you're a lucky man! Love you, friend!
Cashel requested Red Lobster the next day, since it was just he and I on our little date for the wedding and then next morning before getting the other kids. How could I resist?
He has this serious hyperfocus when it comes to crab legs. He only had them once before, but I realized after he tried them the one time before, we're probably going to need to get our own set of cracking utensils. Reminds me of his Dad when it comes to stuff like this.
I love the times when we're all together!
Preschool pictures for my little two!
Perfect "summer" night!
A nice door slam by miss Kins, and I no longer have a mirror on my wall in the entryway. It didn't crack or shatter, but I keep trying to re-attach the hook, and it's just not working. I'm willing to accept help from whoever wants to figure it out. I'd love to get it back up!
I look like this about every morning after I put on this lipstick lol It is the only one of them that is just like a magnet for my teeth, and it's not easy to get it off when it gets on them, so this is my solution lol
My sweet baby boy graduated from preschool. I remember the first Busy Bee graduation I attended without Mark - it was for Kendrick, and it was 3 years ago. I had just placed him a few weeks earlier, and I walked in the room and just felt so alone, and like everyone was staring at me. I have come a LONG ways since that day. Those things don't typically bother me nearly as much anymore. I am SO proud of this little man! He is SO excited for Kindergarten in September!
Slowly getting back to the gym as my schedule allows. I'm so ready for soccer to be over so I can reclaim 2 evenings a week and re-instate date days with the kids and gym time for me!
It makes me smile and feel so proud to see the sweat marks on the benches and leg press machine. Remember that Pizza Ranch incident from earlier in the post? That incident ended up exasorbating the continuation of an injury I got when I was a week prior to delivering Ryan, and so basically, for about 3 years, I could hardly even walk half the time. My hip flexor had been so bad that it was a struggle, and because of the initial twisted ankle, I was walking funny already. It was just so frustrating. After a couple thousand dollars worth of PT and ART Therapy, it's amazing how much I can do and how strong I am. I don't know how I made it through those days, but seeing the sweat lines brings a boost of confidence every time.
It takes a fair amount of effort to water the flowers, according to Kins, and the blue fluffy backpack full of snacks is definitely a big part of it.
I spent short little chunks of time for YEARS putting together Mark's slideshow. I finally had it done by the Wednesday before the memorial service, but it wouldn't compile. I kicked myself for trying to use Windows Movie Maker, since it's older, but I've never had issues before. I started crying when I realized that I was going to have to completely re-do the slideshow within the course of a DAY! I did get it done, but man was I ever stressed out!
Last Day of Preschool for this cutie pie!
The chaos surrounding the slideshow ended up pushing everything else back, and I hadn't even begun to think about centerpieces for the tables, so my girl Jill and I went up to Mankato quick and hit up Hobby Lobby! It didn't take long before we had found a ton of fake flowers. I wish they could've been real, but Kendrick and I would've been unable to breathe lol Plus, I'm able to spread a little cheer here and there to friends and family who were able to take them with them and put them at their desk or what not and have them stick around!
I apologize to whoever went to Hobby Lobby that day and tried to find a small bud vase lol I think I cleaned them out!
I wrote a whole other post about the Visitation and Memorial Service. Click here to read that!
Love watching this little lady sleep. Is it because she's so sweet and innocent? Or because it gives me a break from her being completely crazy all day long? Yes. And Yes.
After the reception, we packed up for a quick overnight visit down at the farm in Iowa so we could catch up with our Ropte and Vinsand family down there!
I am so blessed that I have the family I do. It's a pretty rare thing that there isn't all this drama swirling around when it comes to family, and while I can't guarantee that will last forever, from my viewpoint, anyway, it's just a whole bunch of love. These are my 5 siblings!
It doesn't seem possible that 1) These boys have gotten so grown up, and 2) That there are SO MANY of them!
Cousins are just the best!
Love this family time!
Is it even a Ropte family GTG without a pinata? I think not! lol
This gives me all the feels. Mark and I used to be driving down the road at 55/60mph, and while he was driving, even, he'd spot asparagus in the ditches and we'd stop to pick it. Heck, I could be staring right at it, and I couldn't see it. Cashel, especially, loves to carry on the tradition, and he has his Daddy's eye for ditch asparagus lol
#Home
Gotta hold all the cattens while at cousin's house! Maybe once the ones with allergies leave the house, we'll get one, but for now, it's just a cousin's house.
If this doesn't just sum up the month of May for miss Kinsley Jo, I'm not sure what does. I'm getting ready to lose it when it comes to the carseat stuff, guys. We literally sat on the side of the road for 20 minutes after stopping for a potty break so that she would buckle her seatbelt again. She refuses to let anyone else do it, but then takes her sweet time when doing it herself. This 20 minute thing isn't an abnormal occurrence at this point either, and the alternative is to literally shove her in the seat and get a little physical, and I'm just too tired of that approach. I am SO ready for booster seat time. This is just absolutely absurd. I spend literally probably about 3-4 hours a WEEK waiting for or trying to force her to put her seatbelt on. #OneLastThreenager #TwoMonthsUntilShes4!
#ForeverHomeGoals I just absolutely LOVE these windows, and whenever I find or build our forever home, I'm putting these in. They're in my Pinterest "If I Ever Build A Home" board.
Memorial Day was a pretty low key day after all the chaos the rest of the weekend.
A little clam shell hunting down by Island Park at the river.
A little discussion about what Memorial Day is about, and talking about the 5 branches of the military.
This is why I don't need to hire a lawn service. I tried to mow, and he legit threw a HUGE tantrum. It looks like it may be time to pass on the mowing reigns, but he's only 7 (although 8 in 2 months). At what age did you start having your kids mow the lawn for you? This feels too young.
This is how I like to unwind.
I'm just never alone for very long at all.
#SummerLiving
It's about time now to cut the cord on the fingers and hair time, I think. It's honestly getting out of control, and he doesn't stop it when I'm around. At all. But he's still pretty darn adorable!
He's struggling with the height thing. Ryan is our little monkey for SURE. But Kins isn't that far behind either!
But then sometimes, I need an entire evening off!
I was taking a picture of the model # of my fridge to order a replacement drawer when I thought "why not take a picture of what's IN my fridge?" So...here it is lol In May 2021, this is what I was feeding my family.
I'm slowly finishing this one up - only a couple weeks left! I've said it before on here, but I'll say it again: This is an EXCELLENT book to help process loss and changes and how to learn to place value on yourself when your self-esteem is in the crapper. It's going so slow because I'm processing SO much with EVERY chapter, and the practices sometimes take up almost an entire morning session themselves. IT's SO good. I've sent it to a couple of my friends already, and would recommend it to anyone, really. It isn't really about finding love or relationships, but rather about learning to love yourself enough to let someone else love you too and not try to convince them otherwise.
We have been SO thankful for all the Subway (and other, of course) gift cards! They've provided a number meals this month for the kiddos and I.
Just when I thought the renovations were complete. It's my fault, btw. I, for whatever reason, decided to re-install the toilet myself after the flooring was laid, and I didn't use a wax ring. (We won't talk about what I used instead - I wasn't, at the time, well-versed in toilet installation). So...the toiet has been leaking for a period of time. I knew I had to replace one tile, since the vanity was installed after the flooring, and there was a sizeable gap. But when I went to do it, I realized that not only a couple tiles around the toilet, but the ENTIRE bathroom floor would have to be replaced. But I'm handy, right? I've got skills. So I opted to do it myself. I already had a ton of spare flooring (two differnet boxes partially full), but what I didn't realize was that the flooring wasn't the same (and while eerily similar, it'd be noticeable to have them side-by-side.) So...I called up the furniture store I ordered it from to see if I could get another box, and while I *could*, apparently the manufacturer changed up the height of the tiles, so I was going to have to rip it out and start again. Grrrr! To be continued.
Nothing better than some Plaza Jalisco for lunch with my Jil!
Almost looks like we have not a care in the world, right? lol We're really good at pretending, anyway!
Aside from the massive time suck soccer brings, there's also the matter of making sure we have the right socks for the kids as well. Oy! I guess it's just practice, right?
Little Miss Kins must have been growing this month, because holy mylanta did she take naps often.
I love the new carwash in Worthington! It pulls you through it like a conveyor belt, and it's done in like...45 seconds, and the blower is amazing!
In the early soccer season, I made mistakes. Mistakes like stopping at the park AFTER practice to play. I mean, they had fun, but the amount of sleep lost as a result was palpable. Oy! On the upside, only one of the 4 kids actually likes socccer (at least for now), so I think I've bit a bullet there!
My kids have apparently embraced my love for selfies together lol I know I go a little overboard, it's just...pictures are free. But not having pictures and then having someone die leaves you without pictures with them. I'd rather have too many than not enough.
It is the sweetest thing to walk into the living room and see these two snuggled up next to each other. They are typically glued at the hip when at home, even when they're on my lap.
It's so funny to watch the little kids eat tacos or burgers. The food is as big as their heads lol
#KitchenGoals
We got this tent from Mark's cousins, and apparently they played in it as kids. My kids are big fans in cycles with it. They'll play in it a ton and then it'll sit for six months before they play with it for another few weeks straight.
Games and Birthday fun for Grandma Pam!
A little Aunt Jess time as well!
A great way to wind down after a busy weekend! As an aside, I LOVE these glasses I bought a while back. I wish I had seen them back when my MOm was alive, as they'd be AWESOME for someone with a tremor like she had with Parkinson's. They're not cheap, but I LOVE them and would buy them again for sure!
Mother's Day was a strange one this year. We opted to go up to Mankato to go to the waterfall and do a little park hopping and grab lunch, and Uncle Daniel had to go up there too, so he came along. HE had to be there earlier, though, so we skipped church that morning to go. I LOVE Minneopa Falls, and I also love that my kids are finally old enough to hike there without having to bring a baby carrier or actually carry them.
This was take 4, I think. Cannot get this kid to take a normal picture for the life of me right now lol
My one ask every year for Mother's Day is to get a nice picture with my kiddos. I'd say we accomplished that!
Just plain gorgeous! This is the lower falls (the previous picture was taken on the bridge you see in this picture).
I love seeing them so happy these days. I mean, it isn't all the time, but their default is typically happy, and I love that!
My sweet little family!
Uncle Daniel and his niece and nephews.
Always playing with the hair.
It was NOT warm enough for them to be out in swimsuits doing a bike wash this particular day, but it sure looks like summer, right? lol
Flowers make me so happy! I'm still super bummed that having them inside makes my allergies go insane :(
Afternoon chillin' with Grandma Diane
My favorite times are when they want to snuggle in my bed and watch a show.
Always waiting for me, it seems.
Adding in the solar lights is a new thing this year (I usually put them in with the stones in the front of the house) I love how homey it makes the house look when I'm getting home after dark.
All the sweet Mother's Day crafts I found in the kids' backpacks Sunday night.
This month was a little scarce at the gym, but I decided to add in some resistance band work as well as the jump rope.
Love this sweet, sassy little lady!
I miss these places and the people I met (or found) when I was there.
Well hey there!
This made me laugh a little too hard. I'm also pretty sure I may have almost choked on my water lol #SorryNotSorry
Sibling Snuggles are my favorites.
The one nice thing about the kids having out of town soccer games on week nights is that I won't be dragging ALL the kids to them, so I get a little one-on-one time with the boys.
Kendrick really doesn't like soccer, but he's not half bad. He definitely brings the hustle. But he says he loves baseball and wrestling, so I think we'll stick with those two!
He has his Daddy's calves for SURE, which makes it pretty hard to get soccer socks to go over not only his calves, but also the shinguards. #ItIsWhatItIs
I was SO thrilled to finally be rid of this setup while at work and away from my desk!
I love finding her like this in my bed. She's the only baby I didn't co-sleep with the first two years. I was getting so little sleep after Mark moved out that I had to get her to sleep elsewhere or I would have lost my mind. So, at 9 months, she started sleeping in her crib and hasn't slept with me since...until recently. And I'm not discouraging it at this point. Why not? She stays on her side and is quiet and doesn't kick me in the face.
Kinsley had her little friend over to play one day, and I walked out to find half her bedroom on the back deck, along with a plethora of snacks, including...
...this concoction. I get so frustrated when they reach this age, and I'm so ready for it to be done lol It usually only takes once of me making them actually eat it, but it's so cringe-worthy that I just can't do it lol This one, however, wasn't half bad. Cheetos and applesauce? Do-able.
The hardest part about having friends who help with your kids on an impromptu time like when Cashel wanted to test out his new kayak is that you don't get to actually sit and visit with them for long.
It's summertime!!
It really doesn't take much. It really doesn't.
Inaugural kayak trip! He was on cloud 9!
Pretty sure I have no need for most of this at this point, but we have so much! So, question #1: Does anyone want some of it? and #2) Where do you dispose of stuff like this?
My kids pretty much will only order meatballs when we get Subway. I was pretty thrilled when I saw they came out with these protein bowls, because usually they don't even care to eat the bread, so why not?
Is this not the cutest? The kids' Sunday School teacher Pam made them, and I'm just in love!
Mark's gravesite is out near this field that sorta leads to a little pond. We see so much wildlife out there, and they're always wanting to go explore a bit. It warms my heart seeing all the deer that come around.
I call Ryan my little "Choo Choo". I'm not really sure why, but it's a nickname that just stuck with him. Sometimes I shorten it to "Chooch" or "Choochy". I just adore this little man. He makes me smile daily. HE's growing so fast, but he still has those sweet little baby cheekers, and I just love kissing on them all the time.
Cashel had his first soccer game this month, and he was thrilled to get $10 to spend at the concession stand lol
They lost pretty much every game the month of May, but he still loves playing, and I think he's going to be my soccer kid!
It's taking me a bit to get back into Smule-ing since Mark passed away. I'm not really sure why, but I'm struggling with it. I mostly feel about the same, but I feel like my emotions maybe are a little more blunted.
Li'l Miss getting herself ready for the day. Oy!
She's finally able to click her buckles in place, and all I have to do is tighten them when she's done! While she's already big enough to ditch the convertible carseat, she's not quite old enough, so we wait. How on earth are we going to be down to just 2 booster seats in the car soon???
The night of the AWANA Awards ceremony, the kids didn't really eat super fast. I had made pork loin, mashed potatoes and corn, but Kinsley was super upset about not getting to take her food with her, so she put it all in this tiny mason jar and tok it along lol She kept saying she was just going to have a little "pork snack" lol The rest of the night was a hot mess. Oh, man, am I ready for the little two to stop being so nuts!
Kinsley finished her first year of AWANA, Ryan his 2nd year, Kendrick his 4th year and Cashel his 6th year! It's so crazy to see them so grown up, and I love hearing them talk about what they're learning at AWANA.
A simple brush with my new bike pedal, and I'm thinking I may have a forever scar here. :(
That smile!
Cashel is definitely my soccer guy!
She's turning into a little monkey like her big brother Ryan!
Kendrick isn't a big fan of soccer, honestly, but he IS a big fan of being on a team. His sports of choice, however, are baseball and wrestling, so this will be his only year of soccer most likely.
Mark's headstone arrived towards the middle of the month, and we were so pleased to get over to check it out! It's so nice going out there and having something in place now. I was really unsure what I thought about having his picture engraved on there, but honestly I love it. I love being able to go visit and just talk to him. Maybe it's weird, but all of us have felt so much more peace since it has been in place.
Remember that painting I ordered a couple months ago? Well, it arrived, and apparently what I had ordered was just the canvas itself, but it wasn't framed. So...I took it over to Hobby Lobby, and once I donate a kidney, I can get it back. lol Holy mylanta is framing expensive, but I went ahead and went with it,
Vaccinations rock, people! Meet just SOME of the incredible people I've welcomed into our family as they loved on Mark for so long at The Pillars. These ladies are so incredible (and so are the guys, who were busy that evening), as well as so many more who weren't able to make it. I'm SO looking forward to our next get-together, as we always have SO much fun. Love you guys! Thank you so much for continuing to love on my family and I.
All day soccer tournament in New Ulm before our dear friends Matt and Trisha's wedding back in Kasota that evening means...super early drive home Saturday morning (having stayed in Mankato) and a delicious iced cinnamon dolce latte with almond milk (my new favorite).
It was SUPER hot all day, but the boys did great!
Something I'm learning about Kendrick is that I'm going to have to really work hard to help him recognize what's worth the effort and what isn't. He's the kind of kid who is going to give EVERYTHING he does 110%. He really doesn't like soccer, guys, but he seriously keeps showing up and busting his butt.
So...the focus is going to have to be to recognize that there are times where less than 110% can suffice so you don't burn yourself out. It's going to be a hard road to teach him that, though.
Cashel will, no problem, turn into "that Dad" someday lol He's 9 and already yelling at the sidelines. Oy! It makes me giggle a bit.
He loves soccer, though, and really puts in the work too!
Kendrick's solution to getting out of the sun...build a little tent over the camp chair lolWe hadn't been to Pizza Ranch in YEARS, honestly. The boys were so excited that they had one in New Ulm. It was kinda "the" place we went as a family when Mark was healthy, but the last time we went was when Kinsley was a few months old and the boys were crazy and Mark was solely focused on getting himself food and eating and then getting himself more food and eating, and I was going to pull my hair out. When I left, I was carrying Kinsley's carseat in one arm and Ryan in the other, and I tripped walking out the door and messed up my hip flexor and my ankle (although I didn't realize it for a while after). #Memories
#ThisIsNine
We clean up alright!
There is almost ALWAYS a shot like this when the kids are taking pictures that I'm aware of lol
Don't mind if I do! This wedding was gorgeous! They had it at Chankaska Winery, and it's a 100% chance I'll be back with some friends in the near future. We had a really great evening!
These guys are pretty incredible. Honestly. When the whole 60 Minutes story aired, she saw it and recognized me from when we both lived back in Iowa and went to the same church. She reached out on Facebook and said she wanted to help in whatever capacity I needed help. It's not lost on me that God put them in our path during this time. At that point, Mark had just moved to The Pillars, and we had been at this whole long-distance thing for just over a year. I was so weary from bringing the kids, needing far more time for myself each week, but leaving them behind with a sitter meant I spent most of a weekend day every week without them. Matt and Trisha graciously opened up their home and hearts to take the kids for a few hours on various weekends so we could all be in Mankato together, and the kids could visit in shifts. They lived just about a mile from Mark's facility, so it was an easy jaunt to drop off the next kid and take another one over to visit, or to visit in sets of 2. It meant the difference between spending 6 hours away from my kids on the weekends to only spending 1-2 hours, and then getting to explore Mankato. I love you guys more than you know! Thank you SO very much for being so selfless and loving on our family. I don't know how I would ever be able to repay you for all the kindness you've shown!
On another note, is Trisha not just the most gorgeous bride ever? I LOVE her dress and her makeup and her eyes and smile and skin...goodness! Matt, you're a lucky man! Love you, friend!
Cashel requested Red Lobster the next day, since it was just he and I on our little date for the wedding and then next morning before getting the other kids. How could I resist?
He has this serious hyperfocus when it comes to crab legs. He only had them once before, but I realized after he tried them the one time before, we're probably going to need to get our own set of cracking utensils. Reminds me of his Dad when it comes to stuff like this.
I love the times when we're all together!
Preschool pictures for my little two!
Perfect "summer" night!
A nice door slam by miss Kins, and I no longer have a mirror on my wall in the entryway. It didn't crack or shatter, but I keep trying to re-attach the hook, and it's just not working. I'm willing to accept help from whoever wants to figure it out. I'd love to get it back up!
I look like this about every morning after I put on this lipstick lol It is the only one of them that is just like a magnet for my teeth, and it's not easy to get it off when it gets on them, so this is my solution lol
My sweet baby boy graduated from preschool. I remember the first Busy Bee graduation I attended without Mark - it was for Kendrick, and it was 3 years ago. I had just placed him a few weeks earlier, and I walked in the room and just felt so alone, and like everyone was staring at me. I have come a LONG ways since that day. Those things don't typically bother me nearly as much anymore. I am SO proud of this little man! He is SO excited for Kindergarten in September!
Slowly getting back to the gym as my schedule allows. I'm so ready for soccer to be over so I can reclaim 2 evenings a week and re-instate date days with the kids and gym time for me!
It makes me smile and feel so proud to see the sweat marks on the benches and leg press machine. Remember that Pizza Ranch incident from earlier in the post? That incident ended up exasorbating the continuation of an injury I got when I was a week prior to delivering Ryan, and so basically, for about 3 years, I could hardly even walk half the time. My hip flexor had been so bad that it was a struggle, and because of the initial twisted ankle, I was walking funny already. It was just so frustrating. After a couple thousand dollars worth of PT and ART Therapy, it's amazing how much I can do and how strong I am. I don't know how I made it through those days, but seeing the sweat lines brings a boost of confidence every time.
It takes a fair amount of effort to water the flowers, according to Kins, and the blue fluffy backpack full of snacks is definitely a big part of it.
I spent short little chunks of time for YEARS putting together Mark's slideshow. I finally had it done by the Wednesday before the memorial service, but it wouldn't compile. I kicked myself for trying to use Windows Movie Maker, since it's older, but I've never had issues before. I started crying when I realized that I was going to have to completely re-do the slideshow within the course of a DAY! I did get it done, but man was I ever stressed out!
Last Day of Preschool for this cutie pie!
The chaos surrounding the slideshow ended up pushing everything else back, and I hadn't even begun to think about centerpieces for the tables, so my girl Jill and I went up to Mankato quick and hit up Hobby Lobby! It didn't take long before we had found a ton of fake flowers. I wish they could've been real, but Kendrick and I would've been unable to breathe lol Plus, I'm able to spread a little cheer here and there to friends and family who were able to take them with them and put them at their desk or what not and have them stick around!
I apologize to whoever went to Hobby Lobby that day and tried to find a small bud vase lol I think I cleaned them out!
I wrote a whole other post about the Visitation and Memorial Service. Click here to read that!
Love watching this little lady sleep. Is it because she's so sweet and innocent? Or because it gives me a break from her being completely crazy all day long? Yes. And Yes.
After the reception, we packed up for a quick overnight visit down at the farm in Iowa so we could catch up with our Ropte and Vinsand family down there!
I am so blessed that I have the family I do. It's a pretty rare thing that there isn't all this drama swirling around when it comes to family, and while I can't guarantee that will last forever, from my viewpoint, anyway, it's just a whole bunch of love. These are my 5 siblings!
It doesn't seem possible that 1) These boys have gotten so grown up, and 2) That there are SO MANY of them!
Cousins are just the best!
Love this family time!
Is it even a Ropte family GTG without a pinata? I think not! lol
This gives me all the feels. Mark and I used to be driving down the road at 55/60mph, and while he was driving, even, he'd spot asparagus in the ditches and we'd stop to pick it. Heck, I could be staring right at it, and I couldn't see it. Cashel, especially, loves to carry on the tradition, and he has his Daddy's eye for ditch asparagus lol
#Home
Gotta hold all the cattens while at cousin's house! Maybe once the ones with allergies leave the house, we'll get one, but for now, it's just a cousin's house.
If this doesn't just sum up the month of May for miss Kinsley Jo, I'm not sure what does. I'm getting ready to lose it when it comes to the carseat stuff, guys. We literally sat on the side of the road for 20 minutes after stopping for a potty break so that she would buckle her seatbelt again. She refuses to let anyone else do it, but then takes her sweet time when doing it herself. This 20 minute thing isn't an abnormal occurrence at this point either, and the alternative is to literally shove her in the seat and get a little physical, and I'm just too tired of that approach. I am SO ready for booster seat time. This is just absolutely absurd. I spend literally probably about 3-4 hours a WEEK waiting for or trying to force her to put her seatbelt on. #OneLastThreenager #TwoMonthsUntilShes4!
#ForeverHomeGoals I just absolutely LOVE these windows, and whenever I find or build our forever home, I'm putting these in. They're in my Pinterest "If I Ever Build A Home" board.
Memorial Day was a pretty low key day after all the chaos the rest of the weekend.
A little clam shell hunting down by Island Park at the river.
A little discussion about what Memorial Day is about, and talking about the 5 branches of the military.
This is why I don't need to hire a lawn service. I tried to mow, and he legit threw a HUGE tantrum. It looks like it may be time to pass on the mowing reigns, but he's only 7 (although 8 in 2 months). At what age did you start having your kids mow the lawn for you? This feels too young.
This is how I like to unwind.
I'm just never alone for very long at all.
#SummerLiving
It's about time now to cut the cord on the fingers and hair time, I think. It's honestly getting out of control, and he doesn't stop it when I'm around. At all. But he's still pretty darn adorable!
He's struggling with the height thing. Ryan is our little monkey for SURE. But Kins isn't that far behind either!
