First Grade, here we come!!!!

Where has the summer gone?  We sure have enjoyed every minute of our time we had together.  There were many adventures and some new ones to add to our list.  Out new adventure will be enjoying our First grader and exploring all he learns this coming school year.  Jayden is very excited to have one of his buddies in his class from last year and to have his own locker and desk.

For one of you cousin get togethers we(Jayden and I) do, we went to a Timber Rattler's Game with Nicole and Mike, Stacey, Jeff, Autumn and Hally and Laura.  The T-Rats won and we sure had a lot of fun.

As you can see, Cotton Candy was a favorite.

We have had a very successful garden year again.  This year we thought we had all bite size tomatoes (16 plants), but 1/2 of them were med to large ones.  So what do you do with all those yummy tomatoes?  Make 2 batches of Homemade Salsa.  We can't wait to try some.

When the weather was predicted to be nice on a weekend we took advantage of it and headed camping.  We were able to get a site at our favorite place (Boot Lake) and set up camp.  The fishing was not the best for Jeff, but we made the most of it.  The fire felt so wonderful and the S mores tasted wonderful!!!!

Jayden searching for just the right rocks and shells.

Feeding a very hungry Chipmunk.

Catching frogs was probably the most exciting thing for Jayden.  He has a fast grab for those fast guys...just hope all their legs were OK (that's how he would grab them, mid hop).

We were very lucky to have some company while we were up their too.  Chad, Stephanie and Gabbi joined us for some swimming, fishing, camp fire and some S mores too.  Gabbi was very excited to go on her first boat ride.

A new pet?  Nope, but the next day was found his little brother and Jayden is keeping him and taking care of him every day.  We found this guy where we had a tree cut down in our yard (just burrowed in the dirt).  What a pleasant surprise it was to have this big guy hop us at you.

Jayden and I headed to Menominee Park in Oshkosh and met my friend Amy and her girls there.  It was rainy and cool, but we enjoyed it as best as we could.

Playing on the huge playground was probably the highlight for the kids, but not for Amy and I.  The kids played a trick on us and we thought we lost them.  The hid in a really tricky spot.  Let's just say we headed home after that.

My last day with Jayden by ourselves I let him pick anything he wanted to do for the day we could do.  His idea...The Oshkosh Public Museum to check out the exhibit on "How Toys are Made".  We had a blast enjoying how toys really work.  Guess we take those things for granted.

"Jayden, what would you like to do today that is special with Mom and Dad?"  "Go to Bay Beach to ride the Zippin Pippin!!!"  So we headed up to Green Bay for the afternoon the go on a few rides.  The guys took advantage of the short waiting time and rode the coaster 3 times.  They had tons of fun as you can see.

Here is our First grader on his first day of First Grade.  What a special day for him.  Jayden loves school and has been asking "how long until school starts?"  So we are glad school is here and he can have fun learning.  We hope that he enjoys every minute of his first day and adapts well to a new teacher and new classmates.

With Jayden's best buddy Beck.

When Jayden was getting everything set in his locker this morning, we bumped into his Kindergarten teacher.  She said "Wow, he is walking with such confidence today and is so much more grown up".  It was an eye opener when she said that.  I was looking at it that he was just so excited for school to start when in reality, he was so mature and walking with pride like he owned first grade.  What a kid!

Until next time...we hope you are all well and enjoying your days together.  Have a wonderful September and we will be back soon.

Jeff, Heather and Jayden

Sealed with a Kiss

July has come and gone and as usual, I'm behind on my posting.  Time just gets away on us and just can't seem to catch it.  We have had a very fun summer so far filled with a lot of fun times...hope you enjoy!!!

Jayden joined a 4 week baseball camp.  It taught him all about baseball and all the key parts to it.  He had lots of fun and thought that hitting the ball through the fence was probably the coolest thing about it.

Running to home plate...he sure is fast!!!!

Happy belated 4th of July!!!!  It was quite the warm 4th so we did very minimal fireworks this year with Jeff's brother Chad, his girlfriend Stephanie and her daughter Gabbi.  Lots of fun!!!!!

I had to work on the 4th (actually I was on call all day), so the boys headed to Point Beach for the day of swimming in the cold Lake Michigan.

Enjoying the search for the perfect stone or sea shell.

Nicole and Mike bought Jayden this Gyser kit and thought it would get taller than this.  It got only this tall, but was a fun adventure.

On a daddy weekend, Jeff took Jayden up to Mosquito Hill on a search for a snake.  They came up empty handed with a snake, but not so with berries(the pic has evidence of that).

Meet Gabbi...this is our niece to be this coming May.  We are very excited to have her and Stephanie join the Kraus family.

As you can see, Jayden loves to play with her and she fits right in.  Note, this is her first time having licorice and she loved it.  Guess her and I(Heather) will be licorice buddies.

Jayden enjoys swimming at Aunt Wendy's house...so we brought the neighbor boy Alex with us.  They had lots of fun cooling off in the high 90 degree day.

Jeff brought Jayden to EAA this year over a daddy weekend and here are a few pics from their adventure.

This helicopter looks pretty cool

Maybe we will have a pilot on our hands in a few years.

Watch out, new police man on the loose!!!!

So you may be wondering what the title means...

Jeff and I were able to enjoy a weekend away for our 31st birthdays at a cabin outside of Wabeno.  In the evening one day, there was a storm that came through as we were out fishing.  As the sky was clearing, a rainbow appeared across the lake from us.  I have never seen both ends of a rainbow before and it was so beautiful.  It's reflection wrapped around us in the boat, so we each made a wish and sealed it with a kiss in hopes they come true.  It was just a wonderful time away, just the two of us!!!

Lots to come in the next posting, but until next time...

Jeff, Heather, and Jayden

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!! Well, until Monday...

May is gone and we are half way into June.  I can't believe how fast time is going.  Our house has been pretty busy with Jayden turning 6, Kindergarten ending, planting our garden, vacation and getting ready for the start of summer school (getting ready for 1st grade).  Jeff has been able to get out on a few fishing expeditions on the river and hitting

a few rounds of golf with friends.

As everyone knows, Jeff enjoys going storm chasing.  He went last summer to a storm spotters class and his addiction is more than ever.  This is one of the pictures he took of a storm that didn't produce, but turned out to be a pretty cool picture opportunity.

Here is Jayden and his buddy Beck on the last day of Kindergarten...I can't believe the school year has come to an end.  Let's just compare the first day of school with this picture...

Guess they grew up a little.

To the farm we went to plant the pumpkins, gourds and potatoes.  We hope for a big selection since we planted 25 pumpkin/gourd hills.

Jayden and I enjoying our time at the farm.  What a wonderful

place to go and relax.

This is one of Jeff's practice pictures with our new toy.  We bought a SLR camera since we love to take pictures (imagine that).

Nicole is able to get into the Milwaukee Zoo through work for a family fun day...so we took advantage of it.  Jayden was enjoying himself very much.  He even felt adventurous enough to take the Sky Tour of part of the Zoo.  Zip Lining is on the list of things to do next time.

My parents, Uncle Ronnie, Uncle Louie, Nicole, Mike, Jeff, Jayden and I were able to enjoy the North woods for a few days.  As you can see, we fit a lot into the few days we were up there, but loved it all.  This picture was taken on a boat ride from the lake we were fishing on, headed down the creek to our cottage.  Such a handsome guy!!!!

Jayden and Uncle Ronnie are crossing the beginning of the Wisconsin River....something Uncle Ronnie has always wanted to do.  Glad he got to do it with his big fishing buddy.

Jayden said "Oh, this is a big one...this one can't take my pole this time"  Well, he won!!!  He caught this 14 inch large mouth bass off the dock at the cottage after Jeff had headed home.  Oh did he want to show his daddy how big his fish was and that he too can catch bass.

Here are the guys getting dinner ready for a fresh fish fry...yummy!!!!

Thought this was a cute picture for Nicole and Mike enjoying the North woods with baby finally popping out to show us he/she is really in there.

Congrats Mommy and Daddy to be!!!! 

Uncle Louie, Me, Jayden, Mom, Nicole and Uncle Ronnie headed to Minaqua one day to enjoy the Wildwood Wildlife Park.  It is a really fun place to go.  We were able to walk right with the goats, pigs, tortoises and deer.

Jayden thought catching the bird on a stick was pretty cool.  The sticks are coated with food for the birds so they land right on them.

One of Jeff's big catches on the river.  It was a 18 in small mouth bass that fought like it was very hungry!!!!  Good catch babe!!!!

We found this to be something you don't see every day...a small mouth bass that just got a crawfish and was aggressive enough to go after Jeff's bait too.  Wow!!!!  Guess you don't see that everyday.

We hope that everyones summer is going well and have been able to make many memories thus far.  We are looking forward to the rest of the summer and will keep you posted on all our fun explorations. 

Until next time...

Heather

Where does time go???

Wow, can you believe it, it's half way through May!!!  Sorry I forgot to post in April so this might just be the longest post I've had so far.  We have had a very busy last two months, so check out what has happened.

We went golfing at Winnegamie for an afternoon of fun.  I ended up hitting one of my balls on the edge of the woods to find out a wood chuck was gaurding it...think he gets to have that one!!!

Easter Morning after searching high and low, we had to make a list of where we all looked for "the basket".  Boy oh boy, the Easter bunny was tricky this year...

And here is where it was...hidden in the hope chest...never know where that Easter bunny hides the basket!!!

Jayden loves to make goofy faces...usually he borrows my camera on my phone to take them.  Instead this time he asked if we could do a photo shoot with the real camera...this is my favorite of the 20+ pictures we took.

Practicing a little baseball with Grandpa Stoffel...what out...we have a real hard hitter in our family!!!!

For Jayden's 6th birthday we wanted to do something really fun...we headed to Wisconsin Dells and had a blast.  Here is Jeff and I trying to see who is going to have to pay for dinner (who ever lost playing mini golf had to pay)...it was me!!!

Jayden got a hole in one on this hole!!!!

We enjoyed the indoor water park and loved swimming.  The bigger the water slide the better for Jayden....

Fun and games in the arcade!!!

Birthday Party Time!!!!  A turtle pinata was the highlight of the party Jayden later told us.  Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Stoffel.

The loot from within the pinata...can I have some?

Checking out his new pole with Unkie (Uncle Chad).

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY JAYDEN!!!!!  Thanks Auntie (Aunt Nicole)

for the yummy cake!!!!

My friend Amy and I decided to do something better for ourselves this year.  In February we started to train for the sole burner (a 5K run).  Neither one of us a big runners and never have been.  It was for a good cause...we were on my cousin Dan's team ("the Dan-O-Mites")...  It was a great turn out with 97 team members, most walked, but we ran.  We both crossed the finish line within the 38 minute mark and we were so proud of ourselves!!!!

Here is Amy and I and Nicole and Mike after we were done.  We cheered everyone from the team when were finished...notice the walkers behind us.   What a great time and a great accomplishment!!!!  It may seem pretty slow for some, but we were really proud of ourselves.  Our average time before the race was 14.5 min/mile and the race was a little over 12min/mile.

Hope to have more to share soon and hope everyone is enjoying the great weather...until next time!!!!

Heather