Welcome Home Freedom Flight

Last night we all went out to the airport to welcome our Grandpa home from Washington DC on the Freedom Flight.  I think this was the 13th year they have done this and this was my first time going to the event.  It was a great experience being there.  One of those goose bump, teary eyed and feel good moments.  They had music, fireworks, cookies and the best part; a chance to see the faces of the veterans as they returned to a cheering crowd.  My grandpa really is the cutest and the pictures of him display just how awesome the day really was for him.  They were all treated like royalty and honored in  such a beautiful way.  What an awesome event!

  

Apple Blossom Road

White and pink blossoms are everywhere.  Took a drive after work with the kids on Apple Blossom Road Scenic Drive.  The apple blossoms aren't quite there yet but  it probably won't be long.  Pulled off on the side of the road to get a view of some of the trees and there just happened to be a deer right in front of me.  It stood there for a long time while I took it's picture.  Riley was excited to see the deer.

One Lucky Day!

Today was a heck of a day!  Woke up early at 7am.  Since I was up I thought it would be a great idea to go for a morning hike.  My first thought was to go to Perrot Park but then I changed my mind and headed for Great River Bluff State Park.  I had the park completely to myself and I was all excited to hike some new trails I haven't hiked yet.  I had been hiking for about an hour when I spotted something in the middle of the hiking trail straight ahead of me.  I picked it up to see what it was.  It was a kwik trip gas card with a receipt underneath it.  It looked like someone just set it down right on the hiking trail for someone to see.  I wouldn't have kept it had I not looked at the receipt and noticed the transaction was for yesterday in the amount of 200 dollars.  I thought to myself, "maybe I should keep this and check if there is any money on it."  I wasn't too excited about it as I figured it was someone's used card anyway.  So when I got done hiking(after getting lost because I can't read a hiking map) I drove home and showed Jason my find.  He told me these cards are just like credit cards and to go try it out at the gas station and see what was on it.  So I did and to my shock there was 200 dollars on it!  The odds of me finding this is so rare and it is completely mind blowing that it even happened.  For one I rarely go hiking in the early morning.  Two I was not even planning to go to this park and I was deep in the woods in the middle of nowhere.  Three it is a miracle the receipt didn't blow away as otherwise I wouldn't have even picked it up.  Four I would have never spotted it had it not been in the middle of the hiking trail for my feet to walk right over.  It felt as if someone just put this on the ground for me to find.  So I am feeling really lucky today.  I was expecting to be inspired and see something new and exciting hiking in nature today but I definitely was not expecting to find what I found!

  
Went to my parents today and spent a few hours trying to catch a bird.  Finally I caught a robin.  he kids thought that was pretty cool.

Then we got out some tennis rackets and dipped them in bubbles.  That is a great idea and works awesome.  Cheap entertainment.

My Grandpa made the paper today.  He is going on the Honorary Freedom Flight with some other men who served in Vietnam and WW2.  They fly out on Saturday morning to Washington DC.  We all wrote him letters that will be sent to him while he is there, thanking him for his service.  I have heard it is a really great experience and I am glad my Grandpa gets to go.  He and one other guy (Kenny Garvis) who is my grandpa's good friend, are the only two guys left that served in WW2.  That is why he was in the paper today. 

Here is a picture of our cute little tree in our front yard that is just starting to blossom.  I think it is such a pretty tree but it only lasts for a couple weeks.

The Kindergarten Blues

Feeling stressed about having a school age child!  Open enrollment registration starts on Tuesday May 20th for enrolling your child in after school care at the YMCA.  I was under the impression you could enroll online BUT I am sadly mistaken to find I will have to go to the YMCA at 5 am and stand in line with a bunch of other parents hoping to get a place.  Enrollment actually starts at 7 am but after calling the YMCA and asking some questions, I learned that most parents actually go there at 5 am to better there chances of getting a spot.  So I am having my dad come over that morning so I can leave the house at 430 am to enroll Riley.  We really need the after school care and I don't want to take any chances.  I HATE TANSITIONS and kindergarten is freaking me out.  I was thinking we were going to save money on daycare but when you really figure it out we wont save much.  After school care is cheaper than weekly daycare but not that cheap.  Not to mention all the extra costs that school will bring.  As most parents would say that have kids in school..."Get used to handing over your money." 

I read through the Kindergarten brochure and that just caused me to feel more overwhelmed.  Talking about school lunch, school bus schedule, school academic expectations, school rules, bullying at school and the list goes on and on.  I also spent a good half hour filling out the paperwork needed to enroll Riley in after school care.  It is easy to let yourself worry.  Will Riley be ok riding the bus every day?  Will he be able to handle a 9 hour day Monday through Friday in school?  Is he really ready for Kindergarten?  So many things to wonder about and this is just Kindergarten.  With kids you are always worrying about something but in the end you look back and think, "Why did I waste my time worrying."  Everything always turns out ok.  

Riley brought home a cute Mother's Day Card from school.  It made me laugh.